Chart Hit [Level 6]
In the process of reviewing and cataloguing my old LP's I came across the self titled LP Blue Magic (1974).I had forgot how great this Lp was.Songs such as Sideshow,Just Don't Want To Be Lonely,What's Come Over Me,Look Me Up reminded me of how great sounding and well produced this Lp was.Reading the credits it was easy to see why.Produced by Norman Harris with musicians such as Vince Montana,Bobby Eli,Ronnie Baker,Ron Kersey and Don Renaldo Orchestra and others.
Gold Record [Level 7]
Just pulled my copy after reading your post, one of my all time favorites albums, “Look me up” and “welcome to the club” were great disco hits, and “sideshow “ got lots of radio play (R&B stations) and I had forgotten how good this version of “I just don’t want to be lonely” was! Very soulful !, check the album inner sleeve with all the wonderful artist of the day, for the first time I just saw a picture of Manu Dibango in his “Soul Makossa” album cover.
Indie Release [Level 4]
I pulled out mine from way up in the closet after reading your post, too. Actually I taped "Blue Magic" album and their 2nd, "The Magic Of The Blue", and listened to them today...great, great. The first one was on CD in Japan and Germany. Now I only see a collection of them on CD. Does anyone have an opinion of their next albums, "Thirteen Blue Magic Lane" and "Mystic Dragons"? I have also their 1989 comeback album "From Out Of The Blue". Same lineup, except a quartet; one missing member. Are they still doing shows anywhere? The Stylistics are doing shows with the Temptations now...I think they should do shows with Blue Magic.
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Interesting that you mentioned this Blue Magic album at a time when I just happened to hear "Look Me Up" on two different DJ sets. Robbie Leslie included the cut on his all Philly edition of "Rarities and Lost" (very tasty set that includes Marlena Shaw's "Better Than Walking Out," and Dionne Warwick's "Take It From Me"). The cut is also included on an early morning set that Bobby Viteritti played at Trocadero Transfer in 1982.
What a wonderful song! Does anybody remember if it did anything on the charts back when it was released?
Gold Record [Level 7]
I don’t know if Blue Magic was ever listed in any top 40 charts, never followed charts to close anyways, but I know their music was played on R&B stations and they were a hit on discos of the day, I have a top 500 “Discotheque songs of the 70’s” chart (published on ’79) that lists “welcome to the club” and “Look me up” at # 165
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
Wild seeing that so many of us were in a "Blue" mood these past few days. In speaking with Graham a while back I had told him I was drenching myself with ballads from the Philly sound: Delfonics, Stylistics, Blue Magic, Intruders and so on. Just took me back to such a mellow place. Blue lights in the basement y'all!
_________________
Life Is a Dance
Nicky
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: NickNack on 2002-03-22 12:08 ]</font>
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Nicky, please excuse my ignorance, but what does "blue lights in the basement" suppose to represent (other than a Roberta Flack album)? I heard a few explanations but I don't get it (of course, living in the West Coast California suburbs where there aren't many basements, doesn't help).
DiscoMusic.com Owner / Administrator
On 2002-03-21 14:29, keefelc wrote:
Interesting that you mentioned this Blue Magic album at a time when I just happened to hear "Look Me Up" on two different DJ sets.
And I have had "Welcome to the Club" all this week... Ooooo, Twilight Zone moment.
_________________
Defender of the Disco beat,
Bernard Lopez
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owner & publisher of http://www.discomusic.com
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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Bernie on 2002-03-30 22:06 ]</font>
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Bernie, now this is spooky, the Manhattan Transfer's "Twilight Zone" was on another set I've listen to this week!
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
On 2002-03-22 14:10, keefelc wrote:
Nicky, please excuse my ignorance, but what does "blue lights in the basement" suppose to represent (other than a Roberta Flack album)? I heard a few explanations but I don't get it (of course, living in the West Coast California suburbs where there aren't many basements, doesn't help).
OK, see if I can get this right. Back in the day, and you can take it waaay back if you want to, brothers and sisters were always throwing "house parties". It was the way for people and friends to get together, eat, drink, dance and just have a good time. Inexpensive and you could 'BYOB' and the host supplied the ice/mixers. As the night drew on and the slow jams got more frequent, the lighting got lower, if that was possible. The favorite color --- blue. (Red is so sleazy, don't you think?)People walking by on the streets could see the "glow" coming through the windows. If you were fortunate enough to have a basement... well, the rest is history.
_________________
Life Is a Dance
Nicky
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: NickNack on 2002-03-22 20:21 ]</font>
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Cool Nicky! Does squeezing in about 20 people into a little studio apartment to wind down from a session at Troc with mimosas and jazz qualify?
