In the early 1970s, the collective known as The California Playboys served as the backing band for R&B singer Lester Young on a series of 45 singles, before branching out to record a sole full-length LP under their own name, Trying To Become A Millionaire. The band consisted of primary arranger Robert Jacobs (guitar), Julian Vaught (second guitar and sax), Lenell Salone (guitar), Kelvin Dixon (vocals and drums), Jackie Rogers (trumpet), Kenney Dunaway (guitar) and William Sm

From 1975 -1979, things were going well for James A. Smith, musically speaking. He was writing prolifically, getting encouragement from his contemporaries – namely, his friend Robyn Hitchcock of The Soft Boys - and his band, The Containers, had recorded some promising demos and were playing regular live gigs. But, by January of 1980, The Containers disbanded suddenly, and James was on his own. “Sod it!” he thought, and, rather than waste time lamenting the situation, he plott