🌵 Desert Sessions 🌵 2.0: Cheap Used Records – Grover Washington Jr. – Mister Magic

I am working my way through my duplicates that make up the Desert Sessions (if interested here is more background on the Desert Sessions). I have these duplicates because they were cheap (most only a buck) and because I like them (thinking I might flip them given my good taste). But the notion of selling part of my collection, even duplicates was too much. But it all worked out as these duplicates have been a great jump start to a collection in our second home in Phoenix. Browsing through the Desert Sessions’ albums I have not listened to recently, Grover Washington Jr’s. Mister Magic caught my eye.

This is a jazz-funk-soul masterpiece. It was artistically and commercially successful. It topped both the soul and jazz albums charts and peaked at number ten on the pop chart. I love this album: mellow enough to play as background music, deep enough to actively listen to, and funky as hell if you turn up the volume on certain songs (the titular track for instance).

The titular track is jazz funk hall of fame. It is an amazing groove and Grover has a perfect solo over that groove. It gets a little disco at points – but that is ok.

Not sure how much I paid for this LP (a buck or two), but it is in very good condition. If you see a good quality copy for under $10 nab it (make sure it is a Kudu label and not Motown). Beware of hipster establishments that overprice it.