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BOB CATLEY- When Empires Burn

Release date: 19th September 2025
CD Catalogue No: ESM402
CD Barcode: 5 031281 004024
Vinyl Catalogue No: ESMV1030
Vinyl Barcode: 5 031281 010308

  Track Listing:
 1 The Torment (intro) 1:53
 2 Children of the circle 5:40
 3 Gonna Live forever 3:40
 4 The prophecy 6:36
 5 I’ll be your fool 4:34
 6 Every beat of my heart 5:36
 7 When empires burn 5:33
 8 Meaning of love 4:50
 9 This is the day 6:21
 10 Someday Utopia 5:42
 11 My America 7:09
 12 Heaven can wait Bonus track
 13 When the earth lies still (demo track)

The band is:
Bob Catley – Vocals
Paul Hodson – Keyboards / Vocals
Al Barrow – Bass / Vocals
Vince O’Regan – Guitars
Jamie Little – Drums

Produced and mixed by Paul Hodson
Assisted mix by Bob Catley
Mastered by Graham Woodcock

The Bob Catley story is indeed one of legends. Born in Aldershot in 1947, he moved at an early age to Birmingham where he pursued a musical career. During college he joined several bands, including Paradox, where he was noticed by Status Quo members Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt.

When Paradox disbanded in 1970, Bob teamed up with Tony Clarkin and formed Magnum, a name that needs no introduction in the world of quality British hard rock. The band got their big break when Jeff Glixman produced Chase the Dragon in the early 1980s. By then, Magnum had honed their own classic rock sound, and they later found commercial success with Just Like an Arrow in 1985.

When Tony Clarkin later explored a different style with his band Hard Rain, Bob Catley embarked on a solo career. This led to the release of The Tower, heavily supported by Gary Hughes of Ten. The album was a great success, followed by Legends and Middle Earth.

These three albums have since been reissued by Escape Music on both CD and double vinyl with new artwork by Rodney Matthews and bonus tracks:
The Tower – ESM390 / ESMV1021
Legends – ESM396 / ESMV1025
Middle Earth – ESM399 / ESMV1028

It seems only fitting that the journey continues with When Empires Burn — now receiving the same deluxe treatment. A timeless addition to the Bob Catley collection