Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Magnum
Label: Sanctuary Records
Release: 2010
Rating: 5/5
»The Gathering« is a five-CD box stuffed with all kinds of musical goodies from the rich vault of British progressive melodic rockers Magnum. The five discs come with a hefty booklet full of info on the evolution of this legendary Birmingham band: its relatively modest beginnings in the mid-seventies, the huge commercial success of the eighties, then the gradual slide down the radio charts and the unexpected split in the nineties, and finally the miraculous rebirth at the start of the new century. For any Magnum die-hard, it’s pure manna from heaven, a collection of long-awaited treats and rarities.
Two central figures run through Magnum’s whole history, and you can’t imagine the band without them: guitarist, main songwriter and lyricist Tony Clarkin and vocal hero Bob Catley. Unlike most similar rock bands, who drew their lyrical inspiration from heartache, social rebellion or unbridled rock’n’roll partying, Magnum under Clarkin’s pen mostly swore by colorful worlds of fantasy epic, the kind established by literary giants of the genre like Tolkien and Morcock. Within that epic ‘storytelling’ about forgotten kingdoms, lords of chaos and never-ending battles between good and evil, there was often a well-thought-out streak of social criticism hiding, typical of Clarkin’s ever-sharp and watchful mind. By combining epic melodies, melodic guitar passages and lush symphonic arrangements, Magnum soon built bridges between progressive rock, hard rock and AOR.
Of course, Magnum haven’t put every last rarity from their history on »The Gathering«, which means they can keep making the faithful drool with future reissues of past albums, always adding something nobody’s heard before. Some rarities had already turned up on reissues of certain studio albums and on the 1993 compilation »Archive«. On the other hand, the box includes most of the singles, B-sides and all, which will make every loyal fan and collector happy, along with a few rare versions of established songs. On the first disc, which covers the period from 1974 to 1982, meaning the time before the debut »Kingdom of Madness« (1978) up to the third album »Chase the Dragon« (1982), you won’t find their first single, the cover of The Searchers’ »Sweet For My Sweet« and its B-side »Movin’ On«. Of the songs written even before »Kingdom of Madness«, »Captain America«, »Sea Bird« and »Slipping Away« are missing, but they did remember to include »Stormbringer«, which still features original bassist Dave Morgan.
That track, which has nothing to do with the far more famous Deep Purple classic of the same name, gives you a vivid taste of Magnum’s ‘primitive’ sonic phase, when Clarkin, Catley and the rest of the gang were still hovering somewhere between prog rock, funk and disco. »Find the Line«, even more disco-leaning and written during the »Kingdom of Madness« sessions, is another transitional track that shows an interesting sonic evolution, with the band still wavering between prog rock, hard rock and whatever was selling at the time. Even in this early, production-wise rather threadbare phase, Catley’s outstanding vocals stood out from the sonic collage, complete with great backing vocal lines, and so did Clarkin’s unique guitar style. The »Kingdom of Madness« standards like »In the Beginning«, »Baby Rock Me«, »Universe« and »Invasion« don’t differ from the album versions apart from the freshened-up sound of the reissue, but the alternate version of the title track really stands out, sounding a lot rawer and less polished this time.
»The Great Adventure« was picked as the first representative of the second album, »Magnum II« (1979). It’s joined by »The Battle«, »All of My Life« and the single version of »Changes«. Their first live album, »Marauder« (1980), is represented by »If I Could Live Forever«, »Foolish Heart« and »Lords of Chaos«. It doesn’t happen often that a band puts anything from the concert stage on a retrospective, so this gesture deserves a big round of applause, since »Marauder« is still one of the most underrated live albums in the history of classic rock. The first disc closes with a bunch of »Chase the Dragon« standards, »Soldier of the Line«, »On the Edge of the World«, »The Spirit«, »The Teacher«, plus an early version of »The Lights Burned Out«. This was an important period for the band: after a longer break than originally planned, they swapped original keyboardist Richard Bailey for Mark Stanway, who is still an indispensable member of the Magnum crew today.
