Smokey - "How Far Will You Go...?"

Photo courtesy of John Condon

Smokey should have been huge. In 1973, John "Smokey" Condon moved from Baltimore (where he partied with John Waters as a teenager) to Los Angeles. There he met with EJ Emmons, who was just starting out as a record producer. Together they formed Smokey. In 1974, they released their first single, "Leather." While most record company executives agreed that it was really, they felt that it couldn't be released since it was exuberantly openly gay. Since Condon had marched after the Stonewall Riots, he wasn't about to change for anyone, so they formed S&M Records to self release their music. Their single "How Far Will You Go...?" features James Williamson right after recording Raw Power with Iggy & the Stooges. The live band featured Randy Rhoads (yes, that Randy Rhoads from Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne). With that kind of pedigree, you should know this. And finally, 40 years after the fact, you will get a chance to.

How Far Will You Go?: The S&M Recordings, 1973-81 is due out June 23 on Chapter Music. You can preorder it here, and listen to the title track, "How Far Will You Go...?" below.