#13: I Love Candy by the Marshmallow Soup Group

City: Kingston, ON
Radio Station: CKLC
Peak Month: December 1969
Peak Position in Kingston ~ #5
Peak position in Vancouver ~ did not chart
Peak Position on Billboard Hot 100 ~ did not chart
YouTube: “I Love Candy”

The Citizen Freak website tells how the Marshmallow Soup Group was a “Canadian pop psych band formed in the summer of 1967 in Kingston, Ontario. They soon moved to Ottawa to sign with manager Vern Craig. Tim Eaton joined the group later as lead singer in early 1969 before they started recording, first with radio jingles for the United Way charities and the Canada Welfare Council.” The lead vocalist was Tim Eaton. John Lemmon, from Kingston (ON) played organ, Wayne Sweet was lead guitarist, Ron “Smack” Smith , also from Kingston (ON) was on bass guitar, and Tim Cottini was the group’s drummer. Except for Cottini, the other group members were backing vocalists for Eaton.

Tim Eaton

The Marshmallow Soup Group signed a contract with RCA after radio listeners liked their sound. Their debut single was “I Love Candy”. This was not a remake of the Strangeloves 1965 garage rock hit.

“I Love Candy” was written by Tim Eaton, in 1969. The record was released in November to coincide with their trip to Lima, Peru where they performed at the International Trade Fair as Goodwill Ambassadors of Canada for the Federal Department of Trade and Commerce.

Depending on the venue, the Marshmallow
Soup Group dressed up or dressed down

The song concerns a reciprocal dating relationship: “I love Candy. Candy loves me.” Prior to meeting her, there was a lot of “rain” in his life. Once Candy appeared, she “chased away the rain.” In this challenging world, the pair have to run and hide “like thieves.” But over the years their love endures.

“I Love Candy” peaked at #5 in Kingston (ON), and #15 in Ottawa. It also made it to #48 on the RPM Top Pop Singles chart in Canada.

The Marshmallow Soup Group toured Japan, Mexico, Hawaii and the USA, continuing as Goodwill Ambassadors of Canada. The group released a second single in 1970 titled “Sing To My Lover”. The single didn’t chart well in either  Canada, and didn’t get much notice internationally.

In 1971, after the group dissolved, Eaton struck out and launched a solo career that summer. His backing band was called Timothy. They released a number of singles that didn’t bring about any hits. A couple of years later, Eaton tried again, this time working under the assumed name Buster Brown. In 1972, Eaton provided backing vocals on an album by Canadian folk-country singer Robert David. In 1973, he was billed under a pseudonym , Tim Harrower, when providing backing vocals on an album for blues-rock singer Cathy Young. Eaton’s last recording, “Falling Out of Love,” was completed in 1974. In 1980, “Smack” Smith was part of a group named Cafe Ole who recorded a song titled “The Island Song”.

December 20, 2024
Ray McGinnis

References:
“Marshmallow Soup Group,” Citizen Freak.com.

CKLC 1380-AM Kingston (ON) Top Ten | January 3, 1970