Last Dance (1992)

The Last Dance is a live album by the English rock band Magnum, released in 1996 by SPV. This is the European release; the UK release was called Stronghold. Hard rockers Magnum got their start in Birmingham, England, in the mid-'70s. The band's first album, Kingdom of Madness, came out in 1978, right in the midst of the punk rock musical revolution. That timing may be one factor contributing to the band's unknown status. Magnum II was released in 1979. After extensive gigging, the group released the live album Marauder in 1980, and Chase the Dragon came two years later. Going back to their "album a year" pace, The Eleventh Hour was released in 1983. The band went two years between discs again, with On a Storyteller's Night not being released until 1985, but the time seemed to have done some good for them. The album was well received and their fame was growing in Europe.

Alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett hasn't been as heavily publicized as his fellow young lions, but he can play with as much authority, conviction, and sheer energy as anyone. Only some uneven material keeps his '92 album from being exceptional, and even on the weak songs, Garrett's playing forces you to pay attention.

Razormaid Records was formed in the mid-80s by Joseph Watt and Art Maharg in San Francisco, California as a music service for club DJs. Their goal was to offer something other than just the regular versions of the pieces of music that everyone had. They created their own special versions of songs, editing and occasionally remixing the hottest club tunes being played (or about to be played) around the world.

Edelweiss were an Austrian electronic dance music group consisting of remixers Martin Gletschermayer, Matthias Schweger and Walter Werzowa. The group is best known for their 1988 worldwide hit "Bring Me Edelweiss", and their European hit "Starship Edelweiss". Edelweiss reached the number one position with their hit "Bring Me Edelweiss," featuring Austrian folk singer Maria Mathis, who also did the live performances (and later recorded an updated version in 1999). The single was a hit in many European countries, supposedly by following the instructions given in The KLF's book The Manual. Borrowing large parts of its melody from ABBA's "SOS" and Indeep's "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life", the song humorously targeted Austrian ski resorts and yodeling and sold five million copies worldwide.

Their most popular release, with the radio hits, "Daybreak", and "Your Love Has Lifted Me". Setting the pace for what was to become a revolution in contemporary jazz radio, this landmark release continues to explore the cutting edge of instrumental pop!