MAGIC

MAGIC
Studio album by B'z
Released	November 18, 2009
Recorded	2009
Genre	Hard rock
Length	45:42
Label	Vermillion Records
Producer	Tak Matsumoto
B'z chronology
ACTION (2007) MAGIC (2009) C'mon (2011)
Singles from MAGIC
Ichibu to Zenbu/DIVE Released: August 5, 2009 MY LONELY TOWN Released: October 14, 2009

MAGIC is the seventeenth studio album by B'z that was released on November 18, 2009. Peaking at #1 and achieving Platinum sales status in just three days, the album was released in both a standard and a limited edition. The limited edition featured a bonus DVD with the documentary Magical Backstage Tour 2009 which followed the band during the recording process for the album, the shooting of the three singles' music videos, and performances of all three from SUMMER SONIC 2009. Intermittent footage and interviews with B'z and supporting band members are also included, as well as clips of performances from the 2009 SHOWCASE tour.

B'z continued their tradition of working with well-known western artists on the album. Support mainstays Shane Gaalaas and Barry Sparks, were also present on the subsequent tour, provided drums and bass respectively on the majority of the tracks. Juan Alderete, who had previously worked with B'z on ACTION, returned with new collaborator Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The pair were included on both title tracks "Ichibu to Zenbu/DIVE" from the double A-side single as well as album song "long time no see".

The double A-side single "Ichibu to Zenbu/DIVE" as well as that of the three-track single "MY LONELY TOWN" were released in promotion of the album. Music videos were shot for all three, with a limited edition of "MY LONELY TOWN" including the music video on a bonus DVD. A 2010 LIVE-GYM tour titled "Ain't No Magic" commenced on January 14th, 2010 at the Aomori Civic Cultural Hall and ran through a March 7th date at Tokyo Dome.

Production and information

Following their year-long tour in support of their twentieth anniversary in 2008, B'z went on break before returning to the studio. After vacationing in Hawaii, the duo reunited and began recording what would eventually become known their seventeenth studio album. A color advertisement was printed to announce the album, which was included in the morning editions of Yomiuri, Asashi, Chunichi, Shizuoka, and Hokkaido newspapers, on September 28, 2009. Aside from announcing the album, information regarding the 2010 tour and the release date of the then-upcoming single, "MY LONELY TOWN", were detailed.

B'z as they appeared on the cover of the December issue of the Japanese Rolling Stone in promotion of MAGIC.

The album was recorded in Hakata, Hawaii, Los Angeles, and Tokyo in order to produce as diverse an album as possible. The DVD included in the limited edition contains the documentary "Magical Backstage Tour 2009" that has a runtime of just over one hour. In addition to shadowing and interviewing the band as they work on each track of the release, the video serves as one of the most candid close-ups on B'z to date. Numerous English exchanges are also caught on camera, as well as interviews with Barry Sparks, Shane Gaalaas, Juan Alderete, and Chad Smith on the nature of working with B'z.

Scenic spread akin to the album cover that was used for various promotional materials.

Several promotional tie-ins were announced for various songs from the album. "Ichibu to Zenbu" was used as the theme to the Japanese drama and Yamashita Tomohisa-starring vehicle, Buzzer Beat. The second A-side from that single, "DIVE", was used as the promotional theme for the new Suzuki Swift. In addition, album track "PRAY" was used as the theme to the Japanese film Tajomaru, starring Oguri Shun. Fellow album tune "long time no see" was featured as the theme to the drama Salaryman Kintaro 2, that began airing in January 2010 on Asahi TV.

On September 30, 2009, B'z appeared on Japanese radio station bayfm in order to celebrate the station's twentieth anniversary. The show was referred to as a "B'z Special" that served as an introspective and a platform for which to preview the new album. Several songs from the album were broadcast for the first time with comments interspersed by the band. On November 2, the show was made available via a portal on the bayfm website, and it was later reported that over 10,000 listeners had heard the recorded broadcast within the first day of it being online.

The album contains a number of hard rock songs, which serves as a slight departure from 2007's ACTION. Despite this, the album contains two power ballads, one of which is the previously-heard "PRAY" along with "TINY DROPS", which was first debuted on the bayfm radio show. The double A-side single of "Ichibu to Zenbu/DIVE" and "MY LONELY TOWN" are also included in the album, and upon their releases, became the band's record 42nd and 43rd consecutive #1 singles.

Track listing

Koshi recording the vocals to "long time no see".

Tak and Koshi moving between locales during the "MY LONELY TOWN" video shoot.

The band during the filming of the "DIVE" video.

Tak playing lead guitar during the recording of "long time no see".

Tak and Koshi with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.

Koshi, Shane, and Barry recording backing chorus vocals to "Freedom Train".

Koshi and Tak working on the melody to the album's title track, "MAGIC".

Tak, Chad, Juan, and Koshi posing for a photo outside the LA studio.

Koshi on-stage during a performance of "BURN -Fumetsu no Face-" from the 2009 showcase.

Tak during the chorus of "VAMPIRE WOMAN" at one of the 2009 showcase shows.

Picture of the crowd present at SUMMER SONIC during "Ichibu to Zenbu".

All music and guitar by Tak Matsumoto. All lyrics and lead vocals by Koshi Inaba.

1. Introduction

   Guitar instrumental. The idea to open the album with an instrumental of this sort was conceived by Koshi once the album had been completed, and was followed up on by Tak. After experimenting with a number of instruments, he eventually settled on the guitar-led introduction present on the final album.