I can hear a big "NO" already.
Underground Hit [Level 5]
"I Just Don't Want To Be Lonely" was by the Main Ingredient. It was a Top 10 record on both the pop and R&B charts in the spring of 1974.
Blue Magic's "Sideshow" went to #1 on the R&B charts in June, 1974, and went to #8 on the pop charts in August, 1974. A follow-up single, a fine ballad titled "Three Ring Circus" went to #36 on the pop charts in November, 1974.
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
On 2002-03-22 21:56, keefelc wrote:
Cool Nicky! Does squeezing in about 20 people into a little studio apartment to wind down from a session at Troc with mimosas and jazz qualify?
I can hear a big "NO" already.
:lol: You're right --- NO! But I would have taken you up on the invite just the same.
Love Has No Time or Place
Nicky
Chart Hit [Level 6]
And Nicky, you would have been a welcomed addition!
It's funny that I had more parties with more people in that small little apartment. Even more than when I shared a three bedroom San Francisco flat with some friends! Those were the days!
Underground Hit [Level 5]
True, The Main Ingredient re-made Just Don't Want To Be Lonely and made it a Top 10 Record, even though Blue Magic made it first. Although Blue Magic's version was good, it was too long and drawn out. The Main Ingredient's version was more snappy, and more up-tempo. That's what I believe attributed to it's success.Originally Written by Robbie
You know, Ted "Wizard" Mills was a very good friend of mine back in the mid to late 90's. We both lived in the same development when I lived in Edison, NJ. He would stop by to check me out on the turntables, and would turn me onto his new releases that he had coming out. At the time I was a fireman in Orange, NJ and he would stop by to check me out whenever we weren't busy, and we would even study Islam together.
He's a very down to earth brother, and believe it or not, he's also a gourmet chef!!! I lost contact with him after I moved to Jacksonville, FL. Hey Ted, if you ever come across this web-site: "LOOK ME UP"!!!
'NUFF SAID
Platinum Record [Level 8]
That's pretty cool stuff, knowing the man himself in person! I really enjoy the Blue Magic stuff and own most of their albums (I skipped the 1978 album when the left Philly, but bought the Philly 1981 Welcome Back LP which is great).True, The Main Ingredient re-made Just Don't Want To Be Lonely and made it a Top 10 Record, even though Blue Magic made it first. Although Blue Magic's version was good, it was too long and drawn out. The Main Ingredient's version was more snappy, and more up-tempo. That's what I believe attributed to it's success.
You know, Ted "Wizard" Mills was a very good friend of mine back in the mid to late 90's. We both lived in the same development when I lived in Edison, NJ. He would stop by to check me out on the turntables, and would turn me onto his new releases that he had coming out. At the time I was a fireman in Orange, NJ and he would stop by to check me out whenever we weren't busy, and we would even study Islam together.
He's a very down to earth brother, and believe it or not, he's also a gourmet chef!!! I lost contact with him after I moved to Jacksonville, FL. Hey Ted, if you ever come across this web-site: "LOOK ME UP"!!!
'NUFF SAID
Do you recall if he was also still a Buddhist? Some of those Blue Magic LPs apparently had references to Buddhism, both in the lyrics and in the cover designs.
Here's some old school clips
I think both versions of I Just Don't Want To Be Lonely are great! But I lean towards the Blue Magic version because I'm a sucker for MFSB and philly soul.
Disco Funk
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Hi:
Whatelse can you expect from:
Produced and arranged by B-H-Y (Baker, Harris and Young)
Philly musicians
Tom Moulton Mix.
By the way, this album is already on CD
Amazon.com: Blue Magic: Blue Magic: Music
Take care. See you.
Last edited by Bernie; January 17th, 2009 at 03:47 PM.
Cheers,
Hessel
:icon_razz: :icon_biggrin: :icon_razz: :icon_biggrin:
Underground Hit [Level 5]
I'm glad you asked that question about the Buddhism. As you have noticed, "Mystic Dragons" is one of their trademarks. I've even asked Ted about this and he admitted that he had an interest in Chinese Philosophy, and had even studied Wing Chun Gung Fu.
He used the Mystic Dragon trademark to correspond with the groups name, Blue "Magic". And since his nickname is "Wizard", it just makes the group seem just that more Mystical!
When I hooked up with him in the mid to late 90's, he had left the group and persued his solo career. He gave me a promo copy of his latest album at the time, that had duets with Cuba Gooding Sr. of the Main Ingredient & the late Buddy Miles from Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsies.
