The Mooche

Obscure British group the Mooche issued just one single, "Hot Smoke and Sasafrass"/"Seen Through a Light," in May 1969. The A-side was a fairly faithful cover of the Bubble Puppy's "Hot Smoke and Sasafrass," which had been an American hit earlier in the year; the B-side, "Seen Through a Light," was reminiscent of the organ-driven jazzy psychedelic sound of Traffic. The Mooche's Dave Winthrop later went on to play with Supertramp and Secret Affair. Both "Hot Smoke and Sasafrass" and "Seen Through a Light" were reissued on the 2007 CD compilation A Glass Menagerie: Pop, Psyche, Pye Collectables 1967-1969. ~ Richie Unterberger