Animal Magic (The Blow Monkeys album)

Last updated

Animal Magic
Animal-magic-cd-cover.jpg
Studio album by
The Blow Monkeys
Released7 April 1986
Recorded1985–1986
Genre Sophisti-pop [1]
Length44:03
48:15 (cassette version)
Label RCA/Ariola
Producer Peter Wilson
Dr. Robert
Adam Moseley
The Blow Monkeys chronology
Limping for a Generation
(1984)		Animal Magic
(1986)		 She Was Only a Grocer's Daughter
(1987)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Montreal Gazette favourable [3]
Schenectady Gazette favourable [4]

Animal Magic is the second album from the British band The Blow Monkeys, released in 1986 by RCA/Ariola (now BMG). It gave the group their commercial breakthrough after their debut album, Limping for a Generation , had won critical acclaim but had only sold modestly. [5]

Contents

Sales of Animal Magic were boosted by the hit single "Digging Your Scene", which charted in the UK (peaking at No. 12), the rest of Europe and the US. [6] The album's first single, the ballad "Forbidden Fruit", had been released almost a year before the LP. After "Digging Your Scene", two more singles were taken from the album, both of which, though catchy and cleverly built, didn't replicate the same level of commercial success: "Wicked Ways" reached No.60 in Great Britain, and "Don't Be Scared of Me" chart at No.77 in UK.

Animal Magic displayed an intelligent collection of slick, soul-influenced, mid-tempo tunes. A couple of ballads offered some diversity: one of them, "I Backed a Winner (in You)", is a heartfelt track, mostly a cappella, with lead singer Dr. Robert, softly playing acoustic guitar while giving the lyrics its perceptive rhythm, where his vocals, and especially those of an aptly named ensemble, The Demon Barbers, acting as a sort of doo wop choir. Amongst the album's many gems is also a duet with Jamaican toaster Eek-A-Mouse on the duet "Sweet Murder".

In 2012, Cherry Red announced the release of a 2-CD deluxe edition with a whole bonus disc of previously unissued demos and B-sides. [7]

Track listing

Words and music by Dr. Robert.

  1. "Digging Your Scene" – 4:13
  2. "Animal Magic" – 3:07
  3. "Wicked Ways" – 4:14
  4. "Sweet Murder" – 6:31
  5. "Aeroplane City Lovesong" – 4:52
  6. "Walking the Blue Beat" – 4:12 (on cassette edition only)
  7. "I Nearly Died Laughing" – 3:37
  8. "Don't Be Scared of Me" – 3:29
  9. "Burn the Rich" – 4:17
  10. "I Backed a Winner (in You)" – 2:39
  11. "Forbidden Fruit" – 3:59
  12. "Heaven Is a Place I'm Moving To" – 3:05

Singles from the album

* Used in the 1999 movie Splendor. [8]
* Cover versions have been released by Ivy on Long Distance (2001) and Guestroom (2002), [9] and by Rahsaan Patterson on the Japanese edition of Love in Stereo (1999). [10]

Personnel

The Blow Monkeys

Musicians

Production

Staff

Release details

CountryDateLabelFormatCatalog
UK1986 RCA/Ariola CDPD 70910

Charts

Chart (1986)Peak
position
UK Albums Chart [11] 21
Australian (Kent Music Report)54 [12]
US Billboard 200 [13] 35
SongChartPeakDate
"Animal Magic" US Billboard 200 [14] 359 August 1986
"Digging Your Scene" UK Singles Chart [11] 121 March 1986
"Digging Your Scene" US Billboard Hot 100 [14] 142 August 1986
"Wicked Ways" UK Singles Chart [11] 6017 May 1986

Related Research Articles

<i>August</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Eric Clapton

August is the tenth solo studio album by Eric Clapton, released in 1986 by Duck Records/Warner Bros. Records. Described as a "hard R&B" album, it was primarily produced by Phil Collins, in association with longtime Clapton associate Tom Dowd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Blow Monkeys</span> British new wave/sophisti-pop band

The Blow Monkeys are a British pop band formed in 1981. Their first single, "Live Today Love Tomorrow", was released in 1982. They subsequently enjoyed a successful career with several hit singles and albums throughout the 1980s before splitting up at the beginning of the 1990s. Their first hit song was "Digging Your Scene" which hit No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in August 1986. They had four albums and eleven singles in the UK charts between 1986 and 1990.

