Customer Reviews

On a Storyteller's Night

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When the history of British Rock is written, it will be seen as criminal if this album (and indeed "Vigilante" and "Wings of Heaven" that followed it) is excluded from such a list. Magnum have always had the ability to evoke powerful images and emotions through the joint efforts of the band's superb musicianship, Tony Clarkin's exquisite lyrics and Bob Catley's heartfelt singing. He is seen more as a storyteller than a straight vocalist, as his voice perfectly captures the mood and emotion that each song asks of him. Epic songs "How Far Jerusalem?", On A Storyteller's Night" and the excellent "Les Morts Dansant" sit alongside pop-rock number such as "Two Hearts", "Just Like An Arrow" and the under-rated "Steal Your Heart". Coupled with the gorgeous piano-ballad "The Last Dance", this is an album who's delights are savoured time and time again with each new playing. Also, the album cover by Rodney Matthews is superb too.

The single from this album - "Just Like An Arrow" - brought me into Magnum's world. And what a world ! Storytellers is a fantastic album, both the sound and Rodney Matthews' artwork. More complete than perhaps any other that they've recorded though I would rate "Sleepwalking" and "Rock Art" as both at least 4 stars... Bob Catley's voice and Tony Clarkin's words create an incredible imagery in your mind - I challenge anyone to listen to "Les Morts Dansants" and not picture the soldier shot by his comrades - "paper square to his heart pinned tight..." I've been lucky enough to have seen them live at their peak - once at Birmingham Odeon and a couple of times at Birmingham NEC. For a band that was so relatively unsuccessful in sales terms to fill a venue like the NEC was amazing. They're still around, having reformed 3 or so years ago, releasing albums and touring. Go and see them if you get the chance...

As much as I love Magnum's 1983 album The Eleventh Hour, their 1985 follow up On a Storyteller's Night is even better. It is, in fact, their strongest overall album and the one release that best represents what the Magnum sound is all about. That sound, which is typically described as "pomp rock" has elements of Deep Purple and Rainbow to Uriah Heep and Genesis, as well as arena rock bands like Styx, Boston, and REO Speedwagon. Magnum's music is dramatic and bombastic, and highly melodic as well.

On a Storyteller's Night is not only a perfect example of Magnum's sound, it's also an example of what was possible in an era when the lines between rock, metal, and AOR weren't as defined as they are today. The album is heavy to the point of metallic at times, shifting abruptly to melancholy ballads and then to a keyboard-driven arena rock anthem and back again.

I'd recommend this album to just about anyone who enjoys classic rock. Magnum is a tragically overlooked band, and once you hear them, you're hooked. On a Storyteller's Night is a great album to start with, as it really represents what Magnum was all about. There really isn't a weak moment on the entire album, but songs like Les Morts Dansant, All England's Eyes, the title track and especially Just Like an Arrow are among the band's absolute best material.

NOTE: Castle/Sanctuary reissued On a Storyteller's Night in 1999 and gave it a much needed digital remastering as well as adding a 25-minute audio interview with Tony Clarkin and Bob Catley.

With this album I meet the band and I loved it. Immediately I bought the L.P. and the Vigilante too. There was certain magic in the sound of this album, with brilliance and very good sound achieved because all of it was recorded originally in Metal-based tape. The sound in the LP was deep, clear, with good achieved bass and very bright. Real good for its era (even tough I bought the Polygram Mexican Pressing of this album, and Polygram Mexico didn't did good jobs pressing LPs)...

Now, in de CD era, I found this album and, in its first incarnation, lost many of its great sound. But with this remastered edition, it recovered much of what the LP offered at its time: The warmth of the sound, the deep bass, and the clarity... Not all of the LP, but very well achieved in the end. Really, it worths each penny paid for it.

I own all the Magnum records and this is my preferred, followed by the "Kingdom of Madness" album. If you want to know the essence of Magnum at the time, you must hear this album, "Kingdom of Madness" or "Magnum II" albums. The sound of Magnum in the eighties is very different of what is offering nowadays. Magnum is adapting to each era, and never sounds out-of-time. But, in that days, maybe these three albums settled the best of Magnum, although I really like almost all their music.

Este es uno de esos discos que se quedan en tu memoria desde la primera vez que lo escuchas, y para muchos es el mejor álbum de toda la carrera de este grupo (en lo personal su "Wings of Heaven" de 1988 es para mí su punto máximo), y apenas después se encuentra esta maravilla, que para ser honestos, es la obra que me hizo conocerlos y desde entonces uno de mis grupos favoritos de todos los tiempos, con la elegancia de las composiciones del guitarrista Tony Clarkin y la voz única de Bob Catley, se forma la esencia de su sonido, melodía y buenas canciones van llegando desde el inicio de "How Far Jerusalem" y en seguida la joya del disco "Just Like an Arrow", seguida por el tema titulo y al pasar de los temas te encuentras con un conjunto de canciones excelentes en su totalidad, donde también destacan "Two Hearts" y "The Last Dance", para terminar "Magnum" es uno de los mejores grupos británicos de los últimos 30 años y que siempre han impuesto la calidad de su música por encima a las tendencias, y siempre conservando ese toque elegante que les caracteriza. Felicidades a estos genios que cumplen 30 años de estar grabando discos memorables. Gracias Magnum!

I have followed Magnum for 17 years and have bought all their album. I would vote this their second best after Vigilante, that I must say was excellent. They are a band that should have been more popular, due to their lyrics and music, but hey atleast we appreciated them.
I have met Bob and Tony, and you can't have met nicer guys, I am proud to be a fan and will continue to support them.

by far magnums best album,full stop.