Blue Magic - Greatest Hits (1986)

The group known as Blue Magic really made its name on the quality and success of its first album. Like The Spinners' first album for Atlantic Records, or The Stylistics' first lp release, "Blue Magic" was a greatest hits collection all by itself. Eight of its nine tracks can be found here, and that pretty much says it all. Their biggest hits ("Spell," "Stop To Start," and "Sideshow") are the highlights of any Blue Magic collection. Also from that album are well-remembered tracks like "What's Come Over Me," "Welcome To The Club," and "Look Me Up." And you'll also find the group's original version of "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely," which was made into a big hit by both The Main Ingredient and Ronnie Dyson. Gems from the group's later efforts are included (like "Chasing Rainbows" and "Three Ring Circus"), but not too many of them, which is why I only give this collection 4 stars. Also, the one missing song from the "Blue Magic" album, "Answer To My Prayer," deserves to be here, and could have easily been included! It and a lot of other lesser-known but still great cuts can be found on a more extensive compilation titled, "Soulful Spell." When I saw Blue Magic in concert back in 1992, original members Vernon and Wendell Sawyer and Keith Beaton were present, and they were fronted by a gifted singer named Rod Wayne. Wayne's voice is different from that of original lead singer Ted Mills, but he hit the high notes with less strain. However, Mills was the group's leader and chief writer, and he also supplied the creative direction, so it was easy to feel something was missing. (It's kind of like seeing The Delfonics without William Hart, or The Chi-Lites without Eugene Record, both of which I've done.) The group's other original member, Richard Pratt, left the group after its first run of hit albums ended during the late 1970s. This album contains prime Philly soul, replete with achingly high tenor notes. Compared to groups it competed with, Blue Magic's flame burned out somewhat quickly. But their best work fits right in that upper echelon of sweet, sexy, sophisticated, satisfying soul music that grew up out of the Doo-Wop tradition.