| Saga | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 1978 | |||
| Recorded | 1977–1978 | |||
| Studio | Phase One Studios, Toronto, Canada | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 46:01 | |||
| Label | Polydor | |||
| Producer | Paul A. Gross | |||
| Saga chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
Saga, the first studio album by the Canadian progressive rock band Saga, was originally released 8 April 1978. It is the band's only album to feature original keyboardist Peter Rochon.
True to the album's legendary status among fans, there are few Saga concerts without material from the debut. "Humble Stance" is a fan favourite and a mainstay of the band's setlists. The song features on all the band's official live releases. "How Long", "Tired World (Chapter Six)", "Perfectionist" and "Ice Nice" are also frequently played live.
All the songs from the album except "Climbing the Ladder", which has never been played live to date, are available in official live versions.
"Humble Stance" is one of only a few songs on which Michael Sadler plays bass guitar, while Jim Crichton plays keyboards. As it is a regular part of the live setlist - unlike "It's Time" or "No Stranger", which also feature the same configuration - fans usually know the band is about to play "Humble Stance" as soon as Sadler assumes the bass guitar.
The album cover introduced the trademark alien insect, a figure that plays a prominent role in the "Chapters" storyline. The creature is sometimes called 'Golden Warrior', 'GoldenBoy' or 'Harold, the Locust'. While only the first three albums featured this creature on the cover, it was later revived for Full Circle (1999), an album that also revived the "Chapters" story. At that point the figure assumed the role of Saga's mascot and has since appeared on numerous releases. It can also be seen as a stage backdrop, as seen on the current DVD Spin It Again! Live in Munich (recorded in 2012 and released the following year). The image of the insect has changed over the years; the locust on the cover of the debut is noticeably different than that which appears on Images at Twilight (1979) and Silent Knight (1980). On Full Circle (1999) the locust sheds its old skin and it is this image that features on most following Saga releases.
Two of the songs, "Will It Be You? (Chapter Four)", and "Tired World (Chapter Six)", were part of a series of eight (but later sixteen) songs that Saga included within their first four albums called "The Chapters". The songs told the story of a young Albert Einstein. These songs were later included on The Chapters Live (recorded in 2003 and released in 2005), though to date, there has been no official compilation of the chapters in their studio incarnation.
All credits adapted from the original release. [2]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "How Long" | Michael Sadler | Jim Crichton, Michael Sadler, Peter Rochon | 4:01 |
| 2. | "Humble Stance" | J. Crichton | Ian Crichton, J. Crichton, Peter Rochon, Sadler | 5:50 |
| 3. | "Climbing the Ladder" | M. Sadler | I. Crichton, J. Crichton, Rochon, Sadler | 4:45 |
| 4. | "Will It Be You? (Chapter Four)" | J. Crichton | I. Crichton, J. Crichton, Steve Negus, Rochon, Sadler | 7:13 |
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | "Perfectionist" | J. Crichton | J. Crichton, Sadler | 5:46 |
| 6. | "Give 'Em the Money" | J. Crichton | J. Crichton, Sadler | 4:25 |
| 7. | "Ice Nice" | J. Crichton | J. Crichton | 6:55 |
| 8. | "Tired World (Chapter Six)" | J. Crichton | I. Crichton, J. Crichton, Negus, Rochon, Sadler | 7:06 |
Saga is a Canadian rock band from Oakville, Ontario. Bassist and keyboardist Jim Crichton and Welsh-born vocalist and keyboardist Michael Sadler are the principal songwriters.
Heads or Tales is the fifth studio album by the Canadian progressive rock band Saga, released in 1983. The album was the second of the band's to be produced by Rupert Hine. Although it did not attain the same commercial success and status of the previous collaboration between the band and Hine, Worlds Apart (1981), both "The Flyer" and "Cat Walk" became respectable radio hits for the band with the album eventually securing gold status in Canada (50,000) and Germany (250,000). A third single from the album, "Scratching the Surface", became a live staple and fan favourite in the band's concert line-up during the late-1990s and 2000s as a piano solo played by Jim Gilmour during a break by the other band members. The song reached #45 in the Canadian Singles charts, April 1984.
Behaviour is the sixth studio album by the Canadian progressive rock band Saga, and was originally released in 1985, two years after the moderately successful Heads or Tales. Behaviour was itself successful, and managed to outsell its 1983 predecessor thanks to the strong performance of the single "What Do I Know?" (#57).
