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.
Summer Is The Man
The Blues Magoos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That can see what you can
Are the eyes that can see
Far beyond you and me
So we'll wait and we'll wait
Until we are like he
He sees the beauty in a flower
Tormented is his mind
But we've ignored the cries
What is the world
To a man with no hands?
And what is the world
To a man with no ears?
And what is the world
To a man with no tongue?
To a man with all three
But who knows less than he
He feels the world going round
Right beneath his feet
Sees the wealth of man
Struggling in his heat
The frost of Autumn kills the flower
Held in his hand
Pity to lose him now
Summer is the man
The Blues Magoos's song Summer Is The Man is a thought-provoking composition that explores the idea of perception and how it shapes our understanding of the world. The lyrics suggest that there are people who possess a unique ability to perceive things that are beyond the grasp of most individuals. These people are endowed with a gift of vision that enables them to see the world in a way that is different from the rest of us. They can find beauty in things that others might overlook and can appreciate the complexities of life that are often ignored.
The song speaks about waiting until we are like "he," referring to the man with the enhanced perception, who sees far beyond human comprehension. This suggests that the gift of perception is something that can be attained by anyone who is willing to cultivate it through patience and introspection. The reference to the man with no hands, ears, or tongue highlights the idea that perception is not just about the physical senses, it also involves interpreting and analyzing the world around us.
The song's chorus talks about losing summer, a reference to the passing of time and how the man with the gift of vision must ultimately succumb to the limitations of human existence. This is a powerful reminder that we should cherish every moment of our lives and strive to see the world as it truly is, beyond the superficial and mundane.
Line by Line Meaning
The eyes of a man
A man's eyes hold the potential for incredible vision and insight.
That can see what you can
If you can see what someone else is seeing, it means you share the same level of perception and understanding.
Are the eyes that can see
Those who have the ability to truly see have an understanding that goes beyond appearances.
Far beyond you and me
This insight goes far beyond what an individual person may be able to perceive on their own.
So we'll wait and we'll wait
In order to reach a higher level of understanding, sometimes we have to be patient and wait for it to come to us.
Until we are like he
By waiting, we can eventually develop the same level of insight as the person we admire.
He sees the beauty in a flower
This person has a deep appreciation for the natural world and the small things that often go unnoticed by others.
That you or I'd pass by
Many people do not take the time to appreciate the beauty around them, or they are too distracted by other things to notice it.
Tormented is his mind
This person may be plagued with anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues that make their perception of the world both amazing and challenging.
But we've ignored the cries
Despite these struggles, many people do not take the time to understand or support those who experience them.
What is the world
This rhetorical question prompts the listener to consider what our perception of the world truly means.
To a man with no hands?
By asking what the world means to someone with no hands, the song asks the listener to consider how a lack of physical ability may impact one's perception.
And what is the world
Continuing on this theme, the song also prompts us to consider how other disabilities may shape one's understanding of the world.
To a man with no ears?
The artist prompts us to think about how hearing (or the lack thereof) may impact one's perception.
And what is the world
The repetition of this phrase reinforces its importance, and the third iteration takes it a step further.
To a man with no tongue?
Without the ability to speak, someone may experience the world in a unique way that is difficult for others to understand.
To a man with all three
Having all three (hands, ears, and a tongue) may seem like the ideal, but it does not guarantee a deeper understanding of the world.
But who knows less than he
This line suggests that someone who seemingly has everything may still miss out on truly seeing and understanding the world.
He feels the world going round
This line suggests that the artist believes this person's understanding of the world is intimately connected to the way in which everything moves and operates.
Right beneath his feet
Through his perception of the world, the person in question is able to feel and understand the world around him at a deeper, more fundamental level.
Sees the wealth of man
This person can understand and appreciate the intricacies of human life and experience.
Struggling in his heat
Despite the many challenges that face the human experience, this person is able to maintain a deep appreciation for the world and its inhabitants.
The frost of Autumn kills the flower
This line symbolizes the transient nature of beauty and life - no matter how beautiful something may seem in the moment, it is fleeting.
Held in his hand
The image of a flower being held suggests that beauty can only be fully appreciated when experienced in a concrete, tangible way.
Pity to lose him now
This person is an important figure in the artist's mind, and the thought of losing him is heartbreaking.
Summer is the man
The song's title phrase suggests that this person is the embodiment of everything that is good and beautiful in the world - they are like summertime, full of life and vibrancy.
Lyrics © Royalty Network
Written by: Esposito Gilbert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Steve Bolton
great album very groovy !!
MrGoldenthroat
A grand tune by a magnificent group!!
MrGoldenthroat
A glinting jewel of a tune that is of the highest quality!