Before Birmingham’s Magnum became AOR chart crashers in the mid-’80s, they had already been around for over a decade, releasing a string of ground-breaking records in a distinctly hard/progressive rock vein. That era finally gets compiled as Great Adventure: The Jet Years (1978-1983), a six-disc set that finds the band’s cup overflowing with all sorts of musical goodness, and shines a light deep into the recesses of the band’s origins.
Disc One: Kingdom Of Madness (1978)
With its swirling keyboards, soaring guitars and Bob Catley’s harmonious vocals, opening track ‘In The Beginning’ bears more than a passing resemblance to early Queen. In fact, Catley’s vocals have a similar range to Mr Mercury, and they add an air of assurance to an already confident band. While many debut albums find a band scratching around for a signature sound, Kingdom Of Madness arrived fully formed, but that should come as no surprise as the band had been in operation since 1972, and many of these tracks had been honed in the live environment. This is a record that veers between hard rockers and prog suites (and sometimes both at the same time, such as on the monstrous title-track), but it works best when it rocks out, and tracks such as ‘Baby Rock Me’ seem to have a premonition of the coming NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) storm, and it is no surprise that Magnum made the jump into the ‘80s so effortlessly. Despite its lukewarm reception and relatively low chart placing (no. 58) time has been very kind to to Kingdom Of Madness, and it is not only a highlight of the Magnum discography, but also of the late ‘70s prog scene which flew defiantly in the face of punk.
Disc Two: Archive (1974-1976)
As a historical document the first four tracks on Archive are priceless, yet as a listening experience, they sound slightly disjointed. It’s the sound of a band searching for direction; there’s the bluesy ‘Stormbringer’, the pop influence of ‘Slipping Away’ that’s similar to Pin Ups David Bowie (which is not necessarily a bad thing) and the hard rocking ‘Captain America’ that comes replete with plenty of cowbell. Originally recorded as a demo in 1974, these four cuts have the feel of a tape that’s been recorded with the intention of showing a record label the band’s various styless. A disjointed listen in might be, but its enjoyable nonetheless.
Fast forward two years and the band found themselves at De Lane Lea Studios, London recording tracks for their debut album. For some reason, none of these cuts made the final album, but you feel that any one of these songs could have slotted onto Kingdom Of Madness quite easily, and in opposition to the opening quartet, have a more cohesive, unified feel. In fact, the ballad ‘Without Your Love’ is so strong that it could have seen some chart action had it been released as a stand alone single. In juxtaposition to the sweeping, grandiose soundscapes found on their debut album, none of the tracks on this second disc break the four minute barrier, and if you feel there’s something missing, then it’s that epic aspect.
Disc Three: Magnum II (1979)
In many ways Magnum’s second album can be viewed as a transitional record. Produced by Leo Lyons (who previously worked on UFO’s first three albums), Magnum II found the band caught between a rock and a hard place (quite literally). It proves to be something of a schizophrenic listen; the AOR streak that would come to prominence in the coming decade is very much in evidence on the radio-friendly ‘Changes’, a track that dazzles with a Journey-esque sheen, yet that earthy, rustic Jethro Tull vibe is also very much in evidence. Of course, there’s no reason why the two couldn’t work in tandem, and the band occasionally find a happy medium, such as on ‘Firebird’, but all too often Magnum II tries to be all things to all people, and therefore inhabits a musical no-man’s-land. Nevertheless, there’s some strong songwriting on here, such as the heart-wrenching ‘All Of My Life’, but overall this album bounces around too wildly. It seems the record buying public were equally confused, and Magnum II failed to chart.
Disc Four: Marauder (1980)
Following the commercial disappointment of Magnum II, Jet Records responded in time-honoured manner and unleashed Marauder in 1980. Often the live environment is a band’s natural habitat, and with all the studio wizardry removed can give a clearer indication of a band’s sound, and that’s exactly what this effort delivers. By the time Marauder was recorded (December 1979) Magnum had been road warriors for seven years, and the chemistry that generated is very much on display here with the neat time changes found on cuts such as ‘The Battle’ handled with great aplomb. The live setting has also added additional punch to these cuts, and the songs from Magnum II (from which the majority of which this set is culled) now sound muscular and direct. Contemporary reviews made much ado about the recording quality and the presence of feedback, yet Marauder perfectly captures that live feel authentically. I do, however, take umbrage with the decision to fade out between songs, which does detract from the live magic.
Marauder was preceded by a four-track EP, Live At The Marquee (recorded on the same date as the live album) and these are added as bonus cuts, along with five tracks captured on a 1982 date supporting Ozzy Osbourne in Tennessee (previously released on the Invasion long player), all of which make this the definitive (and most enjoyable) version of Marauder. The decision to release a live album at this juncture of the band’s career was a wise one, and gave them their highest chart placing thus far.
