For an album released on the Manticore label (home to the always over-bearing Emerson, Lake and Palmer), this 1974 release came as a pleasant surprise.
The fact that it features one of rock's true chameleons in the form of Donald Hanson Marvin Kerr Richards, Jr.(aka Junior Hanson, aka Junior Kerr, aka Junior Marvin) was simply an added bonus.
The guy's discography is a hornet's nest and I'm not going to try to untangle it here, but Hanson was apparently a post Keef Hartley band project, as well as serving as the debut of his new stage name - Junior Hanson.
Prior to recording a sophomore album, the band underwent a wholesale personnel shake up that saw namesake Hanson the only carryover. The revised line up featured percussionist Brother James, drummer Glen LeFleur and bassist Neil Murray.
Overlooking the butt ugly cover art (nice job there Bob Defrin), "Magic Dragon" is surprisingly good Hendrix inspired guitar rock with enough psych touches to make it interesting to folks collecting that genre.
by Scott Blackerby
Tracks
1.Rocking Horseman (John Burns) - 3:34
2.Morning Day Religion (Junior Hanson, Ken Cumberbatch) - 3:10
3.Down Into The Dragon (Junior Hanson, Ken Cumberbatch) - 5:28
4.Rock Me Baby (B.B. King, Joe Josea) - 3:57
5.Love Yer, Need You (Brother James, Glen LeFleur, Junior Hanson, Neil Murray) - 4:59
6.Boy Meets Girl (Cassandra) - 3:06
7.American Beauty Rose (Junior Hanson, Ken Cumberbatch) - 3:06
8.Looking At Tin Soldiers (Junior Hanson) - 3:46
9.Magic Dragon (Junior Hanson, Ken Cumberbatch) - 2:59
Hanson
*Junior Hanson - Guitar, Vocals
*Glen LeFleur - Drums, Percussion
*Neil Murray - Bass
*Brother James - Percussion, Congas
*Marlo Henderson - Guitar
*Andre Lewis - Keyboards
With
*Cassandra - Vocals
Relasted Act
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