Blue Magic was an American soul group formed in Philadelphia in 1972. They are best known for their hit songs and albums in the 1970s. Throughout their career, they released several albums that showcased their unique style and smooth harmonies. Some of their most notable albums include "Blue Magic" (1974), "Message from the Magic" (1976), and "Magic #" (1977). The self-titled debut album "Blue Magic" was released in 1974 and became an immediate success. It features the group's signature song, "Sideshow," which reached number one on the R&B charts and number eight on the pop charts.
Blue Magic
The group Blue Magic is unfortunately often overlooked in discussions of the great Philly soul acts of the 70s, but the quintet was responsible for some of the most enjoyable smooth soul of that decade.
Formed by Temple University student Ted 'Wizard' Mills, with some friends, Blue Magic scored an early hit with Mills' composition "Spell." When the other members of the group balked at touring, Mills merged with local band Shades of Love (Vernon Sawyer, Wendell Sawyer, Keith 'Duke' Beaton and Richard Pratt) to form the nucleus of the group that would top the charts for years to come.
Signed to Atlantic Records in 1973, the group came out with several hit singles on the way to creating a debut album. Blue Magic became one of the earliest acts produced by veteran Philly guitarist Norman Harris, who spent most of the decade in the shadow of Gamble & Huff but who masterminded a number of great albums for artists from the Trammps to the Temptations.
Blue Magic's debut album included a number of quality tunes, perhaps the most surprising of which was "Look Me Up," an infectious stepper highlighted by Mills' clear falsetto, and which created early comparisons with the Stylistics. But real crossover success came with "Sideshow," a now classic Philly forlorn ballad that topped the Soul charts and made the Pop top 10. The rather contrived follow-up, "Three Ring Circus," was musically another solid ballad that did well despite its obvious attempt to mimic "Sideshow" (even beginning with the same carnival barker). Over the next three years Blue Magic became know mostly for smooth ballads, and the group stayed high on the Soul charts with "Stop to Start" and "Chasing Rainbows" before landing a big hit with the dance tune "Magic of the Blue."
Blue Magic's fortunes faded as the 70s came to an end, and Richard Pratt left in the early 80s. However, they continued to record sporadically, landing two moderately successful comeback albums, 1983's Magic # and 1989's From Out of the Blue. But internal struggles in the group, from financial issues to substance abuse, sidelined attempts to keep them together. And those misfortunes were amplified by a horrendous auto accident that nearly killed Ted Mills and appeared to end his career.
Fortunately, Mills recovered, but by the 2000s, and established a solid solo career. He appeared in the touring play "Girl He Ain't Worth It" with the Manhattans, Me'lissa Morgan and Tito Jackson and joined with Russell Thompkins Jr and William Hart on a 2008 Shanachie Records disc as the 3 Tenors of Soul, still sounding fantastic. What remained of Blue Magic splintered into multiple groups each led by one or more original members - the most notable consisting of the two Sawyers, Beaton and lead singer Wade Elliott (managed by Elaine Sawyer with promotional help from Sgt. Gary Nadler).
Nearly five decades after they first had a hit, the five members of Blue Magic reunited in 2018 for an episode of TV One's music biography show, Unsung. It was the first time they had all been together in nearly three decades, and they mulled over the possibility of a full reunion. Music fans around the world continue to hold out hope that that could happen.
By Chris Rizik
Blue magic albums
blue magic
Blue Magic were a Philadelphia-based vocal quintet of the 70's comprised of:
Theodore Ted 'Wizard' Mills (lead)
Vernon W. Sawyer (tenor, baritone)
Wendell Sawyer (baritone)
Keith 'Duke' W. Beaton (tenor) (b. 30th July 1950, U.S.A. d. 14th January 2023, U.S.A.)
and
Richard D. Pratt (bass) (b. 30th June, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. d. 1st March 2022, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.A.)
Blue Magic were formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1972.
The group were produced by Norman Harris, a Philladelphia Records veteran, the group's harmonies were supported by the M.F.S.B. house band.
The band made some of the finest soul vocal group music from the early to mid 1970's.
Blue Magic were partially comprised of the group the Shades of Love, which featured Keith Beaton, Richard Pratt, Vernon Sawyer and his brother Wendell.
E arly Blue Magic releases were mainly confined to the R & B chart.
Blue Magic became popular in 1974 with the million-selling U.S. Top 10 hit 'Sideshow' (co-written by Bobby Eli), and another Sweet Soul ballad, 'Three Ring Circus'.
blue magic - 1974 / the magic of the blue - 1974 / thirteen blue magic lane - 1975 / live! - 1976
The band maintained their popularity with several further releases, including 'Thirteen Blue Magic Lane' in 1976, an album that included the popular dance track 'We're On The Right Track'.
That same year, the group were part of a live double album set, recorded at the Latin Casino in New Jersey, that also featured Margie Joseph and Major Harris.
