By some standards, the Illusion were one of the most successful unknown psychedelic bands of their generation -- unknown, yes, but with three LPs to their credit on the Steed label. Their personnel included Michael Ricciardella (drums), Richie Cerniglia (guitar), Chuck Alder (bass), Mike Maniscalco (guitar, keyboards), and John Vinci (vocals). The Steed label released Illusion, Together, and If It's So between 1969 and 1970. Illusion was interesting enough to observers to merit a release in England in 1969. By 1971, the Illusion's albums were being sought by kids who'd never heard the band play. One of their songs, "I Love You," has made it on to compact disc. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
This Long Island quintet tried to simultaneously fly their freak flag and sweet-talk the teenyboppers, and the results were lopsided but strong enough to shine years later. The Illusion scored a Top 40 hit in 1969 with a truncated version of the opening track from this debut LP, "Did You See Her Eyes." It's a tough, swaggering number with a simple theme (skirt watching) and a basic structure, but the album cut is expanded with an obtrusive drum solo, assorted echo/wah-wah effects, and an uncredited cop from Sly & the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song." Such unnecessary tampering proves that the Illusion were hip to the new directions that rock was taking at the time and had grander plans for their music than mere hit singles. Regardless, these guys sound best when they get straight to the blue-eyed soul without any prog rock side trips. "Talkin' Sweet Talkin' Soul" should have been the hit, a rambunctious power pop number that bounces around the ears with an irresistible wordless vocal hook. The medley of "Run, Run Run" and "Willy Gee (Miss Holy Lady)" combines both tendencies, pairing the aggressive hard rock of the former ("I'm gonna get shot/This girl is hot!") with the bubblegummy singsong of the latter ("One, two, three/Push out Willy Gee/Four, five, six/Beat him with a stick"). Most of the remaining track time strives for a slightly more psychedelic soul sound, at times reminiscent of the Rationals or a bluesier Byrds. Of these songs, "I Love You, Yes I Do" and "Charlena" stand out, but all the material on this now-rare LP has serious spirit and period charm. ~ Fred Beldin, All Music Guide
------------------------------------___________________________________________________
Network ----- Nightwork ----- Demo Version of Better man than me
_________________________________________________________
Television
John Vinci Sang the Yolanda track of Vanilla Fudge Lead Guitarist Vince Martell's Endless High, An excellent album ______
____________________
Books
________________________________
The official site of Rich Cerniglia !
_______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________Rich Cerniglia with ____________________________________________Daughter Brittany Ann Turner ___
Visit Illusion Lead Guitarist Rich Cerniglia's Website!
-Visit -------*---* click this Myspace link to Rich Cerniglia!_
**
**
**
*____*____*____*____*____
Click Play to hear some mp3 clips of Rich Cerniglia's Earlier work,
*____*____*____
Music from the mountain
Below is a new mix of a song Rich Cerniglia did with his
daughter Brittany Ann
Brittany Ann's MYSPACE
Brittanyann Cerniglia
Click The Play Arrow to hear
-___________-*-___________________
Heroes
Visit Official Mike Ricciardella Site!
____* *
Illusion at Leonies
___________________________________
The Illusion singing Gloria and Juanita in Acapella
_________________
Mark your calendar...April 25th...Retrofest#20/Woodstock '69 40th Anniversary Tribute Concert & Benefit for L.I. Cancer Care @ Who-Ville, Bethpage, NY. Support L.I. Musicians and a great line up of local bands. Yours Truly will be crackin' the whip as Event Stage Manager and Percussionist with the house band, "Retro69". It's my birthday! Come celebrate...great music...great cause! www.retrofest20.com
The following recent messages were sent to the Illusion. ( but were not printed in the Illusion comments and I felt they should be posted )
Mark Moskowitz Jun 05 2008 Note from Mark Hi james, I stumbled onto this website and found your photos of The Illusions. I was one of the original members of a band called The Creations with Mike Ricadella that preceded the illusions. I played rhythm guitar and sang. In the later years a couple of guys from Franklin Square joined the band. The lead singer was Wayne Turner (Dean Veccio) and the lead guitar was Roger Walden. Johnny Vinci was one of my best friends in high school and we used to do a lot together. I would love to get in contact with them again if you know where they are (Johnny or Mike). Please contact me through one of my websites. soundsofbrasil. com or passedlife. net I hope to hear from you soon, Thanks, Mark Moskowitz
E-Mail Mark marquinhopagodinho@yahoo.com marquinhopagodinho@yahoo.com
Tri Power Rock / Indie NEW BALTIMORE, Michigan
I remember seeing you guys in 1971 in Detroit at the Eastown Theatre. That show blew me away.
Aztecson wants to be your friend! Always been a proud fan of The Illusion, so glad to see you guys still rockin on. . Peace In Music. . Aztecson. .
Joanne J-Bird Phillips Joanne J-Bird Phillips wants to be your friend! I LOVE Chuck! I've had the pleasure to have him play in our band a few times, these past few years. He's a sweetheart and my own bass mentor. This user's full name: Joanne J-Bird Phillips 2008 11:12 PM
Nov 24, 2008 9:15 PM Blondy Rock Promotions-Sponsor of ROA Fest! wants to be your friend!
Sent Message | Nov 24, 2008 2:28 PM BAD DOG BITES wants to be your friend!
Neiman Marcus cookie recipe. Neiman Marcus charges $250 for this recipe, which has to be one of the twentieth ceturies greatest rip-offs. So enjoy it here for free. NEIMAN-MARCUS COOKIES (Recipe may be halved) 2 cups butter 24 oz. chocolate chips 4 cups flour 2 cups brown sugar 2 tsp. soda 1 tsp. salt 2 cups sugar 1 8 oz. Hershey Bar (grated) 5 cups blended oatmeal 4 eggs 2 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. vanilla 3 cups chopped nuts (your choice) Measure oatmeal, and blend in a blender to a fine powder. Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey Bar, and nuts. Roll into balls, and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet.
Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 112 cookies.
"Met up with the dearest little angel over the weekend, but she was so, so sad.
She asked in the sweetest of angel voices, how there could be so much love in the world, yet so few feel it. How there could be so much beauty, yet hardly anyone sees it. And how there could be so many miracles, yet most go unrecognized.
Poor thing.
So I reminded her of something far more important, I reminded her that whether or not one knows of the love, one is still bathed in it. Whether or not one sees the beauty, one still adds to it. And whether or not one recognizes the miracles, one still performs them every single day. Then we both just beamed." The Universe. Mike Dooley~~
I'm always interested in pictures that have my old Tarrega in it... it was stolen out of my trunk 6 years ago... an irreplacable old friend... I since switched to 7 string guitars.
Hi Guys! Thanks!!!! I'm in the process actually of trying to download "Did You See Her Eyes" on my MP4 Player. I still love that song although I see you've been pretty busy crankin out other great stuff! WOW is all I can say. Oh, be sure to check out Phil's Website (Yes, THAT Phil who you say toured with you and was with Soul Survivors for a while)
Guitars unlike anything you've probably ever seen as well as customizations. (Example: a good ILLUSION guitar would be an Album cover Shot on the backplate along with a pair of seductive eyes(Did You See Her Eyes" (or on the front) with the b/w Illusion Logo on the headstock! hmmmmm...Possibilities are endless!
Well, thanks again. Your new songs absolutely ROCK! They're more explosive than the fireworks we saw last night! Happy 4th!
Online Now!
