The Magic Numbers (album) explained

The Magic Numbers
Type:	studio
Artist:	the Magic Numbers
Cover:	The Magic Numbers Album.jpg
Alt:	The phrase "The Magic Numbers" spelled out with children's toy blocks
Recorded:	Recorded and mixed at Metropolis Studios and Konk Studios, mixed at Metropolis Mastering, mastered at Sanctuary Townhouse.
Genre:	Indie pop
Label:	Heavenly, EMI
Producer:	Craig Silvey and Romeo Stodart
Next Title:	Those the Brokes
Next Year:	2006

The Magic Numbers is the debut album from English pop rock band the Magic Numbers. It was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize in 2005. Songwriting duties were taken by Romeo Stodart as was much of the musical composition and arrangement. It incorporated the earlier single release of "Hymn for Her" as a hidden track. The album incorporates many folk elements within the main indie sound which resounds throughout. The album also reflects many elements of the writers' early childhood dreams, tales of their love life and desperation of youth. For example, "Love Me Like You", the best known single of the album, illustrates the difference of feeling in their love for each other.

Production

The Magic Numbers began recording the album in late 2004 at the Metropolis Studios in Chiswick.^[1] The album was co-produced by Romeo Stodart and American producer Craig Silvey.^[2]

Reception

The album was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2005, but lost to Antony and the Johnsons' I Am a Bird Now.^[3] The Magic Numbers came 43rd on PopMatters 50 Best Albums of 2005 list.^[2]

Personnel

The Magic Numbers

• Angela Gannon – melodica, percussion, vocals, design
• Sean Gannon – drums, design
• Michele Stodart – bass guitar, keyboards, percussion, vocals, design
• Romeo Stodart – guitar, piano, vocals, production, banjo on "Mornings Eleven", design

Other personnel

• CC-Lab – design
• Angharad Davies – violin on "This Love"
• Pete Fowler – band illustration on British release
• Steve Gullick – photography
• Serge Krebs – engineering on "Which Way to Happy" and "I See You, You See Me"
• Dom Morley – assistant engineering on "Don't Give Up the Fight"
• Rich Robson – editing
• Craig Silvey – recording and production on all except "Idea of a Feeling"
• Bunt Stafford-Clark – mastering
• Richard Wilkinson – mixing on "Don't Give Up the Fight" and "This Love", additional engineering on "Mornings Eleven", "Forever Lost", "The Mule", "Long Legs", "Love Me Like You", "This Love", "Try", and "Hymn to Her"

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2005–2006)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[4]	61

Year-end charts

Chart (2005)! scope="col"

Position
UK Albums (OCC)^[5]	39
Chart (2006)	Position
UK Albums (OCC)^[6]	108

Singles chart performance

Chart performance for singles from The Magic Numbers!Single (British releases)!Peak chart positions

"Forever Lost"	15
"Love Me Like You"	12
"Love's a Game"	24
"I See You, You See Me"	20

Release history

Release history and formats for The Magic Numbers! Country! Date! Label! Format! Catalog

United Kingdom	13 June 2005	Heavenly	CD	HVNLP53CD
			LP	HVNLP53
United States	2 August 2005	EMI	CD	312162

Notes and References

1. News: The Magic Numbers heavenly melodies and west of Ireland connections. Mcguire. Kevin. 11 November 2010. Galway Advertiser. 14 April 2014.
2. Web site: The Best 50 Albums of 2005. 9 December 2005. PopMatters. 14 April 2014.
3. News: Antony and Johnsons win Mercury. 7 September 2005. BBC News. 14 April 2014.
4. 175.
5. Web site: End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2005. Official Charts Company. 4 April 2021.
6. Web site: 2006 UK Albums Chart. ChartsPlus. 17 November 2021.