Saga (band)

Saga is a progressive rock quintet, formed in Canada. Their self-titled debut album was released in June, 1978. The next two albums, Images at Twilight (1979) and Silent Knight (1980) saw the group climb in the European album charts. They opened for U.S. supergroup Styx in France and Germany, where Saga proved more popular. "It's Time" became their first domestic hit single, reaching the Top 10 after its release. In Canada, touring with Rush made them better known in their native land.

Formerly known as Pockets in Toronto, Saga was re-named after the multi-song cycle that was released in pieces ("Chapters") on their first four albums. In 1999, they returned to the chapter concept for another three albums. These chapters have been performed live throughout the band's extensive touring career.

Saga have had their share of detractors, but their fans have remained extremely loyal over the decades. Their unique use of keyboards often involves three members playing synthesizers onstage. Owing to their powerful -- not to say bombastic style, Saga has also been a major influence on similar American progressive rock and prog-metal bands, from Queensrÿche to Dream Theater.

Bassist-keyboardist Jim Crichton (b. 1953) and Welsh-born vocalist Michael Sadler (b. 1954) have been the principal songwriters for Saga. Ian Crichton (b. 1956) is considered one of the most underrated rock guitarists, having recorded several solo albums and sessions with supergroup Asia. The band's longtime keyboardist, Jim "Daryl" Gilmour (b. 1958), replaced Peter Rochon in 1980. Recently, Steve Negus (b.1952) announced his retirement as Saga's original drummer. He has since been replaced by Christian Simpson.

Their most famous album, Worlds Apart (1981) became a gold album in the United States, generating massive MTV exposure. The anthem "On The Loose," became a major Top-40 hit, while "Wind Him Up", a song about compulsive gambling, also received airplay. "Worlds Apart" also benefited from the production of Rupert Hine, although Jim Crichton later took over the band's studio phase.

Unfortunately, neither 1983's "Heads or Tales," nor 1985's "Behaviour" solidified their earlier achievements. The former is considered a fan favorite, with Jim Gilmour singing the lead on "Scratching the Surface." "The Flyer" also gained some radio exposure in 1984, but failed as a follow-up to "On The Loose." "Behaviour" barely dented the charts, with the band touring the United States for the last time to date. An ill-advised pop single, "What Do I Know?" fared even worse than "The Flyer." Nonetheless, the rollicking "Take a Chance" has remained a fan favorite well into the band's career. The fickle nature of American musical tastes, plus the band's constant shifts between recording labels, may well have undermined Saga's promising foothold in the U.S. The 1985-86 "Misbehaviour" tour has been their last to date in America.

In 1986, Steve Negus and Jim Gilmour left Saga amicably, recording as the Gilmour-Negus Project (GNP). Meanwhile, Saga continued with Michael Sadler and the brothers Crichton, augmented by session musicians. The disappointing "Wildest Dreams" (1987) enjoyed better distribution under Atlantic Records, but it failed to match expectations. The Police inspired single, "Only Time Will Tell," marked Saga's last stab at American Top-40 charts. Thereafter, Saga concentrated on making European albums, such as 1989's "The Beginner's Guide to Throwing Shapes," which marked a return to their earlier form.

In 1993, Steve Negus and Jim Gilmour returned to Saga, recording the band's "comeback" album, at least where Canada and Europe were concerned. "The Security of Illusion" restored the faith of many Saga followers. However, "Steel Umbrellas" (1994) was considered uneven when compared to "Security." Yet, the 1993-94 European tours proved that the band members had not lost their edge as live performers.

In 1995, Jim Crichton composed and produced the majority of Saga's finest album, the conceptual Generation 13. Inspired by a popular political treatise by the same name, the story follows Jeremy's troubled search for his real father. The concept is reminiscent of Jimmy's quest for cultural identity in The Who's Quadrophenia, almost a North American interpretation. But the heavier musical compositions sound like Rush and vintage Kansas, with Michael Sadler's best vocal performances on the more nuanced tracks. What Gen 13 may have lacked in originality, it made up for in the overall production.

