MagicFrontIntroduction

In 1976, at the height of his solo career, Greek singer Demis Roussos, reunited in London with Vangelis to work on his 6th solo album “Magic”. Earlier Demis and Vangelis had formed the successful group Aphrodite's Child together with Lucas Sideras in 1968, after traveling from Athens to Paris. All band members pursued a solo career after recording their final work “666” (1972), the progressive rock album that caused their break-up in 1971.

Demis Roussos quickly made fame with hits like ‘We Shall Dance’ (1971) and ‘Forever And Ever’ (1973), selling millions of records while touring all over the world. By 1976 Vangelis had set up his own Nemo Studios in London, and in August that year Demis recorded several songs there for his latest album Magic (or in full “The Demis Roussos Magic”).

On Magic Vangelis is not only credited for arranging and producing, but also for composing several songs on the album. As earlier with Patty Pravo’s album “Tanto” and Riccardo Cocciante’s album “Concerto Per Margherita” Vangelis here again worked with Guy Protheroe conducting the English Chamber Choir. The album was released on the 9th of April 1977.

To promote the album a 7” single was released in March 1977 with ‘Because’, which actually is a cover of Melina Mercouri’s song ‘Je Te Dirais Les Mots’ by Vangelis from 1973. ‘Because’ became one of Demis Roussos’ biggest hits, selling over a million records in France alone (there titled ‘Mourir Aupres De Mon Amour’). It was the first time for Demis to do a multi-language album, ultimately recording the song ‘Because’ not only in English and French, but also in German, Greek, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.

The album was released on CD in 1998, which now has become sort of a rarity. This version is sought after as it is the most complete version, with eight bonus tracks, including two previously unreleased songs composed and produced by Vangelis.

 

MagicTracklistTracklist and credits

  1. Because (4:11)
     Composed by Vangelis Papathanassiou, lyrics by Alec R. Constandinos.
  2. Time And Tide (3:48)
     Written By Paul Williams.
  3. Maybe Forever (3:21)
     Composed by Robert Fitoussi, lyrics by M. Wendroff.
  4. My Face In The Rain (5:18)
     Composed by Vangelis Papathanassiou, lyrics by Richelle Dassin.
  5. I Dig You (4:06)
     Composed by Robert Fitoussi, lyrics by Richelle Dassin.
  6. Margarita (4:48)
     Written by Tom Jans.
  7. Let It Happen (3:56)
     Composed by Vangelis Papathanassiou, lyrics by Richelle Dassin.
  8. When Forever Has Gone (3:30)
     Composed by Stelios Vlavianos, lyrics by Barry Mason.
  9. Day-O (Banana Boat Song) (3:00)
     Written by Harry Belafonte, Lord Burgess and William Attaway.
  10. Sister Emilyne (2:57)
     Composed by Cyril Assous, lyrics by Alec R. Constandinos.
  11. Before The Storm (5:09)
     Composed by Stelios Vlavianos, lyrics by Alec R. Constandinos.

MourirAupresDeMonAmourFrontBonustracks (CD):

  1. The Promise (4:57) previously unreleased
     Composed by Vangelis Papathanassiou, lyrics by Alec R. Constandinos.
  2. Kyrila (3:36)
     Composed by Ekambi Briljant, lyrics by Piet Souer.
  3. Reasons Unknown (When You're Gone) (4:58)
     Composed by Frans Smit, lyrics by Sjoukje Smit.
  4. Song For You (4:47) previously unreleased
     Composed by Vangelis Papathanassiou, lyrics by Alec R. Constandinos.
  5. Bambina (3:24)
     Composed by Gian Pietro Felissatti, lyrics by Alec R. Constandinos.
  6. Mexican Market Girl (3:29)
     Written by Gilbert Sigrist, Helen Banks and N. Farnworth.
  7. All Is Vanity (2:55)
     Written by David Rugely and Teresa Martin
  8. Hot Summernight (3:15)
     Written by Dave Jordan and Alec R. Constandinos.
  • Arranged and produced by Vangelis Papathanassiou.
  • With the English Chamber Choir conducted by Guy Protheroe.

At release the original LP featured slightly different songs lists in different countries. Part of this was caused by the success of 'Because', which Demis ultimately recorded in seven different languages. Other songs (like ‘Bambina’, ‘Margarita’ and ‘Sister Emilyne’) were later also released in the French or Spanish language.

 

MagicUKFrontDiscography

LP

EP

7” single

CD

  • 1998 BR Music BX 523-2 The Netherlands
  • 2016 BR Music 536 972-8 The Netherlands (part of the boxset “Demis Roussos Complete”)

Note that the 1998 CD of the album is the most complete version, as it contains eight bonus tracks, including ‘The Promise’ and ‘Song For You’ which are previously unreleased songs composed and produced by Vangelis.

 

MagicCreditsRecording studio

The music for this album was recorded and mixed in Vangelis' Nemo Studios in London, except for ‘When Forever Has Gone’ which replaced ‘Bambina’ on the UK album and which was recorded in 1974 in London at Chappell Studios in London. Recording sessions took place 16-18th of August, 22-30th of November, December 30th 1976 and January 16th 1977, with engineer Keith Spencer-Allen.

 

More

  • To support his success of 'Mourir Aupres De Mon Amour' in France, in 1977 Demis recorded additional songs in French and released the album "Ainsi Soit-il". This album includes several songs recorded for Magic, but here performed with French lyrics.
  • Three songs on the Magic album are actually covers from songs that Vangelis recorded for his album “Earth” (1973), i.e. ‘My Face In The Rain’ and ‘Let it Happen’. The third, titled ‘I Dig You’, did not make it onto the Earth album, but instead was released in 1974 as ‘Who’ on a 7” single by the name of “Odyssey”.    
  • During the recording sessions for Magic the song ‘Bambina’ was also recorded in a slower, alternate version. This version did not make it onto the album, but was later released on the compilation book/CD/DVD ‘The Singles’ by BR Music in 2003.
  • A Greek version of 'Because' titled 'Pote Den Ein Arga' is included on the Greek print of the LP.
  • A German version of 'Because' titled 'Auf Uns Wartet Eine Welt' is included on the German print of Demis' 1979 album "Universum".
  • A Spanish version of 'Because' titled 'Morir Al Lado De Mi Amor' is included on the double CD "Lo Mejor De Demis Roussos" (1999). This CD also includes the Spanish version of 'Bambina'.
  • Vangelis and Demis would later work together on several other projects, i.e.:
  • In 1981 Demis released the song ‘Race To The End’ by Vangelis, which is a vocal version of Vangelis' instrumental success “Chariots Of Fire” (1981).
  • In 1982 Demis provided his voice for an oriental chant titled 'Tales Of The Future' for Vangelis’ score for “Blade Runner” (1982).
  • In 1982 Vangelis contributed on several songs on the album “Demis”.
  • In 1984 Vangelis produced and arranged Demis' album “Reflection”.

 

Links

 VangelisAndDemisMagicDemis, Vangelis and Keith during the recording sessions of "Magic"