The Magic Numbers
{{short description|British alternative rock band}}
{{For|other uses of the term|Magic number (disambiguation)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = The Magic Numbers
| background = group_or_band
| image = The-magic-numbers-2020 press shot-lst134849.jpg
| alt = A black-and-white photo of The Magic Numbers leaning and sitting
| landscape = Yes
| years_active = 2002–present
| origin = Ealing, London, England
| genre = Alternative rock, indie rock
| label = Capitol Records/EMI, Heavenly, Caroline International, Role Play Records
| current_members = Angela Gannon
Sean Gannon
Michele Stodart
Romeo Stodart
}}
The Magic Numbers are an English alternative rock band consisting of two brother-and-sister pairs, from Hanwell in west London. The group was formed in 2002, releasing their debut album titled The Magic Numbers on 13 June 2005. Their follow-up album, Those the Brokes, was released on 6 November 2006; The Runaway was released on 6 June 2010, Alias was released on 18 August 2014, and their most recent album, Outsiders, was released on 11 May 2018.
The Magic Numbers consists of Romeo Stodart (lead guitar, vocals), his sister Michele Stodart (bass guitar, vocals, glockenspiel), Angela Gannon (melodica, percussion, keyboard, vocals) and her brother Sean Gannon (drums).
History
=Backgrounds=
The Stodarts are the children of a Scottish father and a Portuguese mother and were born in Trinidad in the Caribbean, where their mother was an opera singer and had her own TV show. When the family fled an Islamic coup attempt there in 1990, they were raised in New York City. In the mid-1990s, when Romeo was 16 and Michele was 10, they moved to London.
The Gannons are of Irish descent but lived in Hanwell, London where they became friends with their neighbours the Stodarts. Prior to forming the Magic Numbers, Romeo and Sean spent time trying to form a band together under various guises, and previously performed under the name 'Guess'.
=Early years=
In late 2002 The Magic Numbers formed in their present guise, and they began touring the London circuit, gradually developing their sound and building a small cult following, not least amongst some already established artists including The Chemical Brothers, Travis, and Ed Harcourt, with the latter later influential in their signing to record label Heavenly Records, narrowly choosing that label over Rough Trade Records.
Their rise came swiftly, beginning in the summer of 2004 and later that year when they began supporting well-known artists such as Travis, Ed Harcourt and Snow Patrol and appearing on the bill of some low-key UK festivals, building a larger following by increasing their live performances. In November 2004, they released a limited edition 7" vinyl single, "Hymn for Her", to coincide with a three-show residency at The Borderline in London.
=''The Magic Numbers''=
File:The Magic Numbers - NYC.jpg
On the back of releasing just one commercially available single, "Forever Lost", and even before their debut album was released, they played a sold-out show to a crowd of over 2,000 at The Forum in Kentish Town, London, where a limited number of live albums of the gig were released. They played their first live session on UK radio on the Dermot O'Leary Show for BBC Radio 2.
Their eponymous debut album was recorded in late 2004 and early 2005 at Metropolis Studios in London, and released on 13 June 2005. The album was produced and recorded by American producer Craig Silvey. Prior to release, only "Forever Lost" was promoted as a commercial single. This was followed up by later single releases "Love Me Like You", "Love's a Game" and "I See You, You See Me".
Following the release of their debut album, the remainder of 2005 and the first few months of 2006 were spent touring and promoting their album and singles, throughout the UK and United States, across Europe and also in New Zealand, Australia and Japan. Their Japanese tour was featured as a side documentary on Jonathan Ross's Japanorama.
