Dio - "Magica" cover

Hi! I have wondered for a time about my Magica CD cover. This is the ordinary one with the classic Dio font and a demon:


The CD cover I have, however, shows Ronnie's face behind a guitar machine head and the text font looks like a cheaper alternative to the ordinary one:


I can't find any information about this on the Internet and hope someone here can help me with the mysterious Magica cover!

The original Magica album was released by Spitfire in 2000. The cover you have is a 2005 European version released as part of the "Noble Price" series. A value series. Apparently since Spitfire Records was swallowed up by Eagle Rock in Europe, some items have been licensed out to other companies for reissue. In America it is still being sold through the Spitfire label. Whether or not if it is actually still in print in its original form or the availability is based on stock on hand is unclear. On a side note, there is also a Magica/Killing The Dragon set that was released by Recall Records in the UK.

spectrefate wrote:

The original Magica album was released by Spitfire in 2000. The cover you have is a 2005 European version released as part of the "Noble Price" series. A value series. Apparently since Spitfire Records was swallowed up by Eagle Rock in Europe, some items have been licensed out to other companies for reissue. In America it is still being sold through the Spitfire label. Whether or not if it is actually still in print in its original form or the availability is based on stock on hand is unclear. On a side note, there is also a Magica/Killing The Dragon set that was released by Recall Records in the UK.

Ah, thank you very much for the info! But on another hand, the first three Raven albums in my collection (Rock Until You Drop, Wiped Out, All for One) are from the Spitfire remasters and I bought them from a real seller (not a private one) here in Sweden.

Maybe Eagle Rock is still using the Spitfire name. I'm not sure.

spectrefate wrote:

Maybe Eagle Rock is still using the Spitfire name. I'm not sure.

No. The Raven reissues were released in 2002 before Spitfire changed hands.

Raven, I haven't heard about these guys in years. I liked 'em. Saw them open for Priest on the Turbo tour in 1986 Phoenix Arizona. Great time and cool show.

I have never seen the Magica cover that you posted, funny how the record distributors change stuff around when they shuffle the business end of things.

I've never seen that "alternate" MAGICA cover either. Very strange. I like the original one better.

RAVEN RULES! Great avatar, Pontus!

Fat Freddy wrote:

I've never seen that "alternate" MAGICA cover either. Very strange. I like the original one better.

RAVEN RULES! Great avatar, Pontus!

Yes, me too but I didn't find out that it was the alternative cover until I got it with my mail.

They sure do! Thank you!

"RAVEN'S SPEED KILLS! - HAIL TO THE KINGS OF THRASH!"

spectrefate wrote:

The original Magica album was released by Spitfire in 2000. The cover you have is a 2005 European version released as part of the "Noble Price" series. A value series. Apparently since Spitfire Records was swallowed up by Eagle Rock in Europe, some items have been licensed out to other companies for reissue. In America it is still being sold through the Spitfire label. Whether or not if it is actually still in print in its original form or the availability is based on stock on hand is unclear. On a side note, there is also a Magica/Killing The Dragon set that was released by Recall Records in the UK.

I have that dual cd set of Magica/Killing the Dragon.

The original cover looks better.

Original cover is a real piece of art.

I have a t-shirit of Magica with the two faces are merged:

that's a sweet poster.

I saw Dio on the Magica tour. It was outstanding. I really familiarized myself with that album, knowing that the band was playing the entire album on that tour. I like when bands do that.

It's a dream to see dio live.

I just heard this very well-conceived concept album in its entirety on my drive back this afternoon...It's better than good, but not quite excellent. Still very impressive for basically one man's effort, and it being his first concept album after all these years. The guy still has the creativity of a 25 to 35 yr. old. Which makes ya think that he might actually be in league with the devil. I heard that RJD was in the midst of putting together a Part II and III of the Magica storyline when the Heaven and Hell thing intruded and re-routed his efforts. Any word on all of that?

Marc Mason wrote:

I just heard this very well-conceived concept album in its entirety on my drive back this afternoon...It's better than good, but not quite excellent. Still very impressive for basically one man's effort, and it being his first concept album after all these years. The guy still has the creativity of a 25 to 35 yr. old. Which makes ya think that he might actually be in league with the devil. I heard that RJD was in the midst of putting together a Part II and III of the Magica storyline when the Heaven and Hell thing intruded and re-routed his efforts. Any word on all of that?

He is indeed planning to release sequals (sic).

DallasBlack wrote:

He is indeed planning to release sequals (sic).

...Hopefully he'll get them all done before he kicks the bucket. The guy ain't getting any younger and he still has to get through Heaven & Hell's doubtlessly-long album and tour schedule for this year before he can even start work on the MAGICA follow ups!

RJD has been around a loooong time. The guy has been around for every single shift and trend that Rock music has ever taken...going all the way back to Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. Back when Metal was not yet even a concept, RJD was alive, a musically-inclined beginner, pluckin away at his bass and singin the blues. I just started listening to the debut Rainbow effort , as well as the final Elf outing. I'm wondering if anything earlier than Elf is readily available to the public? There's a career retrospective called Stand Up And Shout, but it only goes back to Elf.