Magic Man

"Magic Man"
"Magic Man"
Single by Heart
from the album Dreamboat Annie
B-side	"How Deep It Goes"
Released	June 1975 (Can.) June 1976 (US);
Genre	Hard rock; power pop;
Length	5:28 (album version); 3:29 (single edit)
Label	Mushroom
Songwriters	Ann Wilson; Nancy Wilson;
Producer	Mike Flicker
Heart singles chronology
Music video
	"Magic Man" (TopPop, 1976) on YouTube

"Magic Man" is a song by the American rock band Heart released as a single from their debut album, Dreamboat Annie. Written and composed by Ann and Nancy Wilson, the song is sung from the viewpoint of a young girl who is being seduced by an older man (referred to as a Magic Man), much to the chagrin of her mother, who calls and begs the girl to come home. In an interview, Ann Wilson revealed that the "Magic Man" was about her then boyfriend, band manager Michael Fisher, and that part of the song was an autobiographical tale of the beginnings of their relationship.^[3] Roger Fisher came up with the alternative tuning EADGDG for his guitar part.^[4] The album version of "Magic Man" features an over-two-minute instrumental break which consists of a guitar solo and the usage of a Minimoog synthesizer, while the single version of the song edits out most of this break, cutting it down from 5:28 to 3:29.

Cash Box said that "a funk rhythm is established quickly with some screaming guitar licks, and the vocal, handled by the female lead, plays well against the arrangement."^[5] Record World said that "The beguiling vocal sound of ['Crazy on You'] is duplicated here and accompanied by sumptuous guitar work that should steer it to the top."^[6]

"Magic Man" was originally released in Canada in June 1975 as the second single from the yet-to-be released Dreamboat Annie, the first single having been the folksy "How Deep It Goes". "Magic Man" spent 9 weeks on the RPM Singles Chart peaking at number 62 on August 16, 1975.^[7] The success of "Magic Man" prompted the release of the album and, in March 1976, a third single, "Crazy on You". After "Crazy on You" had a chart run, "Magic Man" gained popularity in new areas of the country almost a full year later and re-entered the RPM Singles Chart on September 11, 1976 for 14 weeks peaking at number 26 on October 30, 1976.^[8]

In the United States, "Magic Man" received its first release in summer 1976, after the first US single "Crazy on You" introduced Americans to the group's sound. It became Heart's first top 10 hit, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 6, 1976.^[9] In the Netherlands and Belgium, "Magic Man" was the first single released from the album in late 1976, and it peaked at number 7 and 10, respectively, in early 1977. It was also successful in Australia, where it peaked at number 6; it reached number 26 in New Zealand.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Dreamboat Annie.^[10]

Ann Wilson – lead vocals
Nancy Wilson – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Roger Fisher – electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Howard Leese – electric guitar, Minimoog
Steve Fossen – bass guitar

Additional musicians

Dave Wilson – drums
Ray Ayotte – conga
Mike Flicker – percussion

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Magic Man"
Chart (1976–1977)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[11]	6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[12]	10
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[13]	26
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[14]	7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[15]	8
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[16]	26
US Billboard Hot 100^[17]	9
US Cash Box Top 100^[18]	7

Year-end charts

1976 year-end chart performance for "Magic Man"
Chart (1976)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[19]	186
US Cash Box Top 100^[20]	80

1977 year-end chart performance for "Magic Man"
Chart (1977)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[21]	46
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[22]	66
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[23]	77