They received a large amount of press attention for being the first band to walk off the TV show Top of the Pops after host Richard Bacon allegedly insulted their physiques (calling them "a big fat melting pot of talent" in their introduction) shortly before they were due to appear on the show to promote their single "Love Me Like You".{{cite web|author=Patrick Barkham |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/aug/10/arts.artsnews |title=Band snubs Top of the Pops after fat remark | UK news |work=The Guardian|date=10 August 2005 |access-date=13 August 2014}}
The album was shortlisted in 2005 for the coveted Mercury Music Prize.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4217140.stm |title=Entertainment | Antony and Johnsons win Mercury |publisher=BBC News |date=7 September 2005 |access-date=13 August 2014}}
=''Those the Brokes''=
After their heavy touring and promotion of their self-titled debut, The Magic Numbers would return in autumn of 2006 with their follow-up album, Those the Brokes. The band did another extensive run of shows to promote and tour for the album, including supporting The Who in Southampton, and an appearance at the 2007 Glastonbury Festival.
The album was partly recorded in New York at Allaire Studios in Spring 2006, a venue which has also been used in the past by David Bowie, The Strokes and Ryan Adams, and was recorded and engineered by Richard Wilkinson.
A live album entitled Live at the Kentish Town Forum was released in February 2007, featuring a live performance of songs from both of the band's two albums.
=''The Runaway''=
The band took some time off during 2008, before reconvening in late 2009 to begin work on their third studio album. The band's website was updated to inform fans that the new album would be entitled The Runaway.[http://www.themagicnumbers.net/2010/04/28/our-new-album-and-uk-tour/ ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517042357/http://www.themagicnumbers.net/2010/04/28/our-new-album-and-uk-tour/ |date=17 May 2010 }} The album was produced by Romeo Stodart with Valgeir Sigurðsson, who has previously worked with artists such as Björk, Bonnie Prince Billy and Múm. The album was mixed by Ben Hillier, and features string arrangements by the late Robert Kirby, who worked on Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left album. The album was released on 26 July 2010.
The Magic Numbers played at the 2010 Splendour in the Grass festival.[http://www.splendourinthegrass.com/artist-lineup.html ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507171720/http://www.splendourinthegrass.com/artist-lineup.html |date=7 May 2010 }} During their time in Australia, they did shows in Melbourne and Sydney with Blue Mountains band Cloud Control. They also played at the annual Glastonbury Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/line-up-poster/ |title=2014 | Glastonbury Festival |publisher=Glastonburyfestivals.co.uk |access-date=13 August 2014}}
= Michele Stodart solo career =
In 2012, Michele Stodart released a solo album with a strong country music influence, Wide-Eyed Crossing, accompanying herself on the guitar. It contains a duet with Conor O'Brien from the Villagers and was promoted on a solo tour by Stodart.{{cite web|author=Gillian Orr |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/michele-stodart--a-magic-number-goes-solo-7661033.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/michele-stodart--a-magic-number-goes-solo-7661033.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Michele Stodart - A Magic Number goes solo - Features - Music |work=The Independent|date=20 April 2012 |access-date=13 August 2014}}
In 2016, she released her 2nd solo album, Pieces, on One Little Indian Records. The album featured guest appearances from her brother Romeo Stodart and singer-songwriter Kathryn Williams.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Michele-Stodart-Pieces/release/8886494|title=Michele Stodart - Pieces|date=15 July 2016 |publisher=Discogs|language=en|access-date=7 November 2017}}
= Acoustic tour and fourth album =
In May 2013, The Magic Numbers announced their first-ever acoustic tour. The five-week tour saw the band play in theatres, churches and live music venues across the UK and Ireland supported by British act Goldheart Assembly.{{Cite web|url=https://www.songkick.com/artists/520496-magic-numbers/gigography|title=The Magic Numbers Gigography, Tour History & Past Concerts – Songkick|website=songkick.com|language=en|access-date=7 November 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/music/10678874.Review__The_Magic_Numbers_and_Goldheart_Assembly__Pocklington_Arts_Centre__last_Saturday/|title=Review: The Magic Numbers and Goldheart Assembly, Pocklington Arts Centre, last Saturday|website=York Press|date=17 September 2013 |language=en|access-date=7 November 2017}}
In 2013, the band acted in The Harry Hill Movie, as bed & breakfast proprietors in Blackpole. The band's fourth album Alias was released in August 2014.{{cite web |url=https://store.universalmusic.com/themagicnumbers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714152354/https://store.universalmusic.com/themagicnumbers/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 July 2014 |title=Magic Numbers Music Store |publisher=Store.universalmusic.com |access-date=13 August 2014 }}
In November 2015, The Magic Numbers toured the UK with McAlmont and Butler, acting as the supporting act and also providing backing vocals and rhythm section to the duo.
