The Magic of the Blue
The Magic of the Blue is the second album by American soul group Blue Magic, produced by Norman Harris and Bobby Eli and released in 1974 on the Atco label.
| The Magic of the Blue | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 1974 | |||
| Recorded | 1974, Sigma Sound Studios (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) | |||
| Genre | Philadelphia soul | |||
| Length | 43:17 | |||
| Label | Atco | |||
| Producer | Norman Harris, Bobby Eli | |||
| Blue Magic chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | C+[2] |
History
The album was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia and features Sigma's famous house band MFSB. The Magic of the Blue received a similar favorable critical reception to its predecessor Blue Magic, although its lead single "Three Ring Circus" was regarded as an obvious attempt to produce "Sideshow" Part 2. The album peaked at #14 on the R&B chart and #71 on the pop chart. It was reissued by Rhino Records in 2006, but unlike the same company's Blue Magic reissue, did not include any bonus tracks.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Three Ring Circus" | Bobby Eli, Vinnie Barrett | 5:12 |
| 2. | "Stringin' Me Along" | Norman Harris, Pat Cooper, Ronnie Tyson | 3:29 |
| 3. | "You Don't Have to Tell Me Goodbye" | Norman Harris, Vinnie Barrett, James Hendricks | 4:26 |
| 4. | "Never Get Over You" | Norman Harris, Allan Felder | 4:42 |
| 5. | "Talking to Myself" | Bobby Eli, Vinnie Barrett | 4:22 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Let Me Be the One" | Norman Harris, Allan Felder, Chuck Brooks | 5:05 |
| 7. | "Maybe Just Maybe (We Can Fall in Love Again)" | Morris Bailey, Jr., Edward Green | 4:15 |
| 8. | "Love Has Found Its Way to Me" | Bobby Eli, Allan Waldman | 5:02 |
| 9. | "When Ya Coming Home" | Ted Mills, Allan Felder | 3:48 |
| 10. | "Looking for a Friend" | Ted Mills | 4:12 |
Personnel
- Blue Magic
- Vernon Sawyer, Richard Pratt, Keith Beaton, Wendell Sawyer, Ted Mills
- Musicians
- Bobby Eli, Roland Chambers, Norman Harris, Tony Bell – guitars
- Ted Mills, Ron Kersey, Cotton Kent – pianos
- Rusty Jackmon, Ron Baker, Bob Babbitt – bass
- Earl Young, Charles Collins, John Nero – drums
- Larry Washington – congas
- Vince Montana – vibraphone
- T. Life – harmonica solo on "Three Ring Circus"
- Don Renaldo and his Strings and Horns – strings & horns accompaniment
- Ted Mills – sound effects on "Looking for a Friend"
Production
- Norman Harris, Bobby Eli – producers, arrangement
- Alan Rubens, Steven Bernstein, Bruce Gable – executive producers
- Carl Paruolo, Joe Tarsia, Kenny Present, Don Murray, Jay Mark – recording engineers
- Ron Kersey, Vince Montana, Jack Faith, – arrangement
- Carl Helm, Phil Hurtt, Bunny Sigler, Barbara Ingram, Evette Benton, Carla Benson, Ted Mills, Wendall Sawyer, Darryl Grant – vocal arrangement
Charts
| Chart (1974) | Peak [3] |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top LPs | 71 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Soul LPs | 14 |
- Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [3] |
US R&B [3] |
US A/C [3] | ||
| 1974 | "Three Ring Circus" | 36 | 5 | 26 |
| 1975 | "Love Has Found Its Way to Me" | — | 45 | — |
References
- Ankeny, Jason. The Magic of the Blue review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
- Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: B". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- Blue Magic > US Charts at AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-07-11.
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