Customer Reviews

Chase the Dragon

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Chase the dragon is a great album, and when this CD was rereleased i rushed to the store to get it. Unfortunately, all the extra tracks have been released before and some of the tracks labeled as "live tracks" are not even live! A real Magnum fan already owns all of these tracks. Ok, the CD is remastered, but don't expect to get any tracks not previously released. Back to earth, Hold back your love and Long days black nights are the same studio versions as on the "Vintage Magnum" album and Soldier of the line and Sacred hour are the same live versions as found on the "Invasion - Live" record. Really lousy by the record company to label the tracks as live even on the CD cover when they are studio versions! On to the review: the extra tracks are great, the record is great but if you already own the records mentioned above, don't bother to buy this album unless you really want the remastered versions. If you don't own it and like Magnum, this CD is a must have. Lots of classic tracks!

I just LOVE this CD!!! I wish I had found this band when this album came out in 1982. I think that it probably would have been on my constant playlist since then. I have been a MAJOR fan of this band for about the last 5-6 years. Better late than never! I wish that they had broken through BIG in the US back in the 80's. They really should have. This package with bonus tracks is AMAZING!!! It actually is a single disc with 16 tracks-not 2 discs like the listing says. I absolutely ADORE this set.It is definitely ranked as one of my favorite Magnum cd's, Along with On A Storyteller's Night!(See my review for this album.)Bob Catley's voice is so captivating. I just love his voice, the range of emotion that he can capture is beyond compare. (He can sing anything and make it sound good!!) One inspiring example is the Original version of The Lights Burned Out. This is a more acoustic sounding version that the one that actually ended up on the album. So is Sacred Hour, which is a song about the feeling between the audience and band during the concert performances. Tony Clarkin is a fantastic songwriter. The two of them together make an incredible team. This is the first album of Magnum's to feature AWESOME keyboardist Mark Stanway, who is one of the best hard rock keyboardists ever!!! (The only other ones that come to mind are Don Airey-from Rainbow and currently Deep Purple, And the legendary Jon Lord-Deep Purple and Whitesnake.) I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the Medieval/Renaissance inspired solo in The Spirit. This is one of my all-time favorite Magnum songs, especially because of Mark's solo here. As well as the extended intro to Sacred Hour which really shows Mr. Stanway's amazing talent.(He was 25 or 26 when this album was recorded.) I love that they included Back To Earth and Hold Back Your Love which were originally released as a single. These are all awesome songs!! It is fun to compare the studio and live versions of Sacred Hour, The Spirit, and Soldier Of The Line. (As well as the Acoustic version of Soldier Of The Line which was originally released on the Keeping The Nite Light Burning cd.) I highly recommend this album to all fans of Classic Rock.

Magnum has been one of my favorite rock bands since I discovered them in 1989. This album has long been among my favorites. I love the diversity of sounds that Magnum has, from artsy, epic rock to their more commercial sounding songs. This album is among the best to bring these different sounds and styles together in one cohesive work. It is mainstream enough to sell a few albums, yet it is artsy enough to show their creativity and amazing musicianship. This is the very best of thier early work (pre-"On A Storyteller's Night").

1982's Chase the Dragon was the fourth album from UK pomp rock legends Magnum, and kicked of a streak of near-perfect melodic rock albums from this criminally overlooked band.

Where to start with describing Magnum's sound? If you mix elements of Queen, Journey, Kansas, Uriah Heep, and Genesis, you'll have at least a general idea of what to expect from Magnum. Chase the Dragon is a melodic rock album first and foremost, with plenty of love songs and keyboards to appeal to AOR fans. It's also a fairly rocking album, and one with an epic feel. Even the most straightforward Magnum love song like "We All Play the Game" or "Hold Back Your Love" has a majestic and dramatic quality, thanks in large part to singer Bob Catley's emotional and ethereal voice. Some of Magnum's best known songs are on Chase the Dragon, like the epic "Soldier of the Line", "The Sprit", and "Sacred Hour". These majestic rock songs really represent what Magnum is all about.

It's not quite as essential as the albums that immediately followed it (The Eleventh Hour and On a Storyteller's Night), but Chase the Dragon is still a first class melodic rock album that should appeal to just about any fan of the classic 80's rock sound. Magnum is one of those bands that few people have heard of, but those who have tend to become passionate fans almost immediately after hearing their first Magnum album.

NOTE: Castle/Sanctuary reissued Chase the Dragon in 1999 and gave it a much needed digital remastering.

NOTE 2: Castle/Sanctuary re-reissued Chase the Dragon yet again in 2005. This special edition comes in a slipcase and features a wealth of bonus material (though it's a single disc, not two as the product description states). The bonus material nearly doubles the length of this disc. You get live versions of "Soldier of the Line", "Sacred Hour", and "The Spirit", an acoustic version of "Soldier of the Line" and the original version of "The Lights Burned Out" plus the single "Back to Earth" and the b-sides "Hold Back Your Love" and "Long Days, Black Nights". If you haven't yet picked up a copy of this album, this is by far the best one available.

Este fue el primer trabajo que compré de magnum en vinilo en la decada de los 80 y es para mi, sin duda alguna, el mejor album de esta banda. Luego conocí Kindom of madnes ,magunum II y Morourder, en fin todos los clásicos. Lo recomiendo sin dudar, buenas guitarras, teclados que crean atmosferas muy roqueras y la voz de Bob Catley es alucinante.

I have to agree with the other reviewer here that this is one of those unfounded bands that are excellent. I actually have the original album release of this and loved it. This album was one of those that I had that I've been waiting to come out on CD. Its just taken 21 years for it to get there (figuring that CDs became more mainstream around 1985)

This is definitely a classic to own and enjoy. I know I will!

Magnum put their best effort into this concept album, and it doesn't falter on any of it's tracks. It is strong thoughout.

Magnum has really outdone themselves. Although I do not own this recording, a friend of mine had it about 15 years ago, and I have been looking to purchase it ever since. The album was very moving to me. Very strong!