Some of the tracks were "You're my Chocolate Star", "Is it May or is it June", which were new tracks, and of course he re-made some of the classics such as "Tear it Down". The copy that I have doesn't even have a lable on it, which makes me cherish it that much more.
If you can find it, (good luck), you'll definately be impressed because Ted "Wizard" Mills was THE VOICE, and the brother's still got it!!! Funny thing about him is, he'll never sing in public. When I first met him, I said: "Hey Ted, you're my man, hit a few notes for me"!!! And he calmly said: "Kevin, I never do that. I like to remain humble with my talents, plus it helps me save my voice". But when he came to my crib, the brother blew me away!!! I'm surprised he didn't break any glasses!!! I swear to God!!!
He has a very, mellow & philosophical way about him, which could lead one to believe that he is some sort of Buddhist Priest from Shaolin. But when I met him he was studying Islam, and so was I. Hey I look at it like this: "Spirituality is a street, that travels down many avenues".
'NUFF SAID
Platinum Record [Level 8]
That's pretty cool! Wing Chun is what Bruce Lee studied under Yip Man (there's a new movie in Hong Kong based on Sifu Yip's life, played by Donnie Yen) before he created Jeet Kune Do.
Totally. I think the Mystic Dragon LP even had a number of Buddhist or Taoist symbolisms on the cover.He used the Mystic Dragon trademark to correspond with the groups name, Blue "Magic". And since his nickname is "Wizard", it just makes the group seem just that more Mystical!
That's great he has such an interesting outlook on life and religion. Without getting too political, perhaps if people of different religions learned more about other ones, the way one might study multiple languages, that might lead to less friction and more peace and understanding. I know that's a simplistic view on how things work, but it would be a start. ;)When I hooked up with him in the mid to late 90's, he had left the group and persued his solo career. He gave me a promo copy of his latest album at the time, that had duets with Cuba Gooding Sr. of the Main Ingredient & the late Buddy Miles from Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsies.
Some of the tracks were "You're my Chocolate Star", "Is it May or is it June", which were new tracks, and of course he re-made some of the classics such as "Tear it Down". The copy that I have doesn't even have a lable on it, which makes me cherish it that much more.
If you can find it, (good luck), you'll definately be impressed because Ted "Wizard" Mills was THE VOICE, and the brother's still got it!!! Funny thing about him is, he'll never sing in public. When I first met him, I said: "Hey Ted, you're my man, hit a few notes for me"!!! And he calmly said: "Kevin, I never do that. I like to remain humble with my talents, plus it helps me save my voice". But when he came to my crib, the brother blew me away!!! I'm surprised he didn't break any glasses!!! I swear to God!!!
He has a very, mellow & philosophical way about him, which could lead one to believe that he is some sort of Buddhist Priest from Shaolin. But when I met him he was studying Islam, and so was I. Hey I look at it like this: "Spirituality is a street, that travels down many avenues".
'NUFF SAID
As far as I'm concerned, he WAS Blue Magic. When the group was created, he was actually part of a vocal group, but from what I read, they felt the other singers were too old or old-fashioned, so he was paired up with the guys who formed the rest of Blue Magic. Don't get me wrong, the other guys in the group who sang lead parts were great as well, but the driving force was Teddy. I actually liked it when he sang both 'regular' and falsetto in the same song. I think his best vocal performance was on Chasing Rainbows, where he sang in both ranges, plus he held that 'heeeeere I gooooooo' note forever!
Disco Funk
Underground Hit [Level 5]
I like you DiscoFunk, you've done your home work!!!You know, lots of people wondered why Bruce Lee referred to his art as Gung Fu instead of Kung Fu, and that's because he spoke a dialect of Chinese called Cantonese, as opposed to proper speaking Chinese people that speak the correct way which is called Mandarin. (SNOBS) So the "K" is pronounced as a "G"!!!
And believe it or not, Bruce hung out in the Kowloon section of Hong Kong, which is considered the 'Hood. That's why after he studied Wing Chun, and gained a sense of himself, he started getting into trouble. That's why his father shipped him to Seattle before he wound up in jail or dead!!! Besides with the Lee family's fame in the Hong Kong cinema, it would definately ruin their reputation.
This is one of the reasons why Bruce Lee was so down to earth, because due to the fact that he had a 'Hood mentallity, he was able to adapt and accept ANY RACE OF PEOPLE!!! Which is actually the basis of Jeet Kune Do!!! The Way (or no Way) of the Intercepting Fist or Foot. Way or no Way (Ying or Yang), meaning without "STYLE OR COMPROMISE". Being fluid like water.
And after reading your last paragraph about the world needing to be more like this, you, I, Ted, & Bruce are all definately on the same page!!!
'NUFF SAID
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