Magic (Gillan album)

Last updated

Magic
Magic - Gillan.jpg
Studio album by
Gillan
ReleasedSeptember 1982 [1]
RecordedJuly–August 1982 [2]
StudioKingsway (London)
Genre Hard rock, heavy metal
Length38:45
Label Virgin
Producer Mick Glossop
Gillan chronology
Double Trouble
(1981)		Magic
(1982)
Singles from Magic
  1. "Living for the City"
    Released: 20 August 1982 [3]
  2. "Long Gone"
    Released: 29 October 1982 [4]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal 10/10 [6]

Magic is the sixth and final studio album by English rock band Gillan, released in September 1982. [7] It features eight original songs, mostly co-written by Ian Gillan and Colin Towns, and a cover of Stevie Wonder's 1973 hit single "Living for the City". This cover was released as a 7" single, in both picture-bag and picture-disc editions, and was accompanied by a promotional video.

Contents

Although the album was generally accepted by Gillan's staunch UK following, it failed to achieve the chart success of Glory Road or Future Shock , peaking at No. 17 in the UK chart. [8]

Allegedly, many of the album's lyrics cryptically predict the end of the band. [9]

Magic was reissued in 1989 and in 2007 with seven bonus tracks, including cover versions and B-sides.

Track listing

Side one
  1. "What's the Matter" (Gillan, John McCoy, Janick Gers) – 3:33
  2. "Bluesy Blue Sea" (Gillan, Gers) – 4:48
  3. "Caught in a Trap" – 3:34
  4. "Long Gone" – 3:59
  5. "Driving Me Wild" – 3:05
Side two
  2. "Demon Driver" – 7:15
  3. "Living a Lie" – 4:27
  4. "You're So Right" (Gillan, McCoy) – 2:55
  5. "Living for the City" (Stevie Wonder) – 4:27
  6. "Demon Driver (reprise)" – 0:42

1989 Re-release bonus tracks

In 1989 Virgin re-released the album in CD format. The revised track listing was as follows:

  2. "Breaking Chains" (Gillan, Gers) – 3:28
  3. "Fiji" (Gillan, McCoy) – 5:21
  4. "Purple Sky" (Gillan, McCoy) – 3:24
  5. "South Africa" (Bernie Marsden) – 4:03
  6. "John" (Gillan) – 4:44
  7. "South Africa" (12" extended version) (Marsden) – 7:18
  8. "Helter Skelter" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 3:26*
  9. "Smokestack Lightning" (Chester Burnett) – 4:08*

Total running time 74:50

* Previously unreleased

2007 Re-release bonus tracks

In 2007 the album was re-released in CD format again on the Edsel Records label.

  2. "Breaking Chains" – 3:28
  3. "Purple Sky" – 3:24
  4. "Fiji" – 5:21
  5. "Helter Skelter" – 3:26
  6. "Smokestack Lightning" – 4:08
  7. "South Africa" – 4:03
  8. "John" – 4:44
  9. "South Africa" (12" extended version) – 7:18

Personnel

Gillan
Production

Charts

References

  1. ↑ Popoff, Martin (2018). The Deep Purple Family, vol 2 (2nd ed.). Wymer Publishing. p. 66. ISBN   978-1-908724-87-8.
  2. ↑ Gillan, Ian (2016). The Autobiography (3rd ed.). John Blake Publishing. p. 325. ISBN   978-1-786-06135-5.
  3. ↑ "New Singles". Music Week . 21 August 1982.
  4. ↑ "Gillan singles".
  5. ↑ Anderson, Jason. "Gillan - Magic review". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  6. ↑ Popoff, Martin (1 November 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 132. ISBN   978-1-894959-31-5.
  7. ↑ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 211. ISBN   9780862415419.
  8. ↑ "Gillan Official Charts". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  9. ↑ Mayo, Bob (28 April 2019). "Was Gillan's Magic a hidden concept album about the end of the band?". Classic Rock . Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  10. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
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