Burning Bridges by the Mike Curb Congregation

'Burning Bridges' by the Mike Curb Congregation

1971

While a student at California State University, Northridge, in the early 1960s, Mike Curb (b. 1944) wrote a jingle that was used by the Honda motorcycle corporation for a highly successful advertising campaign. 

Sensing opportunity, Curb dropped out of the college and embarked on a rewarding career as a scorer and composer for film and TV productions. 

In the late 60s, Curb formed The Mike Curb Congregation, a vocal group styled after the popular mixed-gender group 'Ray Conniff and the Singers'. 

In 1970 the Congregation performed the song 'Burning Bridges', composed by Lalo Shifrin and used as the theme for the opening and closing credits of the Clint Eastwood film Kelly's Heroes. 

A year later, the song was released as a single by the Congregation, and peaked at No. 34 in the Billboard top 40 in March, 1971.

According to a YouTube commentator, the video clip posted here likely is taken from a 1971 episode of the Mike Douglas Show, with Curb playing piano in the foreground.

The wardrobe for the Congregation shows a fascinating mix of 'Groovy' hippy style, melded with a sci-fi sensibility...........as if the Congregation were visitors from the future, as the future might be envisioned in 1971. 

When combined with the wholesome appearances of the young people in the Congregation, it makes for a trippy 70s experience like no other........!