This has a bit of a garage-rock feel but with better production values and horns and stuff. I was able to listen to it without flinching and I can't always say that.
The American Breed were from Chicago. They were originally called Gary & The Knight Lites (which is a classic garage rock band name) before allegedly picking their new name out of a hat. They had five singles that made it to the Billboard Hot 100 between 1967 and 1969, plus two that came close.
"Bend Me, Shape Me" was the only song of theirs that got airplay in Toronto. It reached #5 in the United States and #24 in the UK. It was co-written by Scott English, who also has an entry on this site.
The American Breed eventually evolved into Rufus, which featured Chaka Khan on lead vocals. They have reunited occasionally for reunion shows. Their lead singer, Gary Loizzo, passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2016.
Created January 5, 2026.