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="10"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications |
| style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| UK {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17170/magic-numbers/ | title=The Magic Numbers {{!}} full Official Chart history | publisher=theofficialcharts.com| access-date=19 May 2018}} !style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| AUS !style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| BEL !style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| FRA !style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| GRE !style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| IRE !style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| NLD !style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SCO
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SWE !style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US |
|---|
| scope="row"| The Magic Numbers
| | style="text-align:center;"|7 | style="text-align:center;"|61 | style="text-align:center;"|33 | style="text-align:center;"|142 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|12 | style="text-align:center;"|38 | style="text-align:center;"|11 | style="text-align:center;"|11 | style="text-align:center;"|34 |
|
| scope="row"| Those the Brokes
|
| style="text-align:center;"|11 | style="text-align:center;"|—{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Those the Brokes did not enter the Australian ARIA Albums Chart but peaked at number 14 on the ARIA Hitseekers Chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue872.pdf|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080222222441/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20061220-0000/issue872.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 February 2008|title=ARIA Report: Issue 872|publisher=ARIA|access-date=1 November 2023}}}} | style="text-align:center;"|34 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|25 | style="text-align:center;"|41 | style="text-align:center;"|13 | style="text-align:center;"|3 | style="text-align:center;"|— | |
| scope="row"| The Runaway
|
| style="text-align:center;"|46 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|78 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|43 | style="text-align:center;"|94 | style="text-align:center;"|90 | style="text-align:center;"|59 | style="text-align:center;"|32 | style="text-align:center;"|— | |
| scope="row"| Alias
|
| style="text-align:center;"|57 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|86 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|83 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | |
| scope="row"| Outsiders
|
| style="text-align:center;"|55 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|42 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | |
=Live album=
- Live At The Islington Assembly Hall (5 December 2018)
=EPs=
- Undecided EP (3 September 2007)
The EP featured alternate versions of two tracks from their 2006 album Those the Brokes (an edit of "Undecided" and a re-recording of "Let Somebody In") plus four previously unreleased recordings.{{cite web|author=The Magic Numbers |url=https://www.amazon.com/Undecided-Magic-Numbers/dp/B000TDH4H0 |title=Undecided: Music |website=Amazon |access-date=13 August 2014}}
- "Undecided" (Radio Edit)
- "Fear of Sleep"
- "Shooter"
- "Tonight"
- "Let Somebody In" (Alternate Version With Strings By Robert Kirby)
- "Sissy and the Silent Kid"
- The Pulse EP (2010)
This was a pre-release EP for their then-forthcoming album The Runaway that came out 26 July 2010. Two songs from this EP were not included in the full album.{{cite web|url=http://music.is-amazing.com/2010/05/30/magic-numbers-pulse-ep-2010 |title=The Magic Numbers - The Pulse (EP) (2010) |publisher=Music Is Amazing |date=30 May 2010 |access-date=13 August 2014}}
- "The Pulse"
- "Dead Mirrors"
- "This Isn't Happening"
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"| Album |
| scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| UK {{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17170/magic-numbers/|title=The Magic Numbers chart positions |website=Official Charts|date=26 February 2019 |access-date=26 February 2019}} ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| BEL ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| IRE ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| SCO
|
|---|
| scope="row"| "Forever Lost"
| rowspan="3"| 2005 | 15 || — || 34 || — | rowspan="4" |The Magic Numbers |
| scope="row"| "Love Me Like You"
| 12 || — || 41 || 10 |
| scope="row"| "Love's a Game"
| 24 || — || — || 25 |
| scope="row"| "I See You, You See Me"
| rowspan="2"| 2006 | 20 || — || 47 || 17 |
| scope="row"| "Take a Chance"
| 16 || — || — || 16 | rowspan="2" |Those the Brokes |
| scope="row"| "This is a Song"
| rowspan="1"| 2007 | 36 || — || — || 18 |
| scope="row"| "Hurt So Good"
| rowspan="1"| 2009 | — || — || — || — | rowspan="3" |The Runaway |
| scope="row"| "The Pulse"
| rowspan="2"| 2010 | —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"The Pulse" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 44 on the UK Physical Singles Chart Top 100.{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/physical-singles-chart/20100606/1/ |title=Official Physical Singles Chart Top 100 - 06 June 2010 - 12 June 2010 |publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=27 May 2020}}}} || — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Why Did You Call?"
