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Re-issue series a treat

For those new to Gillan, and yes there may still be some of you out there, particularly as Deep Purple have just finished another UK tour (which feels like 6 tours in 4 years!) and some may be looking to take a listen of his back catalogue.

There was a time in British rock history that Ian Gillan was not in Deep Purple. On leaving the Purps in '73 and rejoining in 1984 he set about a solo career as either Ian Gillan Band / Gillan / the delightfully named Garth Rockett & The Moonshiners. With Magic we join the band for their fifth and final album. This is another CD from the Edsel reissue series of Gillan albums. 'Magic' was originally released in 1982. This was a Golden period for the NWOBHM. By the time of this release though, the 'Magic' was waning.

This is a fresh listening for me as this was the only Gillan album I had never purchased. In came Janick Gers for Tormé for this his second album, a Blackmore influenced guitarist if ever I heard one. This is evident on the opener 'What's The Matter', typical if what Ritchie was up to with Rainbow, a sign of things to come....

'Bluesy Blue Sea' a mid pace song with a very repeatable and insistent chorus, penned and inspired as Ian sat staring at the sea off the Devon coast, mulling over his problems during the songwriting of this album.

What's waiting around the corner for me is a real surprise in 'Long Gone'. This is a very melodic offering which is a good two years prior to its soundalike and obviously more famous 'Jump' by Van Halen. A blatant copy if ever I heard it! 'Driving Me Wild' is more typical up-tempo track with surging riffs and Colin Towns' nightmarish keys. What is noticeable is Towns return to the fore as main songwriter, which is why there's a more radio friendly album to be heard here. 'Demon Driver' is a very dramatic song which is almost Broadway in style. It experiments with distorted vocals, and dark in nature, before picking up speed and letting rip as it draws to a close. 'You're So Right' is a more sunnier, uplifting song, very American in sound and has a very sing-a-long-a Gillan chorus. The final track was also the single from the album, an excellent metalled-up cover of Stevie Wonder's 'Living For The City'. The CD also includes 8 bonus tracks, of b-sides and more cover versions.

This is without doubt the most commercial album by the band I've heard. It's surprising looking back, how it never performed better than its predecessors. This line up deserved another stab at success. Problems beset the band, Gillan had tonsillitis and struggles through the rest of the tour, couple this with financial problems and the end was nigh. The album was released in the September, the final gig for the band was December. Obviously what happened next is history, Gillan joined Sabbath, and then no sooner had he joined, the Purple bandwagon was rolling, and what a comeback, but that's another story

The Booklet includes an intro by Gillan himself together with lyrics and an expansive notes section which fans will enjoy. Edsel Records have given these re-issues the love and care they deserve. Truly an essential record of one of the best exponents of rock in the 80's. Go out and buy all of them, a worthy addition for any CD collection.