Midnight Magic (album)

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/midnight-magic-mw0000651084|title=Commodores: Midnight Magic|author=Henderson, Alex|publisher=AllMusic|website=allmusic.com}}

| rev2 = MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide

| rev2score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |date=1996 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=159}}

| rev3 = Music Week

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite magazine|date=August 4, 1979|title=Album Reviews: Commodores — Midnight Magic|magazine=Music Week|page=16|publisher=Pensord Press Ltd.|location=Gwent|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1979/Music-Week-1979-08-04.pdf#page=16|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826031745/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1979/Music-Week-1979-08-04.pdf#page=16|archive-date=August 26, 2024|access-date=March 29, 2025|via=WorldRadioHistory.com}}

| rev4 = Smash Hits

| rev4Score = 5/10{{cite journal|last=Starr|first=Red|title=Albums|journal=Smash Hits|issue=August 23 – September 5, 1979|page=25}}

| rev5 = The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul

| rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul |date=1998 |publisher=Virgin |page=75}}

}}

The New York Times stated that "the Commodores, too, have their disco‐dance numbers. But this group's principal appeal would seem to be its ability to come up with classy 'makeout' music. The new Midnight Magic, which is moving up the album charts quickly, will disappoint no one in search of just that. And as usual, the Commodores' ability to span a wide stylistic range and to avoid some of the more tired cliches of black vocal instrumental groups is extremely refreshing."{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/08/24/archives/the-pop-life-newmans-new-album-deepens-his-impact.html|title=The Pop Life|date=August 24, 1979|website=The New York Times}} Smash Hits called it, "solid professional funk, but still faceless and only moderately entertaining - mainly because of a distinct threadbareness in the melody department."{{cite magazine| magazine= Smash Hits | title=albums|author=Red Starr|issue=19|date=23 March 1979}} The Bay State Banner noted that "the vocals, it is true, are rather toneless—grouped together in the mix, the textural interest of a single throat is erased—but the rhythm section plays with verve through unusual chordings that oddly parallel the vocal register."{{cite news |last1=Freedberg |first1=Mike |title=Soul Dog |work=Bay State Banner |issue=46 |date=23 Aug 1979 |page=22}}

A song called "Still" became the band's second U.S. #1 single. Another single was the #4 hit "Sail On".

Record World said of the single "Wonderland" that "the vocals will mesmerize all tastes."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=December 8, 1979|accessdate=2023-02-11|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/79/Record-World-1979-12-08.pdf}} "Wonderland" reached #25.

{{Track listing

| total_length = 41:17

| title1 = Gettin' It

| title2 = Midnight Magic

| title3 = You're Special

| title4 = Still

| title5 = Wonderland

| title6 = Sexy Lady

| title7 = Lovin' You

| title8 = Sail On

| title9 = 12:01 A.M. (Reprise)

| writer1 = David Cochrane, Walter Orange

| writer2 = Lionel Richie, Jr., Thomas McClary

| writer3 = Harold Hudson, William King

| writer4 = Lionel Richie, Jr

| writer5 = Milan Williams

| writer6 = Thomas McClary

| writer7 = Ronald LaPread

| writer8 = Lionel Richie, Jr.

| writer9 = Lionel Richie, Jr., Thomas McClary

| length1 = 4:18

| length2 = 5:42

| length3 = 5:10

| length4 = 5:51

| length5 = 5:28

| length6 = 3:30

| length7 = 4:36

| length8 = 5:43

| length9 = 0:59

| all_writing =

}}

• Lionel Richie – vocals, acoustic piano, keyboards, saxophones
• Milan Williams – keyboards
• Thomas McClary – vocals, guitars
• Ronald LaPread – bass
• Walter Orange – vocals, drums
• William King – trumpet

• Harold Hudson – horn and string arrangements (1, 3, 6)
• James Anthony Carmichael – horn and string arrangements (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9)

The Mean Machine

• David Cochrane
• Harold Hudson
• Darrell Jones
• Winston Sims

• Commodores – producers, arrangements
• James Anthony Carmichael – producer, arrangements
• Calvin Harris – engineer, mixing
• Jane Clark – engineer, mixing
• Bernie Grundman – mastering
• John Cabalka – art direction
• Ginny Livingston – design
• Gene Gurley – photography
• Suzee Ikeda – product manager

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Midnight Magic}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|artist=Commodores|title=Midnight Magic|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1979|certyear=1979|access-date=July 16, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Commodores|title=Midnight Magic|award=Gold|id=4267-228-2|type=album|relyear=1979|certyear=1979|access-date=July 16, 2022}}

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{{reflist}}

{{Commodores}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Commodores albums

Category:1979 albums

Category:Albums produced by James Anthony Carmichael

Category:Albums produced by Lionel Richie

Category:Motown albums

Category:Albums recorded at A&M Studios