Magic
Studio album by
Bruce Springsteen
ReleasedSeptember 25, 2007 (LP), October 2, 2007 (CD)
RecordedMarch 12 – May 2007
StudioSouthern Tracks Recording Studio, Atlanta, Georgia
GenreRock
Length47:47
LabelColumbia
ProducerBrendan O'Brien
Bruce Springsteen chronology
Bruce Springsteen with The Sessions Band: Live in Dublin
(2007)		 Magic
(2007)		 Magic Tour Highlights
(2008)
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band chronology
Hammersmith Odeon London '75
(2006)		 Magic
(2007)		 Magic Tour Highlights
(2008)
Singles from Magic
  1. "Radio Nowhere"
    Released: August 28, 2007
  2. "Girls in Their Summer Clothes"
    Released: January 15, 2008

Magic is the fifteenth studio album by Bruce Springsteen, released by Columbia Records on LP on September 25, 2007, and on CD on October 2. It was his first with the E Street Band since The Rising in 2002, and topped the charts in six countries, including the US and UK, going triple platinum in Ireland. Two songs from the album – "Radio Nowhere" and "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" – won a total of three Grammys, making Magic the second of only two Springsteen albums with three wins, after The Rising.[1] It ranked No. 2 on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007.[2]

Background

Magic was announced on August 16, 2007, following months of speculation, and was characterized by Springsteen's manager Jon Landau as a "high energy rock" album with a "heavy E Street Band" sound.[3][4] It consisted of new tracks, apart from "Long Walk Home", which had been performed once on the latter part of the 2006 Sessions Band Tour. Most songs had been written by the end of 2006, and Springsteen allowed Brendan O'Brien, who had also produced The Rising (2002) and Devils & Dust (2005), to pick the ones that worked the best.[5][6] Recording commenced in March at Southern Tracks Recording Studio in Atlanta and took two months.[4][5][6] It was complicated by the band members' schedules, especially drummer Max Weinberg's weekday commitments to taping Late Night with Conan O'Brien.[6] The musicians did not record as a unit. During the week Springsteen worked on vocal tracks and production, and was joined on weekends by the core band of Weinberg, bassist Garry Tallent, and pianist Roy Bittan to record the basic tracks.[7] The other band members overdubbed their parts under O'Brien's watch, apart from saxophonist and longtime foil Clarence Clemons, who worked directly with Springsteen due to "a whole dynamic that spans decades."[6]

The lead-off single, "Radio Nowhere", had been slated for a September 4 release, but was leaked on August 22.[8][3] The release of the CD on October 2 was preceded by a September 25 release on vinyl record, in order to qualify for the Grammy Awards.[8][9] The album became available for pre-order on iTunes on August 28, with a promotion featuring "Radio Nowhere" as a free downloadable single, and the first legs of the accompanying Magic Tour were also announced.[10]

Themes

Several songs in Magic express disillusionment with the state of American society. Others, such as the title track ("I got a shiny saw blade/All I need's a volunteer/I'll cut you in half/While you're smilin' ear to ear") convey a more general sense of foreboding. "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" has been cited as a singularly "breezy" song on the album,[11] although A. O. Scott of The New York Times notes that not even this track is "untouched by melancholy. Its narrator, after all, stands and watches as the girls of the title 'pass me by.'"[12] Several sources have suggested that "Last to Die", with its chorus of "Who'll be the last to die for a mistake/Whose blood will spill, whose heart will break", was inspired by Vietnam Veterans Against the War representative John Kerry's 1971 testimony to the U.S. Senate, in which he asked "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?".[11][13] "Gypsy Biker" concerns the homecoming of a US soldier killed in action in Iraq, and Springsteen has said that "Livin' in the Future" references extraordinary rendition and illegal wiretapping.[13] "Long Walk Home" is a metaphorical account of the narrator's sense that, in the artist's words, those people living at home "he thought he knew, whose ideals he had something in common with, are like strangers."[12]

Release and sales

Magic sold well, becoming Springsteen's seventh No. 1 in the UK, with first week sales of 77,692, making it his fastest-starting release of the 21st century.[14] The album debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 chart, becoming Springsteen's eighth chart topper, and selling about 335,000 copies in its first week.[15] After falling to No. 2 for one week, it retook the top slot, selling about 77,000 copies that week.[16] Magic achieved its US sales despite receiving relatively little radio airplay.[17] Fox News reported that media conglomerate Clear Channel had instructed its classic rock stations not to play any tracks from the album, while continuing to play Springsteen songs from the 1970s and '80s.[17] Clear Channel responded by claiming that "in the first days after the CD's release" its stations had played the record more than others had.[18] By January 2009, Magic had sold one million copies in the US.[19]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic73/100[20]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[21]
Entertainment WeeklyA[22]
Paste[23]
Pitchfork(6.8/10)[24]
PopMatters[25]
Christgau's Consumer Guide(2-star Honorable Mention)(2-star Honorable Mention)[26]
Rolling Stone[27]
Spin[28]
Times Online[29]
Uncut[30]

