IN TRANSIT

In Transit is the first Saga album I bought, back in 1982 when I was 13. Although Saga wasn't very popular on commercial radio, the band had a solid reputation among young fans of hard rock and progressive rock. Its melodic side made it more accessible to the uninitiated than some of the heavier or more complex prog bands. The album was recorded during the Worlds Apart tour in Europe - in my opinion, the band's best studio album.

In Transit feels like a kind of "best-of" from the 1978-1982 period, featuring superb, fairly progressive songs like "Don't Be Late", alongside more hard rock-oriented tracks like "Wind Him Up" and "On the Loose."

The production is excellent, with all instruments clearly audible. Jim Gilmour is an outstanding keyboard player - the synthesizers are prominent (think Rush Signals) but they never overshadow guitarist Ian Crichton, who shines with several excellent solo. And of course, Michael Sadler delivers a strong vocal performance throughout.

Saga is a cult band with thousands of fans in Europe (especially in Germany) and in Canada. Their music isn't pure prog, but it's highly enjoyable - somewhere between Rush (circa '80), Kansas, Marillion, and Styx, while still having something unique that's hard to define.

An excellent live album with great songs and superb musicianship.

3.7/5

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