Saga - Images At Twilight

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Steamhammer
Catalog Number: 076-7428A
Format: CD
Total Time: 46:59:00

It's hard to believe that Saga is well into their fourth decade, and still going strong. Saga peaked in the early 80s with the worldwide hit "On The Loose" and album Worlds Apart. Massive radio and MTV airplay came and went in the blink of an eye. The band quickly fell out of the spotlight. Personnel changes and a low profile sealed that bands fate, though today they retain a strong and loyal following.

Images At Twilight is the band's second release (Polydor, 1979 (825254-2)), and for me exemplifies the classic Saga sound, short songs with plenty of melody, and just enough instrumental interplay to let you know these guys can get it done. Tracks like the opening "It's Time (Chapter Three)" and "You're Not Alone" are pop songs, yet allow guitarist Ian Chrichton and keyboardist Paul Rochon (soon to be Jim Gilmour) to display their prowess. Chrichton shows off some incredible guitar playing throughout. Michael Sadler's vocals are unique, and immediately make a song identifiable as Saga. He can at times be a bit too dramatic in his delivery, but there is no doubt the guy has a great voice.

"Images (Chapter One)" offers one of the few mellow moments of the record, with piano and acoustic guitar throughout the opening. The song then opens up with a slow ballad like ending, with Sadler's vocals soaring over the layers of keyboards. If you enjoy your progressive mixed with plenty of melody, emphasizing a shorter song structure, then Saga should be part of your collection. But, don't be fooled, as these guys can play with the best of them.

Additional release info: released by Maze/Kraze in the US in 1980 (cat. no. 8002); reissued on CD by Belaire in the UK (1987, SAGCD2), by Belaire/Maze (1987, MCD1061) and Bonaire (1987, BON0002) in North America, with additional reissues that year by Bonaire/Ariola in Germany and Denmark; reissued again in 1994 by Polydor in Germany (825254-2)

Tracklisting:
It's Time (4:06) / See Them Smile (3:25) / Slow Motion (3:53) / You're Not Alone (5:25) / Take It Or Leave It (4:01) / Images (Chapter One) (6:32) / Hot To Cold (5:03) / Mouse In A Maze (5:42)

2002 extended edition includes a longer (thus extended) version of It's Time (8:51)

Musicians:
Michael Sadler - vocals
Paul Rochon - keyboards
Ian Chrichton - guitars
Jim Chrichton - bass, keyboards
Steve Negus - drums

Discography:
Images At Twilight (1979/1987/2002)
Silent Knight (1980/2002)
Worlds Apart (1981/2003)
In Transit (1982)
Heads Or Tails (1983)
Behavior (1985/2002)
Wildest Dreams (1987)
The Beginner's Guide to Throwing Shapes (1989)
The Security of Illusion (1993/2003)
Defining Moments (1994)
Steel Umbrellas (1995/2002)
Gen 13 (1996)
Pleasure and The Pain (1997)
Detour - Live (1998)
Full Circle (1999)
House Of Cards (2001)
Marathon (2003)
Network (2004)
Chapters Live (2005)
Trust (2006)
Remember When: The Very Best Of Saga (2006)
Worlds Apart Revisited (2007)
10,000 Days (2007)
The Human Condition (2009)
Heads Or Tails Live (2011)
20/20 (2012)
Spin It Again - Live In Munich (2014)
Sagacity (2014)
The Best Of Saga Now & Then (2015)
Live In Hamburg (2016)
So Good So Far (2018)

Silhouette (DVD) (2003)
All Areas: Live In Bonn 2002 (CD/DVD) (2004)
Worlds Apart Revisited (CD/DVD) (2006/2007)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin CA

Added: September 5th 2004
Reviewer: Eric Porter

Artist website: sagaontour.moonfruit.com
Hits: 3275
Language: english