| —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Why Did You Call?" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 48 on the UK Physical Singles Chart Top 100.{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/physical-singles-chart/20100829/1/ |title=Official Physical Singles Chart Top 100 - 29 August 2010 - 04 September 2010 |publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=27 May 2020}}}} || — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Shot in the Dark"
| rowspan="4"| 2014 | — || —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Shot in the Dark" did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 82 on the Ultratip chart.}} || — || — | rowspan="3" |Alias |
| scope="row"| "E.N.D."
| —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"E.N.D." did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 62 on the UK Physical Singles Chart.{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/physical-singles-chart/20140907/1/ |title=Official Physical Singles Chart Top 100 - 07 September 2014 - 13 September 2014 |publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=20 May 2020}}}} || —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"E.N.D." did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 45 on the Ultratip chart.}} || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Roy Orbison"
| — || —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Roy Orbison" did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 52 on the Ultratip chart.}} || — || — |
| scope="row"| "I Don't Care If It's Christmas"
| — || — || — || — | {{N/A|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"| "Sweet Divide"
| rowspan="2"| 2018 | — || — || — || — | rowspan="2" |Outsiders |
| scope="row"| "Ride Against the Wind"
| — || — || — || — |
| colspan="10" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
=Contributions=
The Magic Numbers have made appearances on various other artists' releases, including:
- Duke Special – "Our Love Goes Deeper Than This" (backing vocals)
- The Chemical Brothers – "Close Your Eyes" (vocals)
- The Concretes – "Your Call" (vocals), "Sunbeams" (backing vocals)
- Ed Harcourt – "Revolution in the Heart" (backing vocals)
- David Kitt – "Up to You" and "Guilty Prayers, Pointless Ends" from the album, Not Fade Away (backing vocals)
- Jane Birkin – Fictions
- The Boxer Rebellion – "Flashing Red Light Means Go" (backing vocals by Angela) – from their newly released album, Union.
==Compilation contributions==
- Dream Brother: The Songs of Tim and Jeff Buckley (2005) – cover of Tim Buckley's "Sing a Song for You"
- Help!: A Day in the Life (2005) – "Gone Are the Days"
- Sounds Eclectic: The Covers Project (2007) – cover of Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love"
- The Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary Show (2007) – "Love Me Like You"
- The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack (2009) – "All I Believe In"
- Leader Of The Starry Skies: A Tribute To Tim Smith, Songbook 1 (2010) – cover of Cardiacs' "A Little Man and a House"
- A Tribute to Caetano Veloso (2012) – cover of Caetano Veloso' "You Don't Know Me"
Notes
{{Reflist|group=upper-alpha}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20050608013412/http://www.themagicnumbers.net/ Official website (web archive)]
- [http://music.thedigitalfix.co.uk/content/feature/10177/the-magic-numbers-interview.html Interview with TMF in 2010 prior to the release of The Runaway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510031018/http://music.thedigitalfix.co.uk/content/feature/10177/the-magic-numbers-interview.html |date=10 May 2010 }}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Magic Numbers, The}}
Category:Capitol Records artists
Category:Indie rock groups from London
Category:Heavenly Recordings artists
Category:Rock music groups from the London Borough of Ealing
Category:Musical groups established in 2002