The Magicians (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Singles, compilation album |
The Magicians were a garage rock ensemble originating from New York City in 1965. Throughout their career, they issued four singles under Columbia Records, with "An Invitation to Cry" standing out as their most recognized song. Band members Alan Gordon and Garry Bonner later achieved success as a songwriting partnership. In 1999, a compilation album featuring their work was released.
History
The Magicians emerged from the interracial rock band Tex and the Chex, which included Alan Gordon on drums, Everett Jacobs on bass, Mike Appel handling lead guitar, and Rod Bristow as lead vocalist. Their regular performances took place at the Cinderella club in Greenwich Village, and they issued a single titled "My Love" through Atlantic Records in 1964. The song "An Invitation to Cry," co-written by Gordon and Jimmy Woods, was initially demoed with Jacobs and Appel. Prior to recording, producers Bob Wyld and Art Polhemus insisted on replacing Bristow with Garry Bonner. The track was noted for its atmospheric pop/rock sound infused with blue-eyed soul elements, innovative production techniques, and Bonner's passionate vocal delivery. It achieved regional popularity and later gained broader acclaim after being featured on the 1972 compilation Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968.
Following his departure from Tex and the Chex, Appel joined the Balloon Farm, contributed to their top 40 hit "A Question of Temperature," and played a role in managing Bruce Springsteen early in his career. After securing a contract with Columbia Records, Jacobs left the group and was succeeded by Allan "Jake" Jacobs along with John Townley as the band rebranded as the Magicians. They rose to prominence by taking over from the Lovin' Spoonful as the house band at the Night Owl club, drawing attention from Felix Pappalardi of Mountain and Cream; however, no collaboration ensued. Two singles released in 1966 featured covers of David Blue compositions but did not replicate their initial single's regional success. The band appeared on CBS's Eye on New York, a significant exposure for an act without a full album release, and recorded further unreleased tracks before Jacobs and Townley exited.
Their final single in early 1967 had minimal commercial success. Meanwhile, Gordon and Bonner gained recognition as a songwriting duo, most notably creating the Turtles' hit "Happy Together." The Magicians dissolved later that year; their recordings were eventually compiled into the 1999 album An Invitation to Cry: The Best of the Magicians.