Album Notes

CREATURES OF HABIT, Peter's first solo effort features "John Brown", an ode to the militant abolitionist who sparked the Civil War, and “Desert Flower,” which Peter describes as a “native american lullaby.” These and ten other original songs represent the best of Peter’s work to date.

"John Brown" is also covered by Portland-based Jack McMahon on his new CD (find his fine work also on CDBaby!).

Singer/Songwriter, Peter Sando emerged in the late 60's from the band Gandalf, formerly the Rahgoos, and appeared at various New York clubs such as "The Phone Booth", Scott Muni's "Rolling Stone", "The Electric Circus", Murray the K's "World", and the legendary "Night Owl Cafe" in Greenwich Village. It was there that he met songwriters Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon ("Happy Together", "She'd Rather Be With Me") who brought the band to the attention of record producers Koppelman & Rubin. K&R signed the band and immediately started work on the GANDALF album which was released on the Capitol label in 1969. Peter again teamed up with Bonner and Gordon to sing lead on their "Dance at St. Francis" by the Barracuda on RCA which charted in late 1968.

The GANDALF album has become a rare classic, bootlegged several times on vinyl, and finally in 1991, legitimately re-issued on CD by the UK based See For Miles label. Again in 2002 the GANDALF album was remastered and reissued domestically by the acclaimed Sundazed label to rave reviews. Sundazed has also released GANDALF 2, a compilation of unreleased masters, demos, live tapes, and three Barracuda tracks from 1968-69.

Three of Peter's songs, co-written with composer Joe Delia, appear in the 1999 Trimark film "Time Served" with Louise Fletcher and Katherine Oxenberg.

Check Peter's website for news on upcoming releases, performance schedule, and Rock & Roll Memoires that will take you back in time!

What's been said about Peter's music...

CREATURES OF HABIT
...a very solid CD of modern folk-rock, with definite 60's roots......The guitar work, largely acoustic , is understated and atmospheric, with the occasional electric twelve string work, such as the cool 60's style British Invasion riff on "I Don't Want to Pray for Love". Styles run from the straight folk of "John Brown" to the soul of "Helpless" to the honkytonk rock of "Sink or Swim", and every song is first rate. A terrific re-appearance, a CD I'll be playing a lot. Well done!" - The Psychedelic Veil

GANDALF
"... the band's organ and fuzz guitar embellishments, coupled with the Colin Blunstone-inspired lead vocals of Peter Sando, elevate the project considerably, and Sando's mesmerizing 'Can You Travel In The Dark Alone' is nothing less than a genuine genre classic." - Record Collector

"...think Odessy And Oracle era Zombies teamed with Phil Spector ...... lysergic-fueled metaphysical epics of mesmerizing beauty. 'Hang On To A Dream' even rivals Hardin's original. The few tracks that Sando does pen are equally regnant, the spooky 'I Watch The Moon' is a favourite" - Lois Wilson- MOJO magazine

Gandalf 2
FOUR STARS - "Obscure psych band's ephemera bests their lone album...guitar/vox Peter Sando adept at crafting ornate, breezy pop gems." - MOJO 5/07

"On Gandalf 2 we're treated to 13 Gandalf related rarities, most of them previously unreleased...including one of Sando's best compositions, the beautifully haunting 'Days Are Only Here And Gone'." UGLYTHINGS - Summer '07