References

^ "Heart singles".
^ Coleman, Mark; Berger, Airon (November 2, 2004). "Heart". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 373.
^ Bienstock, Richard (12 July 2016). "Heart's Ann & Nancy Wilson: Our Lives in 15 Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
^ "An Interview with Roger Fisher of Heart - Magic Man". YouTube. Fisher Bros and the Human Tribe. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 19, 1976. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 3, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
^ "Item". Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013.
^ "Item". Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013.
^ "Heart". Billboard.
^ Dreamboat Annie (liner notes). Heart. Mushroom Records. 1975. MRS-5005.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 136. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Heart – Magic Man" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5110A." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Heart USA" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
^ "Heart – Magic Man" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
^ "Heart – Magic Man". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
^ "Heart Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending October 30, 1976". Cash Box. Archived from the original on March 5, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
^ "Top 200 singles of '76". RPM. Vol. 26, no. 14/15. January 8, 1977. p. 13. ISSN 0315-5994. Retrieved October 2, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
^ "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1976 – Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. December 25, 1976. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
^ "Kent Music Report No 183 – 26 December 1977 > National Top 100 Singles for 1977". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 8, 2022 – via Imgur.com.
^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1977" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1977". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved October 2, 2019.

[1] "Heart singles".

[RSguide-2] Coleman, Mark; Berger, Airon (November 2, 2004). "Heart". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 373.

[3] Bienstock, Richard (12 July 2016). "Heart's Ann & Nancy Wilson: Our Lives in 15 Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 August 2018.

[4] "An Interview with Roger Fisher of Heart - Magic Man". YouTube. Fisher Bros and the Human Tribe. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2024.

[cb-5] "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 19, 1976. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-12-11.

[rw-6] "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 3, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-04.

[7] "Item". Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013.

[8] "Item". Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013.

[9] "Heart". Billboard.

[10] Dreamboat Annie (liner notes). Heart. Mushroom Records. 1975. MRS-5005.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[11] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 136. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[sc_Flanders_Heart-12] "Heart – Magic Man" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 2, 2019.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-13] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5110A." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 2, 2019.

[sc_Dutch40_Heart_USA-14] "Nederlandse Top 40 – Heart USA" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 2, 2019.

[sc_Dutch100_Heart-15] "Heart – Magic Man" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 23, 2012.

[sc_New_Zealand_Heart-16] "Heart – Magic Man". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 23, 2012.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Heart-17] "Heart Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2019.

[18] "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending October 30, 1976". Cash Box. Archived from the original on March 5, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2019.

[19] "Top 200 singles of '76". RPM. Vol. 26, no. 14/15. January 8, 1977. p. 13. ISSN 0315-5994. Retrieved October 2, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.

[20] "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1976 – Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. December 25, 1976. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.

[kent77-21] "Kent Music Report No 183 – 26 December 1977 > National Top 100 Singles for 1977". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 8, 2022 – via Imgur.com.

[22] "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1977" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 2, 2019.

[23] "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1977". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved October 2, 2019.

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v t e Heart
Ann Wilson Nancy Wilson Steve Fossen Roger Fisher Howard Leese Mark Andes Denny Carmassi Fernando Saunders Scott Olson Mike Inez Darian Sahanaja Gilby Clarke
Studio albums	Dreamboat Annie Magazine Little Queen Dog & Butterfly Bébé le Strange Private Audition Passionworks Heart Bad Animals Brigade Desire Walks On Heart Presents a Lovemongers' Christmas Jupiters Darling Red Velvet Car Fanatic Beautiful Broken
Live albums	Greatest Hits/Live Rock the House Live! The Road Home Alive in Seattle Dreamboat Annie Live Live in Atlantic City
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits/Live These Dreams: Greatest Hits Greatest Hits Greatest Hits: 1985–1995 The Essential Heart Love Songs Strange Euphoria
Singles	"Magic Man" "Crazy on You" "Dreamboat Annie" "Barracuda" "Little Queen" "Kick It Out" "Heartless" "Straight On" "Dog & Butterfly" "Without You" "Even It Up" "Bebe le Strange" "Tell It Like It Is" "Unchained Melody" "This Man Is Mine" "City's Burning" "How Can I Refuse?" "Allies" "What About Love" "Never" "These Dreams" "Nothin' at All" "If Looks Could Kill" "Alone" "Who Will You Run To" "There's the Girl" "I Want You So Bad" "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You" "I Didn't Want to Need You" "Stranded" "Secret" "You're the Voice" "Black on Black II" "Will You Be There (In the Morning)" "The Woman in Me" "Stairway to Heaven" "All Through the Night"
Related articles	Discography List of band members Whirlygig Hope & Glory
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