Blue Magic

Stop to Start - The Atco & WMOT Recordings (1973-1977)


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• SoulMusic Records (SMR) in association with The Second Disc is proud to present the first- ever definitive 6CD box set by the legendary Philadelphia quintet founded by Ted Wizard Mills, Vernon Sawyer, Wendell Sawyer, Keith Beaton, and Richard Pratt.

• 74-track collection including expanded editions of Blue Magic’s five full-length albums for Atco and WMOT Records as well as all of the group’s live performances from their sizzling concert album with Major Harris and Margie Joseph.

• Bonus tracks include rare single versions and B-sides plus remixes from Tom Moulton and Mike Maurro.

Led by falsetto singer Ted Wizard Mills – following in the footsteps of his influences, The Stylistics’ Russell Thompkins, Jr. and The Delfonics’ William Hart – Blue Magic recorded some of the richest and most beautiful ballads of the 1970s as well as uptempo floor-fillers that set the stage for the disco era.

Key tracks include Blue Magic’s signature song “Sideshow” as well as ‘Three Ring Circus’, ‘Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely’, ‘Stop to Start’, ‘Grateful’, ‘Look Me Up’, and a duet with soulful songstress Margie Joseph on ‘What’s Come Over Me’.

Includes productions from Philly soul and disco titans Norman Harris and Bobby Eli as well as Earth, Wind & Fire collaborator Skip Scarborough while musical contributors include Vincent Montana, Jr., Ronnie Baker, Earl Young, Jack Faith, Dave Crawford, and members of the legendary MFSB.

The deluxe booklet designed by Roger Williams includes liner notes by The Second Disc’s Joe Marchese drawing on extensive new interviews with WMOT Records co-founder Alan Rubens and acclaimed songwriter Vinnie Barrett (‘Sideshow’, ‘Three Ring Circus’) as well as archival quotes from Bobby Eli, Ted Wizard Mills, Vernon Sawyer, and the members of Blue Magic. The booklet also features rare and unseen photos of the group.

With all tracks freshly remastered by Nick Robbins, ‘Stop to Start: The Atco & WMOT Recordings (1973-1977)’ is the ultimate celebration of one of soul music’s most enduring and beloved vocal groups. Hurry, hurry, step right on in!

Tracklist

DISC ONE

BLUE MAGIC
1.  SIDESHOW

2.  LOOK ME UP

3.  WHAT'S COME OVER ME

4.  JUST DON'T WANT TO BE LONELY

5.  STOP TO START

6.  WELCOME TO THE CLUB

7.  SPELL

8. ANSWER TO MY PRAYER

9.  TEAR IT DOWN

Bonus Tracks
10.  GUESS WHO

11.  LOOK ME UP (SINGLE EDIT)

12.  WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN

13.  JUST DON'T WANT TO BE LONELY (SINGLE EDIT)

14.  WELCOME TO THE CLUB (UK SINGLE EDIT)

15.  LOOK ME UP (TOM MOULTON REMIX)

16.  SIDESHOW (MIKE MAURRO EXTENDED MAGIC REMIX)

DISC TWO

MAGIC OF THE BLUE
1.  THREE RING CIRCUS

2.  STRINGIN' ME ALONG

3.  YOU WON'T HAVE TO TELL ME GOODBYE

4.  NEVER GET OVER YOU

5.  TALKING TO MYSELF

6.  LET ME BE THE ONE

7.  MAYBE JUST MAYBE (WE CAN FALL IN LOVE AGAIN)

8.  LOVE HAS FOUND ITS WAY TO ME

9.  WHEN YA COMING HOME

10.  LOOKING FOR A FRIEND

Bonus Tracks
11.  THREE RING CIRCUS (SINGLE EDIT)

12.  LOVE HAS FOUND ITS WAY TO ME (SINGLE EDIT)

13.  LOOK ME UP (TOM MOULTON EXTENDED REMIX)

DISC THREE

THIRTEEN BLUE MAGIC LANE
1.  THE LONELIEST HOUSE ON THE BLOCK

2.  CHASING RAINBOWS

3.  BORN ON HALLOWEEN

4.  HAUNTED (BY YOUR LOVE)

5.  I LIKE YOU

6.  MAGIC OF THE BLUE

7.  WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK

8.  STOP AND GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF

9.  MARGIE JOSEPH & BLUE MAGIC: WHAT’S COME OVER ME

Bonus Tracks
10.  MARGIE JOSEPH & BLUE MAGIC: YOU & ME (GOT A GOOD THING GOING)

11.  GRATEFUL

12.  MAGIC OF THE BLUE (VOCAL VERSION)

13.  STOP AND GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF (SINGLE EDIT)

14.  GRATEFUL (SINGLE EDIT)

DISC FOUR

MYSTIC DRAGONS
1.  FREAK-N-STEIN

2.  TO GET LOVE (YOU MUST GIVE LOVE)

3.  SEE THE BEDROOM

4.  MOTHER FUNK

5.  SUMMER SNOW

6.  ROCK N ROLL REVIVAL

7.  TEACH ME (IT'S SOMETHING ABOUT LOVE)

8.  MAKING LOVE TO A MEMORY

9.  SPARK OF LOVE

Bonus Tracks
10.  FREAK-N-STEIN (SINGLE EDIT)

11.  SUMMER SNOW (SINGLE EDIT)

DISC FIVE

BLUE MAGIC/MAJOR HARRIS/ MARGIE JOSEPH - LIVE!
1.  BLUE MAGIC, MAJOR HARRIS, MARGIE JOSEPH: I LOVE MUSIC

2.  BLUE MAGIC: MEDLEY - (a) SPELL (b) YOU'RE MY FIRST, MY LAST, MY EVERYTHING (c) WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK

3.  BLUE MAGIC: MEDLEY - (a) TRY TO REMEMBER (b) STOP TO START

4.  BLUE MAGIC: CHASING RAINBOWS

5.  BLUE MAGIC: SIDESHOW

6.  BLUE MAGIC: HAUNTED (BY YOUR LOVE)

7.  BLUE MAGIC & MARGIE JOSEPH: WHAT'S COME OVER ME

8.  BLUE MAGIC: BAD LUCK

9.  BLUE MAGIC & MARGIE JOSEPH: I'M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME

10.  BLUE MAGIC & MARGIE

DISC SIX

MESSAGE FROM THE MAGIC
1.  CAN'T GET YOU OFF MY MIND

2.  IF YOU WANT ME TO

3.  LADY IN MY WORLD OF LOVE

4.  FOUR LEAF CLOVER

5.  PURPLE PASSION

6.  STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU

7.  MESSAGE

8.  SWEET WOMAN

9.  I WAITED

Bonus Track
10.  I WAITED (SINGE EDIT)