"We Must Believe in Magic" is a song written by Allen Reynolds and Bob McDill[1] and originally released by Crystal Gayle on her fourth studio album We Must Believe in Magic (1977).[2]

In 1978, it was covered by Jack Clement on his album All I Want to Do in Life.[1][3]

In his book on Johnny Cash, who recorded this song on a Jack Clement–produced album in the 1980s, John M. Alexander describes "We Must Believe in Magic" as a "whimsical piece of sound advice to hold on to our ability to always believe in magic and the guiding hand."[1]

The metaphorical ship bound for Alpha Centauri is filled with a crew of "dreamers and poets and clowns." And that's essentially how [Johnny] Cash and [Jack] Clement viewed themselves. They were the dreamers who believed in the music and, ultimately, had the universe at their command. [Allen] Reynolds recalls that the song was about Jack [Clement] and the label they started together, J-M-I Records. When he and McDill first wrote it they called it "The Company Song." And the magic appears to have worked because J-M-I achieved success when they released the first two Don Williams albums.

— John M. Alexander. The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash[1]

Johnny Cash version

Johhny Cash covered the song on his Jack Clement–produced 1982 album The Adventures of Johnny Cash.[2][1]

Released as the last of three singles from it, his version reached number 84 on U.S. Billboard's country chart for the week of February 26, 1983.[6][7][8]

Track listing

7" single (Columbia 38-03524, 1983)[9][5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."We Must Believe in Magic"A. Reynolds, B. McDill2:32
2."I'll Cross over Jordan Someday"P. Chandler2:53

Charts

Chart (1983) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[10] 84

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Alexander, John M. (2018-04-10). The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash. University of Arkansas Press. p. 159. ISBN 978-1-68226-051-7.
  2. ^ a b "Cover versions of We Must Believe in Magic by Crystal Gayle". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  3. ^ "Jack Clement – All I Want To Do In Life (1978, Specialty Pressing, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1978. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
  4. ^ "We Must Believe In Magic". Johnny Cash official site. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  5. ^ a b "JJohnny Cash - We Must Believe In Magic | Releases". Discogs. 1983. Retrieved 2021-10-07. JOHNNY CASH WE MUST BELIEVE IN MAGIC -A. Reynolds - B. McDill- Taken From The Columbia Lp: "THE ADVENTURES OF JOHNNY CASH" FC 38094 Produced by Jack Clement // JOHNNY CASH I'LL CROSS OVER JORDAN ONE DAY -P. Chandler- Taken From The Columbia Lp: "THE ADVENTURES OF JOHNNY CASH" FC 38094 Produced by Jack Clement
  6. ^ Banister, C. Eric (2014-08-01). Johnny Cash FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Man in Black. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 287. ISBN 978-1-61713-609-2.
  7. ^ "Johnny Cash". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Hot Country Songs Chart (The week of February 26, 1983)". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  9. ^ Smith, John L. (1994). The Johnny Cash Record Catalog. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 11. ISBN 9780313295065.
  10. ^ "Johnny Cash Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Must_Believe_in_Magic_(song)
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