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Hard Rock
Escape
New Release
Bob Catley
Far Away
Reviewed in issue:
115
Release Date:
24 Apr 2026
Reviewed by:
🟣 Simon Smith
For Fans Of
Magnum
Gary Hughes
Ten
Top three tracks
• Scream
• Dreams
• Fear Of The Dark
Fireworks Verdict:
"So, onto the music. The album is good value for money..."
THE REVIEW
Words Of Wisdom!
Bob Catley’s solo career is, in many ways, an unexpected pleasure, in that when Tony Clarkin put Magnum on what would turn out to be a temporary hiatus (given that Catley has by his own admission never written a song in his life), you would probably have got long odds on his embarking on a successful solo career. However, he was very savvy in enlisting the help of Ten vocalist and song-writer Gary Hughes, and this partnership, augmented by the other members of Ten, notably guitarist Vinny Burns, proceeded to produce a catalogue of work which is arguably on a par, or even better, than his work with Magnum.
This particular live album was recorded at the Lokerse Festival in Belgium during 2000, and showcases songs from the first two solo albums – ‘The Tower’ and ‘Legends’. This was originally released on VHS, which shows its age, but this is a first release on vinyl/CD. It features keyboard maestro Paul Hodson of Ten/Hard Rain fame, and also members of a band I confess I have never heard of… Native Cain. One very welcome bonus from the release is the cover artwork by long-time Magnum collaborator Rodney Matthews.
"One very welcome bonus from the release is the cover artwork..."
So, onto the music. The album is good value for money, consisting of fourteen songs, with nine solo tracks and five Magnum songs. The sound quality is excellent, with Catley’s vocals being crystal clear, and the keyboards of Hodson being very much to the fore. My only slight criticism is that the guitar is not particularly prominent in the mix.
Interestingly, my favourites are from the solo work, with ‘Dreams’, ‘Fear Of The Dark’, ‘The Tower’, and my own personal highlight ‘Scream’.
This does reflect a personal gripe that the inclusion of five Magnum songs on a solo work showcase is, in my opinion, a bit too many. I understand that at the event fans want to hear this material, but honestly, much as I love Magnum, do we really need another live version of ‘On A Storyteller’s Night’? The other slight anomaly with the release is the timing, coming twenty-six years after the event… which does seem somewhat strange!
"So, onto the music. The album is good value for money..."
Anyway, I am probably being overly picky here, as this is an excellent live recording of a great singer with some great songs, and one can only hope that with the sad passing of Clarkin, the Hughes/Catley partnership might be revived!
Reviewer:
🟣 Simon Smith
Let Us Know The Score!
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TRACKS WE
LOVE!
• Scream
• Dreams
• Fear Of The Dark
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