The Sport of Kings (album)

Last updated
The Sport of Kings
The Sport of Kingstcanada.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 1986 (1986-08)
RecordedMayAugust 1986
Studio Metalworks and Phase One Studios, Toronto, Canada
One on One, Los Angeles
Genre Hard rock
Length42:47
Label MCA
Producer Mike Clink, Thom Trumbo
Triumph chronology
Stages
(1985)
The Sport of Kings
(1986)
Surveillance
(1987)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Kerrang! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

The Sport of Kings is the eighth studio album by the Canadian hard rock band Triumph, released in 1986. It was recorded at the band's home studio of Metalworks Studios from May to August 1986. A song from the album, "Somebody's Out There", was the band's biggest hit, reaching number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 over a 15-week stay in the charts [3] and hitting number 84 in the Canadian pop charts.

Contents

History

This is the second-to-last studio album with the band's guitarist and co-lead vocalist Rik Emmett, and it clearly represents the difficulties the band was experiencing at the time. Mike Levine played no keyboards on the album; three outside keyboard players were hired to create the keyboard sounds of the album, although Rik Emmett experiments with two high-end sampler systems, the Synclavier 9600 Workstation and the Fairlight CMI Series III, according to Keyboard magazine's July 1986 issue. Emmett sings lead vocals on six of the album's ten songs; four songs were sung by Gil Moore, and one track was sung as a duet by the two vocalists. The recording of The Sport of Kings was marred by tension between Triumph and their label MCA. Emmett has since expressed his dislike for much of the album. Adding to the tension was Emmett's request that the recording be done at Estudio L2K in Majorca, Spain. Only three of this album's songs have ever been performed live by Triumph, and one track was performed live by Emmett during his first three solo tours.

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Tears in the Rain" Rik Emmett, Mike Levine, Gil Moore Gil Moore3:55
2."Somebody's Out There"Emmett, Levine, MooreRik Emmett4:04
3."What Rules My Heart"Emmett, Levine, Moore, James Brian Maloney, James Richard HuffMoore3:52
4."If Only"Emmett, Levine, MooreEmmett4:00
5."Hooked on You"Emmett, Levine, MooreEmmett & Moore3:22
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
6."Take a Stand"Emmett, Levine, Moore, Rick SantersEmmett4:33
7."Just One Night"Tony Fanucchi, Eric Martin, Neal Schon Moore3:40
8."Embrujo" (instrumental)Emmett, Levine, Moore 1:29
9."Play with the Fire"Emmett, Levine, MooreEmmett5:18
10."Don't Love Anybody Else but Me"Glenn Miller, Ed RoynesdalEmmett3:55
11."In the Middle of the Night"Emmett, Levine, MooreEmmett4:34

Personnel

Band members
Additional musicians
Production

Charts

Chart (1986-1987)Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [4] 51
US Billboard 200 [5] 33

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [6] Platinum100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triumph (band)</span> Canadian rock band

Triumph was a Canadian hard rock band formed in 1975 that was popular in the late 1970s and the 1980s, building on its reputation and success as a live band. Between its 16 albums and DVDs, it has received 18 gold and nine platinum awards in Canada and the United States. It was nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including the 'Group of the Year Award' in 1979, 1985, 1986, and 1987. It was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame in 2007, into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2008, and into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2019.

<i>Rock & Roll Machine</i> 1977 studio album by Triumph

Rock & Roll Machine is the second studio album by Canadian hard rock band Triumph. It was first released in 1977 by Attic Records. The album contained in the band's first hit, a version of Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way".

<i>Just a Game</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Triumph

Just a Game is the third studio album by Canadian hard rock band Triumph, released in 1979. The album contains one of Triumph's most popular songs on FM album-oriented radio, "Lay it on the Line", and the Top 40 hit "Hold On", which peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at No. 33 in Canada.

<i>Thunder Seven</i> 1984 studio album by Triumph

Thunder Seven is the seventh studio album by Canadian hard rock band Triumph, released in November 1984. Three songs on the second half of the album follow a concept based on time-related themes.

<i>Progressions of Power</i> 1980 studio album by Triumph

Progressions of Power is the fourth studio album by Canadian hard rock band Triumph, released in 1980. The album reached number 32 on the Billboard 200 and the single "I Can Survive" hit number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980. The single "I Live for the Weekend", though not a success in the band's home country, gave them their only charting single in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number 59. The album was re-released in 1985 on MCA Records, then on TRC Records in 1995, and remastered in 2005 and re-issued on the band's own label TML Entertainment.

<i>Allied Forces</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Triumph

Allied Forces is the fifth studio album by Canadian hard rock band Triumph, released in 1981. It reached #23 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart assisted by the singles "Magic Power" and "Fight the Good Fight," which hit #8 and #18, respectively, on the US Mainstream Rock chart of 1981. The title song was the first single from the album which was released a month before the album came out. A remastered CD was first released in 1985 on MCA, then again in 1995 on the band's TRC label, and for a third time in 2004 on the band's label TML Entertainment. It is considered their signature record.

