The Bushes – Assorted Shrubbery

Short-lived Chicago blues and soul outfit The Bushes was a quartet of white musicians featuring the Hammond organ talents of keyboardist/bassist Ron Stockert, guitarist Al Johnson, drummer John Zefo and lead singer Joel Wilson. Dividing their repertoire between soul track by Detroit and Chicago-based artists like Curtis Mayfield and Smokey Robinson, as well as blues numbers and some spirited originals, the band has musical pedigree and good taste, yet never seemd to find that lucky break that would result in an album signing. Instead the debut album ‘Assorted Shrubbery’ was released by the band itself in 1968, the music facing in different directions at once with their takes of Mayfield’s ‘I;’ve Been Tryin”, The Parliaments’ ‘Testify (I Wanna)’ and Blood Sweat And Tears ‘I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know’ jostling for space against their own brand of psychedelic rock on ‘Most Girls’ and the freaky excesses of ‘Polyphony.’ After they split, Stockert joined Rufus playing with the band from 1971-1975.