Today’s classic song of the day is “Sideshow” by the group Blue Magic. Released early in 1974, this sweet slice of seventies Philadelphia soul went all the way to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, #5 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart.
“Sideshow” was written by Vinnie Barrett and Bobby Eli, two Philadelphia songwriters who also wrote or co-wrote “Love Won’t Let Me Wait” for Major Harris and “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely” for the Main Ingredient. The track was produced by Norman Harris and recorded at Philly’s Sigma Sound Studios for Atco records.
The recording is notable for its sideshow showman introduction:
Hurry, hurry, step right up
See the saddest show in town for only fifty cents!
Blue Magic was a Philadelphia vocal quintet that first got together in 1972. They only this one mainstream hit, although several other singles hit bigger on the R&B charts. They kept going, with a number of lineup changes, through the early 2000s.
And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, Blue Magic lip synching “Sideshow” on Soul Train back in 1974. Great choreography!
[…] by the team of Vinnie Barrett and Bobby Eli. They were responsible for Blue Magic’s “Sideshow,” the Main Ingredient’s “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely,” and many […]