Search - Magic :: Enclosed

A Great "Lost" Album!

Chuck Potocki | Highland, Indiana | 02/27/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I had heard of Magic before, but never heard any of their songs; so I took a chance and bought the CD, and the only question I have is: WHY didn't these guys make it big? Magic joins the list of the many obscure bands that should've gotten famous such as White Witch, Epitaph, Geordie, and so on; this is one talented band for as young as they were in 1969 when this album was released. Overall, the songwriting is great and the music is played well throughout; my favorite tracks are "California", "You Must Believe She Is Gone", and the fantastic "That's How Strong My Love Is", where guitarist Duane King's vocals are almost the prototype for what Michael Bolton sounded like 2 decades later (only far BETTER than Bolton). On the nearly 9-minute track "I'll Just Play", the band literally takes advice from the title and does just that. While it starts out on a powerful note, it gets a bit bogged down and repetitious as Duane King and Joey Murcia trade off guitar solos that end up sounding the same after a while.This is about as complete a compilation as you're ever going to find on Magic; you have the whole of the "Enclosed" album, songs from their second 1971 album "Magic" (on which Stevie Wonder plays organ on one song), as well as a couple of obscure 45's. Sadly, one of Magic's members, bassist Nick King died in a car accident in 1998, and the CD is dedicated to his memory. All in all, a great CD from a great band that should've gone a lot farther than they did; buy this and you'll enjoy it!"

Magic

Pamela S. Ferro | Santa Monica, California United States | 08/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD rocks - it's timeless. It certainly brings back many memories. When I listened to various cuts from the CD, I felt as though I stepped back into a time warp. After not listening to it for a number of years, I can hear a bit a Hendrix, together with Magic's own, unique sound. If you were in Ft. Lauderdale in the early 70's, and you remember this group, BUY THE CD. Even if you were not there, and do not remember Magic, BUY IT ANYWAY. After the 1994 quake in Los Angeles, I sadly decided to part with the majority of my vinyl albums (and 45's) that I had acquired since the early 60's; the same albums/records that I collected while living in PA and FL, and then transported to CA in the back seat of my VW. But,there were a few albums (some mobile fidelity), and Beatles on the "Apple" label, that I just could not part with. Among these treasures, there was another album that I could and never will part with, and I still have it --"Enclosed" ---- Magic. I remember seeing Magic at the "Scene" in Fort Lauderdale, FL in the early 70's. Everyone just loved this band. I remember Duane King and Joey Murcia, whom I just adored. Joey Murcia then joined the "Benny Latimore and the Kinfolk" band that played Sunday afternoon jam sessions at the Ocean Mist, among other places. I loved this group then; and I love this group now. I'm so glad that I have been able to make this CD a part of my ever-growing music collection."