Blue Magic
Blue Magic is an American R&B and soul music group that emerged in the early 1970s, particularly recognized as one of the notable Philadelphia soul groups of that era. The group was founded in 1972 and gained popularity for their smooth harmonies and emotive ballads.
The group was originally formed in Philadelphia and included members Ted "Wizard" Mills as the lead singer, alongside Vernon Sawyer, Wendell Sawyer, Keith Beaton, and Morrison. This lineup was integral to the group’s early sound and success.
Blue Magic is celebrated for their "dreamy ballads" and captivating stage performances, which became a hallmark of their appeal. They achieved significant acclaim with hits like "Sideshow" and "Three Ring Circus." "Sideshow," in particular, reached the Top Ten on the pop charts, marking their peak success in 1974.
Throughout their career, Blue Magic released around ten albums and performed numerous sold-out shows, demonstrating their enduring popularity and influence in the music scene. Even after decades, the group, with members like Wendell Sawyer continuing in the industry, remains a respected name in R&B and soul music.
Blue Magic’s contributions to the Philadelphia soul genre have left a lasting legacy, characterized by their harmonious vocals and memorable hits that continue to resonate with audiences today.
Blue Magic
A1 Sideshow
Written-By – Bobby Eli, Vinny Barrett
4:06
A2 Look Me Up
Written-By – Al Felder, Norman Harris
5:54
A3 What's Come Over Me
Written-By – Ted Mills
4:09
A4 Just Don't Want To Be Lonely
Written-By – Bobby Eli, John Freeman, Vinny Barrett
7:00
B1 Stop To Start
Written-By – Al Felder, Jimmy Grant
3:18
B2 Welcome To The Club
Written-By – Al Felder, Norman Harris
5:05
B3 Spell
Written-By – Ted Mills
4:15
B4 Answer To My Prayer
Written-By – Al Felder, Norman Harris
3:15
B5 Tear It Down
Written-By – Al Felder, Ted Mills
5:27
Label: ATCO Records – SD 7038
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Philly
Blue Magic's 1974 debut album is celebrated as a classic Philly soul record, known for its lush harmonies, rich instrumentation (strings, horns), and romantic, often melancholic themes, with massive hits like "Sideshow" and "Stop to Start," making it an essential listen despite some critics finding the ballads a bit sleepy, though uptempo tracks like "Look Me Up" add necessary energy, solidifying its place as a definitive 70s soul experience.
The album perfectly embodies the smooth, harmony-driven Philly Soul sound, featuring impeccable vocal blending from soprano to bass. Lush strings, horns, and even xylophones create a full, dreamy, and emotionally resonant atmosphere.
It spawned major hits, including the iconic "Sideshow," a clever tale of heartbreak, and "Stop to Start," which crossed over to pop charts.
While famous for its slow jams like "Spell," the album also delivers energetic, funky numbers like "Look Me Up" and the proto-disco "Welcome to the Club".
Considered by many to be Blue Magic's finest work and a top-tier Philly soul album, praised for its consistent quality throughout.
Reviewers highlight the flawless harmonies, romantic depth, and the album's ability to transport listeners to a dreamy state, making it a timeless classic.
Some felt the soft harmonies could occasionally make tracks feel sleepy without the right melody, or that the style leaned towards familiar tropes of the era, but this is a small critique against its overall brilliance.
Overall, Blue Magic's 1974 debut is a must-have for soul fans, delivering heartfelt, technically superb vocal performances and sophisticated arrangements that defined the genre, proving the group was far more than just a one-hit wonder.
