You Got the Magic

Background

“You Got the Magic”, backed with "Evil Thing", was the third 45 rpm single John Fogerty released after signing with Asylum Records.  The disco/white funk song was recorded at Wally Heider Recording in San Francisco and engineered by Russ Gary. Fogerty plays all the instruments by himself.

John Fogerty described "You Got the Magic" while talking to Greg Shaw of The Phonograph Record in April 1976: "There's a single coming out this month, in advance of the album, that might give you some idea of the direction I'm going in. It's called 'You Got the Magic' and it's a kind of love song, but not, you know, strings or any of that crap. Just an honest love song. I'm trying to make this album a more accurate representation of what I feel. I don't know, you'll have to hear it, really."

The single was released in April 1976. It only peaked at #87 in the USA. The 45 rpm was a sample from Hoodoo, the third solo album of John Fogerty, but the LP was never released eventually.

The Hoodoo sessions were also the last ones between Fogerty and Gary. Furthermore, fans had to wait for the next release from John Fogerty for almost nine years. 

Timeline

Information on the Hoodoo sessions is very sparse. According to Russ Gary, the single cuts "You Got the Magic" and "Evil Things" were recorded first.   After a break, Fogerty worked on the album tracks (email correspondence with Russ Gary by a fan). It's possible that the recording of Hoodoo was still in process when John gave a couple of interviews in April 1976. Scrapping of the LP took place after mid-June 1976 (Dana Doak).   

Collector's notes

The single was released with different cover sleeves in Denmark, France and Germany. The US version didn't have a cover sleeve. In the UK, the single was launched as a promo disc (Peter Koers, Green River, 1999). 

Live versions

John Fogerty has never performed "You Got the Magic" live in concerts.

Critical reception

"But Fogerty is still trying. Berkeley remains his base; it is where he's always recorded, right up to the ominous, brand-new 'Run through the Jungle'-like single, 'You Got the Magic,' his first all-out attempt at AM success since 'Sweet Hitch-Hiker.' -Cameron Crowe, The Rolling Stone, May 6th, 1976.

"A funky shuffle with a cathy-gulp-near disco chorus, this was the obvious choice for a single. One track like this might have been okay, but I'm jumpin' things..." -Billy Miller, The Kicks, New York, Issue 3, Summer 1984.

"'You Got the Magic' has a completely awesome intro, kind of eerie, and then when John comes in with the loud drums, you know he's ready to rock. Excellent lyrics." -Adam Bryant, 1995.

Fans' views

"Hoodoo time wasn´t so bad, because after all these years we still listen songs from that time."

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