Retro Music 42

~ beetleypete

In 1966, I heard a record on the radio that became a hit in Britain. It was called ‘Summer In The City’, by an American band The Lovin’ Spoonful. I decided to investigate more of their music, and bought the album ‘Do You Believe In Magic?’ which had been released a year earlier. The title song had been a minor hit here as a single, but it had escaped my notice.

This was nothing like the style of music I mainly listened to at the time, but I thought that the lead vocalist John Sebastian had a great voice.

That song became a firm favourite of mine, enduring to this very day. I have featured it on my blog before, but it is good enough to stand a second outing.

Do you believe in magic in a young girl’s heart?
How the music can free her whenever it starts
And it’s magic if the music is groovy
It makes you feel happy like an old-time movie
I’ll tell you about the magic, and it’ll free your soul
But it’s like trying to tell a stranger ’bout a rock ‘n’ roll
If you believe in magic, don’t bother to choose
If it’s jug band music or rhythm and blues
Just go and listen, it’ll start with a smile
That won’t wipe off your face no matter how hard you try
Your feet start tapping, and you can’t seem to find
How you got there, so just blow your mind
If you believe in magic, come along with me
We’ll dance until morning ’til there’s just you and me
And maybe if the music is right
I’ll meet you tomorrow sorta late at night
And we’ll go dancing baby, then you’ll see
How the magic’s in the music, and the music’s in me
Yeah, do you believe in magic?
Yeah, believe in the magic of the young girl’s soul
Believe in the magic of a rock ‘n’ roll
Believe in the magic that can set you free
Ahh, talking ’bout the magic
Do you believe in magic?
(Do you believe like I believe?) Do you believe, believer?
(Do you believe like I believe?) Do you believe in magic?
(Do you believe like I believe?) Do you believe in magic?
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: John Benson Sebastian / John Sebastian
Do You Believe in Magic lyrics © Trio Music Company, Alley Music Corp.

40 thoughts on “Retro Music 42”

  11. A terrific slice of 60’s pop to be sure, Pete…it summed up the San Francisco-led “Summer Of Love” era of music in the US in the 60’s, before everything turned dark and violent a few miles away in Altamont…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. Pingback: Retro Music 42 | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

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