Critics generally responded positively to the album. Pitchfork noted that it was "a surprisingly complex album that hides its disillusionment deep within its music, mingling it with a weary optimism that has not diminished with age."[31] In The Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop critics poll for the year's best albums, Magic ranked No. 9.[32] It ranked No. 2 on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007, and "Long Walk Home" was No. 8 on its list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007[33] The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album but lost to the Foo Fighters' Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace.[34]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Bruce Springsteen

No.TitleLength
1."Radio Nowhere"3:19
2."You'll Be Comin' Down"3:46
3."Livin' in the Future"3:56
4."Your Own Worst Enemy"3:19
5."Gypsy Biker"4:32
6."Girls in Their Summer Clothes"4:20
7."I'll Work for Your Love"3:35
8."Magic"2:46
9."Last to Die"4:17
10."Long Walk Home"4:35
11."Devil's Arcade"5:08
12."Terry's Song" (Hidden track)4:11

Two weeks after the album's initial announcement, which included an eleven-song track listing, "Terry's Song" was added. It is a memorial song for Springsteen's long-time assistant Terry Magovern, who died on July 30, 2007.[11][35] Some pressings of the CD pre-ordered through Sony Music or other channels did not contain the extra track.

Personnel

The E Street Band

Additional musicians

  • Soozie Tyrell – violin (tracks 3, 7–9), backing vocals (track 8)
  • Jeremy Chatzky – upright bass (track 8)
  • Daniel Laufer – cello (track 11)
  • Patrick Warren – Chamberlin, tack piano (tracks 4, 6, 8, 10, 11)
  • String section (tracks 4, 6):
    • Kenn Wagner, Jay Christy, Justin Bruns, William Pu, Cristopher Pulgram, John Meisner, Olga Shpitko, Sheela Lyengar – violins
    • Tania Maxwell Clements, Amy Chang, Lachlan McBane – viola
    • Karen Freer, Daniel Laufer, Charae Kruege – cello

