Magical (song)

Last updated
"Magical"
Bucks Fizz - magical RCA.jpg
Single by Bucks Fizz
from the album Writing on the Wall
B-side "Oh Suzanne"
ReleasedSeptember 1985
Length4.04
Label RCA
Songwriter(s) Meat Loaf, John Parr
Producer(s) Andy Hill
Bucks Fizz singles chronology
"You and Your Heart So Blue"
(1985)
"Magical"
(1985)
"New Beginning (Mamba Seyra)"
(1986)

"Magical" is a song written by American musician Meat Loaf and British musician John Parr, and it was released as a 1985 single by Parr as a part of his self-titled debut album. A few months later, an alternative version of the song was released in the U.K. as a single by pop group Bucks Fizz. It entered the charts by both artists in the U.S. and U.K. respectively but was not a big hit for either, although Parr's version managed to rise into the top 40 of Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.

Contents

John Parr version

John Parr began working with Meat Loaf for the latter's 1984 album Bad Attitude . Together they composed some songs, including "Magical", which became the opening track for Parr's debut album. Parr scored a US hit with the song "Naughty Naughty" in late 1984 and was followed up in April 1985 by "Magical" which entered the Billboard Hot 100 that month but stalled at No.73. [1] It also reached No.28 on the Mainstream Rock chart. [2] In Parr's native UK the single made no impression, although he did go on to achieve success a few months later with the song "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)", prompting his album to enter the UK charts. "Magical" remains the only (released) song written by Meat Loaf that he never recorded. [3]

Track listing

  1. "Magical" (John Parr / Meat Loaf) 3:53
  2. "Treat Me Like an Animal" (Parr) 4:27

Charts

Chart (1985)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 [4] 73
US Billboard Top Rock Tracks [5] 28

Bucks Fizz version

Following the success of the rock-orientated track "Talking in Your Sleep", Bucks Fizz were keen to replicate it with the release of this similar-themed song. This was the heaviest sound the group ever adopted. With the public still familiar with their clean-cut pop image, the move was unsuccessful and "Magical" became the group's lowest charting single. Released in September 1985, the song reached No. 57 and spent only three weeks on the chart. [6]

The single was significant in that it was the first release with new member Shelley Preston, who had joined a few months earlier, although she didn't perform on the recording. It was also the group's last release with label RCA before their move to Polydor early the following year. Due to the failure of the single, plans for an album release at this time were shelved for a year. The song eventually featured on their fifth album Writing on the Wall, released in 1986. An alternative edit of the song, featuring vocals by departed member Jay Aston was uncovered during production for the album The Lost Masters 2 - The Final Cut . The song was included on the 2008 album. [7]

The B-side of the single was "Oh Suzanne", written by Warren Bacall. This song had been released two years previously on the group's Greatest Hits album. At the time of original release, it caused controversy within the group as it had featured lead vocals by Jay Aston, but they were removed and replaced by a lead vocal by other female member Cheryl Baker. Years later, Aston commented on the incident and was angered by the time and money that had been spent re-recording it[ citation needed ]. In 2006, this original version was uncovered and included on the compilation; The Lost Masters , as well as an extended 12" version, hinting that it may have been considered for A-side release.

Track listing

7" vinyl
  1. "Magical" (John Parr / Meat Loaf) 4:04
  2. "Oh Suzanne" (Andy Hill / Warren Bacall) 4:44
12" vinyl
  1. "Magical" 4:04
  2. "Oh Suzanne" 4:44
  3. "You and Your Heart So Blue" (extended version) (Hill / Peter Sinfield) 6:04 [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Parr</span> English musician

John Stephen Parr is an English musician, singer, and songwriter, best known for his 1985 single "St. Elmo's Fire ", charting at number one in the US and number six in the UK, and for his 1984 US number-six rock single "Naughty Naughty". He has written and performed ten major motion-picture theme songs, including Three Men and a Baby and The Running Man. Parr has sold over 10 million albums and was nominated for a Grammy award for "St. Elmo's Fire" in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bucks Fizz</span> English pop group

