Mystic Merlin

[Jimaras]

Any fans out there remember this group ?

[K-Bee]

Oh Yes. Love their "Mr Magician" featuring a then unknown Freddie Jackson. The biggest hit by them must have been "Just Can't Give You Up" (1980)

[Nano]

I have "Just can't give you up" on CD (in Jazz Cuts: Jazz Funk Renaissance, a Temple Records 1995 compilation) and frankly, I don't like it. But I do remember another Mystic Merling song called "Hideaway" (circa 1980) which was one of my faves back then. The album cover had some theater masks, I think.
I never could find a Mystic Merlin complete album on CD. Is there any?

[K-Bee]

Nano,
I found this bio of Mystic Merlin

http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Mystic%20Merlin.html

Unfortunately there's no info about any cd's. Even AMG can't give any details :(

[Nano]

Thanks K-Bee,
I checked the site and it seems this guy had his info from the same source as the people of Temple Records... The "Jazz Cuts" CD I mentioned earlier says almost the same about Mystic Merlin. For example, it begins: "Starting out as a magic novelty act, they began to be taken seriously on the dance scene in 1980 when they signed with Capitol Records, where they recorded the album 'Mystic Merlin'. This single ('Just can't give you up') came from that album, an instant UK Top 20 hit". Mmmm... what's happening here? :-?
Sadly, my CD has no info on who did the liner notes (it was made in the UK). Anyway, it would be useful to name sources in the web pages... It would let us check and search the path of any particular information. But don't pay much attention, I'm a journalist and grow a bit obsessive about these things...
The only other information -other than what's cited on that link- is that Clyde Bullard played guitar and "Just can't give you up" stayed on the UK chart for 9 weeks. Bullard and Leslie Dorsey are credited as authors of that track.
But still nothing about "Hideaway"... Somebody has to remember that one!

[DISCODISK]

there arnt any mystic merlin c.ds available though mr magician/just cant give you up is available now as a u.k 12" on expansion records.
just cant give you up was indeed an instant hit in the u.k though the promo u.s 7" copy i have is far superior to the u.k 7", the mix being more instrumental.its time these albums were available on c.d as the albums are getting quite collectable now,also ive spotted a few white promo 12's of just cant give you up on u.k dealers lists at around $30 a good investment i think.BTW NANO how can you not like just cant give you up :o !!!!!

[Nano]

Well Discodisk, I'm giving it a second chance right at this moment and the thing is, it sounds pretty lame to me compared to similar work by Roy Ayers or Herbie Hancock. I'm a big fan of melody, and this one is just two big chords repeated endlessly, with nice lushy disco arrangements yes, but not much more. Of course this is just my humble opinion and I'm sure you guys disagree
In fact what attracted me to "Hideaway" was that it is a great funk number, it's a track really funk in a Gap Band kind of way. It also has a great melody. If someone has a MM album in the vinyl collection should check it out (and digitalize it for us, of course).
In my Jazz Cuts CD "Just can't give you up" clock at 6.58. The disc also has material by E,W&F, Hiroshima, Kleeer, Ronnie Laws, Lonnie Liston Smith, Mass Production, Hancock, etc. Much of it in a similar vein, so I also recommend it to fans of that track.