TheCycle (Magic Cycle) - Give Me The Right b/w It Was You

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Give Me The Right

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	It Was You	02:12

Photos

Videos

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Information/Write-up

Goin’ Round In Circles: The Story Of Cycle
The Magic Cycle began in Toronto as the Canadian Deltones; a four piece rock band featuring Paul Clinch (Drums; later would switch to rhythm guitar and vocals), Stan Theriault (Lead Guitar & Vocals) Albert Santalucia (Rhythm Guitar & Lead Vocals) and Joey Rome (Bass & Vocals). In early 1966 they were a cover band playing the bars and clubs scattered throughout the downtown core. But later that year they decided to change their name to "The Magic Cycle." The members included Paul Clinch (Rhythm Guitar & Vocals), Stan Theriault (Lead Guitar & Vocals), Joey Rome (Bass & Vocals) Albert Santalucia (Rhythm Guitar & Lead Vocals) and Kevin Barry (Drums & Vocals).

They caught the attention of Stan Klees (founder of Tamarac/Co-Founder of Red Leaf) while playing live in early 1967. Their original songs were starting to elicit a more favorable response from audiences. They’d sign with Red Leaf in February and released their first single “Let’s Run Away/Halfway To Heaven” in March. The single had minor local success and warranted a second in July; “Give Me The Right/It Was You.” Albert Santalucia would exit shortly after its release. He’d be replaced by Pete Young (Guitar).

They also released a 45 on Ben McPeek's short-lived Giant label. These three singles had minor success locally and throughout Ontario to a lesser degree, but failed to make an impact almost anywhere else in Canada.

They changed their name to The Cycle in autumn 1969, and signed to Stan Klees' Tamarac label. That year they were quite busy musically. On top of playing live frequently, they recorded an album throughout the summer of their own, to be released in 1970. Oddly enough, a DIFFERENT 45 version of Groovy Things & It's A Sunny Day from the album were released in August 1969 (7 months before the album came out), under the Magic Cycle name, on Stan Klees' Fingerprint sub-label.

They were also Greg Hambleton's choice for backing band to record the album's he produced for Birchmount records. These records included one's by Suzanne (BM-501), Tuesday's Children (BM-508), Sultan Street Nine (BM-509), and The Candy Rock Fountain (BM-517). Paul Clinch also recorded with "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly", a country rock group who recorded for Dominion in 1969-1970 (also known by Cabbage Towne).

Peter Goodale joined the band on Organ at the beginning of 1970, aiding in the recording and overdubbing for the debut album. When their album was released in 1970, it was met with a less than stellar response. Given the material on the album and the ecstatic reviews of Richie Yorke plastered on the back cover and through various publications, it truly is a shame. Most songs on this album are really solid but the true stand out is the 7-minute psych-rock blast titled God, featuring a hellish guitar-solo; a warning against worshipping false idols, and losing yourself to charismatic figures. Given the time of release, the lyrical themes of this song are especially poignant.

A number of singles were released from this album but they all failed to make an impact. The single version of God has the amazing guitar solo edited out, which nipped their best chance of success at the time in the butt.

They began recordings for their second album in late 1971, but it wouldn't see release until 1973. A single from the recordings was released in December 1971 (Gimme Some Time/Sitting Where The Flowers Grow) followed by two throughout 1972 (And Still I Keep On Coming Back/Hey There, Look At Me & All I Really Need Is You/Looking At Each Other).

Unfortunately, as with the previous album and singles, the singles meant to advertise their sophomore release went largely unnoticed. This didn't spell well for their upcoming album. Stan Klees and the boys began to grow restless. As thought, when the album did release, it went unheard.

The band would go through a number of lineup changes over the next two years and would tour sporadically trying desperately to garner any sort of praise or attention, but it was for not. They ultimately morphed in Choya with a different line-up. The only remaining member of Cycle in the group was main songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Paul Clinch.

The [Magic] Cycle were a fantastic Psych-Rock band from Toronto who through its various incarnations, captured the hearts of a dedicated few. Some, who still hold these memories in their hearts today. Due to the poor reception of their material in general by the record buying public, many of their releases are quite rare and expensive these days. That is.. when you can find them in decent shape.
WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY: AARON LUSCH
AARONLUSCH@HOTMAIL.COM

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