"The Flyer" by Saga

Song#:  1706
Date:  11/26/1983
Debut:  82
Peak:  79
Weeks:  3
Genre:  Prog Rock



Pop Bits:  Canadian band Saga broke through to the US with their fifth album Worlds Apart. That LP was boosted by the #3 Rock track (#26 Pop) "On the Loose." They retained producer Rupert Hine for their next effort, Heads or Tales. This first single got a little traction at Rock where it peaked at #17, but it was unable to really make any kind of dent in the Pop chart. It would end up being their final Pop chart entry. The song would be a non-starter in their home country where it missed the chart completely. Despite the lack of a hit single, the LP went to #17 in Canada and would eventually go gold there. It would also be a Top 10'er in several European countries.

ReduxReview:  Well, this song is certainly no "On the Loose," but it's good in a Fixx kind of way. They have the same producer (Hine), so it's not surprising the bands sound a bit similar. Hine's production is excellent, as usual, but there is not much here for a Pop audience to grab on to and remember. However, the song itself kind of drew me in and I wouldn't mind digging up the album to see what it had to offer. I've seen a couple good write-ups about it. As far as the single goes, definitely not bad, but it's not really chart-worthy.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Although the band's charting career in their home country of Canada would end in 1987 with their album Wildest Dreams, they would remain very popular in Germany in the following years. Since Worlds Apart reached #2 in that country in 1981, all but two of their next eighteen albums reached the German chart. Their latest effort as of this writing, 2014's Sagacity, hit #17.

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