Magic Sam moved to Chicago in 1956, where his guitar playing earned him bookings at blues clubs on the West Side. He recorded singles for Cobra Records from 1957 to 1959, including "All Your Love" and "Easy Baby". They did not reach the record charts but had a profound influence, far beyond Chicago's guitarists and singers. Together with recordings by Otis Rush and Buddy Guy (also Cobra artists), they were a manifesto for a new kind of blues. Around this time Magic Sam worked briefly with Homesick James Williamson.
Magic Sam gained a following before being drafted into the U.S. Army. He served six months in prison for desertion and received a dishonorable discharge.
In 1963, he gained national attention for his single "Feelin' Good (We're Gonna Boogie)". He successfully toured the U.S., Britain and Germany. He was signed to Delmark Records in 1967, for which he recorded West Side Soul and Black Magic. He continued performing live and toured with blues harp player Charlie Musselwhite and Sam Lay.
Magic Sam's breakthrough performance was at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1969, which won him many bookings in the U.S. and Europe.
His career was cut short when he suddenly died of a heart attack in December 1969. He was 32 years old. He is buried in the Restvale Cemetery, in Alsip, Illinois. In February 1970, the Butterfield Blues Band played at a benefit concert for Magic Sam, at Fillmore West in San Francisco. Also on the bill were Mike Bloomfield, Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite and Nick Gravenites.
His guitar style, vocals, and songwriting have inspired and influenced many blues musicians. In the film The Blues Brothers, Jake Blues dedicates the band's performance of "Sweet Home Chicago" to the "late, great Magic Sam".
The stage name Magic Sam was devised by Sam's bass player and childhood friend Mack Thompson at Sam's first recording session for Cobra as an approximation of "Maghett Sam". The name Sam was using at the time, Good Rocking Sam, was already being used by another artist.
"Magic Sam had a different guitar sound," said his record producer, Willie Dixon. "Most of the guys were playing the straight 12-bar blues thing, but the harmonies that he carried with the chords was a different thing altogether. This tune "All Your Love", he expressed with such an inspirational feeling with his high voice. You could always tell him, even from his introduction to the music."
Awards and recognition
1982, Blues Foundation Blues Music Award for Magic Sam Live in the category Vintage or Reissue Album of the Year (US)
1982, Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, induction as Performer
1984, Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, West Side Soul selected in the category Classics of Blues Recordings – Albums
1990, Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, Black Magic selected in the category Classics of Blues Recordings –
Partial album discography
1967 West Side Soul Delmark Recorded Chicago, 1967
1968 Black Magic Delmark Recorded Chicago, 1968
1969 Raw Blues Live 1969 Rock Beat Records Recorded in Berkeley, Calif., 1969
1980 The Late Great Magic Sam L+R Recorded 1963–64, 1969
1981 Magic Sam Live Delmark Recorded live in Chicago, 1963–64, and Ann Arbor, 1969
1981 Magic Touch Black Magic Recorded live in Chicago, 1966
1989 The Magic Sam Legacy Delmark Outtakes and alternate takes recorded in Chicago, 1966–68
1991 Give Me Time Delmark Solo demo and rehearsal home recordings, 1968
2001 With a Feeling – The Complete Cobra, Chief & Crash Recordings 1957–1966 Westside Most pre-Delmark recordings; also available as Out of Luck, P-Vine, 2003
2002 Rockin' Wild in Chicago Delmark Recorded live in Chicago, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968
2008 Genius: The Final Sessions Intermedia Previously unreleased
2013 Live at the Avant Garde June 22, 1968 Delmark Recorded live at the Avant Garde coffeehouse, Milwaukee, June 22, 1968
Out of Bad Luck
Magic Sam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm own my way up again (twice)
When I reach the top this time, baby
You won′t be my friend
I gave you allmy money
A Cadillac and everything (twice)
But you've gone and left me
For some another man
I didn't have no food to eat
I was wearing those lousy clothes
Had no shoes on my feet
I′ve been down so long
But I′m own my way up again
When I reach the top this time,
Baby you won't be my friend
The lyrics to Magic Sam's song "Out of Bad Luck" speak to the cyclical nature of hard times and the determination to persevere through adversity. The opening lines establish that the singer has been in a prolonged state of difficulty ("I've been down so long"), but remains optimistic about their prospects ("I'm on my way up again"). They express a sense of agency and determination to overcome their struggles, suggesting that they are not resigned to their misfortune.