The second disc covers the ‘golden’ period between 1982 and 1990. With »Chase the Dragon« Magnum first made a brief but successful mark in the middle of the still very much alive NWOBHM scene, and then came their first big commercial successes with the masterpieces »On a Storyteller’s Night« (1985) and »Vigilante« (1986). This era was also marked by two label changes and the departure of original drummer Kex Gorin. It’s especially satisfying to hear some of the legendary eighties singles, like the punchy »Back To Earth«, the lovely ballad »Hold Back Your Love« and »Long Days, Black Nights«. The era of the fourth album, »The Eleventh Hour« (1983), also has some very interesting moments besides standards like »The Prize«, »Breakdown« and »Vicious Companions«, led by the orchestral version of the classic »The Word« and an early version of »True Fine Love«. It was a rough time for Magnum: label trouble nearly tore the band apart, but luckily they only lost original drummer Gorin, who was replaced by Jim Simpson and soon after by Mickey Barker.
The period of the big triumph with »On a Storyteller’s Night«, when they ended their deal with Jet Records and signed a new one with FM, has no special surprises apart from the demo version of »All England’s Eyes«, but every major standard is here, led by »How Far Jerusalem?«, »Just Like An Arrow«, the title masterpiece and »Les Morts Dansant«. The »Vigilante« era, by contrast, when they were already basking in the glow of commercial success, had signed with the famous Polydor label and had hired Queen drummer/vocalist Roger Taylor for production, is rounded out with the single versions of »Midnight (You Won’t Be Sleeping)« and »When The World Comes Down«, besides classics like »Lonely Night«, »Need a Lot Of Love« and the title track.
The third disc covers the late eighties and early nineties, and it too packs a nice bunch of classics, singles and rarities. Besides evergreens like »Wild Swan«, »It Must Have Been Love«, »Don’t Wake the Lion (Too Old to Die Young)« and »Start Talking Love«, Magnum fans can enjoy the extended single version of the classic »Days Of No Trust« which rounds off the band’s commercial and probably creative peak, »Wings of Heaven« (1987), the album that cemented their status as one of the hottest rock bands of the time. The memories of the »Goodnight LA« (1990) American adventure are a bit less pleasant for the band members. Magnum went to the US to record this album in order to conquer American radio, but in the end the album never even came out there, which led to a short crisis, the start of their commercial decline and the termination of their Polydor contract. »Rockin’ Chair«, »Heartbroke And Busted« and »What Kind of Love Is This?« weren’t bad songs, but the overdone ‘Americanization’ robbed them of that genuine Magnum atmosphere. »Hanging Tree«, »Cry For You« and »Where Do You Run To«, released as single B-sides, are solid enough to deserve the attention of all long-time fans, even though this was without doubt the least inspired period in the band’s story, when Clarkin worked with outside collaborators on his songwriting for the first and last time, led by Russ Ballard (ex-The Zombies, Argent).
The fourth disc covers the most recent period of the band’s story, from the album »Sleepwalking« (1992), with which they stepped into the nineties with a revamped sound, up to the excellent »Into the Valley of the Moonking« (2009), Magnum’s current studio effort at the time »The Gathering« came out. The »Sleepwalking« standards »Stormy Weather« and »Only in America« are backed up by »Just A Little Bit«, yet another single B-side. The acoustic versions of »Maybe Tonight« and »Without Your Love« come from the acoustic-leaning album »Keeping the Nite Light Burning« (1993). »We All Need to Be Loved« and »The Tall Ships«, originally on »Rock Art (1994), give absolutely no hint that this album would be followed by a temporary Magnum breakup, when Clarkin and Catley spent 1997-1998 in the hard rock band Hard Rain. The period just before the split is captured with an excellent rendition of the epic classic »Sacred Hour«. This extremely demanding song for any singer comes in this version from the farewell live album »The Last Dance« (1996). During the Hard Rain days, the two old hands discovered current bassist Al Barrow, who replaced longtime member Wally Love when he decided to retire, as Magnum reunited for the album »Breathe of Life« (2002), where Mark Stanway also rejoined the trio.
