Like their name, the group's sound was of the psychedelic variety. They released singles on smaller labels, like Ganim Records and Verve Records, but those singles did not gain the band much recognition. However, Mercury Records signed the band to a record deal in late 1966 and the group's debut album, Psychedelic Lollipop was released shortly thereafter. It was one of the first records to contain the word "Psychedelic" on the sleeve (along with the 13th Floor Elevators' The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators).
The group's biggest song, "(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet" was released as a single in 1967, with "Gotta Get Away" as the b-side. The song hit number 5 on the US charts, although it did not fare nearly as well in the UK. The next single by the Blues Magoos, "There's A Chance We Can Make It," was only a minor hit, with its b-side "Pipe Dream" actually charting higher (though neither side hit the top 40). After one more minor chart single with "One By One," subsequent singles were largely ignored by record buyers. Neither of the two albums released after Psychedelic Lollipop, Electric Comic Book (1967) and Basic Blues Magoos (1968), had much success. By 1968, the band was discouraged and they split up.
The group's management had other plans. The band was signed to ABC Records, but most of the members did not go along with this plan. Only Castro agreed and started up a revamped Blues Magoos, with Eric Katz, Richie Dickon, John Leillo and Roger Eaton. In 1969, the band completed Never Goin' Back To Georgia, but that release did not attract public attention either. Eaton left the band, and the other Blues Magoos used session musicians for the follow up Gulf Coast Bound. It did poorly as well and though the Magoos struggled for another two years, they eventually parted ways. In 1981, Castro resurfaced with the group Balance.
The original group's output on CD is now complete. Repertoire has released their three albums in deluxe digi-packages with detailed liner notes. Each CD has bonus tracks which include mono versions of single releases, fan club exclusives, and obscure early recordings. Additionally, Collectibles still has the doubled-up "Lollipop/Comic Book" CD for sale and Mercury's "Kaliedoscopic Compendium" anthology is still available as well. The post-1969 group's output has not been released on CD to date.
After a stint with the rock musical Hair and recording with Mercury label mate Exuma (Tony McKay), Peppy Castro formed Barnaby Bye with fellow cast members Bobby and Billy Alessi. The group released two albums on Atlantic Records, Room to Grow (1972) and Touch (1973). In 1981, Castro resurfaced again with the group Balance whose song "Breaking Away" reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In July 2008, the Blues Magoos with original members Ralph Scala, Castro and Geoff Daking reunited for the first time in years for two concerts, including one with The Zombies at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza in New York City. In December 2009 they traveled to Spain for the Purple Weekend festival.
In 2014, The Blues Magoos released their first new album in 43 years, titled Psychedelic Resurrection. The Blues Magoos toured in 2015.
Baby I Want You
The Blues Magoos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear her voice but she's not there
Memories like these still linger on
I can't believe that she's gone
Baby, I want you
Baby, I want you
Baby, I need you to love me
I wonder where she is today
If we'd meet what would I say
I can't tell it's been so long
I still go on, yeah, singing my song
About how I want you
Baby, I want you
Baby, I need you to love me
Baby, love me
The lyrics of The Blues Magoos's song Baby I Want You convey a sense of longing for a lost love. The first verse describes the memory of a young and beautiful woman whose voice can still be heard in the singer's mind. Despite the fact that she is no longer with him, his memories of her continue to persist. The chorus of the song is an expression of the singer's deep desire to be reunited with his lost love. He declares his love for her and acknowledges that he needs her to love him in return.
The second verse continues the theme of uncertainty and the passage of time. The singer wonders where his lost love could be and what he would say to her if they were to meet. He admits that it has been so long since he has seen her that he cannot even imagine how such a meeting would go. Despite this, he continues to sing his song of love and desire for her, underscoring the depth of his emotion and his longing for something that he cannot have.
Overall, the lyrics of Baby I Want You are a testament to the power of memory, desire, and lost love. The singer's words express a yearning that is both poignant and heartfelt, conveying a sense of the deep emotion and passion that can arise from a connection that has been lost.
Line by Line Meaning
I see her face so young and fair
The singer remembers seeing the face of the woman he loves in his mind, and she looked young and beautiful.
I hear her voice but she's not there
The singer hears the woman's voice echoing in his memory, but she is no longer with him.
Memories like these still linger on
The singer's memories of the woman he loved are still very vivid and strong.
I can't believe that she's gone
The singer finds it hard to accept the fact that the woman he loved is no longer with him.
Baby, I want you
The singer expresses his desire for the woman he loves.
Baby, I need you to love me
The singer needs the woman he loves to return his affections, and to love him in return.
I wonder where she is today
The singer wonders about the whereabouts of the woman he loves in the present day.
If we'd meet what would I say
The singer thinks about what he would say if he were to meet the woman he loves again, after so many years have passed.
I can't tell it's been so long
The singer cannot accurately gauge how much time has passed since he last saw the woman he loves.
I still go on, yeah, singing my song
The singer continues to sing about his love for the woman, even though she is not with him anymore.
Lyrics © Royalty Network
Written by: THEILHELM GILBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrGoldenthroat
Another sparkling jewel of a tune by the magnificent Blues Magoos!! I am a longtime vocalist specializing in 60's songs and have incorporated many of their songs in my sets including this one plus Summer is the Man, One by One, Queen of my Nights, Albert Common is Dead, Sybil Green ( Of the in Between), I Wanna Be There, Love Seems Doomed, and Yellow Rose, at one time or another!