Magic (Four Tops album) explained
| Magic |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | The Four Tops |
| Cover: | Magic (Four Tops album).jpg |
| Border: | yes |
| Studio: | - The Song, Chatsworth, USA
- Hitsville U.S.A., Hollywood, USA
- The Complex, Los Angeles, USA
- Sound Suite, Detroit, USA
- Right Track, New York City
- Sigma Sound, New York City
|
| Genre: | Soul |
| Label: | Motown |
| Producer: |
|
| Prev Title: | Back Where I Belong |
| Prev Year: | 1983 |
| Next Title: | Indestructible |
| Next Year: | 1988 |
Magic is an album recorded by the Four Tops, released in 1985 on Motown Records.[1] The album reached No. 23 on the Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart and No. 33 on the Billboard Top US R&B Albums chart.[2] [3]
Overview
Half of the Magic album was produced by Reggie Lucas, which was the idea of Iris Gordy, who felt his work on the debut double-platinum Madonna album reminded her of an updated Holland-Dozier-Holland sound. The other half was handled by Willie Hutch.[4]
Reggie Lucas produced the song "Maybe Tomorrow", a duet between Levi Stubbs and Phyllis Hyman, which received substantial urban contemporary airplay.[5] [6] [7] [8]
Singles
"Sexy Ways" peaked at No. 21 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart.[9]
Personnel
Four Tops
- Levi Stubbs – baritone lead vocals
- Abdul "Duke" Fakir – first tenor vocals
- Renaldo "Obie" Benson – bass vocals
- Lawrence Payton –second tenor vocals
Musicians
- Richard Kosinski – keyboards (1, 3), synthesizers (1, 3)
- John Bokowski – keyboards (4), arrangements (4)
- Larry Williams – keyboards (4)
- Fred Zarr – pianos (5), synthesizers (5, 7)
- Dean Gant – pianos (5, 8), synthesizers (5, 8)
- Reginald "Sonny" Burke – keyboards (6), synthesizers (6), arrangements (6)
- Philip Woo – synthesizers (7)
- John Duarte – keyboards (9), synthesizers (9)
- David Kitay – acoustic guitar (1, 3), electric guitar (1, 3)
- Charles Fearing – guitars (2, 6)
- Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (2)
- Ray Fuller – guitars (4)
- Reggie Lucas – guitars (5, 7)
- Willie Hutch – bass (1, 3), Oberheim DMX programming (1, 3), BGV arrangements (9)
- Alfredo Washington – bass (2)
- Cornelius Mims – bass (4)
- Anthony Jackson – bass (5, 7, 8)
- Ed Greene – drums (2)
- Steve Ferrone – drums (4, 8)
- Michael White – drums (4)
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion (4, 9)
- Bashiri Johnson – percussion (5)
- Gerald Albright – saxophone solo (1, 3)
- Ernie Watts – saxophone solo (2)
- Harold Vick – saxophone (7)
- Stanley Behrens – harmonica (3)
- Gene Page – orchestration (2), string arrangements (9)
- Benjamin Wright – additional arrangements (4, 6)
- Eddie Summers – rhythm arrangements (9)
- Phyllis Hyman – lead vocals (8)
Production
- Iris Gordy – executive producer
- Willie Hutch – producer (1, 2, 3)
- Kerry Ashby – producer (4)
- Benny Medina – producer (4)
- Reggie Lucas – producer (5, 7, 8)
- Johnny Bristol – producer (6)
- Hal Davis – producer (9)
- Johnny Lee – art direction
- Janet Levinson – design
- Aaron Rapoport – photography
Technical
- John Matousek – mastering At Motown/Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios (Hollywood, CA)
- Steve King – recording (1, 3)
- Jim Vitti – recording (1, 3)
- Willie Hutch – mixing (1)
- Bob Robitaille – recording (2, 9), mixing (2, 4, 9)
- Steve Smith – recording (2)
- Barney Perkins – mixing (3, 6, 7)
- Tom Perry – recording (4)
- Nick Spigel – recording (4)
- Joe Ferla – recording (5, 7, 8)
- Reggie Kendall – recording (6)
- Russ Terrana – mixing (1), recording (9)
Notes and References
- Four Tops: Magic. 1985. Motown Records.
- Top British Soul Albums. September 3, 1985. Blues and Soul.
- Web site: Four Tops: Magic (Top R&B Albums). https://web.archive.org/web/20191101213442/https://www.billboard.com/music/four-tops/chart-history/BLP/song/376242. dead. November 1, 2019. Billboard. billboard.com.
- Book: Billboard. 1985-04-20. Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
- Web site: Welcome rnbhaven.com - BlueHost.com. www.rnbhaven.com. 2019-11-02.
- Book: Strength Of A Woman: The Phyllis Hyman Story. 15 October 2018. 978-0979489013. Michael. Jason A..
- Book: Billboard. 1985-06-15. Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
- Book: Blues & Soul. June 1985. Napfield Limited.
- Four Tops: Sexy Ways (Hot R&B Singles). https://web.archive.org/web/20191101214055/https://www.billboard.com/music/four-tops/chart-history/BSI/song/370546. dead. November 1, 2019. Billboard.
