We Must Believe in Magic (song)

"We Must Believe in Magic" is a song written by Allen Reynolds and Bob McDill[1] and originally released by Crystal Gayle on her fourth studio album We Must Believe in Magic (1977).[2]

"We Must Believe in Magic"
Song by Crystal Gayle
from the album We Must Believe in Magic
Released1977 (1977)
GenreCountry
Songwriter(s)Allen Reynolds, Bob McDill
Audio
"We Must Believe in Magic" on YouTube

In 1978, it was covered by Jack Clement on his album All I Want to Do in Life.[1][3]

In his book on Johnny Cash, who recorded this song on a Jack Clement–produced album in the 1980s, John M. Alexander describes "We Must Believe in Magic" as a "whimsical piece of sound advice to hold on to our ability to always believe in magic and the guiding hand."[1]

The metaphorical ship bound for Alpha Centauri is filled with a crew of "dreamers and poets and clowns." And that's essentially how [Johnny] Cash and [Jack] Clement viewed themselves. They were the dreamers who believed in the music and, ultimately, had the universe at their command. [Allen] Reynolds recalls that the song was about Jack [Clement] and the label they started together, J-M-I Records. When he and McDill first wrote it they called it "The Company Song." And the magic appears to have worked because J-M-I achieved success when they released the first two Don Williams albums.

— John M. Alexander. The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash[1]

Johnny Cash version
"We Must Believe in Magic"
Single by Johnny Cash
from the album The Adventures of Johnny Cash
B-side"I'll Cross over Jordan Someday"
ReleasedJanuary 1983 (1983-01)[4]
GenreCountry
LabelColumbia 38-03524
Songwriter(s)Allen Reynolds, Bob McDill
Producer(s)Jack Clement[5]
Johnny Cash singles chronology
"Fair Weather Friends"
(1982)		 "We Must Believe in Magic"
(1983)		 "I'm Ragged but I'm Right"
(1983)
Audio
"We Must Believe in Magic" on YouTube

Johhny Cash covered the song on his Jack Clement–produced 1982 album The Adventures of Johnny Cash.[2][1]

Released as the last of three singles from it, his version reached number 84 on U.S. Billboard's country chart for the week of February 26, 1983.[6][7][8]

Track listing
7" single (Columbia 38-03524, 1983)[9][5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."We Must Believe in Magic"A. Reynolds, B. McDill2:32
2."I'll Cross over Jordan Someday"P. Chandler2:53

Charts
Chart (1983) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[10] 84

References
  1. Alexander, John M. (2018-04-10). The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash. University of Arkansas Press. p. 159. ISBN 978-1-68226-051-7.
  2. "Cover versions of We Must Believe in Magic by Crystal Gayle". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  3. "Jack Clement – All I Want To Do In Life (1978, Specialty Pressing, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1978. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
  4. "We Must Believe In Magic". Johnny Cash official site. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  5. "JJohnny Cash - We Must Believe In Magic | Releases". Discogs. 1983. Retrieved 2021-10-07. JOHNNY CASH WE MUST BELIEVE IN MAGIC -A. Reynolds - B. McDill- Taken From The Columbia Lp: "THE ADVENTURES OF JOHNNY CASH" FC 38094 Produced by Jack Clement // JOHNNY CASH I'LL CROSS OVER JORDAN ONE DAY -P. Chandler- Taken From The Columbia Lp: "THE ADVENTURES OF JOHNNY CASH" FC 38094 Produced by Jack Clement
  6. Banister, C. Eric (2014-08-01). Johnny Cash FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Man in Black. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 287. ISBN 978-1-61713-609-2.
  7. "Johnny Cash". Billboard.
  8. "Hot Country Songs Chart (The week of February 26, 1983)". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  9. Smith, John L. (1994). The Johnny Cash Record Catalog. p. 11. ISBN 9780313295065.
  10. "Johnny Cash Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
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