The Brass Ring

Advertisement for The Brass Ring, 1967

The Brass Ring was a group of American studio musicians led by saxophonist and arranger Phil Bodner. The band was based in New York City and was stylistically similar to The Tijuana Brass, The Brass Buttons, the Baja Marimba Band, and other "Now Sound" instrumental pop groups from the 1960s, although the twin-sax sound more closely resembles the music of Billy Vaughn, whose biggest hits were in the 1950s.

In addition to several successful albums for ABC/Dunhill Records, the Brass Ring had two hit singles. The first, "Love Theme From The Flight Of The Phoenix", was used in the movie The Flight of the Phoenix, and it reached #32 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1966.[1] The second, "The Dis-Advantages of You",[2][3] written by Mitch Leigh, was used in a series of commercials for Benson & Hedges cigarettes,[4][5] and rose to #36 in March 1967.[1] Numerous other singles hit Billboard's Easy Listening chart, and a non-chart single, "Love In The Open Air", is prized by collectors, as it is a cover of a little-known composition by Paul McCartney.

The group recorded until at least 1972 on Enoch Light's Project 3 label.

Discography

Albums

Year Title Label US Top 200[6]
1966 Lara's Theme Dunhill Records -
Love Theme from The Flight of the Phoenix 109
1967 Sunday Night at the Movies 157
The Dis-Advantages of You 193
1968 The Now Sound of the Brass Ring -
Gazpacho: Brass Ring Featuring Phil Bodner -
Only Love -
1970 The Best of the Brass Ring Featuring Phil Bodner -


Singles

Year Single (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated 		Chart positions Album
US US
AC
1966 "The Phoenix Love Theme (Senza Fine)"
b/w "Lightning Bug" (from Lara's Theme) 		32 21 Love Theme From "The Flight Of The Phoenix"
"Lara's Theme"
b/w "Secret Love" 		126 36
"Samba De Orfeo (Black Orpheus)"
b/w "California Dreamin'" 		— 25 Lara's Theme
1967 "Lapland"
b/w "Patricia" 		— —
"The Dis-Advantages Of You"
b/w "The Dating Game" 		36 10 The Dis-Advantages Of You
"Love In The Open Air"
b/w "Wait For Me" (from The Dis-Advantages Of You) 		— — The Now Sound Of The Brass Ring
"Monday Monday"
b/w "Flower Road" (Non-album track) 		— —
1968 "Adoro (Don't Tempt Me)"
b/w "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" 		— — Gazpacho
"Theme From 'The Odd Couple'"
b/w "For Love Of Ivy" 		— — Only Love
1969 "(Theme From) Last Summer"
b/w "I'll Never Fall In Love" 		— — The Evolution Of The Brass Ring
"Spinning Wheel"
b/w "Yesterday When I Was Young" 		— —
1976 "Theme From 'The Man Who Would Be King'"
b/w "The Sikandergul Theme" 		— — Non-album tracks

References

  1. ^ a b Billboard Singles, Allmusic.com
  2. ^ The Brass Ring, "The Dis-Advantages of You," 1967, YouTube
  3. ^ "The Dis-Advantages of You," The Brass Ring LP, YouTube
  4. ^ The Disadvantages with the Benson&Hedges 100's, YouTube
  5. ^ Vintage Benson & Hedges 1960s Cigarette TV Commercials, YouTube
  6. ^ Billboard, Allmusic.com