Biography
Sometimes a band's chief liability is its moniker, as proved true for the Munx. Their vocal harmonies were appealing, their instrumental touches displayed an off-kilter flair, and their studio command was evident. Guitarist Denny Earnest, keyboardist Billy Earnest, and drummer Bob Bensick hailed from the Cleveland region of Ohio; the trio blended rock with sunshine pop while maximizing their instrumental resources. Still in their mid-teens, they earned an opening slot for the Velvet Underground during one of the headliners' Ohio dates, an appearance that left Lou Reed visibly impressed by their musicianship.
Under the guidance of the Earnest brothers' mother, the group recorded two singles for Clevetown Records. The debut, "Sometimes I Dream," attracted little attention, yet the follow-up—"Our Dream" backed with "Girls Girls Girls"—stood out. Issued in late 1967, the single performed strongly enough in Ohio's key cities to secure national release on Jubilee Records the next year. Although wider distribution in 1967 might have improved its fortunes, the track remained a striking example of pop-psychedelia and earned the band an appearance on the television program Upbeat plus a direct Jubilee contract for another single. When "So Much in Love" failed to register, the Munx dissolved; they had by then adopted the name Sheffield Rush.
Under the guidance of the Earnest brothers' mother, the group recorded two singles for Clevetown Records. The debut, "Sometimes I Dream," attracted little attention, yet the follow-up—"Our Dream" backed with "Girls Girls Girls"—stood out. Issued in late 1967, the single performed strongly enough in Ohio's key cities to secure national release on Jubilee Records the next year. Although wider distribution in 1967 might have improved its fortunes, the track remained a striking example of pop-psychedelia and earned the band an appearance on the television program Upbeat plus a direct Jubilee contract for another single. When "So Much in Love" failed to register, the Munx dissolved; they had by then adopted the name Sheffield Rush.
Albums