Single flashback
Triumph - Magic Power [1981]
Canadian Rock Hall of Famers Triumph are likely our second most successful export as a power trio, enjoying success on both sides of the 49th like their Toronto counterparts Rush.
Perhaps best known stateside for their iconic 1983 US Festival appearance, our boys went chop for chop on Heavy Metal Sunday with the likes of Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, and Scorpions on a day that same them play to one of the biggest festival crowds ever.
Formed in 1975 with core members Gil Moore [drums], Mike Levine [bass], and Rik Emmett [vocals, guitars], the boys landed a deal with Attic Records. What followed was six LPs in seven years on that imprint.
Their fifth full-length - ‘Allied Forces’ was released in the fall of 1981 and would be their high water mark on the RPM Album Chart, peaking at #13.
Two singles were released, ‘Magic Power’ and ‘Say Goodbye’ - with the former hitting #14 for the band’s most notable single.
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Over the years Triumph were recognized for their ground-breaking stage shows, musicianship, and arena-ready anthems. But one more thing became a part of the Triumph brand - positivity in their lyrics.
Similar to the band that shan’t be named - we have another love letter to that old tech, the radio. And, of course, music itself.
The world is full of compromise, and infinite red tape
But the music’s got the magic, it’s your one chance for escape
So turn me on turn me up it’s your turn to dream
A little magic power makes it better than it seems
Every single MusicStacker can connect with this sentiment, I’m sure!
While their daytime US Festival slot may not have lent itself to a crazy stage show all of the other three elements are on display as we make our way through almost six minutes of power trio rawk.
I love everything about this video and the performance. What a crowd!
They were treated to Emmett’s stunning vocal range, and a rock steady rhythm section. Not to mention a stunning guitar solo and Gil dropping great vocals of his own as he competes with Neil Peart in an early bout of the tomtom challenge. Meanwhile Levine holds down the bottom end and layers in some synth for us too.
Amazing power trio stuff, everybody playing a part and a half. Nowhere to hide in a lineup like this!
On the ‘B’ side we have an album cut, a straight-ahead rocker - ‘Hot Time (In This City Tonight)’.
Hot Time (In This City Tonight) - did not chart
Including the live video again here, just so we can bear witness to the good old days.
Emmett would embark on a solo career in 1988, while Moore and Levine continued the Triumph project with guitarist Phil X.
Twenty years on, the original lineup reunited for some festival dates and have now embarked on a new tour.
Have a fave Triumph song/album, or maybe you’ve seen them? Drop it below!
One of my favourite Canadian songs of all-time. it's a perfect rock song. and this video is so great. Thanks for posting.
A favorite band - saw them on the Never Surrender tour - it was one of the loudest shows I’ve ever been too, my ears were still ringing the next day all through school. But I think my favorite album is Just A Game - Lay it on the Line, Hold On and the title track. I still have the tour book from the show, it says that they were never an opening act, had always been the headliner. A solid group - like all of their stuff. Blinding Light Show also a scorcher off their first album. There was a great documentary on them I saw a few years back.