Lovers of classic Philly soul had reason to celebrate in 2006, when Collectables Records reissued
Blue Magic's first three studio albums (
Blue Magic, The Magic of the Blue, and
13 Blue Magic Lane) and this live recording on CD. Recorded in 1975 at Cherry Hill, NJ's Latin Casino, this two-CD set (originally a double LP) finds
Blue Magic sharing the bill with two other '70s soulsters:
Major Harris (an ex-member of
the Delfonics and cousin of the late producer
Norman Harris) and
Margie Joseph (who is the only non-Philadelphian on the bill).
Blue Magic soar on inspired performances of their hits "Sideshow," "What's Come Over Me" (a duet with the talented if underrated
Joseph), "We're on the Right Track Now," and "Stop to Start," and
Harris doesn't let listeners down on the congenial "Loving You Is Mellow" or his sexy 1975 smash "Love Won't Let Me Wait" (which was covered by the late
Luther Vandross in 1989). Regrettably,
Harris was a one-hit wonder as a solo artist; "Love Won't Let Me Wait" was his only major solo hit, but his contributions to
Live leave no doubt that he was a skillful provider of Philly soul.
Joseph, meanwhile, is quite enjoyable when she gives
Paul McCartney's "My Love" the Northern soul treatment, although her performance of
Morris Albert's "Feelings" is undeniably the low point of this album.
Joseph tries to inject some soul into
Albert's insipid, mushy ballad, but it doesn't work;
Joseph, for all her talent, cannot salvage one of the most insufferable easy listening songs of the '70s. But the presence of "Feelings" should not discourage anyone from acquiring this generally rewarding, if mildly uneven, release. All things considered, Collectables did R&B fans an enormous favor by reissuing
Live on CD. ~ Alex Henderson