Saga released the lackluster Pleasure and the Pain on the eve of their 20th anniversary tour in 1997. Fans considered the album a new low in the band's career, but the 1998 tour was captured on "Detours," a solid double-live album released worldwide. Three recent albums, Full Circle (1999), House of Cards, (2001) and Marathon (2003) have been much better received. House of Cards seems to have particularly enjoyed renewed interest. Its acoustic-flavored single, "Money Talks" received Top 5 video airplay in Canada. All three albums have included new "chapters," representing a return to the progressive rock of yore, albeit with Jim Crichton's cutting edge production giving it a modern touch that could appeal to younger music fans.

Saga released a new studio album, Network, in the fall of 2004.

Even though Jim Crichton and Michael Sadler now live in Los Angeles, they have yet to commit Saga to American tour dates, even though the band has remained active during the last five years.

Discography

Saga (1978)

How Long
Humble Stance
Climbing The Ladder
Will It Be You
The Perfectionist
Give'em The Money
Ice Nice
Tired World

Images At Twilight (1979)

It's Time
See Them Smile
Slow Motion
You're Not Alone
Take It or Leave It
Images
Hot to Cold
Mouse in a Maze

Silent Knight (1980)

Don't Be Late
What's It Gonna Be
Time To Go
Compromise
Too Much To Lose
Help Me Out
Someone Should
Careful Where You Step

Worlds Apart (1981)

On The Loose
Wind Him Up
Amnesia
Framed
Times Up
The Interview
No Regrets
Conversations
No Stranger

In Transit - Live (1982)

Careful Where You Step
Don't Be Late
Humble Stance
Wind Him Up
How Long
No Regrets
A Brief Case
You're Not Alone
On The Loose

Heads or Tales (1983)

The Flyer
Cat Walk
The Sound of Strangers
The Writing
Intermission
Social Orphan
The Vendetta
Scratching The Surface
The Pitchman

Behaviour (1985)

Listen To Your Heart
Take A Chance
What Do I Know
Misbehaviour
Nine Lives of Miss Midi
You And The Night
Out Of The Shadows
Easy Way Out
Promises
Here I Am
Once Upon A Time

Wildest Dreams (1987)

Don't Put Out The Fire
Only Time Will Tell
Wildest Dreams
Chase The Wind
We've Been Here Before
The Way of The World
Angel
Don't Look Down

The Beginner's Guide to Throwing Shapes (1989)

How Do I Look
Starting All Over
Shape
Odd Man Out
The Nineties
Scarecrow
As I Am
Waiting In The Wings
Giant

The Works (1990)

CD 1
- Gotta Love It
- How Long
- What Do I Know
- Only Time Will Tell
- Humble Stance
- Don't Be Late
- The Vendetta
- Time's Up
- The Flyer
- Angel
- As I Am
- On The Loose
- Chase The Wind
- You And The Night
CD 2
- The Call
- Scratching The Surface
- Take A Chance
- Starting All Over
- Slow Motion
- Cat Walk
- Once Upon A Time
- Solsbury Hill
- Out Of The Shadows
- Careful Where You Step
- Wildest Dreams
- Help Me Out
- Wind Him Up
- A Brief Case

The Security of Illusion (1993)

Entracte
Mind Over Matter
Once Is Never Enough
Alone Again Tonight
I'll Leave It In Your Hands
The Security of Illusion
Stand Up
Days Like These
Viola
No Man's Land
Without You

All The Best (1993)

On The Loose
Wind Him Up
How Long
What Do I Know
Only Time Will Tell
Humble Stance
Amnesia
Scratching The Surface
The Flyer
Cat Walk
Help Me Out
Mind Over Matter
Times Up
Don't Be Late
Without You

Steel Umbrellas (1994)

Why Not
Never Alone
Bet On This
Shake That Tree
Password Pirate
I Walk With You
Push It
Steamroller
Say Goodbye to Hollywood
Feed The Fire

The Very Best Of (1994)

Wind Him Up
Never Alone
Wildest Dreams
Humble Stance
You And The Night
The Flyer
The Security of Illusion
Why Not
How Long
Only Time Will Tell
Starting All Over
What Do I Know
Help Me Out
Say Goodbye to Hollywood
On The Loose

