This is the 71st and last installment of this series, which began in July 2011.
This post is perhaps the most far removed from the others, and from my work in general, because it is about a musician. Yet this is a musician associated with a fantastic-and hilarious-ghost story, and I have dabbled in ghosts myself so perhaps you'll be charitable about the reach.
But more to the point, the song still has a big following yet I have found nothing online about its background.
Mick Smiley was yet another in this series who was not easy to find. But he was well worth it. Many a summer day in 1984, I was eager to get home from camp to listen to the Ghostbusters soundtrack, but only two tracks mattered to me. One was the title track, but since that was on the radio constantly, it came down to "Magic."
A friend of Mick's told me "[Mick] was like the missing link between Alice Cooper and Green Day. What Billy Joe Armstrong does now, Mick was doing back in '79."
At least as of 2010, there was a Myspace page dedicated to finding Mick. Here is what the owner of that page wrote about Mick (it is pasted directly-no editing):
"Currently, all that is known of Mick Smiley is that he is most well known for writing and performing the greatest song of the 1980's, (Magic) which can be purchased on the newly remastered 'Ghostbusters' Soundtrack. Mick Smiley also performed as a musician (bass) with Billy Idol. He also penned Lita Ford's hit, "Kiss me deadly." His whereabouts are currently unknown. If you have any information about Mick Smiley please let us know so we can post it here. In addition, this page makes no representation or claim that we are 'Mick Smiley." This page aims to honor the man, the legend. If anyone has any additional media, please send it here for review, and if it passes certain standards it may get posted here! Help us locate and honor all that is Mick Smiley!"
Fascinatingly, the woman who was in the "Magic" video wrote in there to ask if Mick would post it. Here it is.
And here is the song as used in the movie:
Almost as mysterious as ghosts themselves, Mick nonetheless allowed me to ask him some questions.
What was your background before contributing "Magic" to the Ghostbusters soundtrack?
I was a musician (bass player) in the Mick Smiley Band playing all the LA clubs-Whiskey, Troubadour, Starwood, Madame Wongs, etc.
Did you write the song for the movie?
No, the track was produced by Keith Forsey in the hope of getting me a record deal. I knew Keith and had played bass on his production of Billy Idol's first single "Mony Mony."
How did the song end up on the soundtrack?
It was submitted by Mike Dixon to Ivan Reitman, who liked it and lobbied the producers to include it in the film. I was the only artist [with music in the film] not signed to Arista Records.
Did you tour in the wake of the movie?
No, but I continued to play in and around Los Angeles.
Was "Magic" released as a single?
No.
What was your reaction to that?
I was shocked. A video had been shot (no Arista involvement) and had been submitted to MTV; [they] said they would play it as soon as it was officially released as a single by Arista. Arista declined to release it. I was told that since the album had gone platinum and I was not signed as an artist to Arista that it was not in their financial interest to release it as a single.
What was the video shoot like?
It was great. Shot in Santa Monica by my friend Dominic Sena, it was groundbreaking (glorious black and white) and featured a biracial love affair. Cutting edge at that time and his career took off after that.
Do the video ever air on MTV?
As far as I know, it was never played on MTV.
Did you perform "Magic" on any late-night talk shows?
No.
What was your reaction to another song called "Magic" (by the Cars) becoming a smash hit the same year Ghostbusters came out?
No reaction.
What if anything did the song do for you professionally?
Not much. I did get a Grammy nomination (Album of the Year; Purple Rain won and deserved it, too) but I failed to get a recording contract.
What path did your career take after recording "Magic"?
Another song I wrote, "Kiss Me Deadly," was recorded by Lita Ford and was a big hit (platinum).
What was your opinion of Ghostbusters?
I liked it at the time. I haven't seen it in many years. Does it hold up?
Did you attend the premiere?
No, however I did see a cast and crew prescreening on the lot.
Did you do any press for the movie?
No.
Are you still writing/recording in any capacity?
I am. I will let you know if I am happy with the outcome.
What was your reaction when you heard why I was contacting you?
Not much really. You seem like a very passionate man so I decided to answer some of your questions.
Have you been interviewed about the song before?
No.
How often do "Magic" fans locate you?
They don't.
What is your opinion of the song today?
I like the second half of the song. First half is a bit sappy (although it was heartfelt when I wrote it).
Would you be open to "Magic" being used (officially) in a movie, TV show, and/or commercial today?
Yes.
If you keep up with popular music, who are some contemporary artists you like?
The Killers, Muse, Duffy, Phoenix, White Stripes, Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga...
Anything else about the song you'd like to add?
It worked very well in the pivotal scene when the ghosts escape and invade NYC. You would think it was written for the movie.
Mick Smiley and me
Is Mick Smiley your real name?
[Mick Smiley is not] my given name. "Smiley" is my middle name (a family name) and Mick was my father's name. I liked the sound of it. Very rock 'n' roll, n'est-ce pas?
And so concludes this interview...and this series.
Appropriately enough, it is a Saturday morning.
(July 30, to be precise. Yes, I had to get this in order that far in advance. Thanks for reading!)
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