Jeff Bridges – Slow Magic, 1977–1978 Review

Pursuing the creative spirit is easier for those who have jobs in the same field. Jeff Bridges, the veteran performer, has dabbled in music the same way Elvis Presley tested the waters of acting. His infrequent but certainly notable moments in the studio are backed by an on-screen performance in Crazy Heart. Bridges’ Academy Award-winning performance suggested he was a capable country musician. If not for the voice, the look and attitude to the recording process. Slow Magic, 1977-1978, a sweet archival release from the Bridges archives, shines a light on that. Two songs featuring Burgess Meredith of all people, and a few more selections from the late 1970s, offer an interesting, brief look into what Bridges was moved by and musing on. His first release in a decade, and it seems a tad unfortunate to see it is a scraping of old tapes.  

A single cassette tape is the origin of this album. Not all demos and archival tapes are worth releasing. Slow Magic is proof of that. From the vague chatter on opener He’s Here to the apt title of Obnoxious, the work found on this tape is relatively tame roots rock from the time. If it were scrubbed up, then Obnoxious could be a delicate hit. It has the Eric Clapton styling to it, and the spoken-word tone of a Bell Bottom Blues-like experience is buried in there. Even then, Bridges is missing the beauty of wordplay. His roots rock style is too tender and light to support the vomiting and unfocused stagger towards the buffet table expressed in his story. Very basic contrasts of smiling and frowning, the conversational tone, it only works when the magic and beauty of said story is alive. Slow Magic does not capture that. Attitude has the same trouble. Presley references with the blue suede shoes, but Bridges spends more time finding words to rhyme with shoes than he does in forming a story worth following.  

His voice is sweet, though. It has the roots rock fundamentals to it, and that makes all the difference for Slow Magic. Altitude could all too easily be replaced by “attitude” and very little would change. That is the problem for Bridges on this archival release. There is some good to come from this, the core of these songs is honest and could be explored a bit better on a revisit. But archival tapes offer the blunt first try, and these songs could do with a few revisits. Slow Magic has a few moments of brilliance. The title track is a bluesy piece which profiles Bridges as a performer with heart to give, while the Meredith-featuring Here On This Island has a spoken word thrill to it, though the words are the biggest letdown.  

From the catchy tones of Light Blues to the return of Meredith for album closer Kong, Slow Magic is a showcase of how some tapes offer more as a historic object than a contemporary listen. For those who are interested in the creative process Bridges has for his music, they may feel a bit let down. Those wanting a listen to the tone of the times from Bridges and his roots rock style may also be disappointed. It is a losing situation for everyone, though there is a steady trickle of charming moments from Bridges here. This is The One is a heartwarming song which salvages the tape. Jams like Space 2 are worth sticking around for as well. A moment in music history, however small a footnote, is still history. That is what Slow Magic offers, and for those interested in Bridges’ creative process, there is enough of a story here.