"Blue Magic" by BLUE MAGIC – Debut Album from January 1974 on Atco Records (October 2007 UK Rhino 'Classic Soul Album – Remastered and Expanded' CD Reissue – Bill Inglot Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Step Right Up...Hurry Hurry..."

Released in early 1974 on Atlantic's US label imprint Atco - Blue Magic's first album was dominated by the huge US Number 1 soft soul hit "Sideshow" (opening lyrics above). Produced by Norman Harris of Philadelphia International fame and with their songs pumped up by the MFSB Orchestra - BLUE MAGIC were Ted Mills (Vocals and Piano) with a foursome of Vocalists in Wendall and Vernon Sawyer, Keith Beaton and Richard Pratt.

As I recall - "Blue Magic" was the kind of mid-70ts Soul album that cluttered up secondhand stores everywhere – a record that was bought at the time for sure but it's fair to say – then dismissed as somewhat lightweight only a few years later. But that was then. And music lovers/collectors have across the decades that followed dug deeper into its lush Atco microgrooves and discovered nuggets overshadowed by the LP's mega hit. And that's where this sexy little Philly-Style CD Reissue comes a silver-suited shimmying in...

Part of Rhino's 'Classic Soul Album – Remastered and Expanded' CD Reissue Series (see list below) - this October 2007 US and UK reissue of "Blue Magic" by BLUE MAGIC on Rhino 8122-76428-2 (Barcode 081227642822) finally makes that self-titled debut album available on Remastered CD (and for the first time in the UK too). Here are the showy details (56:51 minutes)...

1. Sideshow [Side 1]

2. Loom Me Up

3. What’s Come Over Me

4. Just Don't Want To Be Lonely

5. Stop To Start [Side 2]

6. Welcome To The Club

7. Spell

8. Answer To My Prayer

9. Tear It Down

Tracks 1 to 9 are the LP "Blue Magic" released in the USA on Atlantic SD 7038 in January 1974

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Guess Who (Non-Album B-side to "Spell", the 1st 7" single off the album released March 1973 on Atco 6910)

11. Where Have You Been (Non-Album B-side to "Stop To Start", the 3rd single off the album released January 1974 on Atco 6949)

12. Look Me Up (Tom Moulton Remix) (issued on a 1976 Atlantic Records compilation called "Disco-Trek" on 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

BILL INGLOT - Rhino's long-time tape-expect did the remaster and a typically superb job has been 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 CD 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 by way of Philly and not to everybody's taste (it has to be said). 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" (a pianist, songwriter and vocalist – Mills was defacto band leader) and the genuinely sweet seven minutes-plus of "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely" (written by the Gamble & Huff team of Bobby Eli, John Freeman and Vinny Barrett – it was Eli and Barrett who also penned the monster "Sideshow").

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 too...

PS: This release is part of Rhino's 'Classic Soul Album – Remastered and Expanded' CD Reissue Series. Most titles are first time onto CD and are rare Soul/Funk/R&B albums from the Warner/Atlantic/Cotillion/Elektra vaults.

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 Phillip Mitchell - "Top Of The Line" (see REVIEW)

8. Prince Phillip Mitchell - "Make It Good" (see REVIEW)

9. The Voices Of East Harlem [feat Donny Hathaway] -"Right On Be Free" (see REVIEW)