Sideshow (song)

"Sideshow" is a song recorded by American R&B soul vocal quintet Blue Magic, released in 1974. It was first released on the album Blue Magic and when issued as a single it sold over a million copies, going to #1 R&B and #8 pop in the United States in the summer of 1974. It was covered as a reggae version by Barry Biggs who reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1977. It has also been covered by Ray, Goodman & Brown and Joss Stone.

Song

A visit into an antique museum was the inspiration to write a romance metaphor, which took about four months to finish. Composed by Vinnie Barrett and Bobby Eli (both collaborated on another Philly soul ballad "Love Won't Let Me Wait" by former Delfonics member Major Harris.), when record producer and guitarist Norman Harris heard "Sideshow", he said that should be recorded by Blue Magic. It was released on the album Blue Magic, became one of pop music's most affecting ballads and sold over a million copies, going to number one R&B and number eight pop in the summer of 1974. The song is noted for the introduction, featuring a repeat of the first 10 notes of a slow version of the "Gladiator's March", featuring one of the members from Blue Magic", acting like the Master of Ceremonies" declaring: "Hurry!! Hurry!!! Step right up and See the Sideshow for only 50 Cents".^[1] The follow-up was the similarly themed "Three Ring Circus". Some radio edits fade the song out several seconds earlier before the repeat of the Introduction in the Coda section, which also features a repeat of the chorus, due to the length of the song.

Samples

The intro of Sideshow is sampled by Chris Brown in "Young Love".

Notes

The Chanter Sisters had a minor hit with a different song of the same title, that reached #43 in the UK charts in 1976.

Chart positions

Blue Magic version

• Billboard Soul Singles - #1 (April 1974)^[2]
• Billboard Hot 100 - #8

Barry Biggs version

• UK Singles Chart - #3 (December 1976)

References

External links

• Music Legends Part 3:Blue Magic