Of course I heard "On The Loose" on the radio, but like a lot of 80s AOR, it didn't move me. The only Saga album I ever got was the debut, which was from the late 70s, I think. It's OK, but nothing that prompted me to get anything else by them.
Of course I heard "On The Loose" on the radio, but like a lot of 80s AOR, it didn't move me. The only Saga album I ever got was the debut, which was from the late 70s, I think. It's OK, but nothing that prompted me to get anything else by them.
I remember Saga's performance at Reading in, I think, 1981 being broadcast on Tommy Vance's rock show. It was fantastic and I had never heard anything quite like them. I grew up with the seventies progressive rock bands, but they were different somehow. Saga were not like the neo bands either. I later realised the In Transit album was a bit of a disappointment compared with the Reading performance. They really should release the Reading material on Windsong or something. The early albums were pretty good and I liked the one album with Rob Moratti.
Member since Wednesday 09.09.09
Yeah, Saga were often hard to categorize. You could tell they all had good chops and were itching to bust out into intricate instrumental passages except it seemed that the dictate of "must be commercially palatable" stayed their hand. They weren't a neo band -- they were ahead of that trend. But they were far more sophisticated and interesting than other arena rock bands of the late 70s/early 80s like Journey or Styx.Originally Posted by Big Ears
That's probably what doomed them. Too fancy to go down with the simple minded rawk audience, but not flashy enough to earn them praise from musos. And not clever enough in their arrangements or lyrics (always their achilles heel, IMO) to rank with bands like Rush. But still good enough to find an audience and endure for umpteen years.
I'm holding out for the Wilson-mixed 5.1 super-duper walletbuster special anniversary extra adjectives edition.
Watched this full concert video last night with the wife who was unable to stop poking fun of Michael Sadler's over-dramatic style (maybe that was their problem?), but I loved it. Ian Crichton gives me more "holy shit" moments than any other guitarist and his solos—when he's not over whammy-ing—elevate the songs several levels. He's like Randy Rhoads for old dudes. I wish I had seen them live and I'm seriously considering making the trip from Chicago to Toronto on the 24th.
Last edited by spiderfeathers; 02-10-2018 at 10:58 AM.
"How can less be more? It's impossible. More is more." Y.J. Malmsteen
I really dig 20/20. Their latest took more spins to grow on me. Perhaps not as progressive as past efforts but still extremely intelligent rock music. Great Canadian band! Going to miss them.
Jon
Last edited by jlneudorf; 02-11-2018 at 10:19 AM.
Got their debut upon release and at the times I didn't like it, though it still felt OK. For some reason I've kept it and haven't regretted as it is one of the few AOR albums I have a soft spot for. They were more eclectic than your Bostons and Styxes.
Is this Feb 24th show a final one-off? Bad timing for me, I've got to teach that afternoon. Otherwise, yeah, a quick flight from Chicago, back the next day. It could work.
Thanks for posting the video BTW. Nice to see them going out while still giving such strong performances.
The 24th is the only date shown on their website so I assume it's a one off.
At what point in their career did Saga start touring as a "headliner", which I assume would have been in clubs and small venues? Were they more popular in their Canadian home country than in the US? Strange they became so popular in Germany apparently, but not in N.A.
Surprised Rosfest never booked them. They would have fit into that footprint it seems.
There is some precedent for that. Barclay James Harvest & Mike Oldfield became "stars" in Germany while remaining cult artists elsewhere...Then there's "The Hoff."
Oldfield?! Garnered a substantial name and position in the UK, France and the Nordic countries as well. He enjoyed significant success in all of these lands throughout the 70s and 80s.
There were numerous other acts with 'German-limited' status, though - such as Ruphus from Norway and Splash from Sweden. Saga were a point in question, seeing as West Germany had a thing for more refined but 'easy-going' symphonic rock/AOR entities like Anabis, Satin Whale, Karat (from the GDR), Lake and more.
As with a couple of others in here, I only kept the debut Saga. Quite frankly I never heard much development in the following releases, although these weren't too bad either.
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
I'll take your word for it, as you are in or near those locales.
Might want to revisit Silent Knight, their 3rd & best, IMO.
Isn't Manowar bigger in Germany than the Stones and Lady Gaga combined?
"How can less be more? It's impossible. More is more." Y.J. Malmsteen
I thought the show on CTTE was supposed to be their last show? If not, that explains why I didn't see more posts about it, footage, etc.
Their breasts are, anyway.
a few more bonus precedents: SAGA supported STYX on a german tour in the early 1980s and basically destroyed them every night. lasting impression made. on top of that they had an enthusiastic importer who made their debut widely available via polydor records whereas other territories hadn't yet. SAGA also had a few high profile TV features on both play back music shows and televised live events (of which west germany had a good few) and they also made an appearance in east germany as early as 1983. i still have an authorised and nomenclatura-sanctioned pressing of a GDR compilation on vinyl. then the detection of a genuine market combined with regular tours into every german territory with the dogged dedication of teutonic music fans envisaging their music as escapism from the drabness of the early (and later) kohl years and a good deal of nerdy tech geeks brought up on heavy metal, new wave as well as kraut rock (which SAGA combined masterfully) to boot and you have a long and fruitful relationship (sir dennis eton-hogg, polymer records).
there is a coffee table style book out tying in both their 40th anniversary and their retirement, curated and published by one of our own notorious super fans (and a long time professional supporter of their tours here). i don't have it but it's probably worth tracking down.
i think the hoff should join MANOWAR.
Well, last year I found some The Enid CD's in record departments in Germany.
Thanks very much for posting this
Got a couple of their albums. Any fans of them on here?
Lake?
Yes, I have most of their albums on CD.
Dig Lake as well.
Jon
^ I had one or two Lake albums back in the late 70s. They got airplay on the FM stations at the time.
Great setlist on that 2017 tour video. hope they release a DVD. love the Gen13 Suite.
is that Jim on bass, he looks different. Jim G & Ian should hook up with Geddy Lee.
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