Artist: BOB CATLEY
Album: SPIRIT OF A MAN (CD)

Release date: 2006
Media type: CD

Solo outing by the esteemed MAGNUM frontman. Following two albums with fellow erstwhile MAGNUM band mate guitarist Tony Clarkin fronting HARD RAIN and more than two decades vocalising for pedigree Birmingham's Pomp Rockers MAGNUM Catley launched a solo career. The singer's first effort, 'The Tower', was produced by TEN's vocalist GARY HUGHES who also performed all instrumentation excepting guitar from TEN's guitarist VINNY BURNS and drums from Greg Morgan. Hughes role in the album extended even further, the TEN man writing the entire song list. An 'Official Bootleg' live outing was culled from Catley's performance at the 'Gods '98' festival in Wigan. Catley's live band included Burns and members of Canadian act EMERALD RAIN.

The 'Legends' album was produced by Hughes again but the end result was widely acknowledged to have suffered from a horrendous mix. The TEN connection continued with TEN's guitarist VINNY BURNS contributing to the album. Bass was handled by Steve McKenna and drums by Jon Cooksey.

Catley put in an extensive British tour during mid 2000 supported by NATIVE CAINE. Winter shows saw KIP WINGER. Joining the singer for these dates were erstwhile KOOGA guitarist Vince O'Regan, HARD RAIN members bassist Al Barrow, keyboard player Paul Hodson and drummer Colin Alltree.

The 2001 ‘Middle Earth’ album was a conceptual affair based upon the mythical Tolkein tales. Once again produced by Hughes and with his TEN band mates Burns, McKenna and Cooksey all evidence the record also benefitted from the backing vocals of TRACY HITCHINGS. Catley then announced he would be part of the long awaited MAGNUM reunion. Later that year Catley would also add his deft touch to the 'Hound Of The Baskervilles' conceptual album assembled by PENDRAGON's Clive Nolan. Hodson would join TEN whilst Barrow and O'Regan founded PULSE.

Catley readied a new studio album 'When Empires Burn' for 2003. Initial limited edition pressings of this outing came complete with two extra tracks 'Heaven Can Wait' and 'When The Earth Lies Still'. The singer would also find time in 2002 to guest on the grandiose GARY HUGHES Arthurian concept album 'Once And Future King'. An extensive UK headline tour throughout May and June saw VAUGHN acting as support.

Catley signed a new solo deal with the Italian Frontiers label in mid 2005, setting to work on an album given a working title of 'Temptation'. His cast for this opus comprised longtime members Vince O'Regan on guitar, Al Barrow on bass and Jamie Little on drums plus newcomer Irvin Parratt on keyboards. The record emerged re-billed as 'Spirit Of Man', with Japanese variants on Avalon Marquee hosting an extra track 'Temptation'.

Catley re-shaped his band unit during January of 2006, introducing alongside stalwarts Vince O'Regan on guitar and Jamie Little on drums the esteemed figure of OLIVER WAKEMAN on keyboards, son of legendary YES maestro RICK WAKEMAN, and bassist Gavin Cooper, a scene veteran of KILLERS, PASSION, BATTLEZONE, LIONSHEART and STATETROOPER repute. This unit undertook UK touring during April.

TRACKLIST:

01. Heart Of Stone
02. Moment Of Truth
03. In The Name Of The Cause
04. Blinded By A Lie
05. Last Snows Of Winter
06. Spirit Of Man
07. The Fire Within Me
08. Judgement Day
09. Lost To The Night
10. Beautiful Mind
11. Walk On Water
12. End Of The Story