Black Magic

Magic Sam

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 30, 1994)
• Original Release Date: 1968
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Delmark
• ASIN: B000004BIP
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #58,067 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #22 in	Music > Indie Music > Blues > Chicago Blues
  #37 in	Music > Indie Music > Blues > Electric Blues Guitar

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great blues-slash soul-slash funk!, January 5, 2003

By	Docendo Discimus (Vita scholae) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Magic Sam Maghett was a bluesman from the Mississippi Delta first and foremost, but he was also instrumental (so to speak) in introducing an element of soul in his music, which was called "soul blues" or "west side soul".

The soul element is especially prominent when listening to Magic Sam's vocals, which are those of a soul singer rather than a blues singer, but most of the songs are structured and played like blues numbers. It's a bit of shame that Sam's guitar playing isn't more prominent, actually...the tasteful riffing of saxist Eddie Shaw is very enjoyable, but he was such an excellent blues guitarist, exhilarating even, and it would have been nice with a few more really smoking fills and solos.

This album doesn't contain the obvious number 1 (or five star) hit - unlike his previous album, "West Side Soul" - but the quality of the songs is uniformly high, even if they are a little bit unvaried from time to time. "Keep Loving Me Baby" is a souled-up re-recording of one of Sam's early singles from the 50s, and one of his better-known sings. The riff-driven "I Just Want A Little Bit" digs a deep, swinging R&B-groove. "What Have I Done Wrong" is one of Sam's finest, most soulful vocals. The great Lafayette Leake adds wonderful, jazzy piano to the swaggering "I Have The Same Old Blues". And we do get a couple of smouldering solos as well, on "You Belong To Me" and the slow "Stop! You're Hurting Me" in particular.

"Black Magic" is a fine album, made by a contingent of very skilled musicians - Magic Sam himself being one. It's well produced (that is, not over-produced), and it is certainly recommendable to everyone with an interest in both blues and soul. First-time Magic Sam-buyers should start with "West Side Soul", but don't forget to pick this one up either!

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is perfect, what can I say., July 22, 2002

By	ty7777 "I don't give out m'name" (USA) - See all my reviews

Sam is first rate. If you like Buddy Guy you might like Sam. If you like Otis Rush, you will almost certainly like Sam. If you like good music with soul, rythm and feeling- this is it. Not too much production, not stripped down either. It is a happy medium for most blues fans. There isn't an overboard horn section or interfering keys, or crazy looped guitar tracks. This is pure taste. A piano that plays perfectly to the music [ Sam learned by West side soul to only play with the best. ] and one Tenor Saxaphone for a few tracks to add some layers. Sam plays lead and some extra rythm. He is the only vocalist. There are two tunes that are kinda soul/ r and b. And the rest are solid blues, sometimes funky, sometimes slow. Sam is one of the great blues singers and innovators. This record does have a happy medium in a lot of respects. You got an instrumental. You got guitar playing that is technically respectable and creative but totally tasteful and with a feel for the music. Sam doesn't drill over the music with confused lines that go no where in particular like alot of bluesmen tend to do. He plays with his band. He solos and he shines, but he doesn't ever mess up the sound of the songs. Its got the slow soul, the feel good, the funk, everything. This album and West side soul are Sam at his peek, and the cream of the electric blues players. The man was an all around innovator of blues music, live he played bass, drums, Harmonica, Piano or whatever the band needed, it didn't matter. He Pushed the cool blues ahead. He and Otis Rush changed the game. And Sam has a respect for Otis because he did his songs, like Keep loving me on here and My Love Will Never Die on West side. I tell everybody I know who likes good music- If you don't know this guy, then you are missing a big piece of the puzzle. This is where it's at. His two major studio records and only real studio Lps are two of my favorites out of hundreds of albums. I can't even see how anyone could not like this.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love This Album, January 1, 2000

By	Brandon Paul (Salt Lake City, UT) - See all my reviews

Honestly, I'd never actually heard Magic Sam when I bought this album, but a lot of reading on the blues brought me to purchase Magic Sam's "Black Magic." I now own everything Sam-related I can get my hands on. This album is my favorite, and while others may recommend "West Side Soul" over this, "Black Magic" seems to be his most steady and arranged material available. Magic Sam blends Chicago blues sound with a soul inspired voice that is both riviting and relaxing. Everyone I have had listen to this album ends up loving it. "Black Magic" is constantly in my listening rotation, and I would recommend this album highly to anyone who has any taste for soul, R&B, or the blues.