The Brass Ring was a New York City-based, Herb Alpert-esque outfit from the '60s, led by reed player Phil Bodner. The group specialized in a short-lived musical style called "the Now Sound," which was largely instrumental and possessed a looser rhythm than Alpert's trademark style. The Brass Ring scored several minor hits in the '60s, their best-known being "The Love Theme from the Flight of the Phoenix," while another of their songs, "The Dis-Advantages of You," was used in a series of TV commercials for Benson and Hedges cigarettes. Bodner and the Brass Ring issued several largely overlooked albums during their brief career, including such titles as Love Theme from the Flight of the Phoenix, Lara's Theme, The Dis-Advantages of You, The Now Sound, Gazpacho, and Only Love, in addition to several best-of compilations. ~ Greg Prato