In the bustling New York rock scene of the early 1970s, overshadowed by the towering reputations of acts like The Velvet Underground and the emerging glam movement, there existed a band whose music seemed both timeless and slightly out of step with its moment. Hackamore Brick, a Brooklyn based quartet, released just one album in their brief lifetime - but that lone record, “One Kiss Leads to Another” (1970), would become a hidden gem cherished by collectors and power-pop aficionados decades later. Hackamore Brick was formed in Brooklyn by Tommy Moonlight (aka Tommy Lipkins) on guitar and vocals, and Chick Newman (aka Richard Trunz) on keyboards and vocals. They were joined by bassist Bob Roman and drummer Robbie Biegel. The group’s origins lay in the Brooklyn club circuit, where they blended jangly, melodic guitar work with driving rhythms and a knack for catchy, bittersweet hooks. Their sound drew inspiration from The Velvet Underground’s more melodic side, The Byrds’ chiming guitars, and the concise pop sensibility of British Invasion bands. In 1970, Hackamore Brick signed with Kama Sutra Records, the same label that had success with bubblegum pop acts like The Lovin’ Spoonful, The 1910 Fruitgum Company and The Jaggerz. They recorded “One Kiss Leads to Another” at Bell Sound Studios in New York City, with a stripped-down production style that kept the focus on the songs. The album was an intriguing mix of wry, streetwise lyrics and breezy, guitar and organ driven pop. Tracks like “Radio” and “I Watched You Rhumba” hinted at urban narratives, while “Zip Gun Woman” and “And I Wonder” showcased the band’s knack for bittersweet melodies. However, despite positive critical notices, the album failed to gain traction commercially. It didn’t fit neatly into the prevailing trends - too clean-cut for the heavier rock of the era, too quirky for mainstream AM pop. Without strong label support, Hackamore Brick faded from the scene. For decades, “One Kiss Leads to Another” remained largely unknown outside of hardcore record collectors. But in the 1990s and 2000s, as power-pop enthusiasts and indie musicians dug into the past for overlooked treasures, Hackamore Brick’s sole LP began to surface as a cult favorite. Its jangly guitars and sharp songwriting drew comparisons to later acts like Big Star and even prefigured some of the lo-fi indie pop of the 1980s and 1990s. Reissues of the album introduced it to new audiences, and its understated charm found champions among critics and musicians who valued its unfashionable sincerity and tuneful craftsmanship. Hackamore Brick never reunited for a follow-up album, and little is known about the later careers of its members - adding to the mystique surrounding the band. Yet “One Kiss Leads to Another” stands as a time capsule of a unique moment in New York music, bridging the gap between The Velvet Underground’s urbane minimalism and the melodic power-pop that would flourish later in the decade. Today, Hackamore Brick is remembered as a fleeting but fascinating footnote in rock history - a band that proved you can make an enduring mark with just one kiss, or in their case, one album.