Technical

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Magic
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[74] Gold 35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[75] Gold 10,000*
Belgium (BEA)[76] Gold 15,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[77] Platinum 30,000^
Germany (BVMI)[78] Platinum 200,000‡
Italy — 120,000[79]
Ireland (IRMA)[80] 3× Platinum 45,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[81] Gold 35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[82] Gold 7,500^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[83] Platinum 80,000^
Sweden (GLF)[84] 2× Platinum 80,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[85] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[86] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[87] Platinum 1,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[88] Platinum 1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen: Grammy Awards". Recording Industry Grammy Awards. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  2. ↑ ROBERT CHRISTGAU, DAVID FRICKE, CHRISTIAN HOARD, ROB SHEFFIELD (December 17, 2007). "The Top 50 Albums of 2007" Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-12-20
  3. 1 2 Andy Greene, "Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Magic’: Exclusive Details on New E Street Band Album", Rolling Stone, August 16, 2007. Accessed August 16, 2007.
  4. 1 2 "Bruce Springsteen's 'Magic' Set for October 2 Release on Columbia Records", Shore Fire Media press release, August 16, 2007. Accessed August 16, 2007.
  5. 1 2 Larry McShane, "Springsteen, E Street Band to reunite for a bit of 'Magic’", Associated Press, August 16, 2007. Accessed August 16, 2007.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Andy Greene, "More On New Bruce Springsteen Album: Producer Brendan O’Brien Reveals All", Rolling Stone, August 17, 2007. Accessed August 18, 2007.
  7. ↑ "Dates are set; Bruce revs up E Street Machine for Fall", Backstreets.com, August 28, 2007. Accessed August 28, 2007.
  8. 1 2 Jonathan Cohen, "Billboard Bits: Bruce Springsteen", Billboard, August 23, 2007. Accessed August 23, 2007.
  9. ↑ Phil Gallo, "Springsteen's 'Magic' Sitting Outside Grammy's Window: Might A Back Door Plot Be Devised?" Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine, Variety The Set List column, August 16, 2007. Accessed August 21, 2007.
  10. ↑ "BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND ANNOUNCE FIRST FULL SCALE TOUR OF US & EUROPE SINCE 2003" Archived 2010-01-30 at the Wayback Machine, Brucespringsteen.com, August 28, 2007. Accessed August 28, 2007.
  11. 1 2 3 Levine, Stuart. Springsteen’s ‘Magic’ is a rockin’ good time, MSNBC.com, Sept. 25, 2007. Accessed November 5, 2007.
  12. 1 2 Scott, A. O. In Love With Pop, Uneasy With the World, The New York Times, September 30, 2007. Accessed November 5, 2007.
  13. 1 2 Quillen, Shay. Springsteen's 'Magic' ends with a political wallop, The San Jose Mercury News, October 6, 2007. Accessed November 5, 2007.
  14. ↑ Harris, Chris (2007-10-17). "Kid Rock's Jesus Overpowers Bruce Springsteen's Magic On Billboard Chart – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  15. ↑ Katie Hasty, "Springsteen Is Boss Of Album Chart With 'Magic'", Billboard.com, October 10, 2007.
  16. ↑ Katie Hasty, "Springsteen Returns To No. 1 In Slow Sales Week", Billboard.com, October 24, 2007.
  17. 1 2 Roger Friedman (2007-10-30). "Bruce: Magic Refused Radio Play". D-Day for Britney Spears: New CD 'Blackout' Drops. Fox News. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  18. ↑ "Know the Facts". Clear Channel Communications. Retrieved 2007-11-03.
  19. ↑ Smith, Ethan (2009-01-16). "Born to Run – and Promote". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  20. ↑ "Magic by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band". Metacritic.
  21. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2007-10-02). "Magic – Bruce Springsteen | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  22. ↑ Chris Willman on Sep 28, 2007 (2007-09-28). "Magic Review | Music Reviews and News". EW.com. Retrieved 2014-01-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ↑ Bruce Springsteen Magic Archived 2007-12-25 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Magic: Pitchfork Record Review". Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  25. ↑ "Music Reviews, Features, Essays, News, Columns, Blogs, MP3s and Videos". PopMatters. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  26. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Magic". Robert Christgau.
  27. ↑ David Fricke (2007-10-18). "Magic | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  28. ↑ Kandell, Steve. "Bruce Springsteen, 'Magic' Review". Spin.com. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  29. ↑ Bruce Springsteen Magic
  30. ↑ "Music Reviews". Uncut.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  31. ↑ Deusner, Stephen M. (3 October 2007). "Albums: Magic: Bruce Springsteen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  32. ↑ "The 2007 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. February 6, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  33. ↑ ROBERT CHRISTGAU, DAVID FRICKE, CHRISTIAN HOARD, ROB SHEFFIELD (December 17, 2007). "The Top 50 Albums of 2007" Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-12-20
  34. ↑ "Grammy 2008 Winners List". MTV. February 10, 2008. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  35. ↑ "Terry Magovern, Rest in Peace", Backstreets.com, August 1, 2007. Accessed September 15, 2009.
  36. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Bruce Springsteen – Magic". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  37. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Bruce Springsteen – Magic" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Bruce Springsteen – Magic" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  39. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Bruce Springsteen – Magic" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  40. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  41. ↑ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 41.Týden 2007 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  42. ↑ "Danishcharts.dk – Bruce Springsteen – Magic". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  43. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bruce Springsteen – Magic" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  44. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen: Magic" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  45. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Bruce Springsteen – Magic". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  46. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – {{{artist}}} – {{{album}}}" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  47. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2007. 40. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  48. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 40, 2007". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  49. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Bruce Springsteen – Magic". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  50. ↑ "Charts.nz – Bruce Springsteen – Magic". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  51. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Bruce Springsteen – Magic". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  52. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  53. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Bruce Springsteen – Magic". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  54. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Bruce Springsteen – Magic". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  55. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Bruce Springsteen – Magic". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  56. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Bruce Springsteen – Magic". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  57. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  58. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen The E Street Band Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  59. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen The E Street Band Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  60. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Albums 2007". ARIA. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  61. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Alben 2007". austriancharts.at. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  62. ↑ "Ultratop Belgian Charts". Ultratop (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  63. ↑ "Dutch Charts Portal". GfK Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  64. ↑ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2007" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  65. ↑ Archived January 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  66. ↑ "Best of 2007". IRMA. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  67. ↑ "Årslista Album – År 2007" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  68. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2007". hitparade.ch. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  69. ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2007". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  70. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  71. ↑ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  72. ↑ "Årslista Album – År 2008" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  73. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  74. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  75. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Magic" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  76. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2007". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  77. ↑ "Danish album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Magic". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  78. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bruce Springsteen; 'Magic')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  79. ↑ "Classifiche, Rapporto 2007" (PDF). Musicaedischi. 8 January 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  80. ↑ "The Irish Charts - 2007 Certification Awards - Multi Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  81. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Magic" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved October 22, 2020. Enter Magic in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2007 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  82. ↑ "Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". Radioscope. 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  83. ↑ "Spanish album certifications" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved August 30, 2022. Select Álbumes under "Categoría", select 2007 under "Año". Select 52 under "Semana". Click on "BUSCAR LISTA".
  84. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2007" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  85. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Magic')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  86. ↑ "British album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Magic". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  87. ↑ "American album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Magic". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  88. ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2007". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
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