This is far from Magnum’s ‘first rodeo’ as far as live albums go (I’m thinking they must already be into double figures and I’m not even going to search that) but the good news is that the band ‘still do write them like they used to’ (there I’ve served up two cliches in the first sentence!) Indeed opening track ‘When We Were Younger’ the set opener from 2007’s ‘Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow’ is a mere sprightly 12 year old and one of a number of songs here from their post 2001 reformation. Not bad in itself is it? A 23 year first stint as a band followed by an 18 year (and counting) second stint.
Indeed the second part of the band’s career (8 of the 15 tracks here) outweighs the first part for the first time on a Magnum live album with almost the entire first half of this wonderful show taken up with numbers from numbers from the band’s latest two albums.
There are four tracks here which come from their latest outing: 2018’s ‘Lost on the Road to Eternity’ – the title track itself, ‘Without Love’, ‘Peaches and Cream’ and ‘Show Me Your Hands’ and three – the title track’; ‘Your Dreams Won’t Die’ and Crazy Old Mothers’ which represent ‘Sacred Blood ‘Divine’ Lies’ from 2016. Those seven cuts are rounded out by a solitary track from 2007’s ‘Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow’ in ‘When We Were Younger’ which opens the set.
All great albums of course but it is a little sad that a whole swathe of fine albums released in the intervening years don’t get a look in. There’s nothing from ‘Into the Valley of the Moonking’ (2009); ‘On the Thirteenth Day’ (2011); ‘Visitation’ (2012) or ‘Escape From the Shadow Garden’ (2014).
The amazing thing about the set of course is that the new material stands up so well against what long time fans might term the’ classics.’ Summarising a 23 year first stint that produced 11 albums was never going to be easy, and like the second half of their career there are only 4 albums that get a look in.
‘How Far Jerusalem’; ‘Les Morts Dansant’ and ‘All England’s Eyes’ first take centre stage to remind the faithful of the legendary 1985 release ‘On a Storyteller’s Night’ (No ‘Just Like a Arrow’ though); ‘Vigilante’ and closer ‘When the World Comes Down’ are drawn from 1986’s ‘Vigilante’ whilst only ‘Don’t Wake the Lion (Too Old to Die Young)’ is taken from their second highest charting album 1988’s ‘Wings of Heaven. The first 11 years and first four albums are represented by a solitary track – ‘The Spirit’ from 1982’s ‘Chase The Dragon’ and strangely the band’s highest charting album of all ‘Goodnight L.A.’ as usual is nowhere to be seen, and there’s not many bands that can do that but those that know their history might know why.
If you’re a fan this is a must, if you’re merely interested then take a gamble on one of England’s finest and most endearing bands and you won’t be disappointed.
