James Holvay grew up listening to R&B music in Chicago and started writing songs at the tender age of 12. He ended up penning a #1 smash for the Buckinghams, “Kind of a Drag.” That was followed up by a trio of hits: “Don’t You Care,” “Hey Baby (They’re Playing Our Song)” and “Susan” – all Top 20 smashes in the span of a year. He was also a part of The Mob, a group of soul-devotees that played a ton of shows and had success in several cities in the US before disbanding in 1980.

Four decades out of the musical spotlight, Holvay is back with a salute to the Windy City Sound on an EP called Sweet Soul Song. Everything is authentic, from the music, which sounds right out of 1966, to the cover, which mimics a classic album from Gene Chandler.

We chat getting that perfect drum sound by recording…in his kitchen!

Also, he tells us the stories behind the Buckinghams’ hits and what is was like working with producer James Guercio, who went on to bigger success with Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago.