Vigilante is the sixth studio album

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 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 1986 on Polydor.

Capitalising on the success of On a Storyteller's Night

On A Storyteller's Night

On a Storyteller's Night is the fifth studio album by British melodic rock band Magnum, released in 1985 on FM Records. The album is widely considered as Magnum's breakthrough album. This album features one of the Tony Clarkin's most thoughtful songs, "Les Morts Dansant" — a simple song in that...

, Magnum change to a more commercial direction with their 1986 album Vigilante. Produced by Roger Taylor

Roger Meddows-Taylor

Roger Meddows Taylor , known as Roger Taylor, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the drummer, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of British rock band Queen. As a drummer he is known for his "big" unique sound and is considered one of...

 and David Richards

David Richards (record producer)

David Richards is an English-born Swiss-based record producer, engineer and musician. In the Mountain Studios in Montreux, owned by the rock band Queen, and in Attalens he engineered and co-produced many albums by Queen, David Bowie and other artists. Richards also played keyboards on some records...

, the band's sound stepped towards that of Queen

Queen (band)

Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...

, with keyboards much higher in the mix than guitar. The album was recorded at Queen's famous Mountain Studios

Mountain Studios

Mountain Studios is a recording studio previously located in Montreux, now located in Attalens, Switzerland. It was owned by the rock band Queen from 1979 until 1993...

 in Montreux. Three singles were released to promote the album, "Lonely Night", "Midnight (You Won't Be Sleeping)" and "When the World Comes Down".

Tracks such as "Lonely Night", "Need a Lot of Love", "Midnight (You Won't Be Sleeping)" and "Vigilante" laid the groundwork for the group to reach their commercial and creative peak on their follow-up UK Top 5 album Wings of Heaven

Wings of Heaven

-Singles:Days of No Trust 7" #"Days of No Trust" [Edit] — 3:46#"Maybe Tonight" [B-Side] — 4:39Days of No Trust 12" #"Days of No Trust" [Edit] — 3:46#"Maybe Tonight" [B-Side] — 4:39#"The Spirit" [Live] — 0:00...

.

Vigilante entered the UK National charts at No. 24, and No. 11 in the Heavy Metal charts. The album was well received in Europe, charting at No. 16 in Sweden and No. 59 in Germany, along with a worldwide release in Japan, USA and Canada.

Track listing

Singles

Lonely Night 7" (July 1986)

1. "Lonely Night" [LP Version] — 3:48
2. "Les Mort Dansant" [Live] — 0:00

Lonely Night 12" (July 1986)

1. "Lonely Night" [Extended] — 0:00
2. "Les Mort Dansant" [Live] — 0:00
3. "Hold Back Your Love" [Live] — 0:00

Lonely Night EP (July 1986)

1. "Lonely Night" [LP Version] — 3:48
2. "Les Mort Dansant" [Live] — 0:00
3. "Hold Back Your Love" [Live] — 0:00
4. "Hit And Run" [Live] — 0:00

Midnight (You Won't Be Sleeping) 7" (October 1986)

1. "Midnight (You Won't Be Sleeping)" [LP Version] — 4:01
2. "Back Street Kid" [LP Version] — 5:01

Midnight (You Won't Be Sleeping) 12" (October 1986)

1. "Midnight (You Won't Be Sleeping)" [Remix] — 0:00
2. "Back Street Kid" [LP Version] — 5:01
3. "Midnight (You Won't Be Sleeping)" [LP Version] — 4:01

Midnight (You Won't Be Sleeping) 12" Picture Disc (October 1986)

1. "Midnight (You Won't Be Sleeping)" [LP Version] — 4:01
2. "Back Street Kid" [LP Version] — 5:01
3. "Kingdom of Madness" [Live] — 0:00

When the World Come Down 7" (February 1987)

1. "When the World Comes Down" [LP Version] — 5:20
2. "Vigilante" [LP Version] — 6:40

When the World Come Down 12" (February 1987)

1. "When the World Comes Down" [Extended] — 0:00
2. "Vigilante" [LP Version] — 6:40

When the World Come Down CD (July 1987)

1. "When the World Comes Down" [Extended] — 0:00
2. "Vigilante" [LP Version] — 6:40

Personnel

• Tony Clarkin — Guitar
• Bob Catley — Vocals
• Wally Lowe — Bass
• Mark Stanway — Keyboards
• Mickey Barker — Drums

Additional Musicians

• Roger Taylor — Backing Vocals on "When The World Comes Down" and "Sometime Love"
• Daniel Bourquin — Saxophone on "Midnight (You Won't Be Sleeping)"

External links

• www.magnumonline.co.uk — Official Magnum site