Bucks Fizz were a British pop group that achieved success in the 1980s, most notably for winning the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Making Your Mind Up". The group was formed in January 1981 specifically for the contest and comprised four vocalists: Bobby G, Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston. They received attention for the dance routine which accompanied the song, in which the male members of the group ripped the female members' outer skirts off to reveal much shorter mini-skirts beneath. The group went on to have a successful career around the world, but the UK remained their biggest market, where they had three No.1 singles with "Making Your Mind Up" (1981), "The Land of Make Believe" (1981) and "My Camera Never Lies" (1982) and became one of the top-selling groups of the 1980s. They also had UK Top 10 hits with "Now Those Days Are Gone" (1982), "If You Can't Stand the Heat" (1982), "When We Were Young" (1983) and "New Beginning " (1986). Bucks Fizz have sold over 50 million records worldwide.

<i>Bucks Fizz</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Bucks Fizz

Bucks Fizz is the eponymous debut studio album by the British pop group Bucks Fizz. It was released on 26 July 1981, it features their Eurovision-winning song "Making Your Mind Up" as well as the two follow-up singles "Piece of the Action" and "One of Those Nights". The album was produced by Andy Hill and released on RCA Records. Bucks Fizz has been re-released twice on CD, first in 2004 with bonus tracks and as a two-disc edition in 2015.

<i>Are You Ready</i> (Bucks Fizz album) 1982 studio album by Bucks Fizz

Are You Ready is the second studio album by the British pop group Bucks Fizz. It was released on 26 April 1982 and features the UK No. 1 singles "The Land of Make Believe" and "My Camera Never Lies" as well as the follow-up "Now Those Days Are Gone". It was produced by Andy Hill and released on RCA records. It remains the group's most successful album.

<i>I Hear Talk</i> 1984 studio album by Bucks Fizz

I Hear Talk is the fourth studio album by the pop group Bucks Fizz. It was released in November 1984, the album featured the singles "Talking in Your Sleep", "Golden Days" and "I Hear Talk".

<i>Writing on the Wall</i> (Bucks Fizz album) 1986 studio album by Bucks Fizz

Writing on the Wall is the fifth studio album by the British pop group Bucks Fizz. It was released on 24 November 1986 and featured the comeback top ten single "New Beginning ". It was their first and only album to feature then new member Shelley Preston and their only album released on Polydor Records. Despite the album being initially unsuccessful in the charts, it was re-released twice - first in 2004 and again in 2012, both times with different track listings. It remains the group's final studio album to date.

<i>Blind Before I Stop</i> 1986 studio album by Meat Loaf

Blind Before I Stop is the fifth studio album by American singer Meat Loaf, released in September 1986. The album was produced in Germany by Frank Farian and was the first to fully embrace the '80s sound. Critics were concerned about the album missing the characteristic Steinman-influenced sound by incorporating synth chords and samples. According to Meat Loaf's 1998 autobiography, he would have preferred to wait to work with more Steinman material, but his contractual obligations with Arista required him to complete two more albums by the end of the 1980s, including this album and a live album.

<i>The Lost Masters</i> (Bucks Fizz album)

The Lost Masters is the name given to an album project to release unheard, rare and extended remixes of songs by the British pop group Bucks Fizz. Two albums were originally released: The Lost Masters in 2006, and The Lost Masters 2 - The Final Cut in 2008. A third single-disc volume was released in April 2012 as a double-pack which included a re-release of the group's 1986 album Writing on the Wall. Finally, The Best of The Lost Masters, a 25-track compilation was released in April 2013, which also included a number of previously unreleased mixes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When We Were Young (Bucks Fizz song)</span> 1983 single by Bucks Fizz

"When We Were Young" is a 1983 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. The track features lead vocals by band member Jay Aston. The song became their sixth top-ten-hit in the UK and it is one of their biggest hits in Europe.

