Smoke 45 Half Past The End

The Smoke featuring Mark Sheldon

Smoke 45 Half Past The End

“Half Past the End” by the Smoke is hard-rocking and heavy on the keyboards, which I don’t usually like, but it has some lead guitar work that hooks me, and features a solid performance by the entire group.

The group included Mark Sheldon, who had played bass for the Mussies on their 1967 Fenton single, “12 O’Clock July” which is a great psychedelic take on Link Wray’s “Jack the Ripper” b/w one of the better versions of “Louie Go Home”.

Other members of the Mussies were Chic Ericksen (lead vocals), Paul Knapp or Paul Nabb (lead guitar), Tom Mann (rhythm guitar) and Bill Johnson (drums). I don’t know if any of them played on the Smoke single from late 1968.

The Mussies & the Smoke came out of South Haven, Michigan. Mark Sheldon wrote both songs on the Smoke single, “Half Past the End” and the flip, “My Mama”. Both published by Rise Music, Inc. BMI. Mark Edward Sheldon registered the copyright for “Half Past the End” with the Library of Congress in February 1969.

The Smoke single was produced by Sheldon-Pielert, the Pielert standing for Fred Pielert, the manager of the band with his wife, Gail Ostrow.

The ARP stamp in the deadwax indicates the American Record Pressing Co. in Owosso, MI, pressing number 1316.

I’ve seen promo and stock copies of this 45, and all seem to have stickers listing the band as the Smoke. Mark Sheldon’s name is underneath.

There’s not much info on the Smoke out there (or the Mussies for that matter). I gleaned a little from the Grand Rapids Rocks site.

Smoke 45 My Mama

5 thoughts on “The Smoke featuring Mark Sheldon”

  1. Mark Sheldon did not play bass on the Mussies record. Greg “Chic” Erickson was the bass player and lead vocalist for the Mussies on that record and otherwise. Supposedly Mussies lead guitarist Paul Knabb plays on this record but I never received firm confirmation on that as he was the only member of the band I never was able to speak with when putting my 12 O’Clock, July magazine article on the band together.

    1. Mark Sheldon played Keyboard for the Smoke. Paul left the Mussies to play with Smoke before I had even heard of the Mussies. He never really said why he left. I am trying the reach Paul as we speak as he is the only member of the band that I lost track of. Last I knew he was in the Pit band for the TV Evangelist Jim Bakker of the PTL Club. Do you have any information on him? Dave RIegel 269-267-8266

  2. Mark Sheldon was and I assume still is a musical genius and the bass player, Paul, is in the same category.
    Fred Pielert

    1. Fred, This is Dave Riegel and I want to update you. I was the Bass Player not Paul, who played lead guitar. Mark is now a recently retired Pastor after leading a church in Nashville for 25 years. I’m actually trying to reach Paul as we speak, which prompted me to go on line and try to find him. Last I knew he had been playing in the Pit band for the Television evangelist Jim Bakker of the PTL Ministry. After Bakker was arrested I lost track of Paul. I don’t suppose you know of his whereabouts? Hope you and Gail are well.

      Dave Riegel . Give me a call 269-267-8266

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