Five albums from the early days of Magnum – four studio recordings and the live ‘Marauder’ album.
Covering releases from 1978-1983 plundering their archives with plenty of rarities and B-sides, demos and live tracks.
Magnum originally formed in Birmingham in 1972 around guitarist and songwriter Tony Clarkin and singer Bob Catley. Although a one-off single for CBS in 1975 failed to bring their singular brand of progressive but highly melodic hard rock to the masses, they eventually found a home for their debut – ‘Kingdom Of Madness’ (CD1) - on Jet Records in 1978, joining ELO, and later Ozzy Osbourne. The album had actually been recorded two years earlier, but the band were heavy enough to take advantage of the growth in popularity of hard rock and heavy metal in the late 1970s.
‘Magnum II’ (CD3) followed in 1979, promoted by the singles ‘Changes’ and ‘Foolish Heart’. Produced by Ten Years After’s Leo Lyons, who had previously produced UFO’s first three albums for Chrysalis. Regular touring with the likes of Judas Priest and Blue Öyster Cult built up a loyal following across the UK.
When their second album didn’t quite match the success of their debut, Jet recorded their December 1979 show at London’s legendary Marquee Club for release as a live
album. ‘Marauder’ (CD4) made a suitable stop-gap until Magnum’s third studio record, and is expanded here with a further nine live bonus tracks.
Although recorded in 1980, ‘Chase The Dragon’ (CD5) didn’t get released until 1982. An early career peak, as well as one of the band’s formative masterpieces, the wait was well worth it, as it entered the UK Top 20, peaking at a creditable No. 17.
‘Eleventh Hour’ (CD6), their fourth and final studio album for Jet, was released in 1983. Tellingly it was their first not to feature any singles.
After leaving Jet, Magnum went from strength to strength, releasing their best seller, ‘On A Storyteller’s Night’, in 1985, before signing a major label deal with Polydor Records.
Track Listing:
Kingdom Of Madness (1978)
CD1-1 In The Beginning
CD1-2 Baby Rock Me
CD1-3 Universe
CD1-4 Kingdom Of Madness
CD1-5 All That Is Real
CD1-6 The Bringer
CD1-7 Invasion
CD1-8 Lords Of Chaos
CD1-9 All Come Together
Archive (1974-1976)
CD2-1 Sea Bird (1974 Demo)
CD2-2 Stormbringer (1974 Demo)
CD2-3 Slipping Away (1974 Demo)
CD2-4 Captain America (1974 Demo)
CD2-5 Master Of Disguise (Kingdom Of Madness Session Outtake)
CD2-6 Without Your Love (Kingdom Of Madness Session Outtake)
CD2-7 Find The Time (Kingdom Of Madness Session Outtake)
CD2-8 Everybody Needs (Kingdom Of Madness Session Outtake)
CD2-9 Kingdom Of Madness (Alternative Version)
Magnum II (1979)
CD3-1 Great Adventure
CD3-2 Changes
CD3-3 The Battle
CD3-4 If I Could Live Forever
CD3-5 Reborn
CD3-6 So Cold The Night
CD3-7 Foolish Heart
CD3-8 Stayin' Alive
CD3-9 Firebird
CD3-10 All Of My Life
Bonus Tracks
CD3-11 Lonesome Star
CD3-12 Changes (Remix Version)
CD3-13 Everybody Needs
CD3-14 Changes (Live)
CD3-15 Foolish Heart (Acoustic Version)
Marauder (1980)
CD4-1 If I Could Live Forever
CD4-2 The Battle
CD4-3 Foolish Heart
CD4-4 In The Beginning
CD4-5 Reborn
CD4-6 Changes
CD4-7 So Cold The Night
CD4-8 Lords Of Chaos
Bonus Tracks
CD4-9 All Of My Life (Magnum Live E.P.)
CD4-10 Great Adventure (Magnum Live E.P.)
CD4-11 Invasion (Magnum Live E.P.)
CD4-12 Kingdom Of Madness (Magnum Live E.P.)
CD4-13 Reborn (Invasion Live)
CD4-14 Changes (Invasion Live)
CD4-15 All Of My Life (Invasion Live)
CD4-16 Invasion (Invasion Live)
CD4-17 Kingdom Of Madness (Invasion Live)
Chase The Dragon (1982)