Stevie Nicks sang on this track, and provided inspiration for the lyrics. Walter Egan told Songfacts 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. 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)."
This was used in the 1997 movie Boogie Nights.
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.
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