I Love Candy b/w If I Could Reach You

Marshmallow Soup Group were a Canadian pop and blue-eyed soul band who made two singles for RCA and took the first of them to Lima, Peru, in November 1969 as representatives of Canada at the International Trade Fair.

The band formed in Kingston, Ontario, in the summer of 1967 and had earlier been known as the Ethnic Souls. Photographs from 1968 and 1969 identify Ken Mullen, Dave Lemmon, Ron Turney and Bob Campbell among its earlier members, alongside Ron Smith and Tim Cottini. The group moved to Ottawa and came under the management of Vern Craig, formerly of the Staccatos.

By November 1969 the lineup was Tim Eaton on lead vocals, John Lemmon on organ, Wayne Sweet on lead guitar, Ron "Smack" Smith on bass and Cottini on drums. RPM called them "one of this capital city's top groups" and named Lemmon as their leader. They first worked in the studio on radio and television jingles for the United Way and the Canada Welfare Council, then signed a production agreement with RCA's Sun-Bar Productions.

'I Love Candy' b/w 'If I Could Reach You', written by Eaton and produced by Craig, came out that month on RCA Victor 75-1014, timed to the trip. The government covered their expenses and paid them $4,000 to represent Canada, and they left on November 11 for a run at the fair through November 30. RPM's advance report promised four television shows, radio appearances and hospital visits. Associated Press reported them playing four times a day at the Canadian Pavilion to audiences in the hundreds, with people sometimes joining them onstage. Back home the single reached No. 3 on RPM's Canadian Content Chart in January 1970 and also appeared on the magazine's national singles chart. RCA was advertising the group that February among its acts to watch for in 1970.

Craig and Eaton wrote the follow-up, 'Sing to My Lover', an organ-driven soul track that RCA issued as 75-1028 with 'Barbie Lee' on the flip and Bill Misener producing. It was on RPM's Canadian Top 50 through the summer of 1970, at No. 37 on August 1, but did not repeat the success of 'I Love Candy'.

The group dissolved in 1971. Eaton stayed with RCA, recording as Timothy and in 1974 as Buster Brown. Ron Smith later played in Café Ole, who recorded 'The Island Song' in 1980.

-Robert Williston