Magic #
Written-By – Dennis Richardson
4:02
A2 Magic #
Written-By, Guitar – Darnell Jordan
Written-By, Piano – Ted (WIZARD) MIlls
4:26
A3 Sit Alone Again
Written-By – John Ingram
4:05
A4 If You Move You Lose
Written-By – Butch Ingram, Carol Davis
4:04
B1 In The Rain
Written-By – Tony Hester
5:04
B2 See Through
Written-By – Butch Ingram
4:39
B3 Since You've Been Gone
Bass – Gary Grainger
Drums – Greg Grainger
Guitar – Bobby Eli
Keyboards – Charles Williams
Producer, Written-By, Arranged By, Guitar – Bill Neale
Synthesizer – Mike Rosenman
Written-By – Diane Bernstein, Ted (WIZARD) Mills
5:47
B4 Clean Up Your Act
Guitar – Darnell Jordan
Written-By – John Ingram
4:45
B5 R.S.V.P
Producer, Arranged By – Bill Neale
Written-By – Alan Roy Scott, Ed Fox
4:12
Label: Mirage – 90074-1
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Eighties Soul, Funk, Boogie
The Magic # album by Blue Magic, released in 1983 on the Mirage and Omni labels, receives mixed reviews, praised by some as a must-have for fans for its strong vocals but criticized by others for its mid-80s production style, which relies heavily on synthesizers and lacks the rich Philadelphia soul sound of their earlier work.
Many fans consider Magic # a rare treasure and a must-have for Blue Magic enthusiasts, praising Ted Mills' continued great vocals and the inclusion of both fast and slow tunes. Reviewers mention there are several strong tracks and no "weak track" on the compilation.
Critics and some fans note the production is a departure from the group's classic 1970s Philadelphia soul sound, which featured full instrumentation from the MFSB house band at Sigma Sound Studios. The 1983 album's production, handled by Butch Ingram, leans more towards synthesizers, which some listeners find less appealing than their earlier work.
Key Tracks and Highlights: "In The Rain": The album features a great remake of the classic R&B song "In The Rain"; Title Track: The song "Magic #" is mentioned as a strong track, with user reviews highlighting its "funky" nature and "slamming" band, though the club mix version is sometimes included depending on the specific release; "For The Love of You": This track is also a notable highlight on the album.
While the Magic # album may not reach the critical acclaim of Blue Magic's 1974 debut, which featured hits like "Sideshow", it is generally well-regarded by fans as a solid, later-career effort with excellent vocals, despite a shift in production style to a more contemporary sound for the 1980s.
Mystic Dragons
A2 To Get Love (You Must Give Love) (Bobby Eli, Vinnie Barrett 5:19)
A3 See The Bedroom (Keith Beaton (The Duke), Ted "Wizard" Mills 3:22)
A4 Mother Funk (Bobby Eli, Len Barry 5:55)
B1 Summer Snow (Bobby Eli, Len Barry 5:01)
B2 Rock N Roll Revival (Eli, Barrow, Barry 4:30)
B3 It's Something About Love (Keith Barrow 4:25)
B4 Making Love To A Memory (Bobby Eli, Len Barry 3:05)
B5 Spark Of Love (Ted "Wizard" Mills 3:21)
Label: ATCO Records – SD 36-140
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1976
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul
Blue Magic's Mystic Dragons (1976) is a Philly Soul album that blended their signature smooth harmonies and romantic themes with a bolder, funkier edge, featuring richer arrangements and heavier grooves alongside heartfelt ballads, with standout tracks like the funky "Freak N Stein" and soulful "Summer Snow," all guided by Bobby Eli's arrangements.
THe album evolved from earlier mellow sounds to incorporate heavier funk, deeper grooves, and fuller arrangements, creating a "trippy feel" that matched the album art, while maintaining the group's hallmark heartbreakingly beautiful vocal harmonies.
It was produced by Bobby Eli, a notable figure in the Philadelphia soul music scene. It features a large ensemble of musicians, contributing to the rich, layered sound characteristic of the genre at the time. The LP is known for both uptempo, dancable tracks like "Freak-N-Stein" and smoother ballads.
The album artwork illustration was created by Janet Espenshade, with art direction and design by Arnie Roberts. The album reached #170 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and #44 on the U.S. R&B charts in 1976.