The refrain, "When I reach the top this time, baby, you won't be my friend," suggests that the singer has experienced betrayal from someone they were close to in the past. Despite having given this person material possessions such as money and a Cadillac, they have been abandoned for another man. However, this does not deter the singer from their pursuit of success and fulfillment.
The final verse underscores the depth of the singer's hardship, as they describe a period of homelessness and lack of basic necessities such as food and shoes. However, the song ultimately remains focused on the singer's perseverance and their belief that they will emerge from their trials stronger and more successful than before.
Line by Line Meaning
I’ve been down so long
I have been in a low point in my life for a long time
But I'm own my way up again (twice)
But now I am on my way to get out of this situation
When I reach the top this time, baby
When I finally overcome my struggles and achieve success
You won’t be my friend
You, who left me when I was at my lowest, won't be there for me when I am successful
I gave you all my money
I gave you everything I had, financially
A Cadillac and everything (twice)
I even gave you my car, and other possessions, twice
But you’ve gone and left me
But you still left me despite everything I did for you
For some another man
To be with another man who was probably better off financially
I been walking from town to town
I had no choice but to walk around different towns
I didn't have no food to eat
I had no means of getting food
I was wearing those lousy clothes, Had no shoes on my feet
I was wearing shabby clothes and I didn't have shoes to wear
I’ve been down so long
My struggles have been ongoing for a considerable time
But I’m own my way up again
But I am now working and striving to overcome those struggles
When I reach the top this time,
When I finally achieve success
Baby you won't be my friend
You will not have a place in my life as a friend when I am successful
Writer(s): Sam Maghett, Al Benson
Contributed by Dominic C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Τόλης Μπύρος
I've been down so long, but I'm on my way up again
I've been down so long, but I'm on my way up again
When I reach the top this time baby
Whoa you won't be my friend
I give you all my money
a cadillac and everything
I give you all of my money
a cadillac and everything
But you've gone and left me
Whoa for another man
Now I'm walkin' from town to town
I don't have no food to eat
I've been workin' on the road
with no shoes on my feet
I've been down so long
But I'm on my way up again
When I reach the top this time baby
you gonna wanna be my friend
You know I've been walkin' from town to town
Don't have no food to eat
I've been workin' on the road
with no shoes on my feet
I've been down so long
but I'm on my way up again
When I reach the top this time baby
You gonna wanna be my friend
Whoa Baby
Whoa oh
Oh oh
You gonna wanna be my friend
You gonna wanna be my friend
You gonna wanna be my friend
You gonna wanna be my friend
You gonna wanna be my friend
Robert Barrett
Magic Sam doesn't get the credit he derserves. One of THE BEST BLUES GUYS!!!!
Robert Barrett
I LUV THIS GUY AND HIS STYLE!!!! Wish these kind of blues would come back.
Anthony G
Check out Charley Crockett
Thomas L
They would if anybody freakin' got it. Join the crusade!
Luis Eduardo Alcántara
Perfección en guitarra, voz e interpretación. Gran intensidad.
Ariellyn
Magic Sam: Yes, definitely. He was ahead of the game. I love so much of his music.
Jeff Ford
Sounds like we are from another time when we hear this song. 😎💪🤓🎸🎶
Serge Andrei
SENSACIONAL!!!
Τόλης Μπύρος
I've been down so long, but I'm on my way up again
I've been down so long, but I'm on my way up again
When I reach the top this time baby
Whoa you won't be my friend
I give you all my money
a cadillac and everything
I give you all of my money
a cadillac and everything
But you've gone and left me
Whoa for another man
Now I'm walkin' from town to town
I don't have no food to eat
I've been workin' on the road
with no shoes on my feet
I've been down so long
But I'm on my way up again
When I reach the top this time baby
you gonna wanna be my friend
You know I've been walkin' from town to town
Don't have no food to eat
I've been workin' on the road
with no shoes on my feet
I've been down so long
but I'm on my way up again
When I reach the top this time baby
You gonna wanna be my friend
Whoa Baby
Whoa oh
Oh oh
You gonna wanna be my friend
You gonna wanna be my friend
You gonna wanna be my friend
You gonna wanna be my friend
You gonna wanna be my friend
ghoulcaster
Corrections:
"When I reach the top this time baby ,
Oh you'll want to be my friend"
and
"Now I've been walking from town to town,
I didn't have no food to eat,
I've been wearing borrowed clothes,
and no shoes on my feet"