That album showcased two further 'studio' recordings by Margie and the group.
mystic dragons - 1976 / message from the magic - 1977 / welcome back - 1981 / magic # - 1983
They then left the Atco label, following which, Richard Pratt left the band in 1981.
Their later US hits have included 'Magic' (1983) and, owing to renewed popularity in the late 80's, 'It's Like Magic' and 'Romeo And Juliet'.
Blue Magic have also sung background vocals for Alyson Williams and the Rolling Stones (on 'If You Really Want To Be My Friend' on the album 'It's Only Rock N' Roll').
from out of the blue - 1989 / my magic is real - 1995
In 1996, Ted Mills returned to the music scene as a solo artist.
He recorded an album for Casablanca that year entitled 'This Magic Is Real', featuring a remake of 'Tear It Down'.
Recent Blue Magic/Ted Mills related recordings include the '3 Tenors of Soul' with Russell Thompkins, Jr. (the Stylistics) and William Hart (the Delfonics) and the 'Soulful Tale Of Two Cities' album project.
Ted recently appeared in the touring play 'Girl He Ain't Worth It' with The Manhattans, Meli'sa Morgan and Tito Jackson.
A recent lead singer for Blue Magic was Mr. Wade Elliot who was formerly with Ray, Goodman and Brown.
The current lead singer for the group is Leemy Waiters.
Keith Beaton died in January 2023..
Albums:
as Blue Magic:
Blue Magic (Atco Records 1975)
Magic Of The Blue (Atco Records 1975)
Thirteen Blue Magic Lone (Atco Records 1976)
with Major Harris and Margie Joseph:
Live (WMOT Records 1976)
as Blue Magic:
Mystic Dragons (Atco Records 1977)
Message From The Magic (Atco Records 1978)
Welcome Back (Capitol Records 1981)
Magic # (Atlantic Records 1983)
From Out Of The Blue (OBR Records 1989)
My Magic Is Real (Hot Production Records 1995)
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Blue magic albums
By 1978, Soul Music, the dominant genre in 70s charts, was under assault from Disco, and paradoxally victim of the same backlash. Artists, labels and producers tried to mix formulas to find more success. That is how Blue Magic, a quintessential Philiadelphia group, found itself recording.
It features the group's signature song, "Sideshow," which reached number one on the R&B charts and number eight on the pop charts. The album also includes other popular tracks like "Look Me Up" and "Stop to Start," showcasing the group's soulful sound and impressive vocal abilities. "Message from the Magic," released in 1976, continued the group's success with its smooth and melodic tracks.
06 Jul 2020 Blue Magic – 1974 – The Magic Of The Blue
Posted at271 23:15h in Blue Magic by NikosThere are so many great soul albums of the 1970's waiting to be re-discovered. This second opus from Philadelphia's "Blue Magic" is quite passionate. Throughout, the sweet falsetto lead of Ted Mills caresses each lyric by Bobby Eli, Allan Felder and Norman Harris to create a.
The album features hits like "Chasing Rainbows" and "What's Come Over Me," which both reached the top 10 on the R&B charts. It also includes the group's cover of the classic song "Since You've Been Gone," which they put their own spin on. In 1977, Blue Magic released "Magic #," another successful album that further solidified their place in the soul music scene. The album includes the hit single "Three Ring Circus," which reached number one on the R&B charts. Other notable tracks on the album include "Never Get Over You" and "Love Has Found Its Way to Me," which both received positive reviews from music critics. Overall, Blue Magic's albums showcase their ability to blend soulful melodies with smooth harmonies. Their music continues to be loved by fans of 70s soul music, and their albums stand as a testament to their talent and influence in the genre..
Reviews for "Blue Magic's Albums: From Upbeat Tracks to Slow Jams"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the "Blue Magic" albums. I found the music to be repetitive and lacking innovation. The lyrics were cliché and didn't resonate with me at all. Overall, the songs felt uninspired and I was left feeling bored and unimpressed.
2. Mike - 1 star - I don't understand the hype around the "Blue Magic" albums. The melodies were forgettable, and the vocals lacked emotion. The production felt dated and didn't bring anything new to the table. I couldn't connect with any of the songs, and they quickly became background noise to me.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - The "Blue Magic" albums were a letdown for me. The songs sounded generic and unoriginal, lacking any standout tracks. The production was bland, and I found myself skipping through most of the album. Overall, it just felt like a wasted opportunity for a talented group.
4. Mark - 2.5 stars - While the "Blue Magic" albums had a few decent tracks, I found the majority of the songs to be average at best. The melodies didn't stand out, and the lyrics felt repetitive. The album lacked a cohesive sound and failed to leave a lasting impression on me.
5. Emily - 1.5 stars - I really wanted to like the "Blue Magic" albums, but they just didn't resonate with me. The songs felt formulaic and predictable, and I couldn't find anything that set them apart from other similar albums. The lack of originality and innovation made it difficult to stay engaged throughout the entire album.