Worlds Apart (Saga album)

Last updated
Worlds Apart
Saga worlds apart alternative.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 1981
Recorded1981
StudioThe Farmyard (Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire, England)
Genre
Length43:38
Label Maze Records / Polydor / Portrait / CBS / Epic / CBS Discos
Producer Rupert Hine
Saga chronology
Silent Knight
(1980)
Worlds Apart
(1981)
In Transit
(1982)
US/Alternative cover
Saga - Worlds Apart.jpg
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

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".

Contents

Success

Widely considered[ citation needed ] Saga's best album (and certainly their most commercially successful), the album has become the band's most recognizable work to date. The first song on the album, "On the Loose" was a single that hit No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Top Rock Tracks chart in late 1982 and early 1983, [2] their highest chart performance. The single was helped by a music video which appeared on MTV during the station's inaugural year on the air. Videos were also made for the singles "Wind Him Up" (#22 Canada [3] ) and "Amnesia". The success of the album was also largely credited to an expanded tour schedule which saw the band enter new territories and venues, particularly in the United States where they opened for Billy Squier and Jethro Tull, to expand their musical presence. Worlds Apart has been certified Platinum in Canada (100,000) and Gold in Germany (250,000), Denmark (50,000), United States (500,000), and Norway (15,000). The album was released on Maze Records in Canada, Portrait CBS Records in America and England, and Polydor Records for the remainder of the global market.

The Chapters

Two of the songs, "No Regrets (Chapter V)" and "No Stranger (Chapter VIII)", were part of a series of eight (but later sixteen) songs that Saga included within their first four albums called "The Chapters", which told the story of a young Albert Einstein. The release of these two chapters completed the original set of eight. These songs were also later included on The Chapters Live (2005). To date, there has been no official compilation of the chapters in their studio incarnation.

Worlds Apart Revisited

In 2007, Saga released Worlds Apart Revisited (2005), a double-CD live album that included all the songs from the original Worlds Apart album.

Track listing

Side One
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."On the Loose"Michael SadlerSaga4:12
2."Wind Him Up"Jim CrichtonSaga5:47
3."Amnesia"J. CrichtonSaga3:16
4."Framed"SadlerSaga5:42
5."Time's Up"SadlerSaga4:12
Side Two
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
6."The Interview"SadlerJ. Crichton, Sadler3:52
7."No Regrets (Chapter Five)"J. CrichtonJ. Crichton, Sadler4:46
8."Conversations"J. Crichton, SadlerSaga4:46
9."No Stranger (Chapter Eight)"J. CrichtonJ. Crichton, Sadler7:05

Note

Personnel

Saga: [4]

Production: [4]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [11] Gold50,000^
Germany (BVMI) [12] Gold250,000^
United States (RIAA) [13] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Signals</i> (Rush album) 1982 studio album by Rush

Signals is the ninth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on September 9, 1982 by Anthem Records. After the release of their previous album, Moving Pictures, the band started to prepare material for a follow-up during soundchecks on their 1981 concert tour and during the mixing of their subsequent live album Exit...Stage Left. Signals demonstrates the group's continuing use of synthesizers, sequencers, and other electronic instrumentation. It is the last album produced by their longtime associate Terry Brown, who had worked with them since 1974.

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

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.

<i>Modern Times</i> (Jefferson Starship album) 1981 studio album by Jefferson Starship

Modern Times is the sixth album by Jefferson Starship and was released in 1981. Grace Slick appeared on this album after a three-year absence. She returned near the end of the recording sessions, providing background vocals on some tracks as well as lead vocals on the single "Stranger" as a duet with lead singer Mickey Thomas. "Stranger" had previously been performed live by Jefferson Starship as early as December 1979, and the first studio version was made for Modern Times. Although not appearing in the band picture on the gatefold cover, Slick is listed on the back cover of the LP with the credit "Introducing Grace Slick" and her picture is on the lyric sleeve with the note "Grace Slick courtesy of Grace Slick." She joined the band officially for the 1981 tour. This was the first Jefferson Starship album to have promotional music videos. It was also the first album to feature a charting single on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, which had premiered earlier in the year. The single "Find Your Way Back" reached No. 3 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

<i>Heads or Tales</i> 1983 studio album by Saga

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.

<i>Behaviour</i> (Saga album) 1985 studio album by Saga

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).

<i>In Transit</i> (Saga album) 1982 live album by Saga

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Negus</span> Canadian drummer, songwriter

Stephen William Negus is a Canadian drummer, songwriter, who was a member of the progressive rock band Saga for twenty-six years. In the late 80s, he and keyboardist Jim Gilmour left Saga and formed GNP.

<i>Wildest Dreams</i> (Saga album) 1987 studio album by Saga

Wildest Dreams is the seventh studio album by the Canadian progressive rock band Saga, originally released in 1987. It was their first album without original drummer Steve Negus and longtime keyboardist and vocalist Jim Gilmour.

<i>Saga</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Saga

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.

<i>Images at Twilight</i> 1979 studio album by Saga

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.

<i>Silent Knight</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Saga

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.

<i>Network</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Saga

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucky Man (Emerson, Lake & Palmer song)</span> 0000 single by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

"Lucky Man" is a song by the English progressive rock supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP), from the group's 1970 self-titled debut album. Written by Greg Lake when he was 12 years old and recorded by the trio using improvised arrangements, the song contains one of rock music's earliest instances of a Moog synthesizer solo. "Lucky Man" was released as a single in 1970 and reached the top 20 in the Netherlands. The song also charted in the United States and Canada. The single was re-released in 1973 and charted again in the US and Canada.

<i>Marathon</i> (Saga album) 2003 studio album by Saga

Marathon is a studio album by Saga, their fifteenth album of new material. It is the final album to feature original drummer Steve Negus.

<i>House of Cards</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Saga

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.

<i>20/20</i> (Saga album) 2012 studio album by Saga

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.

<i>Sagacity</i> (Saga album) 2014 studio album by Saga

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.

<i>The Works</i> (Saga album) 1991 greatest hits album by Saga

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.

<i>Spin It Again! Live in Munich</i> 2013 live album by Saga

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 ".

<i>Symmetry</i> (Saga album) 2021 studio album by Saga

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".

References

  1. "Saga - Worlds Apart (1981) album review by Andy Hinds, credits & releases". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  2. Billboard Hot 100 chart. www.billboard.com
  3. "RPM Top 50 Singles - January 16, 1982" (PDF).
  4. 1 2 "Saga - Worlds Apart (1981) album releases & credits". www.discogs.com. October 1981. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  5. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0426". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  6. "Offiziellecharts.de – Saga – Worlds Apart" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  7. "Norwegiancharts.com – Saga – Worlds Apart". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  8. "Swedishcharts.com – Saga – Worlds Apart". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  9. "Saga Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  10. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1982. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  11. "Canadian album certifications – Saga – Worlds Apart". Music Canada . Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  12. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Saga; 'Worlds Apart')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  13. "American album certifications – Saga – Worlds Apart". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 20, 2024.