Magnetic Touch
Magnetic Touch was a short-lived Detroit soul group from the late 1950s to early 1960s, closely linked to the better-known act The Volumes. Their story highlights the gritty evolution of the Motor City music scene, where lineups shifted frequently amid lineup changes and label struggles.
Formed in 1959 as the Marvelous Marveliers, the group started with street corner harmonies in Detroit schools like Central High. Original members included Bobby Peterson (born May 1939), his sister Sharon Peterson, Tony Johnson, Jackie Perkins, and Candi (Fagan) Bell. They recorded early tracks backed by impressed locals but saw little success, prompting a name change to the Magnetics.
Under the Magnetics name, they cut "Lady In Green" / "Heart, You're Made of Stone" on Bonnie Records around 1964, with Gerald Mathis on lead vocals sounding like ex-member Eddie Union. They also released "The Trouble I've Seen" / "That Same Old Feeling" on Impact. These tracks, produced with Duke Browner, got local Detroit play at spots like the 20 Grand but faded quickly.
Eddie Union quit early for a solo career, replaced by Mathis; later members included Elijah Davis, Ernest Newsome, and William "Pete" Crawford (ex-Distants). By the mid-1960s, core survivors Bobby Peterson, Elijah Davis, and others folded into The Volumes, using the Magnetics name for select gigs. Mathis and Newsome have passed away.
Surviving Volumes members confirmed the Magnetics connection in UK Northern Soul circles, performing those tracks at events like the 2009 Prestatyn Soul Weekender. A 1987 track "High Risk" and a 2025 YouTube medley suggest possible later revivals or tributes led by Bobby "T-Boy" Taylor's son.
Falling In Love With A Dream
A2 You Got It (R. Taylor, G. Moody, G. Carmichael 6:07)
A3 Ain't Gonna Be A Next Time (P. Adams 3:36)
B1 Just In The Nick Of Time (P. Adams 3:34)
B2 Let's Make Love (G. Carmichael, R. Love 3:21)
B3 Nothing To It (K. Seymour 3:15)
Label: Almeria Records, Inc. – AL-501
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Disco
The 1977 (some sources list 1978) album Falling In Love With A Dream by Magnetic Touch is a rare and highly regarded soul and disco album, produced by the legendary New York dance music production team of Patrick Adams and Greg Carmichael. It is the only album released by the group, which featured a male and female vocal mix.
The album is considered a "soulful masterpiece" with a cohesive sound characteristic of Adams and Carmichael's work (also known for their P&P Records and the group Inner Life). The production style is noted for its distinctive use of "punchy" synthesizers and elastic basslines, creating a unique disco and garage sound.
The tracks range from mid-tempo mellow disco to upbeat, driving funk and Philly soul-inspired dancers, with reviewers noting a lack of filler.