Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in 1972, the two-LP set covered American garage rock and psychedelia from the years 1965-1968 and was a major influence on punk rock. Rhino Records reissued an expanded version of the set in 1998, with 118 tracks in total. I’m profiling and rating each of these 118 tracks, working backwards.
Track 13: An Invitation to Cry by The Magicians
From: New York City, New York
Rating: 6/10
AN INVITATION TO CRY – The Magicians [2:55]
(James Woods/Alan Gordon)
Personnel/GARY BONNER: vocals, guitar * ALLAN JACOBS: lead guitar, vocals * JOHN TOWNLEY: bass, vocals * ALAN GORDON: drums, vocals
Produced by ART POLHEMUS & BOB WYLD for KOPPELMAN-RUBIN ASSOCIATES, INC.
Recorded in New York, NY
Columbia single #4-43435 (11/65)
The Magicians started as an interracial rock band named Tex and the Chex. Tex and the Chex played regularly at the Cinderella club in Greenwich Village. Producers were impressed by drummer Alan Gordon’s song ‘An Invitation to Cry’, and offered the group a recording contract. They also insisted on a change of lead vocalist, so the band recruited Gary Bonner and changed their name to the Magicians.
The Magicians are one of two bands on Nuggets that feature Mike Appel. Appel is better known to music fans for managing Bruce Springsteen’s early career. Appel was drafted into the United States Marine Reserve for six months shortly before the band recorded ‘An Invitation to Cry’.
‘An Invitation to Cry’ is an interesting record, white soul with a hint of psychedelia. There’s a busy arrangement with odd mixing choices – it’s one of the more amateur-sounding efforts on Nuggets. I also find Gary Bonner’s gruff lead vocal difficult to connect with. It’s a good song that could have been better presented.
Bonner and drummer Alan Gordon became a successful songwriting team. Their best-known writing credit is for The Turtles’ ‘Happy Together’. They also wrote songs for Helen Reddy and Three Dog Night.
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I spent some time on this one because something just didnt’ sound right. At first I agreed with you about his voice but I listened to it around 3-4 times and I think it’s something else. I think his voice sounds ok…but it sounds like he is either rushing the lyrics or the band’s pacing was wrong. Something just sounds out of sync to me…not recording wise but playing and singing…or maybe it’s just me!
I like the sound over all though…. It reminds me of early Moody Blues…the Go Now period.
They’re a little loose with the tempo, right? It slows down and speeds up a bit.
I think it does speed up and slow down…making the vocal seem uncomfortable… I don’t like playing with click tracks but this one needed it.
Sometimes it’s nice how tracks sped up in the 1960s over the course of a sing, i think it happens in some Stones songs.
While I think it’s fair to say “An Invitation to Cry” isn’t exactly magical, I still think I’m a bit more excited about the song than you are and probably would have rated it a bit higher. Of course, in the end, much of it is subjective.
I too found Bonner’s vocal a tough listen, but thanks for the tip.