Magnum - Evolution (Beats Edit) / It's The Music That Makes Us Do It

Year Released:
The original Magnum recordings from the album Fully Loaded released in 1974, with this Beats Edit 7″ reissue appearing decades later in 2017.

Genre:
Funk / Soul / Breakbeat / Disco-Funk / Instrumental Edit

Description

This 7″ pairs two of Magnum’s most sought-after funk burners, presented in stripped-down, DJ-friendly form that highlights what makes the band legendary among rare groove collectors. Magnum — a Los Angeles outfit whose output in the mid-1970s captured a perfect blend of West Coast funk, deep soul, and jazz-inflected musicianship — originally released their material in small quantities, resulting in cult status decades later.

The A-side, “Evolution (Beats Edit)”, is a percussive, rhythm-forward rework of Magnum’s classic track. The edit isolates the drums, bass, and tightly interlocking percussion patterns, creating a heavy, hypnotic break that embodies the essence of mid-70s funk. Sharp hi-hats, warm bass guitar, and congas sit at the forefront, with minimal melodic elements remaining — a deliberate choice to provide DJs with extended break sections ideal for mixing, looping, and sampling. This is the raw skeleton of the original tune: pure drums, pure groove, pure heat.

The B-side, “It’s The Music That Makes Us Do It”, presents the opposite side of Magnum’s identity: sophisticated, melodic, and drenched in soulful vocal charm. Built around lush horn arrangements, warm electric keys, and a classic 70s disco-funk pulse, the track radiates joy and dancefloor spirit. Vocals soar over a rhythm section that remains airtight — the kind of craftsmanship that made Magnum’s original LPs so revered in funk circles.

Together, the two sides capture Magnum’s full range: from stripped-down break science to full-bodied soulful funk.

Drums in the spotlight: dry, punchy, and perfect for DJs who crave unfussy analog breakbeats.

Extended percussion breakdowns: congas and auxiliary percussion create a rolling, almost Afro-funk energy.

Minimal arrangement: intentionally sparse so the rhythm breathes — a gift for samplers and producers.

Studio warmth: the original mid-70s production is preserved, giving the beats gritty, dusty texture.

“It’s The Music That Makes Us Do It”

Rich horn section: brass lines that punch and swell in classic 70s soul fashion.

Gospel-tinged vocals: uplifting, catchy, and full of personality.

Electric keys and guitar: smooth, funky comping in the vein of LA’s classic session scene.

Disco-funk groove: steady, upbeat rhythms perfect for modern soul and break-heavy DJ sets.

Magnum’s music sat at the crossroads of L.A.’s funk, soul, and jazz scenes. While the band never achieved mainstream commercial success, their tight musicianship and high production quality made their records catnip for rare-groove collectors. Original LP pressings of their 1970s material became notoriously expensive and highly sought after in the 1990s and 2000s, particularly among European diggers and U.S. funk aficionados.

Collectors value these releases both as DJ tools and as preservations of funk history that would otherwise be locked away on extremely rare LPs.

Evolution (Beats Edit) / It’s The Music That Makes Us Do It is a stellar presentation of Magnum’s dual identity: raw, percussive breakbeat energy on one side, and lush, soulful, full-band funk on the other. For beatmakers, DJs, and collectors, this 7″ is a bridge between the past and the present — honoring Magnum’s musicianship while offering a reimagined format designed for today’s dancefloors and production landscapes.