Forget The "Sideshow" & Concentrate On The Better Tracks...
Mark Barry at Reckless Records, Lon | UK | 09/28/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Produced by NORMAN HARRIS of Philadelphia Intl fame and with their songs pumped up by the MFSB Orchestra - BLUE MAGIC were TED MILLS, WENDELL and VERNON SAWYER, KEITH BEATON and RICHARD PRATT
Released in early 1974 on Atlantic's label imprint ATCO, Blue Magic's first album was dominated by the huge US Number 1 soft soul hit "Sideshow". This October 2007 12-track reissue finally makes that self-titled debut album available on remastered CD (and for the first time in the UK).
Here's the breakdown (56:51 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 9 are the LP "Blue Magic" released on Atlantic SD 7038 in January 1974
Track 10 is "Guess Who", the non-album B-side to the 1st 7" single off the album
Track 11 is "Where Have You Been", the non-album B-side to the 2nd single off the album
Track 12 is a Tom Moulton Remix of "Look Me Up" issued on a 1976 Atlantic Records compilation called "Disco-Trek", Atlantic SD 18185
The album yielded four singles in the USA:
"Spell" b/w "Guess Who" on Atco 6910, March 1973
"Look Me Up" b/w "What's Come Over Me" on Atco 6930, September 1973
"Stop To Start" b/w "Where Have You Been" on Atco 6949, January 1974
"Sideshow" b/w "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely" on Atco 6961, April 1974
The remaster has been done by Rhino's long-time tape-expect BILL INGLOT and a typically SUPERB JOB delivered - very clear despite the often overbearingly lush string arrangements. There are very detailed liner notes by noted soul writer and contributor CHARLES WARING that include interviews with the band - and the label even reflects the original yellow ATCO label and multi-coloured logo - all nice touches.
A cross between The Stylistics and The Chi-Lites "Blue Magic" were soft soul and not to everybody's taste. And while this might seem like the kind of music your sister would buy, both disco and soft soul have seen a resurgence of affection among soul lovers in the last few years - usually because if you dig deep enough second time round, there's great tunes in there somewhere. This seems to have been the case with Blue Magic. Although they charted 3 singles prior, they were forever tied down to their huge "Sideshow" hit, which sort of sidelined better tracks on the album like the Ted Mills penned "Spell" and the sweet seven minutes plus of "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely".
Disco fans will enjoy the bonus remix of "Look Me Up", while the two B-sides are excellent and rare.
Another top job done by RHINO - and a cleverly chosen title for reissue.
PS: This release is part of Rhino's "CLASSIC SOUL ALBUM - REMASTERED & EXPANDED" Series.
Most titles are first time onto CD and are rare soul albums from the Warner/Atlantic/Cotillion/Elektra vaults.
Some other titles are:
1. Ace Spectrum - "Inner Spectrum" (see REVIEW)
2. Donny Hathaway - "Come Back Charleston Blue O.S.T." (see REVIEW)
3. Leroy Hutson - "Paradise" (see REVIEW)
4. Ronn Matlock - "Love City" (see REVIEW)
5. Gwen McCrae - "Gwen McCrae"
6. Gwen McCrae - "On My Way"
7. Prince Philip Mitchell - "Make It Good" (see REVIEW)
8. Prince Phillip Mitchell - "Top Of The Line"
9. The Voices Of East Harlem [feat Donny Hathaway] -"Right On Be Free" (see REVIEW)"
Magic It Definitely Is
G-Funk 4ever | Listenin' to the Delfonics | 05/02/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Blue Magic, yet another great Philly soul group, releases its 1974 debut. As a fan of The Delfonics and The Stylistics, 2 other Philly legendary groups, I finally heard of these guys and definitely dig them. They have style and class, and the harmony is wonderful. Teddy Mills can really hit some high notes with his falsetto. The joint "Spell" is fantastic. I love the sitars (an early to mid-70's trademark), airy beat and heavenly chorus. A woman's charm and style puts a "spell" on these guys and changes their lives for the better. Mills gives me goose bumps when he belts out "I'm lovin' ya power, baby,... aah....spell" in a mountain high tenor. "Sideshow" is clever and sad. The sadness of a broken heart is a spectator event and a window into a sad person's heart. Once again, the vocals are heavenly. We get an upbeat disco-like jam, "Look Me Up" which is fun and funky with some of Mills' best vocal flexing. "I Just Don't Want To Be Lonely" is self-explanatory, a great mid-tempo jam with a funky, rolling beat. We then get another upbeat, funky joint, "The Answer To My Prayer" where Mills declares that a certain lovely woman is "the answer to [his] prayer." "Stop To Start" is a song dealing with slowing down a tumultuous relationship so as to start over again on the right foot, a beautiful jam once again. Remember, this came out in an era where many more albums, like this one, were skip-proof. Every song here is a certified winner. If we could only return to an era where music had the real magic groups like these had. At least we can go and pull albums like these out."
Best Old School Soul Album of All Time!
Big Al | Honolulu | 04/19/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you have not heard or bought this killer CD, you need to order it right now! Although this album originally came out in the 70's, all of the tunes are timeless. The arrangements, orchestration, production, and most of all the vocals are off the hook! Sweet and soulful, with a few upbeat tunes thrown in for good measure, you can put this on and just let it play. You cannot go wrong with CD, and you will be glad you got it for many more years to come."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1