We’re premiering this unearthed archival recording of “I Only Cry For You,” from jazz fusion combo The New Yorkers not so much for its extreme metal content (because it’s definitely not), but more for its historical value, as it relates to Megadeth. The New Yorkers were (ironically) a Los Angeles outfit formed in the late ’70s and featuring future Megadeth members guitarist Chris Poland and drummer Gar Samuelson (RIP). Those two were, of course, part of the lineup that recorded Megadeth’s first two groundbreaking and hugely influential thrash releases, Killing Is My Business . . . and Business Is Good! and Peace Sells . . . but Who’s Buying? It may not be immediately obvious how the pair went from the laid back fusion on “I Only Cry For You” to “The Skull Beneath the Skin,” but certainly their virtuosity is apparent on both.
Along with Poland and Samuelson. the band included Gar’s brother Stew Samuelson (guitar), as well as Robertino “Pag” Pagliari (bass) and Don Roper (horns). The track we’re premiering is taken from an upcoming full-length of previously unreleased demo and live recordings titled Low-Temperature Delay that’s being issued by Psychic Reader Records. The musicians were all in their early twenties at the time of these recordings and Poland remembers, “None of us had ever seen a studio before.” According to Pagliari, though, they weren’t necessarily recording under ideal conditions. “The first [session] we did was . . . on Hollywood Blvd, on the third floor, between, like, 1 AM and 6 AM,” he said. “Back in those days, that corner was awful. I mean, if you wanted somebody murdered that’s where you’d go—throw some money around and you could get it done. And here it is, one o’clock in the morning, and we’re humping gear up three flights of stairs just to get a couple songs done.”
Low-Temperature Delay is set for release on vinyl and digitally on December 4, and “I Only Cry For You” is available to stream today, November 4, on all the usual places. Place your preorder here.