<i>The Story So Far</i> (Bucks Fizz album) 1988 compilation album by Bucks Fizz

The Story So Far is a compilation album by British pop group Bucks Fizz, released in 1988. The album collects together 18 of the group's biggest hit singles spanning the years 1981 to 1988, including their three number ones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run for Your Life (Bucks Fizz song)</span> 1983 single by Bucks Fizz

"Run for Your Life" is a 1983 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It was written by Andy Hill and Ian Bairnson and became the group's eighth consecutive top 20 hit in the UK. It featured on the group's third album Hand Cut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Town (Bucks Fizz song)</span> 1983 single by Bucks Fizz

"London Town" is a 1983 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It was their first single not to reach the UK top 20, breaking a run of nine consecutive top 20 hits. The song was written and produced by Andy Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rules of the Game (song)</span> 1983 single by Bucks Fizz

"Rules of the Game" is a 1983 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It fared poorly in the UK Charts, becoming their first single to miss the top 40.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Hear Talk (song)</span> 1984 single by Bucks Fizz

"I Hear Talk" is a 1984 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz, written by Andy Hill and Peter Sinfield, the team responsible for the group's biggest hit in the UK, "The Land of Make Believe". It was also produced by Hill. Released as a single in December 1984, it is the title track from the group's fourth studio album. In 2010, the song was chosen as the first single by the Original Bucks Fizz in a live jazz-style reworking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You and Your Heart So Blue</span> 1985 single by Bucks Fizz

"You and Your Heart So Blue" is a single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. Released in June 1985, the song was written by Andy Hill and Peter Sinfield and was produced by Hill. This single was the last to feature member Jay Aston, who quit the group the same month.

Warren Harry was a British songwriter and performer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Grammar</span> 1985 single by John Parr

"Love Grammar" is a song by English singer/musician John Parr, released as the third of four singles from his 1984 self-titled debut album John Parr. The song was written and produced solely by Parr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Fizz</span> British pop music group

The Fizz are a British pop music group formed in 2004 as a spin-off from the original group, Bucks Fizz. The core of the group consists of Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston, who are all former members of Bucks Fizz and performed as OBF initially with Shelley Preston and then replaced by Jay Aston. The group then performed as Formerly of Bucks Fizz, and Bobby McVay later became a member in 2015, making the group a quartet, and then renaming as The Fizz until he left in 2018. To date, the group have released four albums, three of which have charted in the Official UK Albums Chart. Their 2017 album The F-Z of Pop reached No.25, becoming the highest-charting Bucks Fizz related album in 33 years. In 2018, Christmas with the Fizz was released. In 2020, Smoke & Mirrors was released, reaching number 29 in the Official UK Albums Chart and number 6 on the Official Sales Chart.

<i>The F–Z of Pop</i> 2017 studio album by The Fizz

The F–Z of Pop is a studio album by British pop group The Fizz, released in 2017. It is the second album by the group and the first by the four-member line up of Cheryl Baker, Jay Aston, Mike Nolan and Bobby McVay. Released in September, the album entered the UK albums chart at No.25, the highest chart position achieved by a Bucks Fizz line-up since the "New Beginning " single in 1986, 31 years earlier.

Smoke & Mirrors is a 2020 studio album by The Fizz, formerly Bucks Fizz. It is the third album by the group under the name The Fizz and the second as a threesome consisting of original members Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston. Released on 6 March 2020, the album entered the overall Official Albums Chart at No.29, the Official Album Sales Chart at No.6, the Official Vinyl Albums Chart at No.5 and the Official Independent Album Chart at No.3. Its Sales chart position of No.6 is the highest entry of any previous Bucks Fizz/The Fizz albums.

References

  1. Billboard.com - John Parr discography
  2. Allmusic John Parr Billboard Charts
  3. Meat Loaf / John Parr song database
  4. "John Parr Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  5. "John Parr". Billboard .
  6. Official Charts Company - "Magical" Chart details
  7. Bucksfizzearlyyears - The Lost Masters 2 Archived 2009-02-12 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Bucks Fizz Magical Picture Sleeve