Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Alright, I’ve gotten more requests for this band than any of the last couples years… and they are definitely one of the most under-appreciated bands in rock history. —a group that sold 10 million albums and became superstars in Europe. But back here in America, they are a well-kept secret. Their debut album accidentally became a massive import hit in Germany, selling 50,000 copies before anyone even knew what was happening. And the country has loved them ever since. For this one, we’re gonna count down my Top 3 picks from their catalog, which includes one song where the lead singer wasn’t hitting the vocals with enough intensity. So his producer set up the mic stand on a crossbeam 35 feet in the in air in an old barn. And he made this singer climb up there and record the track. Would this circus stunt bring out the best in this vocalist, or would it completely backfire? We’ve got the story and even more good stuff coming up next on POR.
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Executive Producer
Brandon Fugal
Honorary Producers
Norman Buchwald, Cliff Konstans, Steve DocPinko Cloutier, Jenny Blaxell, Jason Elliott, AArthriticGamer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to the Professor of Rock Podcast
Apple: apple.co/445fVov
Spotify: spoti.fi/42JpfvU
Amazon: amzn.to/44b5D6m
iHeartRadio: bit.ly/444h8MO
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Patreon: bit.ly/ProfessorofRockVIPFan
Merch Store: professor-of-rock-lsn-shop.fourthwall.com
Instagram: bit.ly/Instagram_Professor_of_Rock
#classicrock #80smusic #80srock #onehitwonder
Hey Music Junkies I’ve got a short and sweet video for you today on a band that I’ve received more request for than anything over the last few years.. if you know them You’ll be psyched it you don’t know them you’ll be over the moon to discover them. It’s Saga! Let’s get into it. In 1977, just outside Toronto in Oakville, Ontario, a group of musicians were about to create something that would leave a lasting mark on progressive rock. Rising from the ashes of an earlier band called Pockets, Saga was born. The founding lineup featured vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Michael Sadler, bassist Jim Crichton, his brother Ian Crichton on guitar, drummer Steve Negus, and keyboardist Jim Gilmour. Together, they crafted a sound that blended the technical brilliance of prog with infectious melodies and a futuristic, sci-fi edge. Their self-titled debut hit shelves in 1978, and right out of the gate, fate smiled on them. A Toronto record store started exporting Canadian albums to Germany, and before anyone knew what was happening, Saga's debut sold 50,000 copies as an import.
Riding that momentum, Saga returned to the studio in 1979 for their second album, Images at Twilight. The single "It's Time" became their first chart hit, climbing into the Top 10 on Canadian radio. 1980's Silent Knight kept the ball rolling. But it was 1981's Worlds Apart that truly launched Saga into the stratosphere. This album cracked the US Top 30 and went platinum in Canada. The single "On the Loose" became a massive MTV staple and hit # 3 on the US Rock Charts. The success of Worlds Apart turned Saga into road warriors. They toured relentlessly across the US, Canada, and Europe. In 1983, Saga dropped Heads or Tales, and while it didn't match Worlds Apart's numbers in North America, it went to #1 in Germany. The album produced three solid singles: "Scratching the Surface," "The Flyer," and "Catwalk." Around this time, Saga became the first Canadian rock group to perform behind the Iron Curtain. They were also honored with Germany's prestigious Gold Ticket Award for being the year's top-selling concert act. But while they were household names across Europe, especially in Germany and Scandinavia, back home in North America Saga was more of a well-kept secret.
The momentum continued with 1985's Behaviour, which also hit #1 in Germany and found success in the US and Canada. They released two more albums in the 80s,1987's Wildest Dreams, followed by 1989's The Beginner's Guide to Throwing Shapes. The band kept pushing forward, and the 90s saw them experimenting more. In 2007, Michael Sadler, the voice of Saga, departed to focus on his family, but he returned in 2011. And the band kept releasing solid albums and touring internationally throughout the 2000s and beyond. In 2017, after 40 years and 22 studio albums, Saga announced their retirement with "The Final Chapter" farewell tour. Still, the band has continued to play sporadic shows and festivals into the 2020s, proving that their story refuses to end.
