HEART - MAGIC MAN

Released: June 1975

Charts:  US: #9 

"Magic Man" is a song from the debut album “Dreamboat Annie”, written by Ann and Nancy Wilson. It tells the story of a young woman drawn to an older man, the "Magic Man," despite her mother's pleas for her to return home. The album version includes an extended instrumental section featuring a guitar solo and Minimoog synthesizer, while the single version trims this instrumental, reducing the song length from 5:28 to 3:29.

Ann Wilson shared that the song is based on her real-life relationship with Heart's original guitarist, Mike Fisher, who was also her boyfriend at the time. To avoid the Vietnam draft, Fisher relocated to Canada, and Ann followed him there. The song captures the intense, almost irrational passion she felt at the start of their relationship. Fisher later became Heart's manager and sound engineer after Ann's sister, Nancy, joined the band in 1974.

In their autobiography, Ann and Nancy Wilson recount how "Magic Man" gained radio traction through unconventional promotional tactics. According to Nancy, a radio publicist helped the song climb the charts by offering DJs incentives, such as drugs or access to prostitutes, in exchange for airplay. This aggressive promotional approach played a part in building the song’s early popularity.

Ann Wilson reflected on the meaning of "Magic Man” and how it feels to perform it now. She described it as a nostalgic look back on a formative, youthful love, noting that first love's intensity can feel like a "lifestyle." For her, the song embodies a "leaving home" theme, and she approaches it by channeling her 21-year-old self, stepping boldly into the world for the first time.

"Magic Man" was first released in the U.S. in the summer of 1976 after "Crazy on You" had introduced Heart’s music to American audiences. The song became their first top 10 hit in the U.S., reaching No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1976. Internationally, it was also successful, peaking at No. 7 in the Netherlands, No. 10 in Belgium, No. 6 in Australia, and No. 26 in New Zealand.