<i>A Kind of Magic</i> 1986 studio album by Queen

A Kind of Magic is the twelfth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 2 June 1986 by EMI Records in the UK and by Capitol Records in the US. It is based on the soundtrack to the film Highlander, directed by Russell Mulcahy.

<i>Showtime</i> (The J. Geils Band album) 1982 live album by The J. Geils Band

Showtime! is the third and final live album by American rock band The J. Geils Band during their career. It was recorded at the Pine Knob Music Theater in Clarkston, Michigan on September 4, 1982.

<i>Welcome to the Monkey House</i> (album) 2003 studio album by The Dandy Warhols

Welcome to the Monkey House is the fourth studio album by American rock band The Dandy Warhols. The album was recorded between September 2001 and December 2002, and released on May 5, 2003 through record label Capitol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princes of the Universe</span> 1986 single by Queen

"Princes of the Universe" is a song written by Freddie Mercury and performed by the British rock band Queen, originally released as a single in the United States on March 12, 1986 via Capitol Records. The song was written for the film Highlander, and released on the album A Kind of Magic, which also featured other selections from the Highlander song score on June 2, 1986. In 1999 it was included in Queen’s compilation album Greatest Hits III.

<i>The Dream of the Blue Turtles</i> 1985 studio album by Sting

The Dream of the Blue Turtles is the first solo album by English musician Sting, released in June 1985. The album reached number three on the UK Albums Chart and number two on the US Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who Wants to Live Forever</span> 1986 song by Queen

"Who Wants to Live Forever" is a song by the British rock band Queen. A power ballad, it is the sixth track on the album A Kind of Magic, which was released in June 1986, and was written by lead guitarist Brian May for the soundtrack to the film Highlander. Queen was backed up by an orchestra, with orchestrations by film score composer Michael Kamen. The song peaked at No. 24 in the UK charts. In 1991, it was included in the band's second compilation album Greatest Hits II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Gabriel discography</span> Cataloguing of published recordings by Peter Gabriel

This is the solo discography of Peter Gabriel, an English singer-songwriter, musician and humanitarian activist who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock band Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career. His 1986 album, So, is his most commercially successful, selling five million copies in America, and the album's biggest hit, "Sledgehammer", won a record nine MTV Awards at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards. The song is the most played music video in the history of the station.

<i>Whoops! There Goes the Neighbourhood</i> 1989 studio album by The Blow Monkeys

Whoops! There Goes the Neighbourhood was The Blow Monkeys' 1989 follow-up album to She Was Only A Grocer's Daughter, released two years before.

<i>Choices – The Singles Collection</i> 1989 greatest hits album by The Blow Monkeys

Choices – The Singles Collection is a compilation album by British band The Blow Monkeys, released in 1989 by RCA and distributed by BMG / Ariola. The album includes most of the band's singles and features genres from the new wave of their debut album to pop rock and funky evolution, up to their discovery of the potentialities of the new dance revolution, a genre that they embraced on their final album, Springtime for the World, which was released the following year, shortly before they split up.

<i>Long Distance</i> (Ivy album) 2000 studio album by Ivy

Long Distance is the third studio album by the American band Ivy. It was released on November 8, 2000, in Japan, while the US version was released on July 10, 2001, by Nettwerk. A departure from Ivy's previous studio albums Realistic (1995) and Apartment Life (1997), Long Distance was influenced by new wave, but maintained Ivy's signature blend of indie pop and indie rock music. Ivy collaborated with long-time producer Peter Nashel for two of the album's tracks, while the rest were written and produced entirely by members Andy Chase and Adam Schlesinger.

