Midnight Magic (album)

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Midnight Magic
Studio album by
Commodores
Released27 July 1979 [1]
Recorded1979
StudioMotown Recording Studios, Los Angeles; A&M Studios, Los Angeles
GenreDisco, R&B, funk
Length38:57
LabelMotown
ProducerJames Anthony Carmichael, Commodores[2]
Commodores chronology
Greatest Hits
(1978) 		Midnight Magic
(1979) 		Heroes
(1980)
Singles from Midnight Magic
  1. "Sail On"
    Released: July 27, 1979
  2. "Still"
    Released: September 14, 1979
  3. "Wonderland"
    Released: 1979

Midnight Magic is the seventh studio album by the musical group the Commodores, released in 1979.[3] The album was certified Gold in the UK by the BPI.[4] Midnight Magic was Grammy nominated in the category of Best R&B Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus.[5]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[2]
Smash Hits5/10[7]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul[8]

The New York Times stated that "the Commodores, too, have their disco‐dance numbers. But this group's principal appeal would seem to be its ability to come up with classy 'makeout' music. The new Midnight Magic, which is moving up the album charts quickly, will disappoint no one in search of just that. And as usual, the Commodores' ability to span a wide stylistic range and to avoid some of the more tired cliches of black vocal instrumental groups is extremely refreshing."[9] Smash Hits called it, "solid professional funk, but still faceless and only moderately entertaining - mainly because of a distinct threadbareness in the melody department."[10] The Bay State Banner noted that "the vocals, it is true, are rather toneless—grouped together in the mix, the textural interest of a single throat is erased—but the rhythm section plays with verve through unusual chordings that oddly parallel the vocal register."[11]

Singles[edit]

A song called "Still" became the band's second U.S. #1 single. Another single was the #4 hit "Sail On".

Record World said of the single "Wonderland" that "the vocals will mesmerize all tastes."[12] "Wonderland" reached #25.

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Gettin' It"David Cochrane, Walter Orange4:18
2."Midnight Magic"Thomas McClary, Lionel Richie, Jr.5:42
3."You're Special"William King, Harold Hudson5:10
4."Still"Lionel Richie, Jr.5:41
5."Wonderland"Milan Williams5:28
6."Sexy Lady"Thomas McClary3:30
7."Lovin' You"Ronald LaPread4:36
8."Sail On"Lionel Richie, Jr.5:32
9."12:01 A.M. (Reprise)"Thomas McClary, Lionel Richie, Jr.1:00
Total length:38:57

Personnel[edit]

Commodores[edit]

Additional musicians[edit]

  • Harold Hudson – horn and string arrangements (1, 3, 6)
  • James Anthony Carmichael – horn and string arrangements (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9)

The Mean Machine

  • David Cochrane
  • Harold Hudson
  • Darrell Jones
  • Winston Sims

Production[edit]

  • Commodores – producers, arrangements
  • James Anthony Carmichael – producer, arrangements
  • Calvin Harris – engineer, mixing
  • Jane Clark – engineer, mixing
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • John Cabalka – art direction
  • Ginny Livingston – design
  • Gene Gurley – photography
  • Suzee Ikeda – product manager

Charts[edit]

Singles[edit]

Single Chart Position
"Sail On" Belgium (VRT Top 30) 14
Canada (RPM)
 3
Ireland Singles Chart
 8
Netherlands Singles Top 100 8
Official New Zealand Music Chart 6
UK Singles Chart 8
U.S.Billboard Hot 100 4
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary 9
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles 8
"Still" Canada (RPM) 2
Ireland Singles Chart 3
Netherlands Singles Top 100 16
Official New Zealand Music Chart 13
UK Singles Chart 4
U.S.Billboard Hot 100 1
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary 6
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles 1
"Wonderland" Canada (RPM) 70
UK Singles Chart 40
U.S.Billboard Hot 100 25
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary 43
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles 21

Sales and certifications[edit]

Certifications for Midnight Magic
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Netherlands (NVPI)[19] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "BPI certifications for Commodores".
  2. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 159.
  3. ^ The Commodores: Midnight Magic. Motown Records. 1979.
  4. ^ "The Commodores: Midnight Magic". bpi.co.uk. BPI.
  5. ^ "Commodores". grammy.com. The Recording Academy.
  6. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Commodores: Midnight Magic". allmusic.com. AllMusic.
  7. ^ Starr, Red. "Albums". Smash Hits (August 23 – September 5, 1979): 25.
  8. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin. p. 75.
  9. ^ "The Pop Life". The New York Times. August 24, 1979.
  10. ^ Red Starr (23 March 1979). "albums". Smash Hits. No. 19.
  11. ^ Freedberg, Mike (23 Aug 1979). "Soul Dog". Bay State Banner. No. 46. p. 22.
  12. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. December 8, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  13. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 72. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  14. ^ "RPM 100 Albums". RPM.
  15. ^ "Commodores: Heroes". charts.nz. The Official New Zealand Music Chart.
  16. ^ "Commodores: Heroes". dutchcharts.nl. Dutch Charts.
  17. ^ "Commodores: Heroes". swedishcharts.com. Sverigetopplistan.
  18. ^ "Commodores: Heroes". norwegiancharts.com. VG-Lista.
  19. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Commodores – Midnight Magic" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved July 16, 2022. Enter Midnight Magic in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1979 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  20. ^ "British album certifications – Commodores – Midnight Magic". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 16, 2022.


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