Saga is a progressive rock quintet, formed in Canada. 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 rock's most underrated guitarists, having recorded several solo albums as well as sessions with supergroup Asia. The band's virtuoso 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 He has since been replaced by Christian Simpson.
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. Formerly known as Pockets, the band re-named itself in 1977, after the multi-song cycle (the "Chapters") which would appear on their first four albums. In 1999, they revisited the chapter concept for another three albums. These chapters have been performed live throughout the band's extensive career.
Owing to their powerful -- not to say bombastic -- musical style, Saga has also been a major influence on similar American progressive rock and prog-metal bands, from Queensrÿche to Dream Theater. More recently, Coheed and Cambria debuted with their own multi-album science fiction concept, complete with an insectoid logo not dissimilar from Saga's familiar mascot, a moth symbolizing reincarnation and immortality.
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. The first Saga albums were recorded at Phase One Studios, where the band developed their classic sound. In 1998, Jim Crichton released their 1979 sessions on "Phase 1," demonstrating the early influence of producer Paul Gross, who later worked with Queensrÿche.
In 1981, the group broke inexplicably with Paul Gross, enlisting Rupert Hine to produce their most famous album, Worlds Apart. Their American debut coincided with a brief "Canadian Invasion," augured by the unexpected popularity of Rush and Triumph. World's Apart generated some immense MTV video exposure. Their best-known single, "On The Loose," became a major Top-40 hit, while "Wind Him Up", a song about compulsive gambling, also received some heavy rotation. In spite of unlikely pairings with Quiet Riot and Pat Benatar, Saga also toured the United States as a well-received opening act. Worlds Apart charted as a gold album within one year of its American release on Portrait, a subsidiary of Epic.
Unfortunately, Saga's following albums failed to solidify their earlier achievements. 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. 1983's Heads or Tales is considered a fan favorite, with Jim Gilmour singing a plaintive lead vocal on the concert staple, "Scratching the Surface." As a single, "The Flyer" received some modest exposure in 1984, but failed as a follow-up to "On The Loose." In retrospect, Rupert Hine's production also seems lacklustre and flat in comparison to World's Apart. 1985's Behaviour reflected an even more commercial direction, although the rollicking "Take a Chance" has remained another fan favorite well into the band's career. An ill-advised pop single, "What Do I Know?" fared even worse than "The Flyer." Behaviour barely dented the album charts, with the band touring the United States for the last time to date.
In 1986, Steve Negus and Jim Gilmour left Saga amicably, recording one album 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 progressive style, accentuating Ian Crichton's considerable guitar talents.
In 1993, Steve Negus and Jim Gilmour returned to Saga, recording the band's "comeback" album, at least where Canada and most of Europe were concerned. The Security of Illusion restored the faith of many Saga followers, although it consisted of thematically unrelated songs. However, Steel Umbrellas (1994) was considered uneven when compared to "Security," perhaps because some of its material had been originally meant for a soundtrack for "Cobras," a short-lived television series. However, the 1993 and 1994 tours proved that the individual band members had not lost their edge as live performers.
In 1995, Jim Crichton composed and produced the majority of perhaps 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" might have lacked in outright originality, it made up for in the overall production.
Unfortunately, Saga released a lackluster collection, 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.
How Long
Humble Stance
Climbing The Ladder
Will It Be You
The Perfectionist
Give'em The Money
Ice Nice
Tired World
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
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
On The Loose
Wind Him Up
Amnesia
Framed
Times Up
The Interview
No Regrets
Conversations
No Stranger
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
The Flyer
Cat Walk
The Sound of Strangers
The Writing
Intermission
Social Orphan
The Vendetta
Scratching The Surface
The Pitchman
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
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
How Do I Look
Starting All Over
Shape
Odd Man Out
The Nineties
Scarecrow
As I Am
Waiting In The Wings
Giant
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
On The Air
Keep it Reel
I'm Back
If I Were You
Outside Looking In
Don't Look Now
Live At Five
Back Where We Started
Believe
Don't Make A Sound
sagaontour.com - The Official Site of Saga
MichaelSadler.com - The Official Site of Saga's Front Man
Worlds Apart 2.0 - The Official Fan Community
SteveNegus.com - The Official Site of Saga's original Drummer
SAGA Germany - The Official German SAGA Fanclub
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. Formerly known as Pockets, the band re-named itself in 1977, after the multi-song cycle (the "Chapters") which would appear on their first four albums. In 1999, they revisited the chapter concept for another three albums. These chapters have been performed live throughout the band's extensive career.
Owing to their powerful -- not to say bombastic -- musical style, Saga has also been a major influence on similar American progressive rock and prog-metal bands, from Queensrÿche to Dream Theater. More recently, Coheed and Cambria debuted with their own multi-album science fiction concept, complete with an insectoid logo not dissimilar from Saga's familiar mascot, a moth symbolizing reincarnation and immortality.
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. The first Saga albums were recorded at Phase One Studios, where the band developed their classic sound. In 1998, Jim Crichton released their 1979 sessions on "Phase 1," demonstrating the early influence of producer Paul Gross, who later worked with Queensrÿche.
In 1981, the group broke inexplicably with Paul Gross, enlisting Rupert Hine to produce their most famous album, Worlds Apart. Their American debut coincided with a brief "Canadian Invasion," augured by the unexpected popularity of Rush and Triumph. World's Apart generated some immense MTV video exposure. Their best-known single, "On The Loose," became a major Top-40 hit, while "Wind Him Up", a song about compulsive gambling, also received some heavy rotation. In spite of unlikely pairings with Quiet Riot and Pat Benatar, Saga also toured the United States as a well-received opening act. Worlds Apart charted as a gold album within one year of its American release on Portrait, a subsidiary of Epic.
Unfortunately, Saga's following albums failed to solidify their earlier achievements. 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. 1983's Heads or Tales is considered a fan favorite, with Jim Gilmour singing a plaintive lead vocal on the concert staple, "Scratching the Surface." As a single, "The Flyer" received some modest exposure in 1984, but failed as a follow-up to "On The Loose." In retrospect, Rupert Hine's production also seems lacklustre and flat in comparison to World's Apart. 1985's Behaviour reflected an even more commercial direction, although the rollicking "Take a Chance" has remained another fan favorite well into the band's career. An ill-advised pop single, "What Do I Know?" fared even worse than "The Flyer." Behaviour barely dented the album charts, with the band touring the United States for the last time to date.
In 1986, Steve Negus and Jim Gilmour left Saga amicably, recording one album 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 progressive style, accentuating Ian Crichton's considerable guitar talents.
In 1993, Steve Negus and Jim Gilmour returned to Saga, recording the band's "comeback" album, at least where Canada and most of Europe were concerned. The Security of Illusion restored the faith of many Saga followers, although it consisted of thematically unrelated songs. However, Steel Umbrellas (1994) was considered uneven when compared to "Security," perhaps because some of its material had been originally meant for a soundtrack for "Cobras," a short-lived television series. However, the 1993 and 1994 tours proved that the individual band members had not lost their edge as live performers.
In 1995, Jim Crichton composed and produced the majority of perhaps 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" might have lacked in outright originality, it made up for in the overall production.
Unfortunately, Saga released a lackluster collection, 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.