IT MUST BE MAGIC
This album is "magic", another of LADY TEE's finest.
Teena adds rapping to her repertoire on this one with intelligent rap, the classic "SQUARE BIZ" is the platform for this. Other highlights on this album to me are "YES INDEED" - the first time I heard this song it choked me up. Her vocal performance is pure heartfelt passion and still sends shivers down me everytime I hear it. "PORTUGUESE LOVE" is one Teena wrote about her 'first time' with Rick James.
When I first heard this song I had never heard a love song done this way before. Its as if musically, you the listener are a fly on the wall, experiencing 'the happening' with them. It builds and builds to a dramatic crescendo, then you just lax up and feel the vibe 'till the end - Wow!
"IT MUST BE MAGIC", a great dance track, soulful and funky with the Teejam feel.
"REVOLUTION" snappy, funky and meaningful. "LETS UNITE", sweet lyrics and great production all round.
"WHERE'S CALIFORNIA", first let me say "thanks for the UK content in this song Teena". Its a beautiful song with heartwarming vocals - makes you wanna be on that train with her. "365" great lyrics and melody.
Teena said those early years were magical times - I think every Teena fan should own these albums, unforgettable timeless music from a wonderful age, when talent was truly recognised by the R'n'B masses .
(magic trivia)
Here is a bit of trivia for you all. About a month after the album "It Must Be Magic" was released over here in the UK there was a an announcement in the mag 'Blues and Soul' that it was decided that the sound bios on the record were too high. Everyone was asked to return their copies of the LP back to the store for a refund so that all LP's could be returned to source. A short time after this a new, less high decibel version of the LP was released, and everyone had to go back and buy the record again. Well, did this same occurrence happen in the States? I've never heard of such a thing like this happening before or after .... must have been because Tee's notes were smashing glasses or sumthin, ...lol. Well there's a bit of Teena trivia for ya all!
Peace Smoothyc {1981 Motown}
playlist
1. It Must Be Magic {Teena Marie}
2. Revolution {Teena Marie}
3. Where's California {Teena Marie}
4. 365 (4:10) {Teena Marie}
5. Opus III (Does Anyone Care) {Teena Marie}
6. Square Biz {Teena Marie-Allen McGrier}
7. The Ballad of Cradle Rob & Me (3:42) {Teena Marie-Jill D. Jones}
8. Portuguese Love {Teena Marie}
9. Yes Indeed (4:57) {Teena Marie}
SINGLES
"It Must Be Magic
Portuguese Love
"Square Biz
THE ALBUM WENT GOLD