Recorded on October 23 and November 6, 1968, Black Magic, a masterpiece of 60s electric Chicago blues with soul, was released only days before Magic Sam’s untimely passing on December 1, 1969. He was only 32! The album went on to win a W.C. Handy Award in the Classic Blues Album category.
This Digipak Deluxe Edition contains more than an hour of West side Chicago blues at its finest, re-mastered from the original analog tapes and includes two new, previously unreleased tracks. The 16-page booklet contains never-before-seen photos at the recording session, additional color photos from the Ann Arbor Music Festival, the original liner notes from the LP and a new note by producer Bob Koester.
Black Magic features Eddie Shaw on tenor sax, Mighty Joe Young on guitar, Lafayette Leake on piano, Mack Thompson on bass, and Odie Payne, Jr. on drums.
“No blues guitarist better represented the adventurous modern sound of Chicago’s West side more proudly than Sam Maghett. He died tragically young just as he was on the brink of climbing the ladder to legitimate stardom (about the sign with Stax), but Magic Sam left behind a thick legacy of bone-cutting blues that remains eminently influential to this day.” – Bill Dahl, All Music
“One of the most intense and soul-searching voices the blues has ever known.” – Jim DeKoster, Living Blues
“I first heard Magic Sam in person circa ’62 at the Alex Club on Chicago’s West Side and it was a spectacular entrance – Muddy Waters called him up to the bandstand, and Sam tripped on an electric cord and sparks flew! His playing and singing were even more electrifying.” – Delmark’s Bob Koester from liner notes
