Majic Ship: Majic Ship 1969 + The Complete Authorized Recordings 1966 - 1970

Arising out of adolescent garage band the Primitives, which played primitive covers of British Invasion tunes, the New Primitives came together in New York City in 1966, originally composed of a group of high school friends: Ray Rifice (guitar), Tommy Nikosy (guitar), Rob Buckman (drums),

and Mike Garrigan (vocals). Soon, the band increased to a group of five with the addition of bassist/organist Gus Riozzi. They kept a busy performance schedule throughout the next few years when their high school commitments allowed it. In 1968, Rifice left the band to attend college, but at about the same time, former '50s crooner turned manager Johnny Mann saw the band live and promised to get them a recording contract. Philip Polimeni replaced Rifice on lead guitar, and the New Primitives became Majic Ship. 
                 

THE NEW PRIMITIVES

Mann introduced the band to the Tokens, who produced their first single, "Night Time Music." It became a local hit, even gaining the band some national airplay, as did a second single, "Hummin."

After much touring and a couple more singles, Majic Ship found their way to a studio to record their self-titled debut album in the summer of 1969. They melded hard rock, pop, and psychedelia in a way similar to fellow New Yorkers Vanilla Fudge. The band continued on for the next couple of years with plans to record a second album, but those plans were nixed when the band's shared house in Staten Island burned to the ground in 1971, taking with it virtually all their recording equipment and instruments. Without any insurance, the bandmembers called it quits. 
                

Because the disc was pressed on a small imprint, distribution was limited, which of course amounted to restricted exposure. Had a wider audience been able to hear “Majic Ship,” the band definitely would not

have sunk into obscurity as they did. Some years ago, Gear Fab Records resurrected the album in digital format on a couple of occasions, with one of the packages containing bonus tracks. It's probably a mistake to regard Majic Ship as a lost classic from the era when psychedelia was giving way to hard rock, but it's a solid and enjoyable record from a band who had genuine talent and some fine songs; it's not hard to imagine these guys could have become major stars if their luck had been a bit better back in the day 
                 

1999 saw the Mike Garrigan and Tommy Nikosey reunite, resulting in an album titled “Songwaves

Project” that also included Cher, ex- Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, Dave Amato from REO Speedwagon, and drummer Ron Wikso, who has played with everyone from Foreigner to David Lee Roth to Cher to Randy Meisner to Denny Laine. Although the disc is poppier than “Majic Ship,” it’s still strongly recommended and adds a nice touch to the band’s legacy. 
                        

MAJIC SHIP - MAJIC SHIP 1969

 

Majic Ship – Majic Ship
Label: Gear Fab Records – GF-215
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered 2005
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock

                      

TRACKS

                    

01. Sioux City Blues    3:01
02. Wednesday Morning Dew    3:07
03. Life's Lonely Road    2:51
04. We Gotta Live On    3:18
05. Where Are We Going    2:35
06. Free    4:20
07. Down By The River - What It's Worth    10:54
08. Nightmare    2:40
09. Too Much    3:38
10. Cosmo's Theme    3:45

LINE - UP

                    

Backing Vocals, Bass, Organ – Cosmo (Gus) Riozzi
Drums – Rob Buckman
Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Phil Polimeni
Lead Vocals – Mike Garrigan 
Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Tommy Nikosey

Flac Size: 423 MB

MAJIC SHIP - THE COMPLETE AUTHORIZED RECORDINGS 1966 - 1970

                       

Majic Ship – The Complete Authorized Recordings 1966 - 1970
Label: Gear Fab Records – GF-107
Format: CD, Compilation, Remastered
Country: US
Released: 1997
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock, Pop Rock

                     

TRACKS

               

01. High Time Music   2:16
Written-By – Vetere, Santarpia
02. Mustang Sally (Demo- 1966)   3:24
Written-By – B. Rice
03. On The Edge (Demo- 1966)   3:25
Written-By – Majic Ship
04. Hummin'   2:37
Written-By – Hayes / Porter
05. It's Over   2:19
Written-By – Garrigan, Nikosey
06. Green Plant   2:27
Written-By – Margo-Margo-Medress-Siegel
07. To Love Somebody   2:50
Written-By – Gibb, Gibb
08. On The Edge   2:52
Written-By – Majic Ship
09. And When It's Over   2:12
Written-By – B. Sommer
10. Sioux City Blues   3:02
Written-By – Garrigan, Polimeni
11. Wednesday Morning Dew   3:07
Written-By – Garrigan, Nikosey
12. Life's Lonely Road   2:53
Written-By – Garrigan, Nikosey
13. We Gotta Live On   3:18
Written-By – Riozzi
14. Where Are We Going   2:36
Written-By – Nikosey
15. Free   4:20
Written-By – Garrigan, Polimeni
16. Down By The River / For What It's Worth    (10:54)
16a. Down By The River
Written-By – Young
16b. For What It's Worth
Written-By – Stills
17. Nightmare   2:40
Written-By – Polimeni, Nikosey
18. Too Much   3:28
Written-By – Garrigan, Polimeni, Buckman
19. Cosmo's Theme   3:49
Written-By – Riozzi
20. Blow Me Away   3:36
Written-By – Garrigan, Nikosey
21. Interview By Roger Maglio-1997    6:07

LINE - UP

                  

Bass – Gus (Cosmo) Riozzi (tracks: 1, 4 to 20)
Drums – Rob Buckman
Guitar, Vocals – Tommy Nikosey
Lead Guitar – Philip Polimeni (tracks: 1, 4 to 20)
Lead Vocals – Mike Garrigan 
Organ – Gus (Cosmo) Riozzi (tracks: 2, 3, 10 to 20)
Vocals – Gus (Cosmo) Riozzi

ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS

Bass – John Kharouf (tracks: 2, 3)
Lead Guitar – Ray Rifice (tracks: 2, 3)
Organ – Jeff Bilotta (tracks: 1, 4 to 9)

NOTES

                

Front cover:
Subtitle is "The story of a New York band in the sixties !"

Back cover:
The Original 1966-1970 recordings, including the hit singles and unreleased songs.
Also included, a new 1997 song, live interviews and photographs !

Tracks 1 & 6 originally released as single A and B-side in 1968.
Tracks 2 & 3 are demos recorded in 1966.
Tracks 4 & 5 originally released as single A and B-side in 1969.
Track 7 originally released as single A-side in 1970.
Tracks 8 & 9 originally released as single A and B-side in 1969.
Tracks 10 to 19 originally released as LP " Majic Ship " in 1970.
Track 20 is a new song recorded in 1997.
Track 21 is not listed on the sleeve

Flac Size: 769 MB