On October 14, 1985 "Triumph" released their live album "Stages".
"Triumph’s" "Stages" is a live double album that offers fans a chance to experience the band’s exhilarating performances from 1981 to 1985. While it captures much of the energy and musicianship that made "Triumph" a live staple, it falls short of the lasting impact seen in some of the classic live albums of the era, and there are key reasons for that.
Unlike other live albums that focus on a single concert or tour, "Stages" is composed of performances recorded over several years, from different venues during the band's tours for "Allied Forces" (1981), "Never Surrender" (1982) and "Thunder Seven" (1984). This patchwork approach results in a lack of continuity between songs, with audience noise fading in and out awkwardly, creating a sense that the album is more of a compilation than a cohesive live experience. The transitions, while not entirely jarring, do affect the flow, making it difficult for the listener to feel immersed in a single concert atmosphere. This production choice may have contributed to "Stages" not achieving the classic status of other live albums from the same period, such as "Scorpions'" "World Wide Live" or "Live After Death" by "Iron Maiden" which was released the same day.
However, the song selection is still strong. The album features "Triumph's" best-known songs like “Magic Power,” “Lay It on the Line,” "Follow Your Heart", "Never Surrender" and “Fight the Good Fight,” allowing listeners to hear these radio staples in an energized live setting. The performances are tight, with Rik Emmett’s virtuosic guitar playing shining through on extended solos, and Gil Moore and Mike Levine locking in a powerful rhythm section.
As expected from a live album of that time, the two highlight moments of "Stages" is Gil Moore’s drum solo on "A World of Fantasy," a thrilling moment that demonstrates his technical prowess and power behind the kit, and the crazy Rik Emmett guitar solo during "Rock & Roll Machine," that proves his versatile playing and great technique.
Given the disjointed nature of the live recordings, "Triumph" seemed aware of the album's limitations. As a result, they made the decision to include two new studio tracks: "Mind Games" and "Empty Inside." These songs add a fresh dimension to the album, possibly an attempt to give Stages a broader appeal and to compensate for the fragmented live material. While not groundbreaking, these studio tracks are a welcome addition, giving the album a sense of novelty for fans who might have already owned most of the live songs in their studio form.
Overall, "Stages" succeeds in showcasing "Triumph's" raw talent and their blend of hard rock, progressive elements, and melodic hooks. Still, its impact is somewhat diluted by the inconsistency in the recording sources. While it's not the definitive live album that "Triumph" could have delivered, it remains an essential listen for fans who want to experience the band in a live setting during their peak years and want to own theit two new songs in their discography. Despite its flaws, the album offers enough strong performances and memorable moments to stand as an important part of "Triumph's" discography. For those of you who want to feel a cohesive live exprience by "Triumph", you should probably try "Triumph - Live at the US Festival".
For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music
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