Defining Moments (1994)

Without You
Cat Walk
Times Up
Listen To Your Heart
Wind Him Up
You And The Night
Don't Be Late
On The Loose
Nine Lives of Miss Midi
Ice Nice
(Walking On) Thin Ice
Odd Man Out
Once Is Never Enough
I Walk With You
Once Upon A Time

Generation 13 (1995)

Chances Are #1
Generation 13 (Theme #1)
All Will Change
The Cross (Home #3)
Danger Whistle
Leave Her Alone
I'll Never Be Like You
My Name Is Sam
The 13th Generation
The Cross
The Learning Tree
I'll Never Be Like You
Snake Oil
We Hope You're Feeling Better
My Name Is Sam
Generation 13 (Theme #2)
Where Are You Now?
Screw'em
No Strings Attached
All Will Change
The Victim
One Small Step
Sam's New Friend
We Hope You're Feeling Better
Chances Are #2

Pleasure & The Pain (1997)

Heaven Can Wait
How Do You Feel
Welcome To The Zoo
Where's My Money?
You're Not Alone '97
Taxman
You Were Made For Me
Gonna Give It To Ya
Fantastically Wrong
Pleasure & The Pain

Phase One (1998)

Half The Time
Old Man
Hangman
You're Not Alone
Mouse in a Maze
Don't Bother
Hot to Cold
Don't Step Out of Line

How Do I Look (1998)

How Do I Look
Starting All Over
Waiting In The Wings
Take It or Leave It
The Way of The World
The Sound of Strangers
Time To Go
Wildest Dreams
The Flyer
Amnesia
Too Much To Lose
See Them Smile
On The Loose
Wind Him Up

Detours - Live (1998)

CD 1
- In The Hall of The Mountain King William
- How Long
- The Perfectionist
- Careful Where You Step
- Ice Nice
- Don't Be Late
- Interview
- Wind Him Up
- Welcome To The Zoo
- Take A Chance
- William's Walkabout
- The Cross
CD 2
- Scratching The Surface
- On The Loose
- The Security of Illusion
- I Walk With You
- Times Up
- Heaven Can Wait
- The Flyer
- You're Not Alone
- Framed
- Humble Stance

Full Circle (1999)

Remember When
The One
Follow Me
Uncle Albert's Eyes
Home
Don't Say Goodbye
Time Bomb
Not This Way
A Night To Remember
Goodbye

House of Cards (2001)

God Knows
The Runaway
Always There
Ashes To Ashes
Once In A Lifetime
So Good So Far
Only Human
That's How We Like It!
Watching The Clock
We'll Meet Again
Money Talks
House of Cards

Marathon (2003)

Marathon
How Are You?
Breathing Lessons
Hands Up
Streets of Gold
Blind Side of the Heart
Return to Forever
Too Deep
You Know I Know
Rise And Shine
Worlds Apart

The Official Bootleg (2003)

On the Loose
The Flyer
How Are You
Mouse in a Maze
Images
Don't Be Late
Tired World
No Stranger
Worlds Apart
Humble Stance
You're Not Alone
Wind Him Up

All Areas - Live In Bonn (2004)

Careful Where You Step
Compromise
The One
Wind Him Up
Remember When
No Regrets
The Runaway
Time Bomb
We'll Meet Again
A Brief Case
Don't Be Late
Time's Up
See Them Smile
Take It Or Leave It
Humble Stance
You're Not Alone

External links

sagaontour.com - The Official Site of Saga (http://www.sagaontour.com/)
MichaelSadler.com - The Official Site of Saga's Front Man (http://www.michaelsadler.com)
Worlds Apart 2.0 - The Official Fan Community (http://network.saga-world.org/)
SteveNegus.com - The Official Site of Saga's original Drummer (http://www.stevenegus.com)
SAGA Germany - The Official German SAGA Fanclub (http://saga-germany.de)sv:Saga (musikgrupp)

Retrieved from "https://academickids.com:443/encyclopedia/index.php/Saga_%28band%29"

Categories: Progressive rock groups | Canadian musical groups