Customer Reviews

Illusion (Mlps)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Reminds a bit of the first Nazz album, with harmonies akin to the Rascals, these guys were fine muscians with a strong sense of melody, harmony, and played as a real band.

Besides the excellent funk, rock work out "Did You See Her Eyes", "Run, Run, Run...", "Tell Me Why...", and "You Make Me What I Am" are on my permanent playlist. Rich Cerniglia plays demonic guitar, John and Mike are superb singers, Chuck Alder provides rock solid R&B style bottom, and Mike Ricciardella's drums are way out front and sound great.

Their next album, "Together As A Way Of Life" is also worth seeking out (I have it on vinyl).

But their final album, "If It's So", was just outstanding, a true 5 star masterpiece of it's era. And almost completely unknown, even by my rock music listening peers in 1972. I have it only on vinyl, and I've been waiting 25 years for it to appear on CD.

Rich Cerniglia, Mike Maniscalco, Chuck Alder, John Vinci, and Mike Ricciardella - If you read this, PLEASE try and get "If It's So" and "Together..." released on CD, maybe as a double.

The side 1 "If It's So" song cycle is one of the finest album sides of it's era and needs to be heard.

"...in my dreams, as I sleep, reflections haunting me.
If it's so, please don't ever, bring me back..."

You guys were fantastic.

An excellent find. I was very happy to add this to my collection. "Did you see her eyes" was worth the 20 bucks I spent by itself. Again if you can find it buy it.

Hi, Just wanted to say I had no problems with this order. I have been trying to get this album or cd for about 25 years now and walla, there it was. Thanks for the fast service and I am enjoying.
Joyce

I saw this band in concert, and immediately bought all three albums. They were third on the bill with Jimi Hendrix and Cactus, in 1970, in Boston. I did not care for Cactus. I hope to get these on CD. My local record dealer loves them, too. "Did You See Her Eyes" was a top-40 hit. I think "Together" was their greatest song. "If It's So" is great, too.

Funny, when I bought this album in 1969, I don't remember playing it more than a few times, yet when I pulled it out yesterday to burn it to a CD, it had quite a few scratches indicating that I may have played it more than I remembered. As I recorded it, I half-listened to the tracks and all kinds of memories floated back, yet the music still didn't impress me. I finally got to listen to it in detail in the car on the way to work. It sounds a lot better than I remember, and some of the songs are very familiar. That being said, the music is good, just not great.

The Illusion were a band from New York City (or thereabouts), billed as a psychedelic band. After listening to this, their first album, I don't see much to do with psychedelia. It sounds like the standard pop-rock that was typical for the time, with a little funk thrown in here and there. Don't get me wrong, the music is not bad, it's just not something that sets me on fire. The guys are competent musicians, and the singing is well done. It's just not something that blows me away.

For those of you that are looking for great bands from that era, I still think this is well worth seeking out. Though I have my doubts about its psychedelic pedigree, it has its merits. Maybe their second album was more psychedelic. Recommended.

Some real Trivia about this band that is intersting. I was at my first concert with my newest girlfriend seeing Mitch Ryder minus the Wheels back in 1967 at Indiana University. The Illusion was opening up for Mitch.
They were just OK and dressed in the Hippy Looking clothes. I wait for what seemed an eternity and Mitch jumps on stage and who do i see? The guys in the Ilusion dressed in Satin Tuxs with their long hair slicked down. These guys were definetly not the Wheels. My first concert turned about to be really bad. Why Mitch thought these guys could back him up with his style of Music is beyond me. He might as well have me or the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band up there.

Believe it or not, the Loudest Band I ever heard - great guitar player. Underrated band.

I remember hearing this album when it first came out in 69 or so. It has one good song (as I remember, "can you see her eyes") but the rest of the album just plain sucks! Don't waste your time on it. I remember hearing this group in a club on Long Island and didn't think much at the time. The Illusion released another album called "If it's so" a year or two later which was an improvement but still not up to what other bands were doing at the time.