Originally known as The Circus, The Human Zoo were a rock band from Westminster, California. Featuring Jim Cunningham and Roy Young on vocals, John Luzadder on guitar, Larry Hanson on guitar and keyboards, Bob Dalrymple on bass and Kim Vydaremy on drums, the group was discovered by Jim Foster, guitarist with the Los Angeles-based psychedelic band The Human Expression, whose single Optical Sound had been a regional hit. On Foster's suggestion, the band changed their name from The Circus to The Human Zoo and they landed a recording deal with Accent Records, a small label based out of Hollywood. While Accent released their debut album in 1970, it was pressed in very small quantities; it's been speculated that the label's management believed the group had the potential to be signed to a larger label and pressed the LP primarily as a promotional item, hoping to attract interest from A&R executives. If this was Accent's gambit, it didn't work; sales were minimal, the remaining copies were dumped into bargain bins and The Human Zoo's sole recording all but vanished. However, the album developed a reputation among collectors of rare garage and psychedelic rock of the 1960s and 70s, and at one point a sealed copy of the album was sold in an on-line auction for $900. In 2010, less wealthy collectors were able to own the album as it was reissued by Cicadelic Records. Guitarist Larry Hanson later went on to a successful career as a sideman and session musician, spending eighteen years as a touring member of the popular country group Alabama. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi