HEADS OR TALES
Saga
•Crossover Prog
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Studio Album, released in 1983 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. The Flyer (3:43) - Michael Sadler / lead vocals, keyboards
Artwork: Stephen Durke and to Quinino for the last updates Edit this entry |
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![]() | Heads or Tales Polydor 1994 | $9.04 $7.52 (used) |
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![]() | Saga - Heads Or Tales - Polydor - 815 410-1 Polydor | $12.48 (used) |

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SAGA Heads Or Tales ratings distribution
(174 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(21%)
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(36%)
Good, but non-essential (34%)
Collectors/fans only (8%)
Poor. Only for completionists (1%)
SAGA Heads Or Tales reviews
Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings
Collaborators/Experts Reviews
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Folk

PROG REVIEWER

SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

Rating: 4.5 stars
PROG REVIEWER

PROG REVIEWER

Four solid stars.
PROG REVIEWER

The flyer is a nice opener, an imediate proof that Saga has headed for another direction. Catwalk is somewhat more quiet and slow same as Sound of strangers. Next two have always been a couple to me, Intermission and The Writing are obvious progressive tracks in my opinion. The Vendetta and Social Orphan are once again examples of the more popular style.
Next is the ballad of the album, Scratching the surface is a nice sensitive track, a side we don't see too often by Saga. Last song on my version (the original that is) is Pitchman, the absolute highlight to me. I visited quite some gigs by Saga (fortunately they often visited The Netherlands, I'm greatful for that) and they several times played this magnificent song. One of their best ever.
But also the overall feeling about this album is positive for me though it's absolutely not the best effort in their history. 4 stars (3,75) is what this deserves.
PROG REVIEWER

"The Flyer" still does it for me after all these years. I'm surprised at how prominant the bass is here and throughout this record. Nice guitar solo after 1 1/2 minutes. "Catwalk" is supposed to be one of their hits but I don't know it. Chunky bass and lots of synths and sax.The guitar comes to the fore quite often. Just not a fan. "The Sounds Of Strangers" is where they tone it down some. I like the guitar and drums late but that's about it. "The Writing" opens with synths before drums and vocals join in.The guitar comes and goes. It's kind of poppy 3 minutes in. Big finish.
"Intermission" has an almost spacey mood to it, very relaxed. The guitar is crying out late. "Social Orphan" is catchy and uptempo with prominant bass. "The Vendetta (Still Helpless)" is poppy with a catchy beat. Lots of synths and the guitar after 2 1/2 minutes in good. "Scratching The Surface" is my favourite on this disc. Pulsating synths and percussion lead the way as those great vocals come in. Very uplifting for me. I miss those days. "Pitchman" has an 80's sound to it. Haha.
3.5 stars. I still feel that "Don't Be Late" from "Silent Knight" is my favourite song from them. The atmosphere does it for me on that track.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

In some sense they remind me the story of another (great) prog-pop group - Roxy Music. So, now there are mainly pop elements in their music, which they 're mixing with prog arrangements.
Songs are shorter, more radio oriented, but still enough competent. For sure, the pop orientation isn't secret anymore. But music is still enough pleasant.
As for me, this is last Saga album for years,which still is acceptable for listening.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Metal Team

Big was my disappointment when I went back through their discography and concluded that they had played about every good track they ever made. Apparently, I completely agreed with Saga on only one point: which were their good songs and which were not.
However, the 1983 studio album wasn't a disappointment. Despite its overproduced sound, this one finally has 9 equally consistent songs. It has plenty of variation, the playing is tight and the vocals are intense. Unfortunately that was it for Saga. I haven't heard one single good song from them ever since. 3.5 stars.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

After the great debut in 1978, Images at Twilight was disappointing and it wasn't till '81s Worlds Apart these lifers began to hit a real stride. This, their fifth, kept the momentum going with a bright and lively offering that showcased Ian Crichton's delicious guitar phrasing in particular, as well as the clever arrangements of Jim Crichton and Michael Sadler. Hit 'The Flyer' is a fresh-faced daydream of aviation in a Tom Sawyer kind of vein, 'Catwalk' yields little more than Ian Crichton's searing guitar, and odd 'The Sound of Strangers' continues Michael Sadler's preoccupation with paranoia and features one of the best guitar flourishes of all time. The Sadler/Crichton knack for songwriting is shown-off for 'The Writing'; 80s Sting pop/pap of 'Intermission' slowly drags through; all-too-bouncy 'Social Orphan'; catchy and well-crafted 'The Vendetta' with more killer chops from Ian; incomprehensible Men Without Hats-like 'Scratching the Surface'; and rather excellent pop beat 'Pitchman' protects the rear.
Though not their best, Heads or Tales is representative of both the best of what Saga was doing at the time and what would give them a lukewarm rep in rock circles, and it is an entirely decent record.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Symphonic Team

Worlds Apart was Saga's breakthrough album and this follow-up is in some ways a continuation of its immediate predecessor but also a clear step further away from progressive Rock and towards more commercial pastures. In my review of Worlds Apart, I said that it was a kind of transitional album for Saga in being the last album of their early and more progressive period, and - simultaneously - the first album of their more "commercial" period. While there is some truth in this statement, it should not be taken to imply that there is "a world of difference" Worlds Apart and the earlier albums. Heads Or Tales is different. It is an even further streamlined version of Saga and the songs are simpler and less elaborated. Synthesisers dominate the sound (more than ever) and the production is very clean and polished. Given Saga's previous releases, Heads Or Tales was indeed a very natural development for the band and an album very much of its time. I simply don't think it is possible to sound more 80's than this! Personally, I find this album somehow a bit "shallow", but still good.
The progressive aspects of Saga's music are not really here anymore and had declined ever since the self-titled debut. The standout tracks are The Flyer, Scratching The Surface and Pitchman. The other songs are not really memorable. This is a listenable album with a few enjoyable moments, but not far from the greatness of Worlds Apart.
Good, but not essential
Latest members reviews
Saga was the band that got me into progressive rock in the beginning. I am old enough to
remember the release of this album too and all their great albums. Listening to the older Saga
brings back a lot of both bad and good memories from many years ago.
Today, I would not brand Saga a prog ro
... (read more)
Report this review (#307066) | Posted by toroddfuglesteg | Thursday, October 28, 2010 | Review Permanlink
Crichton absolutely kills on this album!! Pitchman is a highlight for me, nice funky groove and some
stellar guitar pyrotechnics at the end. (But of course, you really need to hear Crichton perform
this live.) Flyer and Catwalk kick off the album with aggressive guitar pyrotechnics from Crichton
... (read more)
Report this review (#213224) | Posted by axeman | Friday, May 1, 2009 | Review Permanlink
One of the top albums in the Saga catologue.
A lot of these songs are pop-rock structures, but the soloing is outstanding.
Saga always managed to turn seemingly easylistening popsongs into well crafted heavy prog.
Songs like Flyer and Social Orphan are straight-on heavy rock.
Intermission is bea
... (read more)
Report this review (#189381) | Posted by Kingsnake | Saturday, November 15, 2008 | Review Permanlink
Four stars and a half. This is a fine album with very well arranged songs but the sound
they've chosen for this work is not what I like and it isn't marks the typical sound of the
band. Here SAGA was trying to sound more pop album by album, and it's not a bad point,
but I prefer the symphonic-
... (read more)
Report this review (#17545) | Posted by porcupine_boy | Thursday, February 24, 2005 | Review Permanlink
Another great album by SAGA, Ian Crichton really shines throughout & on the version of "The Flyer"(7:44) solos into the upper atmosphere much like he did on the debut album on the track"Tired World". Songs 3/4/5 are also strong.
... (read more)
Report this review (#17540) | Posted by | Thursday, December 11, 2003 | Review Permanlink
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