BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1980
Happy 35th anniversary “XANADU”!
On August 8, 1980 the film “Xanadu” starring Olivia Newton-John, Michael Beck and Gene Kelly was released to theaters in the US. Not a financial success, Xanadu earned mixed to negative critical reviews and was an inspiration for the creation of the Golden Raspberry Awards to memorialize the worst films of the year. Despite the lacklustre performance of the film, the soundtrack album became a huge commercial success around the world, and was certified double platinum in the United States. The song “Magic” was a U.S. number one hit for Newton-John, and the title track (by Newton-John and ELO) reached number one in the UK and several other countries around the world. Now 35 years later “Xanadu” is even more popular than when it was originally released showing at midnight movies becoming a cult classic.
“Magic” is a 1980 song performed by Olivia Newton-John, from the soundtrack to the film Xanadu. The song was number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks beginning on August 2, 1980.
“Magic” became Newton-John’s biggest Adult Contemporary hit to date, spending five weeks at the top of that chart. It was also her biggest pop hit until “Physical” ruled the Hot 100 for ten weeks beginning in November 1981. Billboard magazine ranked “Magic” as the third most popular single of 1980, behind only “Call Me” by Blondie and “Another Brick in the Wall, Part II” by Pink Floyd. The song also reached number 4 in Australia and number 32 in the UK.
The B-side “Fool Country” was featured in the film but did not appear on the soundtrack. The song did finally appear on CD for the first time on the Olivia Newton-John compilation Gold released in 2005.
On Saturday August 8, 2015 Olivia will premiere her new music video for the dance re-make of “Magic” titled “You Have To Believe” which she recorded with her daughter Chloe Lattanzi at the Share night club in Las Vegas. The track is produced by Grammy nominated remixer/producer Dave Audé.
SIDE A:
Magic 4:25
SIDE B:
Fool Country 2:23
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Magic | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #1 |
| 1980 | Magic | U.S. Billboard hot Dult Contemporary | #1 |
| 1980 | Magic | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 End Of Year | #3 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – MCA-41247
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: May 23, 1980
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Pop Rock
CREDITS:
Producer, Written-By – John Farrar
NOTES:
From the Original motion picture soundtrack for “XANADU.”
Find the 7″ on DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: 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)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Xanadu week was a fantastic idea. Thank you, Paul 🙂
I am LOVING this revisiting of Xanadu. A huge favorite of mine. Thank you. I am perplexed by this one, though because I am 99.9% sure that my 7″ single at the time was an edited version of Magic with a fade and this doesn’t seem to be. Is there another version of the single? You would know 🙂
thanks for this Paul. i too loved the movie and soundtrack. I made my very own Remastered and Expanded Soundtrack, if any one is interested in a copy. thanks Paul for another great post
“Fool Country” is an interesting rarity, but also kind of a frustrating exercise in “what might have been”… it feels like it’s just getting good, then suddenly we’re in the middle of a twangy-banjo country number. :/ It works for the movie, but listening to it by itself, without the accompanying visuals, it just comes off as odd and a bit jarring.
It’s a shame she never recorded a full-length version of the first half (“Fool”)… It would’ve fit right in with her “Physical”/”Make A Move On Me”/”Heart Attack” period, and probably would’ve been another hit all by itself.
Excelent blog Paul!, and a good remastering job into this Olivia single.
Sorry, but you don’t had the 12′ inch of New Order’s “Blue Monday”, it Will be great if you upload it.
Regards
Richard
How about the Xanadu itself? 12″ disco mix would be great 🙂
Sorry, my bad – happily i already dl-d this ELO track from you.. so why not the 7″ then?
Thank you for this timely post, Paul! It’s great to hear Olivia in the superb quality you always deliver.
This was the first thing I ever saw on a “newfangled videocassette player” way back in about 1981. My neighbors had one of the early models and a daughter a few years older than I was. We all danced to the songs and then skated to them at the roller rink. This post brings back a lot of memories, just like for Martijn above, but in a totally different part of the world.
Thanks again, Paul!
Thank you so much for this, DjPaulT!
Wooo more Xanadu stuff! Any chance we’ll be seeing the companion single of “I’m Alive” by ELO? The B-Side to that is still not on CD anywhere!
I’ve always loved “Drum Dreams” (the B-side) to I’m Alive. I wish they would have released an expanded soundtrack that had all the b-sides included (there was plenty of space after the 10 original tracks were included. It would have been nice to have the alternate versions of “I’m Alive” and the Instrumental version of “Magic” included as well. (As much as I love “Fool Country”, I wish that they would have put the first part of the medley (the 40’s instrumental track) that appeared prior to “Fool Country” and the Xanadu Reprise.
I had hoped for an extended soundtrack when it came to CD that would have either had all the B-sides or an extended mix of the song Xanadu as a medley with all the other tracks included like they do in the movie.
