In 1978, Walter Egan scored the biggest hit of his career with a song that came together almost as quickly as listeners fell in love with it.
“Magnet and Steel” was reportedly written in just 15 minutes, becoming a Top 10 hit and the defining song of Egan’s career. Nearly two decades later, the soft rock favorite found an entirely new audience after being featured in the 1997 comedy Boogie Nights, giving the classic single a well-deserved second life.
The song’s inspiration was deeply personal.
Egan wrote “Magnet and Steel” about his feelings toward singer Stevie Nicks, whom he had known since the early 1970s.
“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,” Egan told Classic Song of the Day. “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.”
While the lyrics use the metaphor of opposite forces attracting each other, the song reflects the emotional push and pull of a complicated romance. Fittingly, Nicks herself appears on the recording, contributing distinctive background vocals that helped shape its signature sound.
The recording also featured several future rock legends.
Produced by Lindsey Buckingham, “Magnet and Steel” included Buckingham on guitar and vocals, while Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood also played on the track. Their contributions gave the song a polished California rock sound that fit perfectly alongside many of the era’s biggest soft rock hits.
Listeners embraced it immediately.
Released as the lead single from Egan’s album Not Shy, “Magnet and Steel” climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a staple of FM radio. Although Egan never matched its commercial success, the song remained a favorite on classic rock and adult contemporary playlists throughout the following decades.
“Magnet and Steel” was on my second LP and its run in 1978 was the culmination of 14 years of songwriting and eight years of trying to make it in the music business,” Egan later told Rock Cellar Magazine. “I recognized that it was accomplishing things that none of my previous releases had done and it was a heady feeling, like suddenly being admitted to a club that you had previously been denied. I was enjoying the moment way too much to even consider its long term destiny. It was cool enough to just be able to turn on the radio and hear it at that time.”
Then came its unexpected revival.
In 1997, “Magnet and Steel” appeared on the soundtrack to Paul Thomas Anderson’s acclaimed film Boogie Nights. The movie introduced the song to a younger generation of listeners, sparking renewed interest in Egan’s catalog and helping the track enjoy another wave of radio airplay and soundtrack popularity.
The renewed exposure demonstrated the song’s lasting appeal. Its shimmering guitars, memorable chorus and Fleetwood Mac connections continued to resonate with audiences long after its original chart run had ended.
More than 45 years after its release, “Magnet and Steel” remains Walter Egan’s signature recording. What began as a song written in just 15 minutes ultimately became a timeless soft rock classic, one that proved great songs can find new fans decades after they first hit the airwaves.
Related: 1970 Classic Ballad, Written by a 12-Year-Old, Became a Soft Rock Anthem