"Magical" by John Parr

Song#:  2274
Date:  04/06/1985
Debut:  90
Peak:  73
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Parr grabbed a #6 Rock track with "Naughty, Naughty," the first single from his self-titled debut album. The song was able to cross over to the Pop chart where it just missed out on the Top 20 getting to #23. For a follow-up, this next track was selected. Once again, Rock responded well and it barely missed the Top 10 there peaking at the dreaded #11. However, Pop wasn't as interested this time around and the singled stalled just inside the top quarter of the chart.

ReduxReview:  This is a solid rock track, but it's just not as hooky as the fun and sleazy "Naughty, Naughty." I was actually familiar with this song via Bucks Fizz (see below). I'm a fan of that vocal group and it appears on one of their hits albums. Parr's version is not all that different except that it has a slightly beefier sound. It's a quality album track, but it just doesn't have that extra hooky oomph needed to be a hit.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia: While Parr was assembling his debut album, he was also busy writing songs for Meat Loaf's 1984 LP Bad Attitude. One of the songs written for the album was this single. It was co-written by Parr with Meat Loaf. However, Meat Loaf ended up not recording the song so Parr chose to include it on his upcoming album. It would serve as the album's opening track and second single. Apparently, it remains the only song that Meat Loaf wrote (or co-wrote) that he did not record. Later in '86, the popular UK vocal group Bucks Fizz covered the song for their album Writings on the Wall. It was issued as that album's second single, but it could only manage a #57 peak. Bucks Fizz was a highly successful group in the UK following their 1981 UK #1 Eurovision winner "Making Your Mind Up." They would go on to score two more #1's and five more Top 10's. Despite their popularity in the UK, the group's music never translated to the US and they failed to get a song any chart.

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