Magic – Pilot | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#5); 1975

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

Bass and lead guitarist David Paton first met keyboardist Billy Lyall in 1969 in a preRollermania line-up of the Bay City Rollers. Paton always considered his Roller role as a part-time gig and left in late 1970.

Billy followed David’s example in April of 1971. While David worked to boost his band Christyan into the big time, Billy signed on as a junior engineer at Edinburgh’s Craighall recording studios. The two teamed up again in 1972; writing songs and making demos.

At night David played with Band Of Gold alongside guitarist Ian Bairnson and drummer Stuart Tosh. Among the original songs they worked into the group’s set of covers was one called Magic. In 1974 EMI signed the band. Paton, Lyall, and Tosh (Bairnson had not yet officially joined) chose a name derived from the first letters of their surnames.

An Alan Parsons produced single – Magic – streeted in September and promptly moved to #11 in the UK. The States fell under Magic‘s spell the following summer when it peaked at #5.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

  • Alan Parsons

Lyrics Written by:

  • David Paton
  • Billy Lyall

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Ed Osborne

Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).