2. DIVE

   Previously the second A-side to the 46th single, "Ichibu to Zenbu/DIVE". The slow-tempo opening of the single version was removed to make it cross over more seamlessly from the introduction track. Drums on this track were performed by Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers with bass provided by Juan Alderete of the Mars Volta.

3. Time Flies

   Like the preceding tracks, the end of "DIVE" is seamlessly integrated into the opening with no silence between.

4. MY LONELY TOWN

   Previously the 47th single prior to being included here.

5. long time no see

   Theme song to Salaryman Kintaro 2. Drums on this track were performed by Chad Smith with bass provided by Juan Alderete.

6. Ichibu to Zenbu — A Part & All, イチブトゼンブ

   Previously the first A-side to the 46th single, "Ichibu to Zenbu/DIVE". Drums on the track were performed by Chad Smith with bass provided by Juan Alderete. A ballad version of the song was included as a second B-side on the subsequent single "MY LONELY TOWN".

7. PRAY

   Used as the theme song to the Oguri Shun-starring period piece, Tajomaru.

8. MAGIC

   Title song and, more importantly, the basis for the album's theme.

9. Mayday!

   Exhibits a Shuffle-infused rhythm.

10. TINY DROPS

    Begins as a traditional piano ballad before introducing more diverse instrumentation. Debuted on the bayfm 20th anniversary radio special.

11. Dare ni mo Ienee — Can't Tell Anyone, だれにも言えねぇ

    Tak is seen on the limited edition DVD performing an acoustic solo to the song.

12. Yume no Naka de Aimashou — Meet You In My Dreams, 夢の中で逢いましょう

    Said by the band to be influenced by music from the Shōwa period. It was the only song from the album not to be performed live.

13. Freedom Train

    First song produced for the album. Barry Sparks and Shane Gaalaas contribute chorus vocals with Koshi on the song.

Magical Backstage Tour 2009

Available only with the special edition, the Magical Backstage Tour 2009 bonus DVD contains over an hour of behind the scenes footage. From interviews with Tak, Koshi and support members as they travel between studios, to showing how the songs are recorded from start to finish, as well as live performances, the DVD serves to provide an in-depth look at the work surrounding the album and its release.

DVD Contents

1. Hakata Recording (January 2009)
2. Hawaii Recording (February 2009)
3. Los Angeles Recording (April 2009)
4. DIVE Music Video Shooting
5. Tokyo Recording (May 2009)
6. Ichibu to Zenbu Music Video Shooting
7. B'z SHOWCASE 2009 -B'z In Your Town-
8. MY LONELY TOWN Music Video Shooting
9. SUMMER SONIC 09 (August 2009)
10. DIVE Tokyo Summer Sonic Live
11. MY LONELY TOWN Tokyo Summer Sonic Live
12. Ichibu to Zenbu Osaka Summer Sonic Live

As is common with the B'z SHOWCASE shows, more obscure songs that aren't normally included in the larger setlists are played live. One of these selected as an inclusion for the DVD segment, "VAMPIRE WOMAN", had not been performed since the 1990~1991 LIVE-GYM prior to this show. Others played in the SHOWCASE and later previewed on the DVD include "BURN -Fumetsu no Face-", "Wonderful Opportunity", and "ZERO".

Charts

Within three days of release, MAGIC had already sold enough copies to reach Platinum status. It ranked as the top-selling album throughout the week of its release on the daily charts, making it the band's 14th consecutive studio album to top the charts.

Album Sales (Oricon Daily Albums Chart)

2009	Day	Position
		With Sales
2009	Wednesday, 11/18	1 (126,398 Copies)
2009	Thursday, 11/19	1 (76,955 Copies)
2009	Friday, 11/20	1 (40,474 Copies)
2009	Saturday, 11/21	1 (25,953 Copies)
2009	Sunday, 11/22	N/A
2009	Monday, 11/23	N/A
2009	Tuesday, 11/24	N/A

Single Sales (Oricon Singles Chart)

Year	Single	Chart
		Oricon Singles Chart
2009	Ichibu to Zenbu/DIVE	1
2009	MY LONELY TOWN	1

Single Sales (Billboard Japan Hot 100)

Year	Single	Chart
		Billboard Japan Hot 100
2009	Ichibu to Zenbu/DIVE	1 (Two Weeks)
2009	MY LONELY TOWN	1

Personnel

B'z

• Tak Matsumoto: Guitar, Music Composition, Arrangement
• Koshi Inaba: Vocals, Lyric Composition, Arrangement, Harmonica (Track 8)

Support Members

• Shane Gaalaas: Drums (Track 3.4.7-13), Chorus
• Chad Smith: Drums (Track 2.5.6)
• Barry Sparks: Bass (Track 3.4.7-13), Chorus
• Juan Alderete: Bass (Track 2.5.6)
• Takanobu Masuda: Organ (Track 2.8.9)
• Akira Onozuka: Piano (Track 10)
• Ichirou Nakaken: Trumpet (Track 9.12.13)
• Osamu Ueshi: Trumpet (Track 9.12.13)
• Fire Watanabe: Sax (Track 9.12.13)
• Azusa Tojo: Trombone (Track 9.12.13)
• Lime Ladies Orchestra: Strings (Track 4.10)
• Kozue Hayashi: Strings (Track 4.10)

Production

• Hideyuki Terachi: Arrangement
• Munetaka Higuchi from LOUDNESS: Special Thanks