Description

1982 saw the ninth and final Gillan album ‘Magic’. As the group was winding down, their sound was softened a bit on ‘Magic’. The album was generally accepted by Gillan's staunch U.K. following; however, it failed to achieve the chart success of ‘Glory Road’, peaking at #17 in the UK chart. It opends with two incredible hard-rockers ‘What's The Matter’ and ‘Bluesy Blue Sea’. After that they album loses its edge. Moderated cuts like ‘Driving Me Wild’ and ‘You're So Right’ have potential, but stall during unimaginative choruses. There are even a few straight keyboard pop moments on the inexplicable ‘Long Gone’ that couldn't have pleased older fans. This song in particular flirts with new wave, a heretic move from a co-creator of ‘Smoke on the Water’. The first single issued from Magic, Stevie Wonder's ‘Living for the City’ were a spectacular flop and went into the charts and #50. After this album Ian Gillan needed time to have nodes removed from his vocal chords so after the ‘Magic’ tour he dissolved the band while he underwent surgery. He then accepted an offer to front Black Sabbath. With Janick Gers (White Spirit/Iron Maiden) on guitar Track listing: 1. What's The Matter 2. Bluesey Blue Sea 3. Caught In A Trap 4. Long Gone 5. Driving Me Wild 6. Demon Driver 7. Living A Lie 8. You're So Right 9. Living For The City 10. Demon Driver-reprise