<i>Blow Monkeys the Masters</i> 1997 compilation album by The Blow Monkeys

Blow Monkeys The Masters is a compilation album from British pop band The Blow Monkeys, released in 1997 by the Eagle label, for its well-known "Eagle Series", presenting many UK group's master collections.

<i>Monkey Grip</i> (Bill Wyman album) 1974 studio album by Bill Wyman

Monkey Grip is the debut album by Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman. It was released in 1974 by Rolling Stones Records.

<i>Digging Your Scene: The Best of The Blow Monkeys</i> 2008 greatest hits album by The Blow Monkeys

Digging Your Scene: The Best of The Blow Monkeys is a double greatest hits album, released on 4 February 2008 by British band The Blow Monkeys. Led by singer, guitarist, piano and keyboard player Dr. Robert, the group formed in the early 1980s and disbanded in 1990. After that, Dr. Robert went on to pursue a solo career. The Blow Monkeys recently reformed, with the aim of touring and releasing a brand new album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair</span> 2011 single by Arctic Monkeys

"Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair" is a song by the English rock band Arctic Monkeys, from their 2011 album Suck It and See.

<i>Belouis Some</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Belouis Some

Belouis Some is the second studio album from British new wave musician Belouis Some, which was released in 1987.

<i>Guestroom</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Ivy

Guestroom is the fourth studio album by the band Ivy. It was released on September 10, 2002 by Minty Fresh and Unfiltered Records. Unlike the group's previous albums, the album consisted entirely of cover songs, without any new material. Some of the songs featured on the album were previously released as B-sides to the band's singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digging Your Scene</span> 1986 song performed by The Blow Monkeys

"Digging Your Scene" is a song recorded by English band the Blow Monkeys for their second studio album, Animal Magic (1986). The single was released in February 1986 as the second one from the parent record. It was written by lead singer Dr. Robert, while Howard, Peter Wilson, and Adam Moesley produced it. Musically a pop, soul, and jazz song, "Digging Your Scene" discusses the hatred and disgust that is associated with individuals who have HIV and AIDS. Several media professionals felt the song's subject matter would be the subject of criticism.

<i>Gang Signs & Prayer</i> 2017 studio album by Stormzy

Gang Signs & Prayer is the debut studio album by British rapper Stormzy. It was released on 24 February 2017 independently through #Merky Records while being distributed by ADA of Warner Music Group. It is Stormzy's first major commercial release, following the Dreamers Disease EP (2014). The album features guest appearances from fellow MCs Wretch 32, Ghetts and J Hus, along with singers Kehlani, Raleigh Ritchie and MNEK. It features production from Fraser T. Smith and Sir Spyro, among others.

References

  1. ↑ "Top 15 Sophisti-Pop Albums". 25 August 2021.
  2. ↑ Cooper, William. "Animal Magic – The Blow Monkeys". AllMusic . Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  3. ↑ Griffin, John (24 April 1986). "Record Roundup". The Gazette . Retrieved 14 November 2011. smart, compelling, entirely disposable dance/pop
  4. ↑ Wolff, Carlo (5 August 1986). "Blow Monkeys Breeze into SPAC Sunday". Schenectady Gazette . Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  5. ↑ Adzgery, Sandy (7 August 1986). "Blow Monkeys Hoping for Another Big Success". Associated Press . Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  6. ↑ Mason, Stewart. "Digging Your Scene". AllMusic . Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  7. ↑ Theblowmonkeys.com – accessed September 2012
  8. ↑ "Splendor (1999) – Soundtracks". Internet Movie Database . Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  9. ↑ Wilson, MacKenzie. "Guestroom – Ivy". AllMusic . Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  10. ↑ Proefrock, Stacia. "Love in Stereo [Bonus Track] – Rahsaan Patterson". AllMusic . Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  11. 1 2 3 "Blow Monkeys". The Official Charts Company . Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  12. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 38. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  13. ↑ "Animal Magic – The Blow Monkeys". Billboard . Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  14. 1 2 "The Blow Monkeys Music News & Info". Billboard . Retrieved 14 November 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.