Greetings, I’d like to note that this weeks post is a special tribute to an old friend of mine who is embarking on his lifelong mission of bootin’ his smoking habit to the curb. I thought this funky slab of anti-cigarette declamation might be pertinent to his courageous and indomitable cause. Godspeed Swifty, kick that crap for the both of us!

The Americans of ’72 of hometown Houston, TX, started their recording career years prior as the Americans of ’68 on Skipper Lee Frazier’s Ovide label, releasing a solitary 7″ with the plug side entitled “Baby Baby Baby”. Arguably the best (most confusing too?) band name reinvention EVER, these fellas recorded under the Americans of ’68, Americans of ‘70, Americans of ’71, and the Americans of ’72 in accordance with the change of each respective year. The above-mentioned track and a handful of their releases can be heard on Tuff City’s stellar Houston funk compilation entitled “Funky Funky Houston”, which can be found here.

After their brief activity with Ovide, the band made a switch to the much smaller Houston-based Libra label, which is presumed to be under the ownership of the group due to the fact that their only releases and artist repertoire were that of the Americans. Yet under Libra, the Americans were able to reach widespread domestic and international distribution through New York-based Bell Records (as seen on my copy above). Interesting sidenote, the original release on Libra was recorded and distributed in 1971 under the group name The Americans of ‘71. But by the time Bell readied this soul shattering horn-and-drum heavy 45 for global distribution it was already 1972, hence the name change on the Bell release as The Americans of ‘72.

Our highlighted feature today is The Cancer Stick Pt 1, a funky witty ditty devoted to the Americans own rhythm backbone, drummer Sugar Bear. To whom, according to Americans vocalist Chester Orndorff, “just puffs and puffs not knowing enough’s enough!”. Layered on a steadfast 4/4 drum pattern, palatable horn stabs, and a top-heavy bongo intimation, Orndorff’s vocals tell the story of Sugar Bear’s ill fated vice and warns against the harms of tobacco to an almost lecturing degree (with some quite humorous and dramatic coughing and hacking throughout the bridge). Coming in under three minutes, The Cancer Stick is undoubtedly the best way to sweat out your nicotine cravings on the dance floor. If only more PSA’s could be as funky and groove filled as this one…

And a special thanks and recognition to Houston music specialist and deejay Brett Koshkin for this weeks post, keepin the Bayou City alive and breathing!

LISTEN: The Americans of ‘72-The Cancer Stick Pt. 1