‘Magnet and Steel’ is a hit single written and performed by Walter Egan, released in March 1978. It was the first and biggest hit on Egan's second solo LP, Not Shy. It reached number eight on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number nine in Canada. It spent 22 weeks on the American charts. Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, members of Fleetwood Mac, sang background vocals along with several others; Buckingham was also one of the song's producers, along with Egan and Richard Dashut.
Stevie Nicks sang on this track, and provided inspiration for the lyrics. Walter Egan explained in an interview, the story behind the song: "In 1976 I was living in Pomona, California, and I had a notion to write a song with the 'stroll' beat (made famous by Chuck Willis) and so began the rough outline of what was tentatively called 'Don't Turn Away Now.' Now, this was also at the time of putting together my first album, Fundamental Roll, and my two new friends and producers, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks and I, were starting the recording process.”
Egan continued, “On the night when Stevie did the background vocals for my song 'Tunnel o' Love,' my nascent amorous feelings toward her came into a sharper focus - I was smitten by the kitten, as they say. It was on my drive home at 3 a.m. from Van Nuys to Pomona that I happened to be behind a metal-flake-blue Continental with ground effects and a diamond window in back. I was inspired by the car's license plate: 'Not Shy.' By the time I pulled into my driveway I had formulated the lyrics and come up with the magnet metaphor. From there the song was finished in 15 minutes. It was especially satisfying to have Stevie sing on 'Magnet,' since it was about her (and me)."
"Magnet and Steel" was featured in Boogie Nights (1997), Overnight Delivery (1998), and Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999). It was also heard in the Season 2 episode "Ohio" of the HBO series Divorce (2018) and in the film This is 40. This was Egan's only Top 40 chart entry for his own recordings, though he also wrote Night's first hit, "Hot Summer Nights," which reached #18.
Labels – Columbia (US), Polydor (international)
Songwriter – Walter Egan
Producers – Walter Egan, Lindsey Buckingham, Richard Dashut
SONG LYRICS
(Ooh, ooh, ah)[Verse 1]
Now I told you, so you ought to know (ooh)
It takes some time for a feeling to grow (ooh)
But you're so close now, I can't let you go (ooh)
And I can't let go
[Chorus]
(With you I'm not shy) to show the way I feel
(With you I might try) my secrets to reveal
For you are a magnet and I am steel
[Verse 2]
I can't hope that I'll hold you for long (ooh)
You're a woman who's lost to your song (ooh)
But the love that I feel is so strong (ooh)
And it can't be wrong
[Chorus]
(With you I'm not shy) to show the way I feel
(With you I might try) my secrets to reveal
For you are a magnet and I am steel
(Ooh)
(Ooh)
(Ooh)
[Chorus]
(With you I'm not shy) to show the way I feel
(With you I might try) my secrets to reveal
For you are a magnet and I am steel
[Outro]
For you are a magnet and I am steel
For you are a magnet and I am steel