I believe Xanadu is sometimes used as an example of the biggest difference between the success and quality of the movie vs its soundtrack. I still have to watch the movie Xanadu to be the judge on that. However the video and the song of Xanadu and the soundtrack of the movie of which Magic and more good songs were also a part, is still one of my favorites. I remember very well being ten years old in the summer of 1980 when I first saw and heard the synth tunes of ELO swelling just before a totally glamorous looking… Read more »
I enjoyed reading your comment Martijn Van Heeringen. “Magic” was produced and written by Olivia’s longtime friend and producer John Farrar. He wrote and produced many of her country hits and the songs from “Grease”.
Thanks for the info on Magic. I enjoy your posts; they always surprise and sometimes, like this track, bring back not just fond memories but very strong emotions lime I was still there. You see around 1980 I always listene to the top 40 on friday and since it seems I had and have a good memory, I tend to remember time as it was according to milestone songs that were in the ether back then. They say smell is the most nostalgical of the senses when it comes to memory, and even though that may be true; hearing music… Read more »
Her finest track…
🙂
I agree Ex15 it’s up there in my book 🙂
Always interesting to debate on favorite tracks. I particularly like A Little Love, Magic, but also Soul Kiss from 1985. Xanadu is for me on top of the list, see my comment on Magic. It is not only the name Xanadu itself that is so appealing but the sound of ELO combined with ONJ together is, well, magic!
FYI – the 16 bit FLAC link points to the MP3 version.
Sorry about that Greg it is fixed now 🙂
Funny how earlier today, I was combing through the Xandau soundtrack singles. Even today, this is one of the more requested tracks on the retro day at the radio station I work at. Your mastering is simply superb Paul, and you have no idea how much you’ve helped with our playlist, especially with the rarer radio edits of tracks.
On that note though, have you managed to find yourself a copy of the US picture disc of Xanadu? I hear it’s a legendary must have for any ONJ collector. 🙂
Thank you Santi I am glad I can be of help to your listeners. I have seen the picture disc once on Ebay it sold for thousands of dollars. I hear there were only like ten of them pressed or maybe less. MCA pulled it for some reason. I have heard that it remains one of the rarest items ever.
As always, great post Paul!
Any chances you may post “Suddenly” with the B-side “You Made Me Love You” at some point? With the song from “The Other Side Of The Mountain”, that’s the missing link from Olivia for me.
Thanks again Paul.
Yes I have both Max. I will post “You Made Me Love You” the b-side from “Suddenly” however “Richards Window” from the Other Side Of The Mountain soundtrack really doesn’t fit in with BTG but I will consider it.
Thank you Paul, that would be truly, truly great!
I understand that “The Other Side Of The Mountain” doesn’t really fit here… I was just saying that’s one I don’t have… You should do a microsite with Olivia’s stuff only. All those rare tracks that I am sure you already have of Livvy with your 24/96 touch and your photoshop powers… That would truly be awesome!
As much as I love Olivia, she hasn’t exactly be foward with her back catalogue and rare stuff.
One can always hope…
Thanks again!
I saw Xanadu at the drive-in when I was a kid. An all time classic film!!! Fond memories of a time long ago. I suppose almost as much time has passed since the movie was made as the time had passed since Gene Kelly was the young man in the WWII part of the film. Anyway, great choice. It’s funny they didn’t make a proper soundtrack for the film including all of the songs. Thanks Paul.
You’re welcome Joey 🙂
Wow Paul! I have never heard this song sound so good. Your remastering is incredible. It’s also great to have these tracks in 24 bit. a must have download 🙂
Thank you Mr. Audiophile!
Thanks Paul, Love Olivia
The MP3 is downloading as FLAC
Love the Site
Pat
Should be corrected now Patrick 🙂 Thanks for letting me know.
Thank You for The Fix
OMG! It’s ONJ!! Paul, I love the movie Xanadu so much. When I was a kid, my friends and I caught a showing at the local theater and we all fell in love with it. We didn’t care what the critics thought, the movie was great fun. Oh, the music was wonderful. The only thing we were disappointed about was the soundtrack album, since a lot of the music was left off. When I first discovered your site, I was BEYOND THRILLED that you had an extended version of “Xanadu” with the added ELO introduction, “Drum Dreams” (I think that’s… Read more »
You’re welcome Jeff I had pretty much the same experience. I had already fallen in love with ONJ after seeing “Grease” and “Xanadu” was the icing on the cake. I am super excited about the new Dave Audé.remix I hope it turns out to be a hit.
Have a Xanalicious weekend 🙂
Back from holiday and looking at all your recent posts I missed.
Okay, the 35th anniversary, eeh? I always liked this track and its B-side too. The soundtrack is one of my favorite soundtracks ever, although I don’t fancy the movie (at all). Funny how that works.
Have a nice weekend!
Glad you are back Stefano. I loved the movie then and still do. I can remember my step mother took me to see it and I was mesmerized. What a great summer 🙂