The Mystics (Westchester, NY)

Mystics Ren-Vell 45 Ride My Pony (Come)
The Mystics came from either Valhalla or White Plains. Members were Jimmy Carpenito vocals and guitar, Charlie Sinerate guitar, Bob Fresta organ, Dan Liberati bass and Mike Mruz on drums.

Their first 45 from April, 1966 has two original songs by Jimmy Carpenito on their own Mystic label, the excellent jangling-guitar “Orphan” backed with “Bad to Me”, which I haven’t yet heard. These were recorded at White Plains Recording Studio. The group played on the Zacherle show at some point.

They cut a decent cover of the Peppermint Trolley Company’s “Lollipop Train” on the Ren-Vell Battle of the Bands album.

Mystics Ren-Vell 45 This Is What I Was Made ForFor their next single in August 1967, they recorded an original called “Ride My Pony (Come)”, featuring calliope organ playing, and written by James Carpenito and Bob Fresta.

The flip is an excellent cover of the P.F. Sloan & Steve Barri song “This Is What I Was Made For”, which had been previously been done by the Grass Roots (on Dunhill records) and Wild Life (on Columbia). All copies of the Mystics’ version have a short audible glitch that comes in about 45 seconds into the song, probably dirt or damage to the master stamper.

Jimmy Carpenito stayed active in music. I’m sorry to hear that Charlie Sinerate passed away in October 2018.

Mystics SD Records 45 LaryngitisInterestingly in late 2018 I found a 45 I hadn’t known about credited to the Mystics, “Mystic” / “Laryngitis”. Both songs are instrumentals and would seem to be from about 1963 from the sound of them. The B-side, “Laryngitis” is especially good, with a menacing opening riff and good playing throughout.

Louis Viscusi wrote both songs, and arrangements are given to G. Arbach, B. Fresta, F. McConville. Besides the Westchester origin, Bob or Robert Fresta is the only name that connects this to the Mystics who played on their Ren-Vell records.

These were released on SD Records SD-16, which stood for Sön-Deane Records, with an address in a residential neighborhood at 25 Jennifer Lane, Hartsdale, NY. I found a Library of Congress listing for “Laryngitis” credited to Louis Robert Viscusi in February, 1965.

Mystics SD Records 45 MysticSD Records had a range of releases, including religious, school band and theater productions, and funk, most of these from the 1970s. There is an early single with a different label design by the Galaxies, “Ad Lib” / ” Laurie” on Son-Deane Records, RB-105. Jeffrey Baker wrote these Galaxies songs, copyrighted in January, 1964, and there are two others copyrighted in September, 1964, “Tranquility” and “E to G” but I don’t know if these were recorded or released.

Sön-Deane was listed as an ASCAP publisher in Cash Box in 1967 and ’68, as a mastering and reference cutter in DB Sound Engineering Magazine in 1968.

Thanks to Ron for the label shots of “Orphan” / “Bad to Me”.

Mystics Mystic 45 Bad to Me

Mystics Mystic 45 Orphan

8 thoughts on “The Mystics (Westchester, NY)”

  1. Hey Charlie, this is Bob. Check out our “Mystics” Facebook page with alot of pictures and our songs.

  2. Jimmy Carpenito went on with his music efforts,which turned into a band named Chelsey.The band consisted of Marty Carpenito,Vic Mandragon,John Pagano and Joe Pagano . I remember one night at the Rob Roy in armonk new York that Jimmy told me make sure you show up,I have a surprise guest. It was DION! Jimmy and I recorded some sessions and radio ads. John Pagano worked downtown in a studio, I think called Media Counterpoint(somewhere around Madison ave).John helped me learn how to “mix music” and produce a better product. This web site is cool and made me remember stuff from a while ago. If you want to know more let me know.

  3. My name is Norman normbeth422Reinhardt…also known as jae-jae…I was guest singer with chelsey for quite a few years and had a 45rpm called …..how hard it can be backed with……would you like to sing my song….co-written with James carpenito…..

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