Keeping the Nite Light Burning
Encyclopedia
Keeping The Nite Light Burning is the tenth studio album
by British
melodic rock band
Magnum
, released in 1993 by Jet Records
.
Inspired by MTV Unplugged
, Tony Clarkin
liked the idea or rearranging some of their older material, with an acoustic and contemporary style. Tony stripped down arrangements, changed timing and expanded with a Horn section
, and a Cello
to achieve Reggae
, Blues
, Jazz
, A cappella
and Soul
-elements into Magnum's new sound. At the time, Mark Stanway
commented on the freedom the band had to express such radically diverse styles.
However unfortunately Magnum parted company with their manager, Keith Baker and an in-experienced Mark Stanway
took over management duties. Keith saw the band through their most successful era, taking them from house residence at a pub to selling out arena tours across the world. Tony commented: "We are very lucky in the sense that we have our own studio. We don't have a manager telling us what to do so we're totally free to make the music which we think is right without any outside interference."
.
"For the album Keeping The Nite Light Burning the band asked me to design the lettering. The twelve tracks are Magnum Classics played on acoustic instruments." — Rodney Matthews
Additional Musicians
The Red Lemon Horns:
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
melodic rock band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
Magnum
Magnum (band)
Magnum are a British progressive rock band from Birmingham, England. Formed as a four piece by Tony Clarkin , Bob Catley , Kex Gorin and Bob Doyle in order to appear as the resident band at The Rum Runner night club Birmingham...
, released in 1993 by Jet Records
Jet Records
Jet Records was a small British record label set up by Don Arden with artists like Electric Light Orchestra , Roy Wood, Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne, Riot and Magnum. The first release on the "Jet Records" label was "No Honestly", a UK top 10 for its singer and writer Lynsey De Paul in November 1974...
.
Inspired by MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
, Tony Clarkin
Tony Clarkin
Tony Clarkin is a British musician, best known as the guitarist of the rock band Magnum...
liked the idea or rearranging some of their older material, with an acoustic and contemporary style. Tony stripped down arrangements, changed timing and expanded with a Horn section
Horn section
In music, a horn section can refer to several groups of musicians. It can refer to the musicians in a symphony orchestra who play the horn . In a British-style brass band it refers to the tenor horn players. In popular music, it can also refer to a small group of wind instrumentalists who augment a...
, and a Cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
to achieve Reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, Blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, A cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
and Soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
-elements into Magnum's new sound. At the time, Mark Stanway
Mark Stanway
Mark Stanway is a keyboardist. He is famous for his work with British rock band Magnum, and also with Phil Lynott's Grand Slam. He also plays with M3 Classic Whitesnake, featuring ex-Whitesnake members Bernie Marsden, Neil Murray and Mick Moody....
commented on the freedom the band had to express such radically diverse styles.
However unfortunately Magnum parted company with their manager, Keith Baker and an in-experienced Mark Stanway
Mark Stanway
Mark Stanway is a keyboardist. He is famous for his work with British rock band Magnum, and also with Phil Lynott's Grand Slam. He also plays with M3 Classic Whitesnake, featuring ex-Whitesnake members Bernie Marsden, Neil Murray and Mick Moody....
took over management duties. Keith saw the band through their most successful era, taking them from house residence at a pub to selling out arena tours across the world. Tony commented: "We are very lucky in the sense that we have our own studio. We don't have a manager telling us what to do so we're totally free to make the music which we think is right without any outside interference."
Track listing
Sleeve Notes
When the suggestion of an acoustic album was fist made we were attracted to the idea of giving some old favourites "new suits" unrestricted by style and form besides those naturally associated with the word "acoustic," we set to recording. Each song has developed its own unique direction from vocal extravaganza to full line up with horns. We hope you enjoy the re-dressed songs as much as we did recording them. — MagnumCover Sleeve
The cover art was designed by Rodney MatthewsRodney Matthews
Rodney Matthews is a fantasy artist and illustrator.In 1978, he published Yendor: The Journey of a Junior Adventurer, a hard-back picture book featuring his distinctive paintings of "The Wild Country", a fantasy world seen through the eyes of young Yendor, named after his son...
.
"For the album Keeping The Nite Light Burning the band asked me to design the lettering. The twelve tracks are Magnum Classics played on acoustic instruments." — Rodney Matthews
Rodney Matthews
Rodney Matthews is a fantasy artist and illustrator.In 1978, he published Yendor: The Journey of a Junior Adventurer, a hard-back picture book featuring his distinctive paintings of "The Wild Country", a fantasy world seen through the eyes of young Yendor, named after his son...
Personnel
- Tony Clarkin — Guitar
- Bob Catley — Vocals
- Wally Lowe — Bass
- Mark Stanway — Keyboards
- Mickey Barker — Drums
Additional Musicians
The Red Lemon Horns:
- Paul Roberts — Trombone
- Bob Poutney — Trumpet
- Rob Hughes — Saxophone
- Gill Stevenson — Cello
External links
- www.magnumonline.co.uk — Official Magnum site
- Record Covers — at rodneymatthews.com