Chase the Dragon | ||||
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Studio album by Magnum | ||||
Released | March 1982 | |||
Recorded | Town House Studios London United Kingdom 1980 |
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Length | 1982: 35:19 2005: 78:12 |
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Label | Jet Records | |||
Producer | Jeff Glixman | |||
Magnum chronology | ||||
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Singles from Chase The Dragon | ||||
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Allmusic |
Chase the Dragon is the third studio album by the English rock band Magnum. It was released in 1982 on Jet Records.
Overseen by the Kansas producer Jeff Glixman, Chase the Dragon was the first recorded appearance by the new keyboard player Mark Stanway, although he had made his live debut at Magnum's appearance at the Reading Festival in 1980. The album was recorded over 13 days at Town House Studios in London, and the following year Tony Clarkin flew to Axis Studios in Atlanta to mix it. However, there was a two-year delay before the album's release in 1982.
Many of the tracks have remained in Magnum's live set for many years, including "Soldier of the Line", "The Spirit" and "Sacred Hour".
Chase the Dragon was eventually released in March 1982, two years after the recording sessions, reaching the Top 20 in the UK charts, peaking at #17. "The Lights Burned Out" was released as a single in February 1982, followed by an EP in September 1982 with two new studio songs "Back to Earth" and "Hold Back Your Love" with two live tracks recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1982, whilst supporting Ozzy Osbourne (later released on Invasion Live).
It is also noted as the first Magnum album with Rodney Matthews' artwork.
The 2005 expanded version of the album was reissued on 22 September 2006 in Japan with mini LP/paper sleeve packaging through Arcangelo. The album was also included in a limited edition Japanese box set, consisting of all six of Sanctuary Records expanded and remastered releases with mini LP/paper sleeve packaging. The set included an outer box showing Magnum's Chase the Dragon artwork.
All tracks written by Tony Clarkin.
The cover art was designed by Rodney Matthews.
"My original brief for Magnum's 'Chase the Dragon' album cover was given by Tony Clarkin, founder member of the band, who writes all the music and lyrics. In the first instance the record was to have been called 'The Spirit' and my rough visuals were prepared with that title in mind. The album, which was intended to be a gatefold sleeve, ended up in a standard container because the record company could not justify the extra expense.