Disc Five: Chase The Dragon (1982)
Originally recorded in 1980, Magnum’s third studio album didn’t see the light of day until two years later. Was it worth the wait? Hell yeah! Often the NWOBHM doesn’t get due credit for revitalising the metal scene, yet just as it gave a staid Uriah Heep a shot in the arm to release Abominog 1982, similar influences gave Magnum a kick up the backside to unleash their magical masterpiece, Chase The Dragon. Many of the characteristics that appeared on Magnum’s previous albums are in evidence here; huge musical dynamics, a fantastical lyrical bent, and a propensity for the grandiosity of AOR still inform this record, yet everything is far more streamlined, and it was in perfect sync with the times. While much of Magnum II sounds rooted in the ‘70s, the dynamic vibe found on Chase The Dragon could only have come from the ‘80s. ‘Walking The Straight Line’ struts its stuff with unbridled confidence, and you could almost hear their fanbase breathe a collective sigh of relief as the powerful ‘The Teacher’ came blasting out the speakers.
More live cuts from the Invasion LP are added as bonus cuts, alongside some real gems in the shape of the A and B-Sides, and an acoustic version of album opener ‘Soldier Of The Line’, which brings things nicely full-circle.
Disc Six: The Eleventh Hour (1983)
Maybe they we’re tapping into an element of Cold War paranoia, but there’s a distinctly dystopian feel to Magnum’s fourth studio album, The Eleventh Hour. Continuing the good work of its predecessor, this album took its cues from the more melodic end of metal and is bursting at the seems with career-defining riffs (such as the staccato one found on ‘The Great Disaster’). Produced by guitarist Tony Clarkin, this record benefits from a huge, cavernous sound and Kex Gorin’s drums are absolutely massive and provides a solid foundation from which all sorts of magic erupts. Of course, this being Magnum they can’t help but throw in the odd schmaltzy ballad (‘The Word’), yet while their early albums sounded a tad timid, The Eleventh Hour is bold as brass and brimming with the kind of confidence that only comes from a band who know they’re on a winning streak. Of the four bonus tracks, it’s the studio outtake ‘True Fine Love’ that is most illuminating, and evidences what a rich seam they were mining insofar that a song of such calibre was left off the final record.
An intriguing insight into one of Britain’s most enduring (and hard working) hard rock bands, this box set charts Magnum’s early career in minutiae. Over the course of six discs, the band evolve from prog rock underlings to radio-friendly AOR stars but rest assured, the Great Adventure is one journey you won’t want to end.
- Great Adventure: The Jet Years (1976-1983) is released via Cherry Red Records/HNE Recordings on 24th August 2023.
Track List:
Disc One: Kingdom Of Madness (1978)
- In The Beginning
- Baby Rock Me
- Universe
- Kingdom Of Madness
- All That Is Real
- The Bringer
- Invasion
- Lords Of Chaos
- All Come Together
Disc Two: Archive (1974-1976)
- Sea Bird *
- Stormbringer *
- Slipping Away *
- Captain America *
- Master Of Disguise **
- Without Your Love **
- Find The Time **
- Everybody Needs **
- Kingdom Of Madness ***
* 1974 Demo
** Kingdom Of Madness Session Outtake
*** Alternative Version
Disc Three: Magnum II (1979)
- Great Adventure
- Changes
- The Battle
- If I Could Live Forever
- Reborn
- So Cold The Night
- Foolish Heart
- Stayin’ Alive
- Firebird
- All Of My Life
Bonus Tracks:
- Lonesome Star (7” B-Side)
- Changes (Remix, 7” A-Side)
- Everybody Needs (7” B-Side)
- Changes (Live, 7” B-Side)
- Foolish Heart (Acoustic Version)
Disc Four: Marauder (1980)
- If I Could Live Forever
- The Battle
- Foolish Heart
- In The Beginning
- Reborn
- Changes
- So Cold The Night
- Lords Of Chaos
Bonus Tracks:
- All Of My Life *
- Great Adventure *
- Invasion *
- Kingdom Of Madness *
- Reborn **
- Changes **
- All Of My Life **
- Invasion **
- Kingdom Of Madness **
* From Magnum Live EP
** From Invasion LP
Disc Five: Chase The Dragon (1982)
- Soldier Of The Line
- On The Edge Of The World
- The Spirit
- Sacred Hour
- Walking The Straight Line
- We All Play The Game
- The Teacher
- The Lights Burned Out
Bonus Tracks:
- Back To Earth (7” A-Side)
- Hold Back Your Love (7” B-Side)
- Soldier Of The Line (Live, 7”)
- Sacred Hour (Live, 7”)
- Ling Days, Black Nights (7” B-Side)
- The Lights Burned Out (Archive Version)
- The Spirit (Invasion Live Version)
- Soldiers Of The Line (Acoustic Version)
Disc Six: The Eleventh Hour (1983)
- The Prize
- Breakdown
- The Great Disaster
- Vicious Companions
- So Far Away
- Hit And Run
- One Night Of Passion
- The Word
- Young And Precious Souls
- Road To Paradise
Bonus Tracks:
- The Word (Alternative Orchestral Version)
- True Fine Love (Outtake)
- The Prize (Acoustic Version)
- One Night Of Passion (Acoustic Version)
