The Magic of the Blue

The Magic of the Blue
Studio album by Blue Magic
Released	December 1974
Recorded	Sigma Sound Studios (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Genre	Philadelphia soul
Length	43:17
Label	Atco 36103
Producer	Norman Harris, Bobby Eli
Blue Magic chronology
Blue Magic (1974) The Magic of the Blue (1974) Thirteen Blue Magic Lane (1975)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	C+ [2]

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.

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

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Three Ring Circus"	Bobby Eli, Vinny Barrett	5:12
2.	"Stringin' Me Along"	Norman Harris, Pat Cooper, Ronnie Tyson	3:29
3.	"You Don't Have to Tell Me Goodbye"	Harris, Barrett, James Hendricks	4:26
4.	"Never Get Over You"	Harris, Allan Felder	4:42
5.	"Talking to Myself"	Eli, Barrett	4:22

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Let Me Be the One"	Harris, 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"	Eli, Allan Waldman	5:02
9.	"When Ya Coming Home"	Ted Mills (The Wizard), Felder	3:48
10.	"Looking for a Friend"	Mills (The Wizard)	4:12

Personnel

• Vernon Sawyer, Richard Pratt, Keith Beaton, Wendell Sawyer, – vocals
• Ted Mills – vocals, piano, sound effects on "Looking for a Friend"
• Bobby Eli, Roland Chambers, Norman Harris, Tony Bell – guitars
• Ron Kersey, Cotton Kent – pianos
• Rusty Jackmon, Baker, Bob Babbitt – bass
• Earl Young, Charles Collins, John Nero – drums
• Larry Washington – congas
• Vince Montana – vibes
• T. Life – harmonica solo on "Three Ring Circus"
• Don Renaldo and his Strings and Horns – strings accompaniment, horns accompaniment

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 – vocal arrangement

Charts

Album

Year	Album	Chart positions[3]
		US	US R&B
1974	The Magic of the Blue	71	14

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions[4]
		US	US R&B	US A/C
1974	"Three Ring Circus"	36	5	26
1975	"Love Has Found Its Way to Me"	—	45	—

References

1. Ankeny, Jason. The Magic of the Blue review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
2. Christgau, Robert. "The Magic of the Blue review". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
3. "US Albums Charts > Blue Magic". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
4. "US Singles Charts > Blue Magic". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-21.

External links

• The Magic of the Blue at Discogs