Lost In Tyme Blog

Another record that remains undiscovered and is stuck in the wishlists of several collectors for a long time.
No information available about this band, just unconfirmed relations with a couple New Mexico bands (Hooterville Trolley and Xit).
Released in 1970 on Uni Records (which released also the Strawberry Alarm Clock, Druids of Stonehedge, Alexander's Timeless Bloozband, and American Blues, along with R'n'B, Neil Diamond and Elton John records), this came out in a nice gatefold sleeve (like many albums from this label).

If Magic Sand reissued today would be labeled as Xsian Blues/Psych and this would be 2/3 true (all reissues had to be labeled psych though...). In the 11 tracks of the album there are 7 blues or rhythm'n'blues numbers (some of them standards with altered lyrics), an instrumental played with fiddle which must be a traditional Irish or Scottish dance ("Magic Sand"), two folk/country tracks with nice banjo, and an exploito psychedelic track ("Get Ready To Fly"). "I Take What I Want" is a tight r'n'b with an exceptional drum part, complete with female vocals, "Baby What you want Me to Do" is "Baby Don't you wanna Go" with different lyrics, "Down on My Knees" is a country Christian hymn. My favorite is "Listen to What's Not Being" which reminds me of Eric Burton & the Animals in their "Twain Shall Meet" period (minus the sitars but with the husky vocals).

Probably Magic Sand was made by the members of a Christian commune of the late 60s (different singers, remake of standard tunes, choirs, rich instrumentation and a "ok-now-we're-recording" feeling in most tracks), but maybe it was just a studio project that was set to catch the rising Xsian tide. Anyway this is your chance to make your own mind about this long lost artifact.

Tracklist
Listen to What's Not Being
Thinking Out Loud
I Take What I Want
Down on My Knees
Good Lord Willing
You Better Be Ready
Get Ready to Fly
It's Your Thing
Baby, What You Want Me to Do
Mr. C
Magic Sand

review by Rainy Day Sponge