Van Morrivon is a fascinating band known for their unique blend of folk, blues, rock, and soul music. One of their most remarkable albums is "Magic Time," which showcases their extraordinary talent and musical versatility. Released in 2005, "Magic Time" explores themes of love, spirituality, and the wonder of everyday life. The album opens with the titular track "Magic Time," setting the tone for the entire record. Its upbeat rhythm and catchy melody immediately draw listeners in, while Morrivon's soulful vocals effortlessly carry the song. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and remind us of the magical moments hidden within ordinary experiences.
The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and remind us of the magical moments hidden within ordinary experiences. As the album progresses, Morrivon delves into a variety of musical styles. "Stranded" is a bluesy number that showcases his exceptional skills as a vocalist and guitarist.
Ralfi Pagan – 1975 – I Can See
Ralfi Pagan was a beautiful anomaly within Latin music powerhouse Fania Records’ late ’60s/early ’70s roster. Blessed with a gorgeous, airy falsetto tenor, Pagan was more musically aligned with the sensitive soul balladry of his obvious role model Smokey Robinson than the salsa dura erupting out of East Harlem and his native Bronx. His early recordings reflected as much, moving tentatively between English and Spanish-sung soul slowies and dance numbers. But with his 1971 hit cover of Bread’s “Make It With You,” he found his niche – emphasizing the song’s forlorn romantic longing, rather than seduction, and ecstatically vamping in Spanish on the outro to seal the deal.
Tracks
A1 Ooo Baby Baby 3:15
A2 La Vida 3:06
A3 Just For A Little While 2:39
A4 Loneliness Loneliness 4:29
B1 I Could Never Hurt You Girl 3:22
B2 Darling You And I (Together) 4:30
B3 Stay Out Of My Life 3:56
B4 Rat Race 2:45
By Jeff Chairman Mao
The song was a crossover smash, and the remainder of Pagan’s career at Fania would see the label attempt to repeat its success – even re-releasing “ Make It With You’s ” accompanying album, With Love, sans its Latin tracks and subbing in older soul numbers. 1973’s Ralfi awkwardly moved him towards singer-songwriter territory. But 1975’s I Can See gets the musical calculus nearly perfect. As its title and dramatic cover design suggest, it’s a focused effort (just eight songs) that returns Pagan to his chief strength, the heartbreaking soul ballad.
It also reunites Pagan with producer Marty Sheller, whose arrangements made With Love’s soul tracks such standouts. From the first notes of the opening Smokey Robinson cover, backed by a who’s-who of top studio players, everything feels just right. Drummer Bernard “Pretty” Purdie and bassist Jerry Jemmott (both veterans of Aretha Franklin’s touring group) lock into a sultry groove accented by Nicky Marrero’s bongos and Frank Malabe’s congas. Louie Ramirez’s vibraphone lines shimmer, and guitarist Joe Beck’s wah-wah adds just the right touch of blue light basement friction. For his part, Pagan’s breathy, reverb-bathed performance is a study in exquisite vulnerability that would do Smokey proud. Throughout I Can See, he’s further buoyed by sumptuous backup harmonies from veteran producer/songwriters J.R. Bailey (of his own cult classic soul LP Just Me and You fame), Kenneth Williams, and Mel Kent.
It’s a brilliant template that yields uniformly sublime results on “ Just For a Little While ” (as in “I never knew that when you said ‘I love you’ it was…”), the Bailey/Williams/Kent-penned “ Loneliest Loneliness ” and an outstanding cover of Cholly Rivera’s late ’60s single “ I Could Never Hurt You Girl ”. The latter features a brief call-and-response adlib between Pagan and Bailey that speaks to the attention to detail herein. Even two down-tempo funk-infused tracks, “ La Vida ” and “ Rat Race ”, work well; Beck’s guitar builds sonic continuity while Pagan turns his attention from matters of the heart to broader philosophical and societal concerns.
Despite its obvious musical merits, I Can See stalled commercially and would be Pagan’s final LP for Fania. He would continue to record for other labels and relocate to Los Angeles, where his Latin soul sound was beloved by Chicano audiences. But tragically, his life and career ended far too soon. While touring Colombia in 1978, he was murdered under circumstances that have long been the subject of speculation and rumor. Knowing this, one can’t help but experience I Can See as something even more profound: haunting.
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The song captures the feeling of being lost or alone, while still offering a glimmer of hope. Another standout track on "Magic Time" is "Celtic New Year," which incorporates traditional Irish folk sounds. Morrivon's rich, heartfelt voice pairs beautifully with the lilting instrumentation, transporting listeners to a cozy pub on a rainy evening. One of the album's most touching songs is "Carry On Regardless." This ballad highlights Morrivon's introspective and introspective talents as he sings about the inevitability of life's challenges and the importance of persevering through them. The emotional depth of the lyrics is further enhanced by the gentle piano accompaniment. Overall, "Magic Time" is a captivating album that showcases Van Morrivon's ability to seamlessly blend genres and evoke a range of emotions. Whether he's rocking out or delivering a tender ballad, Morrivon's voice and songwriting never fail to captivate his audience. "Magic Time" is a must-listen for any fan of folk, blues, rock, or soul music..
Reviews for "Journeying through Van Morrivon's Magical Time Universe"
- John - 2/5 stars - "I was disappointed by 'Van Morrivon Magic Time'. The songs lacked the depth and emotion that I usually associate with Van Morrison's music. The album felt rushed and uninspired, with forgettable melodies and repetitive lyrics. I was hoping for more from an artist of Morrison's caliber, but unfortunately, this album didn't deliver."
- Sarah - 1/5 stars - "I couldn't get into 'Van Morrivon Magic Time' at all. The whole album felt like a collection of B-sides that were thrown together without much thought. The songwriting lacked originality and the music was unremarkable. It was a big letdown considering how much I love Morrison's earlier work. I wouldn't recommend this album to anyone."
- Michael - 2/5 stars - "I'm a huge Van Morrison fan, but 'Van Morrivon Magic Time' was a disappointment. The production felt flat and the overall sound was just lackluster. The album lacked the energy and passion that I love about Morrison's music. It felt like he was going through the motions rather than putting his heart and soul into the songs. It's definitely not one of his best efforts."