Burning The Ground Exclusive 1986
NEW 2023 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration!
Originally posted January 16, 2016
“Magic Dance” (also known as “Dance Magic”) is a song written and recorded by the English singer David Bowie for the Jim Henson musical fantasy film Labyrinth (1986). It was released as a single in limited markets worldwide in January 1987.
Bowie wrote and recorded five songs for Labyrinth, in which he also starred as Jareth, the king of the goblins. “Magic Dance” was written for a scene in which Jareth and his goblins entertain a crying baby that has been wished away to them by the film’s heroine, Sarah Williams. In the film, Bowie performs the number with Toby Froud as the baby, and 50 puppets and 12 costumed extras as the goblins.
Described as a “simple dance number that’s driven by electric bass and emphatic drums” “Magic Dance” includes song lyrics that refer to the film The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947) starring Cary Grant and Shirley Temple, in which the two have a call and reply verse: “You remind me of a man.” “What man?” “The man with the power.” “What power?” “The power of hoodoo.” “Who do?” “You do!”. In “Magic Dance,” “man” is replaced with “babe” and “hoodoo” with “voodoo”. According to Nicholas Pegg, the verse is an “old playground nonsense chant” that was originally popularized by The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer.
Bowie performed the baby’s gurgles in the song recording of “Magic Dance”, as backing vocalist Diva Gray’s baby, the intended vocalist, wouldn’t gurgle on the microphone. In the actual scene of the film, baby vocals were dubbed in by a more cooperative infant. During the movie’s production, and in the end credits, the song was referred to as “Dance Magic.”
Magic Dance” is the third track on the Labyrinth soundtrack, released in July 1986 to coincide with the film’s US premiere. In 1987 the song was released on 12″ in limited markets, including the US. A single version was mixed but never released, and an edit of the “Dance Mix” (incorrectly labeled as the ‘single mix’) was released on the New Zealand edition of Best of Bowie (2002). The single was not released commercially in the UK until the digital download version was made available in early 2007.
In 1986, “Magic Dance” peaked at #40 in New Zealand. At the time of Bowie’s death in 2016, “Magic Dance” was the 19th highest selling Bowie song digitally downloaded in the United Kingdom.
SIDE A:
Magic Dance (A Dance Mix) 7:15
Producer [Additional], Remix – Steve Thompson And Michael Barbiero*
SIDE B:
Magic Dance (Dub) 5:30
Producer [Additional], Remix – Steve Thompson And Michael Barbiero*
Within You 3:29
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI America – V-19217
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Art Direction – Henry Marquez
- Design – Carol Chen
- Photography By [Front] – Davies And Starr
- Producer – Arif Mardin, David Bowie
- Written-By – D. Bowie*
NOTES:
From the motion picture soundtrack “Labyrinth”
Printed in U.S.A.
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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Also, cool to see that Arif Mardin produced this … his touch is on so much of my favorite music of all time – most notably, early Hall & Oates and Aretha Franklin’s “Day Dreaming.”
Big Bowie fan here but had never heard of this song – thanks so much!
Love David Bowie.
Love the beat! Bowie was a busy guy in ’86! Between Labyrinth, Absolute Beginners and working on his Never Let Me Down album, this was a fertile period for him. I agree, even though it was a summer movie, it has a very Christmas-y feel. Thanks for your new transfer!!
Love the film Labyrinth and all the musical numbers from this film. Magic Dance is such a catchy song…..David Bowie was just fantastic at what ever he created either with his music or his acting career. There is a new Doctor Who Christmas special on 25th (UK Television and Disney+) with Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor, who encounters a Goblin King, whose goblins kidnap a baby, really reminds me of Labyrinth, there is even a Goblin Song that was released last Monday…..Looks like a fun episode to watch with the family. Cool post Paul, you and your family have… Read more »
I remember you posting or reposting some of the Bowie 12”s after his sad passing in 2016. I think i missed this one though, so thanks Paul for the remaster and post 🙂
I still regularly play your rip of the 12” Loving The Alien, which is one of my favourites by Bowie.
Another amazing one! Don’t know how you do it!!
Thank you, Raymond 🙂
excelente aporte, muchas gracias por compartirlo
De Nada, SLY
Since the holidays are a season of magic, this is a perfect song to play at this time of year! Paul, this record is so much fun, and I think it was so cool that Bowie wrote and performed it, but he starred in the movie too! Karen and I will break into the chant randomly throughout the year as these lines can be quite addictive!!! There was a swing-revival band in the 90’s called, The Atomic Fireballs, who had a hit with their song, “The Man with The Hex” with a frantic sung lines of this chant too! I… Read more »
This song always makes me think of winter for some reason so I always like hearing it this time of year, Funny how we associate certain songs with different things.
Ooh, I did not know there was a remix for this song! THANK YOU SO MUCH for another amazing treat!!!! I actually enjoyed the soundtrack more than the movie. The story line was great, but I hate all those muppet movies … lol … I know some people absolutely love them, but personally I wish they would redo it without the puppets. Bowie was PHENOMENAL in that movie! And his music is timeless! 5 Million Stars … for you … and Bowie!
Also, awesome that you shared another rare Thompson/Barbiero remix! They would make perfect candidates for the next Arthur Baker – Dance Masters compilation!
You’re welcome, Martika. Bowie was perfect for this movie. 🙂
I agree! Bowie and Jennifer Connelly were amazing!