On the next studio effort, »Brand New Morning« (2004), the band was joined by new drummer Harry James (ex-Thunder), and the current lineup was finally set. On the album »Princess Alice And the Broken Arrow« (2007), drummer James unexpectedly left them because of the Thunder reunion. His temporary replacement was Jimmy Copley (ex-Jeff Beck, Paul Rodgers, Ian Gillan), while the album cover was designed, for the first time in ages, by legendary artist Rodney Matthews, who can boast in his career, besides his work for Magnum, covers for bands like Asia, BJH, Eloy and Praying Mantis. With the »Into the Valley of the Moonking« standards »The Moonking« and »A Face in the Crowd«, where the current lineup came back together after James’s return, this wonderful compilation is historically complete.
The biggest treat for all fans and collectors, though, is without doubt the fifth disc with the telling title ‘Live At Hammersmith Odeon’, which captures the band’s 1988 show in the middle of London, at the peak of their popularity. The list of live performances reads like a selection of the best and most beloved songs in their history. Unofficial releases of this recording were already available to the most fervent collectors (»Live: On the Wings of Heaven« VHS), but only this release has the production done the way it should be. On top of that, it also includes »Lonely Night«, »Mindight (You Won’t Be Sleeping)« and »The Spirit«, which you can’t find on the earlier, unofficial releases. The atmosphere in the middle of their home capital was clearly fantastic, the crowd sounds fired up from start to finish, and the band was in equally great form that night, which you can plainly hear in every single performance.
»The Gathering« is a must for every Magnum devotee, because it’s not just a run-of-the-mill retrospective of one of the most exciting art/melodic rock bands of the last three decades. It’s a proper treasure chest, and there’s something unexplored in it for everyone. So it would be a ‘sin’ of colossal proportions if this box didn’t end up in the hands of all the long-time fans, especially anyone who can say they’ve seen Magnum live at least once in their life.
Line-up
Tony Clarkin – guitar
Bob Catley – vocals
Wally Lowe – bass guitar
Richard Bailey – keyboards, flute
Kex Gorin – drums
Mark Stanway – keyboards
Robin George – guitar
Mickey Barker – drums
Jim Simpson – drums
Harry James – drums
Al Barrow – bass guitar
Jimmy Copley – drums
Production
Tony Clarkin
Track list
CD1:
1. Stormbringer
2. Find The Time
3. In The Beginning
4. Baby Rock Me
5. Universe
6. Invasion
7. Kingdom Of Madness
8. Great Adventure
9. Changes
10. The Battle
11. All Of My Life
12. If I Could Live Forever
13. Foolish Heart
14. Lords Of Chaos
15. The Lights Burned Out
16. Soldier Of The Line
17. On The Edge Of The World
18. The Spirit
19. The Teacher
CD2:
1. Back To Earth
2. Hold Back Your Love
3. Long Days, Black Nights
4. True Fine Love
5. The Word
6. The Prize
7. Breakdown
8. Vicious Companions
9. One Night Of Passion
10. Road To Paradise
11. All England’s Eyes
12. How Far Jerusalem
13. Just Like An Arrow
14. On A Storyteller’s Night
15. Les Morts Dansant
16. Lonely Night
17. Need A Lot Of Love
18. Midnight (You Won’t Be Sleeping)
CD3:
1. When The World Comes Down
2. Vigilante
3. Days Of No Trust
4. Wild Swan
5. It Must Have Been Love
6. Don’t Wake The Lion
7. Start Talking Love
8. Crying Time
9. C’est La Vie
10. Maybe Tonight
11. Rockin’ Chair
12. Heartbroke & Busted
13. What A Kind Of Love Is This
14. Hanging Tree
15. Cry For You
CD4:
1. Where Do You Run To
2. Stormy Weather
3. Only In America
4. Just A Little Bit
5. Maybe Tonight
6. Without Your Love
7. We All Need To Be Loved
8. Tall Ships
9. The Last Dance
10. Sacred Hour
11. Breath Of Life
12. Brand New Morning
13. Dragons Are Real
14. Thank You For The Day
15. The Moonking
16. A Face In The Crowd
CD5:
1. Vigilante
2. Wild Swan
3. Start Talking Love
4. On A Storyteller’s Night
5. Need A Lot Of Love
6. How Far Jerusalem
7. Lonely Night
8. Days Of No Trust
9. Don’t Wake The Lion
10. Midnight (You Won’t Be Sleeping)
11. Just Like An Arrow
12. Kingdom Of Madness
13. The Spirit
14. Sacred Hour
