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Our Top 10 Triumph Songs list takes a look at one of the most loved Canadian rock and roll bands to achieve commercial success in the 1980s. Many of the fans of the band have often claimed that Triumph is one of the most underrated bands of all time. However, based on their huge fan base, they seem to have gotten such incredible adoration that may actually prove they were indeed as celebrated as they should have been. Sounding somewhere between Rush and Asia, Triumph released power rock songs scored with sweet sounding melodies that were highly addicting. Their sound was fueled by a trio of brilliant virtuoso musicians who delivered music of substance. The trio of musicians including Rik Emmett on guitar and vocals, Mike Levine on bass and Gil Moore on drums released nine studio albums together from 1976 to 1987. The band’s last studio album released in 1993 featured Phil Xenidis replacing Rik Emmett who had left the band. In 2007, Rik Emmett rejoined the band.
Our Top 10 Triumph songs list looks back at some of the band’s most successful commercial singles and album tracks. The article serves as an introduction to the band for those who may not be too familiar with Truimph’s music. We hope it inspires those to further dig into Triumph’s great catlog of rock albums.
# 10 – A World Of Fantasy
We open up our top 10 Triumph Songs list with the great rocker “A World Of Fantasy.” The song was first released on the album Never Surrender. The album was released in 1992. The song was also issued on the fantastic live album Stages which was released in 1985. The version the band recorded and released on the live album is presented here. Triumph was such a great live act. We had to include at least one live track on this top 10 Triumph songs list. This one really shows of the band’s great drummer Gil Moor who unleashes a furious drum solo starting around the four minute mark. Check this one out…….. a lot of flange
# 9 – Rocky Mountain Way
Well, since we covered one live song, we might as well present a great cover song. Bands like Triumph who define brilliant musicianship are usually a lot of fun to listen to when they cover classic songs. We have always loved the way the band covered Joe Walsh’s “Rocky Mountain Way.” The song was written by Joe Walsh, Joe Vitale, Rocke Grace and our friend Kenny Passarelli. Triumph tears it up on this one. The song was released on Triumph’s second album entitled Rock & Roll Machine. The record was released in 1977.
# 8 – Spellbound
We continue with our top 10 Triumph Songs list with the killer rock song “Spellbound.” This smoking song was released on the album Thunder Seven. The album was released in 1984. The song “Spellbound,” was the album’s opening track. It was also released as the second single from the album.
# 7 – Follow Your Heart
While “Spellbound,” was the second single released from the Thunder Seven album, the record’s first single was the fabulous track presented here entitled “Follow Your Heart.” The song and the album was produced by the legendary Eddie Kramer which had worked with such classic rock artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, and so many more.
# 6 – Fight The Good Fight
Triumph’s single “Fight the Good Fight” was released on the band’s very popular album Allied Forces. The album was released in 1981. The song did very well in the United States. “Fight the Good Fight” reached the top 20 of the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
# 5 – Never Surrender
“Never Surrender,” was the title track from the great Never Surrender album. The album was released in 1982. Just love the opening of this great tune. Great changes and the drums sound awesome. These guys are on fire in this tune. Listen to that vocal line by Rick when he holds that long note.. The bass is kicking. They sound a lot like Rush on this one.
# 4 – Somebody’s Out There
One of the most popular Triumph songs released in the second half of the 1980s was the classic Triumph track entitled “Somebody’s Out There.” The song was released on the band’s eighth album entitled The Sport of Kings. The album was released in 1986. “Somebody’s Out There” hit number nine on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream rock tracks and number thirty seven on on the Top 100. It was one of the band’s most successful songs from a commercial standpoint.
# 3 – Hold On
We wonder how many bands have songs titled “Hold On,”….Great White, Deep Purple, Santana, Fleetwood Mac, Wilson Phillips, Hootie & The Blowfish etc….. Well so does Triumph and it’s a great one. It was also a pretty big hit. The song was released in 1979 on their album Just A Game. The song reached the Billboard Top 40.
# 2 – Lay It on The Line
We had a hard time choosing between the classic song “Lay It On The Line,” and “Magic Power for the top spot on our top 10 Triumph songs list. In the end “Magic Power,” edged out “Lay It On The Line,” by just a bit. Nonetheless, the song “Lay It On The Line,” stands as one of the great progressive rock tracks ever released in classic rock history. The song was a staple on MTV during the network’s early days. The band’s performance on this song was a celebration of brilliant musicianship and talent. This incredibly well written song is a classic that never gets old.
“Lay It On The Line,” was released on the album Just a Game. The album was released in 1979. It was the band’s third studio album. The song “Lay It On The Line,” was not originally a commercial success. It peaked at number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 and only at number 72 on the Canadian charts. However, the song did get a ton of airplay and became more popular in the early 1980s when MTV put the video below into heavy rotation.
# 1 – Magic Power
We close out our top 10 Triumph Songs list with the spectacular ballad “Magic Power.” This song just makes me feel great every time I hear it. And quite simply that is the print of rock and roll and basically any other art form. If the art doesn’t heal, doesn’t make you feel better, than its failed. Triumph’s great track “Magic Power,” succeeds in every way. And of course it’s a great freaking song. The song was released in 1981 on the great album Allied Forces. “Magic Power,” became one of the band’s most popular songs. It would become their highest charting song in their native home of Canada. It was the band’ third biggest hit in the U.S. on the Billboard Top 100.
