| Magic, Murder and the Weather | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Magazine |
| Cover: | MagazineMagicMurder.jpg |
| Released: | June 1981 |
| Recorded: | 1981 |
| Studio: | Trident Studios, London |
| Genre: | New wave・post-punk |
| Length: | 39:52 |
| Label: | Virgin・I.R.S. (US)[1] |
| Prev Title: | Play |
| Prev Year: | 1980 |
| Next Title: | No Thyself |
| Next Year: | 2011 |
Magic, Murder and the Weather is the fourth studio album by English post-punk band Magazine, and their final album until the band's reformation in 2009. It was released in June 1981 by record label Virgin. One single, "About the Weather", was released from the album.
Unlike the group's previous album, The Correct Use of Soap, the writing credits for Magic, Murder and the Weather were not shared equally. Quite a lot of the music was written by keyboardist Dave Formula and only the first three songs of side two of the LP were credited to all five members. Consistent with all Magazine's albums, the lyrics were written by Howard Devoto.
Magic, Murder and the Weather was recorded at Trident Studios, London in early 1981 with John Brand recording and engineering and The Correct Use of Soap producer Martin Hannett credited for mixing. A producer is not credited. Hannett and the band mixed the album at Strawberry Studios in Stockport with Chris Nagel assisting.
The classic lineup of the band had ended when guitarist and founding member John McGeoch had departed in mid-1980 to join Siouxsie and the Banshees. Former Ultravox guitarist Robin Simon, who played guitar for Magazine's 1980 world tour, left the group soon after the tour. Replacing him was ex-Amazorblades guitarist and Devoto friend Ben Mandelson. The lineup that recorded the album was as follows: Devoto (vocals and guitar), Barry Adamson (bass), Formula (keyboards), John Doyle (drums) and Mandelson (guitar and violin). Laura Teresa and Ray Shell also contributed backing vocals.
The original artwork was designed by Malcolm Garret with photography by Bruce Gilden.
The album was originally released on vinyl and cassette in June 1981. The album peaked at No. 39 on the UK Album Chart.[2] "About the Weather" was released as a single the following month.
The album was remastered by Virgin/EMI in 2007 along with the other three of the band's first four studio albums, and included two bonus tracks and liner notes by Kieron Tyler.