After singer/songwriter
Paul Williams landed one of his songs on the flip side of
Tiny Tim's hit single "Tip-Toe Through the Tulips," he was approached by record producer
Richard Perry with an offer to cut his own album. It was a giant leap for
Williams, who had just lost his job at the White Whale label a year earlier, an event that had left him distraught and sour on the music industry. Apprehensive about going it alone, he formed a band with ex-
Jefferson Airplane bassist Bob Harvey, guitarist George Hiller, flutist Cynthia Fitzpatrick, ex-
Turtle drummer Don Murray, and
Williams' brother Ralph on guitar. Dubbed
the Holy Mackerel, the band recorded its psychedelic pop debut throughout the spring of 1968. Before the record's completion, Harvey left and was replaced by future
Elvis Presley bassist
Jerry Scheff, and then drummer Don Murray was replaced by Michael Cannon. The record appeared in November of 1968 and despite being a Billboard magazine "Special Merit Pick," it went nowhere and
the Holy Mackerel called it quits soon after.
Williams began his successful solo career a year later. ~ David Jeffries