Bull's Eye 2008 reissue of the 1969 Mercury LP
A flower-pop quintet from Baltimore. Their to date unheralded album is a fine example of this genre. There are very few weak cuts on it, but mostly bright and breezy pop with some delightful woodwind, like Shady Tree. Not garage or psychedelic music, but it's typical late sixties melodic flower pop similar to albums like Orange Colored Sky. Most of the finer moments come on Side One on tracks like Halls Of Hours, New Day Holiday, Reach For The Sky and 8th Day In Heaven, although Smile For The Sun on Side Two is also a gem. Side Two does included one throwaway cut, And I Know What Love Is, and ends with an experimental instrumental Kama Kazie Woman, which doesn't really come off.
Frank Eventoff had earlier been in The Seventh Sons. Nisan Eventoff:- "With my four brothers, Richard, Franklin, Paul, and Maury, and with my parents, Joseph and Ethel Eventoff, we had a music and magic show. We called ourselves The Seven Evens and our theme song was called The Magic Genie. We all studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Music and had scholarships".
"I am the youngest, then Richard (he played stand up bass), Frank (woodwinds), Paul (drums) and Maury (piano). Mom still plays piano at 93 years old. Dad played piano, violin, mandolin and danced. He passed away when I was 14."
On The Organgrinders Nisan tells us:- "Frank played woodwinds, flute, sax, and he also invented several instruments that were used. Frank and I did most of the lead vocals, however the whole band sang. Henry also sings Honey Bee on the album. After the Organ Grinders we formed a "gypsy rock" band called Romany. We sent demos out and Mercury was interested as were a few others including Decca. Maury, my oldest brother called Bob Reno who was head of A & R at Mercury and convinced him we were the next Beatles. They signed us and we ended up as opening act for many name groups. We played at colleges, clubs, arenas, Strawberry Fields Festival and did some T.V. and movie work. We stayed together for 15 years. At my moms 90th birthday, we all played together, it was great!
Nowadays Nisan is a professional magician, balloon sculptor and musician.
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