Worlds Apart is the fourth studio album by the Canadian neo-prog band Saga and was originally released in 1981. The album was produced by Rupert Hine, and has been released with several different covers. Frontman Michael Sadler stated in the band's video DVD Silhouette (2002) that Hine told him to stop "singing like a choir boy". Sadler's vocal style was noticeably different on Worlds Apart than on the first three Saga albums; he kept that style in successive performances with the band. Hine reportedly had Sadler climb to the roof of the English barn where the band was recording in order to get the proper emotion from Sadler for "On the Loose".
In Transit is a live album by Canadian progressive rock band Saga. The album was recorded at the Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle in Munich on February 5, 1982, and at the Tivoli Concert Hall in Copenhagen on February 22, 23, and 24, 1982. The album went platinum in Canada, selling 100,000 copies and gold in Germany, selling 250,000 copies. The album reached #10 in Canada and was #58 in the Canadian year end chart.
Images at Twilight is the second studio album by the Canadian progressive rock band Saga and was originally released in May 1979. It introduces the vocoder keyboard as an important instrument in Saga's development. It is also the only album to feature keyboardist Gregg Chadd who had replaced original keyboardist Peter Rochon.
Silent Knight is the third studio album by the Canadian progressive rock band Saga and was originally released in August 1980. Silent Knight is certified Gold in Canada, having reached No. 42 in the charts. The Einstein Tower in Potsdam, Germany was used as a template for the album cover. Silent Knight marks the debut appearance of longtime keyboardist Jim Gilmour.
Network is the sixteenth studio album by Canadian rock band Saga, released in the fall of 2004. A two-disc version was released on November 8, 2005, comprising the original CD and a DVD containing a 5.1 mix of the original album. It is the only Saga album to feature drummer Christian Simpson, who had replaced original drummer Steve Negus.
Marathon is a studio album by Saga, their fifteenth album of new material. It is the final album to feature original drummer Steve Negus.
House of Cards is the fourteenth studio album by the Canadian progressive rock band Saga, released on 12 February 2001 by Steamhammer. Recorded at Sound Image Studios in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, it was produced by bassist/keyboardist Jim Crichton.
Full Circle is a studio album by Saga, their thirteenth album of new material. This recording marks the beginning of the second round of Chapters.
The Beginner's Guide to Throwing Shapes is the eighth studio album by Saga, originally released in 1989. It is also the second album recorded by the band without longtime drummer Steve Negus and keyboardist Jim Gilmour, who temporarily left the band over management concerns.
Detours is a live album by Canadian progressive rock band Saga. It was recorded during their European Tour in 1997.
The Chapters Live is a live album by Canadian progressive rock band Saga that was recorded in 2003, released in 2005. It is the last live recording to feature drummer Steve Negus.
20/20 is the twentieth studio album by Canadian rock band Saga. The album marked the return of original singer Michael Sadler. The album charted at No. 13 in Germany, the highest since their 1985 release Behaviour.
Sagacity is the twenty-first studio album by Canadian rock band Saga. New drummer Mike Thorne made his studio debut on this album, after already playing live with the band following the release of 20/20, as recorded on the live album and video Spin It Again! Live in Munich.
The Works is a greatest hit compilation by the Canadian progressive rock band Saga. It was originally released in 1991 only to the German market, as a double CD and vinyl for Bon Aire Records.
Spin It Again! Live in Munich is a live album and video by the Canadian band Saga. It was recorded in 2012 at the end of their 20/20 tour and celebrates the reunion with original singer Michael Sadler. It was also the first Saga release featuring their new drummer Mike Thorne. Besides three songs from 20/20, it includes mainly songs from the first five Saga albums. The concert was released on different formats by edel records/earMUSIC, including a double CD, DVD and Blu-Ray. The video formats also include a twenty-minute tour documentary. The CD has edited applause between the main set and the encores, but otherwise the performance is identical. As is typical for Saga shows in Germany, Michael Sadler does some German announcements. The concert also includes a little "unplugged" set. After returning to the stage, Sadler says "What shall I play?". He starts on "Images ", then stops, goes into "No Regrets ", stops again and finally declares "I got it!" before launching into "Tired World ".
Live in Hamburg is a live album by Saga, which was released by earMUSIC on 2 September 2016. It was recorded live in Hamburg on 28 April 2015. While the original plan was to split up the concert and release the recordings as bonus tracks to the 12 albums in 12 months reissues, the series was not continued beyond Pleasure & the Pain and the concert was released in its entirety instead. The original album is strictly limited to 5000 copies worldwide, however, in 2018, earMUSIC reissued the album in a regular jewel case.
Symmetry is the twenty-second studio album by Canadian rock band Saga. It was released on March 12, 2021. It contains acoustic versions of previously released songs, some in the form of medleys or augmented with new interludes. The idea originated on the 40th anniversary tour in 2017, where the band would perform acoustically as their own support band "Pockets".