<i>Never Surrender</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Triumph

Never Surrender is the sixth studio album by Canadian hard rock band Triumph, released in 1982. The album reached #26 on the Billboard Albums chart assisted by the singles "All the Way", "A World of Fantasy" and "Never Surrender" which hit #2, #3 and #23, respectively, on the Billboard's Mainstream Top Rock Tracks chart in 1983. "All the Way" was Triumph's highest charting song on the Top Rock Tracks chart, but did not sustain that level of popularity with Triumph fans as the song is not included on their 1985 live album Stages, the later Classics or 2005's Livin' for the Weekend: The Anthology album.

<i>Stages</i> (Triumph album) 1985 live album by Triumph

Stages is a live album by Canadian hard rock band Triumph, released on October 14, 1985 by MCA Records. The tracks were recorded from various performances over the prior three years 1981–1984 although two new studio tracks were added: "Mind Games" and "Empty Inside".

<i>Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat</i> 1984 studio album by Sparks

Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat is the thirteenth studio album by American pop and rock band Sparks, released in June 1984 by Atlantic Records. It was not very well received and failed to capitalise on the commercial success of their previous studio album In Outer Space (1983). The album developed the light synth-pop sound of In Outer Space but with slightly darker lyrics revolving around Ron Mael's favourite subject matter: relationships.

Michael Stephen Levine is the bassist and keyboardist for the Canadian hard rock band Triumph.

<i>Big Bam Boom</i> 1984 studio album by Hall & Oates

Big Bam Boom is the twelfth studio album by American duo Daryl Hall & John Oates, released by RCA Records on October 12, 1984. It marked the end of one of the most successful album runs by a duo of the 1980s. RCA issued a remastered version in July 2004 with four bonus tracks. The lead single "Out of Touch" was a #1 pop hit, and charted in several other areas. Another song taken from the album, the Daryl Hall and Janna Allen-penned "Method of Modern Love" reached a high point of #5, and "Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid," reached #18.

<i>Surveillance</i> (Triumph album) 1987 studio album by Triumph

Surveillance is the ninth studio album by Canadian hard rock band Triumph, released July 27, 1987. The album was recorded at Metalworks Studios, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. This is the last Triumph album to feature Rik Emmett until his return to the band in 2008.

<i>Edge of Excess</i> 1992 studio album by Triumph

Edge of Excess is the tenth and final studio album by Canadian hard rock band Triumph, and the only one not to feature original guitarist and lead singer Rik Emmett who left the band in 1988, leaving Gil Moore as the sole lead vocalist. After a few years of inactivity, Moore and bassist Mike Levine recruited session guitarist Phil X to replace Emmett and released Edge of Excess in 1992. The song "Troublemaker" was featured in the 1992 movie Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth.

"Giving You the Benefit" is a song by American recording artist Pebbles from her second album Always (1990). Written and produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Antonio "L.A." Reid, the song was released as the lead single from Always on August 11, 1990, by MCA Records. It was her last top-five pop hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number four that year.

<i>Welcome to the Club</i> (Kick Axe album) 1985 studio album by Kick Axe

Welcome to the Club is the second studio album by Canadian heavy metal band, Kick Axe. The album was released at the end of 1985 on Pasha Records/CBS Records in the format of vinyl and cassette album.

Triumph is a Canadian hard rock band that was popular in the late 1970s through the 1980s. Between the band's 16 albums and DVDs, Triumph has received 18 gold and 9 platinum awards in Canada and the United States. Triumph was nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including Group of the Year Award in 1979, 1985, 1986 and 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hold On (Triumph song)</span> 1979 single by Triumph

"Hold On" is a song by the band Triumph. It appeared on their album Just a Game (1979) and was also released as a single. The single was released on August 6, 1979 and rose to number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by Rik Emmett.

<i>Wont Be Blue Anymore</i> 1985 studio album by Dan Seals

Won't Be Blue Anymore is the fifth studio album by American country music artist Dan Seals. It was his most successful studio album; the only one to reach No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. The album featured some of Seals most popular songs, including "Bop" and "Meet Me in Montana", a duet with Marie Osmond. These and the third single, "Everything That Glitters ", all reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. "Bop" was a major crossover hit, peaking at No. 10 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. The compact disc format of this album was released on the album's initial release. It has been out-of-print for more than 20 years and is highly collectible.

<i>Always</i> (Pebbles album) 1990 studio album by Pebbles

Always is the second studio album by American recording artist Pebbles. It was released on September 11, 1990, by MCA Records and spawned two Top 20 hits on the U.S. Hot 100, which also hit #1 on the R&B chart: "Giving You the Benefit" and "Love Makes Things Happen", as well as the top-five R&B hit "Backyard", and the top 20 R&B hit "Always".

<i>Stephanie Mills</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Stephanie Mills

Stephanie Mills is the tenth studio album by the American R&B singer Stephanie Mills, released in 1985 on MCA Records. Following her last release I've Got the Cure on Casablanca Records, Mills self-titled new album was the first release upon signing a new recording contract with MCA Records.

References

  1. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Triumph The Sport of Kings review". AllMusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved 2013-04-07.
  2. Henderson, Paul (18 September 1986). "Triumph 'The Sports of Kings'". Kerrang!. Vol. 129. London, UK: Spotlight Publications. p. 18.
  3. "Triumph - Chart History". Billboard.com. Billboard . Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  4. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0739". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  5. "Triumph Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  6. "Canadian album certifications – Triumph – The Sport of Kings". Music Canada.