Alright, I’ve gotten more requests for this band than any of the last couples years… and they are definitely one of the most under-appreciated bands in rock history. —a group that sold 10 million albums and became superstars in Europe. But back here in America, they are a well-kept secret. Their debut album accidentally became a massive import hit in Germany, selling 50,000 copies before anyone even knew what was happening. And the country has loved them ever since. For this one, we’re gonna count down my Top 3 picks from their catalog, which includes one song where the lead singer wasn’t hitting the vocals with enough intensity. So his producer set up the mic stand on a crossbeam 35 feet in the in air in an old barn. And he made this singer climb up there and record the track. Would this circus stunt bring out the best in this vocalist, or would it completely backfire? We’ve got the story and even more good stuff coming up next on POR.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive Producer
Brandon Fugal
Honorary Producers
Norman Buchwald, Cliff Konstans, Steve DocPinko Cloutier, Jenny Blaxell, Jason Elliott, AArthriticGamer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to the Professor of Rock Podcast
Apple: apple.co/445fVov
Spotify: spoti.fi/42JpfvU
Amazon: amzn.to/44b5D6m
iHeartRadio: bit.ly/444h8MO
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patreon: bit.ly/ProfessorofRockVIPFan
Merch Store: professor-of-rock-lsn-shop.fourthwall.com
Instagram: bit.ly/Instagram_Professor_of_Rock
#classicrock #80smusic #80srock #onehitwonder
Hey Music Junkies I’ve got a short and sweet video for you today on a band that I’ve received more request for than anything over the last few years.. if you know them You’ll be psyched it you don’t know them you’ll be over the moon to discover them. It’s Saga! Let’s get into it. In 1977, just outside Toronto in Oakville, Ontario, a group of musicians were about to create something that would leave a lasting mark on progressive rock. Rising from the ashes of an earlier band called Pockets, Saga was born. The founding lineup featured vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Michael Sadler, bassist Jim Crichton, his brother Ian Crichton on guitar, drummer Steve Negus, and keyboardist Jim Gilmour. Together, they crafted a sound that blended the technical brilliance of prog with infectious melodies and a futuristic, sci-fi edge. Their self-titled debut hit shelves in 1978, and right out of the gate, fate smiled on them. A Toronto record store started exporting Canadian albums to Germany, and before anyone knew what was happening, Saga's debut sold 50,000 copies as an import.
Riding that momentum, Saga returned to the studio in 1979 for their second album, Images at Twilight. The single "It's Time" became their first chart hit, climbing into the Top 10 on Canadian radio. 1980's Silent Knight kept the ball rolling. But it was 1981's Worlds Apart that truly launched Saga into the stratosphere. This album cracked the US Top 30 and went platinum in Canada. The single "On the Loose" became a massive MTV staple and hit # 3 on the US Rock Charts. The success of Worlds Apart turned Saga into road warriors. They toured relentlessly across the US, Canada, and Europe. In 1983, Saga dropped Heads or Tales, and while it didn't match Worlds Apart's numbers in North America, it went to #1 in Germany. The album produced three solid singles: "Scratching the Surface," "The Flyer," and "Catwalk." Around this time, Saga became the first Canadian rock group to perform behind the Iron Curtain. They were also honored with Germany's prestigious Gold Ticket Award for being the year's top-selling concert act. But while they were household names across Europe, especially in Germany and Scandinavia, back home in North America Saga was more of a well-kept secret.
The momentum continued with 1985's Behaviour, which also hit #1 in Germany and found success in the US and Canada. They released two more albums in the 80s,1987's Wildest Dreams, followed by 1989's The Beginner's Guide to Throwing Shapes. The band kept pushing forward, and the 90s saw them experimenting more. In 2007, Michael Sadler, the voice of Saga, departed to focus on his family, but he returned in 2011. And the band kept releasing solid albums and touring internationally throughout the 2000s and beyond. In 2017, after 40 years and 22 studio albums, Saga announced their retirement with "The Final Chapter" farewell tour. Still, the band has continued to play sporadic shows and festivals into the 2020s, proving that their story refuses to end.
