You Can Do Magic (song)
| "You Can Do Magic" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by America | ||||
| from the album View from the Ground | ||||
| B-side | "Even the Score" | |||
| Released | July 6, 1982 | |||
| Format | 7", 12", CD single | |||
| Recorded | March 1982; at Abbey Road Studio 2 in London, England | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:48 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Writer(s) | Russ Ballard | |||
| Producer(s) | Russ Ballard | |||
| America singles chronology | ||||
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"You Can Do Magic" is a song by singer-songwriter Russ Ballard which was recorded as a 1982 single by folk rock duo America from their album View from the Ground.
The song was one of two Ballard compositions on View from the Ground, the other being "Jody". Ballard wrote both songs specifically for America at the behest of Rupert Perry, A&R vice president for Capitol Records. Ballard also produced the tracks marking a return to record production after a four year hiatus; although Ballard had had earlier hits as a songwriter, "You Can Do Magic" was his first major hit credit as a producer.[3]
"You Can Do Magic" proved a solid comeback vehicle for America whose last Top 40 hit - "Today's the Day" - had occurred in 1976 with the second of their two further appearances on the Hot 100 in Billboard occurring in 1979. "You Can Do Magic" returned America to the Top 40 in August 1982 with the track reaching number 8 that October.[4] The popularity of "You Can Do Magic" was paralleled by the success of the parent View From the Ground album which rose to number 41 on Billboard's listing of the top 200 albums, the first time an album by America as a duo (rather than the original trio) had appeared in that chart's upper half.
International chart placings for "You Can Do Magic" include No. 30 in Australia, No. 37 in Canada,[5] No. 20 in Ireland, No. 27 in Italy, No. 12 in New Zealand and No. 59 in the UK.[6]
The success of "You Can Do Magic" led to America recording their 1983 album Your Move with Russ Ballard as producer.
Charts
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary | 5 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
| US Cash Box Singles Chart | 7 |
| US Radio & Records Singles Chart | 3 |
Other versions
Drew Seeley covered "You Can Do Magic" for the 2009 Walt Disney Records soundtrack, Wizards of Waverly Place.
In popular culture
The tune (with different lyrics) was used in a commercial for Sonic Drive-In restaurants.
See also
References
- ↑ "America - The Band, NYCB Theatre at Westbury". Westbury Music Fair. 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
- ↑ "Top 10 Soft Rock Songs of the '80s". 80music.about.com. 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
- ↑ Billboard vol 94 # 40 (October 9 1982) p.33
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. Billboard Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-8230-7499-0.
- ↑ America, "You Can Do Magic" Canadian Chart Positions Retrieved March 30, 2015
- ↑ "America singles charts history". Official Charts. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
External links
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