Based in Hollywood, Florida former Blues Image, Iron Butterfly, Ramatam, and Thee Image singer/guitarist  Mike 

Pinera was apparently the brainchild behind the short-lived and rather mysterious Illusion label.  In addition to 

churning out a series of Blues Image (mark 2) albums, the Illusion catalog includes an album with Pinera featured 

on guitar and vocals (The Fanz), as well as a couple of albums seemingly recorded by Pinera with friend/Cactus 

keyboardist Duane Hitchings (Charmer's "Your Presence Requested" and "Do It To It").  Pinera also seems to 

have been the creative force responsible for signing and producing most of the bands to the label.  Like Sage, many 

of the bands on the Illusion roster seem to have been based in Southern Florida where Pinera was living at the time.  

Pinera's label also had the distinction/notoriety of signing a young Tiffany () to a recording contract.

 

 

While I've never seen anything that definitively proves Illusion was a tax-scam label, it sure seems to fit the 

pattern - releasing a handful of albums (including several Blues Image efforts) during the 1977-78 timeframe 

with virtually no publicity.  Curiously Pinera's own website makes absolutely no mention of this enterprise and 

the discography makes no mention of the five 1977-78 Blues Image albums, or the Mike Pinera Band release.

 

http://www.realrock.com/

 

  Changes:

 

  2011

- 02 January, 2011 - added an intro to this page

- 14 January, 2011 - added picture of Pearl "Go To the Mirror" LP

- 25 January, 2011 - increased size of jpg images from 100 x 100 to 144 x 144

- 26 January, 2011 - added photo of Blues Image "Leavin' My Troubles Behind"

- 26 January, 2011 - added photo of Blues Image "Can't You Believe In Forever"

- 26 January, 2011 - added photo of Sage "Rock It Out"

- 26 January, 2011 - added photo of Mike Pinera Band "One for All"

- 27 January, 2011 - added photo and review for Chubby Jackson "Groovin' with Chubby Jackson and Dadd"

- 20 February, 2011 - added entry and photo for Tiffany's "A Little Bit of Tiffany"

 

  2012

- 29 March, 2012 - added photo and review for Wild Honey "Wild Honey" 

- 04 November, 2012 - added a review of Sage's "Rock It Out"

 

  2013

- 13 December, 2013 - added copy of Blues Image "Can't You Believe In Forever" for sale

 

  2014

- 10 May, 2014 - added description and a copy of Blues Image "Leavin' My Troubles" for sale

- 25 July, 2014 - added image for Hopney "Ends and Means" LP

 

  2017

- 21 January, 2017 - added review for Sage's "Skyscraper"

- 28 January, 2017 - added picture of Wizard "Let There Be Rock" LP - thanks to James Baird

- 28 January, 2017 - Critical Mass "Silver Screen" CM-101 (does it exist?)

- 29 January, 2017 - added photo of Cutie "Word's Out" LP

- 22 May, 2017 - added catalog number Mike Pinera Band "One For All" (thanks to Andy for finding the catalog number)

 

 

 

 

 

LP cover Artist   LP Title Label catalog # Year grading

Value


Hopney Ends and Means Illusion CM-1032 1977 psych est. $250 - $300

Hopney Perils of Love Illusion CM-1033 1977 psych est. $250 - $300

Hopney Cosmic Rockout Illusion CM-1034 1977 psych est. $250 - $300

Fanz The Grand Illusion Illusion CM-1045 1977 rock est. $250 - $300

Sage Freeport Illusion CM-1046 1977 rock est. $250 - $300

Sage Rock It Out Illusion CM-1047 1978 rock $150.00

Sage Skyscraper Illusion CM-1048 1978 rock $180.00

Sage Don't Look Back Illusion CM-1049 1978 rock est. $150 - $200

Sage Shadows In the Night Illusion CM-1050 1978 rock est. $150 - $200

Tiffany A Little Bit of Tiffany Illusion CM-1032 1977 pop est. $20 - $40

Charmer Your Presence Requested Illusion CM-1068 1978 rock  

unknown unknown Illusion CM-1069 1978 rock  

unknown unknown Illusion CM-1070 1978 rock  

Charmer Do It To It Illusion CM-1071 1978 rock est. $150 - $200

Sage Rockin' Illusion CM-1099 1978 rock est. $150 - $200

Sage Sage By Sage Illusion CM-2004 1978 rock est. $200 - $250

unknown unknown Illusion CM-2005 1978 rock  

Blues Image Something To Say Illusion CM-2006 1978 rock est. $250 - $300

Blues Image Leavin' My Troubles Behind Illusion CM-2007 1978 rock $150

Blues Image Ride Captain Ride Illusion CM-2008 1978 rock $100.00

Blues Image Can't You Believe In Forever Illusion CM-2009 1978 VG+ / VG+ $100.00

Blues Image Clean Love Illusion CM-2010 1978 rock $100.00

Wild Honey Wild Honey Illusion CM 2011 1977 VG / VG+; some hissing  in quieter passages but no skips

$90.00


Wild Honey Part Two Illusion CM 2011 1977 pop

est. $90.00


Axis Axis Illusion CM-2030 1978 rock est. $100 - $200

Pearl Pearl Illusion CM-2032 1978 rock est. $50 - $75

Mike Pinera Band One for All Illusion CM-2034 1978 rock est. $100 - $120

Pearl Go To the Mirror Illusion CM-2036 1978 rock est. $50 - $75

Wizard Let There Be Rock Illusion CM 2037 1978 rock est $100 - $150

Chubby Jackson Band Groovin' with Chubby Jackson and Dadd Illusion CM-2038 1978 soul SOLD  $15.00

Wizard The Spell Is Cast Illusion CM-2040 1978    


Cutie Word's Out Illusion CT 2529 1978 disco  

 

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