Sunnyvale, California, USA • 1969-1970

Magic was a short-lived but powerful power trio hailing from the Bay Area in 1969. Rising from the ashes of Grass Warehouse—a local band that would occasionally share bills with The Chocolate Watchband—Magic was formed by longtime collaborators Patrick Osborne (guitar/bass/vocals) and Marc Vitale (drums), joined by guitarist/bassist Bob Darling. Patrick and Bob would alternate on bass and guitar, bringing an unusual dynamic to their sound.

The summer of 1969 found the group laying down two cuts, "Cotton Candy" and "Make Up Your Mind," in a small studio, with the trio's friend Bobb Bragg acting as credited producer on the record. Pressed in an extremely limited run, the resultant 45 would become a cult artifact of dark, soulful loner rock, its origins remaining a mystery for decades.

While Magic existed for less than a year, the band's music captures the raw, sprawling creativity of the late '60s Bay Area. Patrick and Marc would both continue making music in various projects once Magic dissolved, but the two enigmatic songs on this rare single stand as a tribute to the band's brief brilliance.