It’s not certain if the label is The Invicta Way and different artists are listed at the top, or the group was The Invicta Way, and each side of the record has its own label name, or sub-artist.
“What Am I to Do” has Someone Else listed at the top. The keyboard sound is a combo organ, possibly a Gibson Kalamzoo, with distortion effect or overdriven amp (thanks to Mike’s comment below for the info).
“Things As They Should Be (Two Flowers Spreading Love)” has ‘Du Rango La Platz’ where the label name would usually go. I’m not sure what this refers to.
Dead wax reads INVICTA 45-2301/2 BRS. However, both songs were written by McRay for Kery Pub, BMI which suggests this was the work of one group. Ron Kery was producer for both sides. Released circa 1968.
As Westex points out in his comment below, Shades McRay was a San Antonio musician, who had a release on Domar DM-1111 as McRay and the Invictas: “Son-of-a-Gun” (written by Richard Dodd) b/w “Cheryl”.
Click on the link in blue for audio of one side. If anyone makes a utube vid of it, please send me the link!
Thanks. Interesting.
mmmm…. it can that the name the invicta way is a label.interesting.thanks
Shades McRay was a decently well known musical figure in San Antonio in the 1960s. He has a release on Domar (Five Canadians) as by McRay and the Invictas… one side is in a moddy dancer sorta fashion… a novelty instro with some spoken spots. Neat record that showed up in some quantity 10 years back or so.
The keyboard is just a combo organ being run through distortion effects or thru an overdriven amp. The instrument is probably(?) a Gibson Kalamzoo. This model was used by countless late 60’s bands and artists, most famously The Doors and Sun Ra. The Seeds have many songs which have an organ sound similar to this too.
Where is “Things As They Should Be”? Does the group on that side sound anything like the combo on “What Am I To Do”?
Crazy, I just stumbled across this. I grew up in S.A., and I knew the original band. What others may not know is that the original drummer for Shades McRay and the Invictas was my next door neighbor and good buddy, Dallas Taylor. Dallas later became the drummer for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Sadly, Dallas passed away in 2015 due to kidney and liver failure from too much alcohol and drugs. He actually spent the last few years of his life helping others as a drug and alcohol abuse counselor.
By the way, the very first record cut by Shades McRay and the Invictas was a version of ‘Bony Maronie’ — can’t remember what was on the flip side.