Blue Magic - Blue Magic (Remastered & Expanded) (CD 2007)

I'm a huge lover of 70's vocal Soul groups like the Chi-Lites, Manhattans, Moments etc. and this debut album from Blue Magic is up there with them.

Every track is excellent and many are bonafide classics.

There is a combination of uptempo and ballads with the emphasis on the ballads.

The overall sound rests with Ted Mill's falsetto but there are some excellent baritone vocal from Wendell Sawyer.

The opening track 'Sideshow' is probably the best known - also in a reggae cover by Barry Biggs. It is fantastic and carries more emotional weight that you might expect from the lyrics.

Another track that has been featured by a couple of versions is 'Just Don't Want To Be Lonely'. There were a couple of other contemporary versions but this is a goody.

'Welcome to the Club' is a very unexpected uptempo dance track with some wonderful electric piano and vibes by, I think, Vince Montana.

My favourite track is Blue Magic's first single 'Spell'. A real slowy with everything but the kitchen sink thrown in with all the wonderful harmonies you could want and Ted Mill's voice floating over the top and a grat spoken passage.

'Tear it Down' is another great ballad but the whole CD is fantastic although the bonus tracks are not *quite* up to the standard of the rest.

If you like this kind of music and don't have this then a very strongly recommended purchase!