The Magic City is a testimony of the evolution in Sun Ras music in the mid-60s. According to many enthusiasts and scholars, this album is among Ras most definitive studio recordings. Although the city mentioned in the albums title was believed to be New York, the place where the LP was taped, in fact it refers to the leaders birthplace, Birmingham, Alabama and to a large metal sign with the words Birmingham, The Magic City erected in front of the railway station in 1926. The Magic City contains just four tracks, but the title-theme lasts nearly half an hour. Then come The Shadow World, and Abstract Eye/Abstract I which are two variants of the same composition. These pieces are essentially ensemble improvisations recorded live, explained Lindsay Planer on AllMusic. Any direction from Sun Ra, indicating the order of soloists for instance, would be given either through his playing or with hand signals. THE COMPLETE LP + 2 BONUS TRACKS - SPECIAL GATEFOLD EDITION - 180-GRAM VIRGIN VINYL - LIMITED EDITION 1. The Magic City 2. The Shadow World 3. Abstract Eye 4. Abstract I 5. Big City Blues 6. Message To Earthman