The Balloon Farm

Psych-punk quartet the Balloon Farm remain best remembered for their sole Top 40 hit, "A Question of Temperature." Bandmembers Mike Appel, Don Henny, Ed Schnug, and Jay Saks first teamed up in 1966 as Adam, signing to Mala to issue the little-noticed single "Eve." Upon adopting the Balloon Farm moniker in tribute to a New York City nightclub, the New Jersey-based group inked a new deal with Laurie Records, issuing "A Question of Temperature" at the tail end of 1967. A fuzz-punk classic much loved by garage-psych aficionados, the single also proved a commercial success, cracking the U.S. Top 40 in February 1968. Decades later, it was immortalized via the genre-defining box set Nuggets. However, the Balloon Farm's follow-up, "Hurry Up Sundown," tanked, and Laurie terminated their contract before a planned full-length LP was completed. At year's end the foursome resurfaced with yet another name, Huck Finn, releasing "Two of a Kind" on Kapp -- when it too failed to generate radio or retail interest, the group dissolved for good. Appel later returned to the charts writing the Partridge Family hit "Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted." He also earned recognition managing the early career of fellow Jersey rocker Bruce Springsteen. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide