Search - Blue Magic :: Blue Magic

From the writer's perspective, after all is said and done...

William Blackshear | West Orange, NJ USA | 04/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"from a 70s group harmony soul perspective, single lp choice, as difficult as choosing, "The Champ" lp, this album is "last man standing" when the smoke finally clears. There are a number of finalists who make the cut to the "Battle Royale" finals, but when the "points" or "knockout" decisions are in, from a pure "sweet soul" persepctive, this lp ekes out victory over heavyweight albums by The Delfonics, Soul Generation, The Stylistics, Jimmy Briscoe & The Little Beavers & others. The pairing of the legendary Theodore "Ted, The Wizard" Mills, with the production legends at Sigma Sound (Philly), Vince Montana, Bobby Eli, Norman Harris, Earl Young, and the like, created a ballad and uptempo masterpiece album that presents extreme difficulty when seeking to get by, on the road to the Championship. On a singular lp, ballad & uptempo, matching blows with "The Wizard" and group against "Spell", "What's Come Over Me", "Stop To Start", "Tear It Down", and "Answer To My Prayer", "Look Me Up", "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely", "Welcome To The Club", in the writer's opinion, leaves even the known, and not so well known heavyweights looking up at the lights, after having "jabbed" and "hooked" through all the "rounds". An all time classic lp! Furthermore, as if we're off the financial hook when it comes to already owning (prior released) "hits" cds with these tracks on them, not so fast! As is reality, technology improves. This 2006 release, as well as the newly released album reissues have a remastered sound level that has NEVER been acheived before (except when put out in Japan years ago)! The crystal clear clarity on these cds is amazing! If one likes/loves the music of Blue Magic, purchase of these cds need be in order, must hear to believe. Another interesting not so well known fact about the group. By the early 70s, Ted was known in Philly, when he was harbored in by the men who started the "WMOT" label. He had already written and was carrying "Spell" with him when seeking to get put on wax. He was paired with the Topics (see my review on them) for the recording of "Spell" If one listens to "Spell" and to the background voices on all the other Blue Magic recordings, can hear the difference. The powers that be felt the Topics were too old to make a long term energy run with the younger, newly found gem, lead falsetto, they took Ted and hooked him up with Vernon Sawyer, Wendell Sawyer, Keith Beaton, and Richard Pratt, thus Blue Magic was then formed. This cd, of the highest quality order... for Blue Magic, it's buy time!"