Track Listing

1. Great Adventure
2. Changes
3. The Battle
4. If I Could Live Forever
5. Reborn
6. So Cold The Night
7. Foolish Heart
8. Stayin' Alive
9. Firebird
10. All Of My Life
11. Lonesome Star
12. Changes
13. Everbody Needs
14. Changes
15. Foolish Heart

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9726 in Music
• Released on: 2008-02-26
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks
• Dimensions: .26 pounds
• Running time: 57 minutes

Customer Reviews

Great Adventure!!!
After the cult success of their 1978 debut album, 'Kingdom Of Madness', Magnum returned in 1979 with 'Magnum II'.
Jake Commander's production of the debut had been perhaps the weakest element of 'Kingdom...', so better was expected of Ten Years After bassist, Leo Lyons, who had already produced the mighty UFO.
Curiously enough, once again, the production still isn't the best, and although 'Magnum II' has been given a new, shiny remaster, the production is still quite tinny, and lacking any real beef. The live versions of some of the tracks on 1980's 'Marauder', give an indicator as to how they should have sounded.
Having said all that, 'Magnum II' is still a strong set of material, which sounds much more streamlined and modern than the debut.
'Great Adventure' is a great opener, with an atmospheric intro, some great guitarwork from Tony Clarkin, lots of time changes and good lyrics. It's something of a fans favourite from those early years, and it's a shame that the band don't play it live today.
'Changes' shows the band moving into more accessible areas with a three minute poppy rock track. It's a touch too radio friendly to these ears, but is entertaining nontheless.
'The Battle' is a curious number in so far as many fans have argued that it's just a rehash of the title track from 'Kingdom Of Madness'. I can't see the connection myself. My only gripe with it is that's it's simply too short. The band seem to try too hard to cram too much into a short song. Despite all that it's still a good little slice of rock.
'If I Could Live Forever' is one of my favourite tracks from this era of the band. It's a big rock anthem with a big chorus and good rocky middle section. One for the live arena and no mistake. It's the strongest song on the album.
'Reborn' is the band's attempt to try and create an epic track a la 'In The Beginning' from the debut, and although it's musically and technically proficient track, I find it a little tedious.
The same can be said for 'So Cold The Night' as well. Too have two tracks of similar mood back to back is a mistake for me and slows the album down a bit too much.
'Foolish Heart' is another attempt at a radio/chart friendly single, and ends up being the weakest effort on this album. It's just too damn cheery.
'Staying Alive' is the Magnum's first real crack at a ballad and is a cracking track. Musically, it's really understated yet effective. Ironically, it would have made a better single than both 'Changes' and 'Foolish Heart'. Not to be confused with the Bee Gees song of the same name of course.
'Firebird' is another strong song and is a good blend of folk, prog and hard rock. In fact it's arguably the quintessential early Magnum track.
Album closer, 'All Of My Life' is a solid finale with some good individual playing from the band and a bleeding hearted vocal performance from Bob Catley.
Strangely enough, 'Magnum II' didn't chart in 1979, and neither did any of the singles, and this lack of success is something of a mystery, given the respectable response to the debut and the somewhat more commercial feel to this album. However, Magnum would remain highly popular in their native midlands and would maintain their reputation as one of the more superior support bands, as they continued to tour with some high profile acts.
Magnum would eventually break out of this and into the mainstream, but until then, 'Magnum II' is a perfect snapshot of what the band were all about in the late seventies. Solid stuff.

Fantastic Magnum
This is a fantastic album from Magnum,its there second offering and I can say that the songs are all strong,you can tell from this great work the music direction that Magnum will follow with subsequent albums.The remastering on album is superb and you get dynamic sound quality to listen to this great album.Remastered version also comes with bonus tracks which is always welcomed.All in all a very strong early album from this superband,this is definetly one of my favourite Magnum albums.If you like the sound of the band you must get this cd for your collection you wont be dissapointed with your purchase.Hope this review has helped you in some way.

AMAZIN
LIKE ALL THERE ALBUMS
ITS HARD TO CHOOSE OPEN SONG THAT STANDS OUT