Barry Manilow - Could It Be Magic? (Original 1973 Version)

This take of Could It Be Magic was only ever released on the original Bell edition of Barry Manilow (I). There is already a recording of this on YouTube, but I recorded directly from my Vinyl because there was hiss and scratching on the other version.

[TimeIdle]

Love the scratches on the vinyl. Brings us back to that era, and this version is rarely heard. Thank you for uploading.

[rockrabbitt]

Spirit move me, every time I'm near you
Whirling like a cyclone in my mind
Sweet Melissa, angel of my lifetime
Answer to all answers I can find

Baby, I love you, come, come, come into my arms
Let me know the wonder of all of you
And baby, I want you now, now, now, and hold on fast
Could this be the magic at last?

Lady, take me high upon a hillside
High up where the stallion meets the sun
I could love you, build my world around you
Never leave you till my life is done

Baby, I love you, come, come, come into my arms
Let me know the wonder of all of you
And baby, I want you now, now, oh, now, oh now and hold on fast
Could this be the magic at last?

Could it be magic?
Come, c'mon, c'mon, come oh-oh come into my arms
Oh, let me know the wonder of all of you, all of you
Baby, I want you now, now, oh now, oh now and hold on fast
Oh, could this be the magic at last?
Could it be magic?


Come, c'mon, c'mon, come oh-oh come into my arms
Oh, let me know the wonder of all of you
Baby, I want you now, now, oh now, oh now and hold on fast
Could this be the magic at last?
Could it be magic?

Come, come on, come on, come oh-oh come into my arms
Oh, let me know the wonder of all of you, all of you
Baby, I want you now, now, oh now, now, oh now and hold on fast
Oh, could this be the magic at last?
Could it be magic?

[CarlJohnson-ch]

I vividly remember hearing this 1973 version. It's sparcer and less orchestrated than the "BM1" remix that was released later. It has more of a distant and haunting mood to it. Love it.

[rosangelasouza]

Essa música é uma obra de arte! Amo essa música e seu intérprete. ❤🎉

[BolsaChicaRadio]

This original mix is just WAY BEYOND INCREDIBLE. It is kin to the original 1967 mix of "Nights In White Satin" by The Moody Blues, opposed to the 'cleaned up' mix of 1978, due to the lame excuse of master mix tape deterioration. All to say, indeed, the analog polyphonic moogs & "heavy metal electric guitar hard chord strums", really makes this version, the TRUE classic! The 1975 version was not a re-recording at all, but just a re-mix from the 1 inch 16 channel session tape. All of Manilow's vocal inflections are EXACTLY the same, as is the basic rhythm tracks. The only thing that the 1975 remix improved upon was the outboard effects that was given to the drum kit, ESPECIALLY the snare drum; the later '75 mix gave it a much bigger, fuller, reverberation finish to it; almost a Phil Spector "Wall Of Sound" effect. However still, this 1973 original mix still towers as the most authentic. Unfortunately, I don't believe it was ever released on any other form but phonogram vinyl album, 8-track tape & cassette, so finding a REAL CLEAN COPY of the original album, is a tough endeavor, some FIFTY YEARS LATER, as of 2023.

THANK YOU for the incredible upload!

BolsaChicaRadio

[sleftover]

I hear a lot more of a very young Barry's voice, more synth and some heavy guitar in this early version. (It sort of reminds me of the Carpenter's Goodbye to Love - you don't expect that fuzz guitar or Moog-like sound from either of these '70s superstars!) My sister was a huge fan of Barry's when we were growing up, so I heard a lot of his music back in its heyday whether I wanted to or not, but hearing this version of my favorite of the Manilow music library that I know, I'm thinking she had only the 1975 Arista rerelease among the pile that got stacked frequently on the phonograph in the family Magnavox console stereo. Thank you for uploading the sound of the actual album.

[mariejohansson]

Barry ❤ You are so Magic...This Song and Lyricks is Awesome....since many years back ...till this day ❤Thankyou ❣⭐ Marie ❣

[lotsaringwear]

This version is 1000% better than the overproduced "hit" version.

[mariejohansson]

You are so Magic ❤Lyricks it's not Stop My Head....Very Nice Love Song ❤ Marie Sweden Stockholm ❣

[frequencymanipulator]

Perfect, I had just been listening to the 1991 version. I really wanted to hear what the '73 differences are. Amazing. Chopin > Barry > Featherbed > Barry > Take That. How did Take That manage to butcher it so badly.

[douglasdennett]

Love to see Ms. Angelina Jordan Perform this song with Berry Manalow, on Stage together.!!! - DD.