Magic (Gillan album)

Magic is the sixth and final studio album by British hard rock band Gillan, released in October 1982. 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.

Magic
Studio album by
Gillan
ReleasedOctober 1982
RecordedJuly 1982 – August 1982
StudioKingsway Recorders, London, UK
GenreHard rock, heavy metal
Length38:45
LabelVirgin
ProducerMick Glossop
Gillan chronology
Double Trouble
(1981)		 Magic
(1982)
Singles from Magic
  1. "Living for the City" / "Breaking Chains"
    Released: September 1982
  2. "Long Gone" / "Fiji"
    Released: 1982
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal10/10[2]

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.[3]

Allegedly, many of the album's lyrics cryptically predict the end of the band.[4]

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
  1. "Demon Driver" – 7:15
  2. "Living a Lie" – 4:27
  3. "You're So Right" (Gillan, McCoy) – 2:55
  4. "Living for the City" (Stevie Wonder) – 4:27
  5. "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:

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

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

Personnel
Gillan
Production
  • Mick Glossop – producer, engineer
  • Bob Broglia – assistant engineer
  • Paul "Chas" Watkins – producer and engineer on "Purple Sky"
  • Nick Davis – engineer on "South Africa"
  • James "Jimbo" Barton – remix on "South Africa"

Charts

Album
Year Chart Peak
position
1982 UK Albums Chart[3] 17

Singles
Year Title Chart Position
1982 "Living for the City" UK Singles Chart[3] 50
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References
  1. Anderson, Jason. "Gillan - Magic review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  2. 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.
  3. "Gillan Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  4. 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.
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