Rock & Roll Machine

by Triumph

Overview

Rock & Roll Machine was Triumph's second official release in their native Canada, but is known to most fans worldwide as the first, since it was repackaged and resequenced with half of their eponymous debut shortly after the band inked a new global contract with MCA Records. All this became the source of much confusion over the ensuing years, but was finally rectified somewhat in 1999, when the definitive CD reissue of the band's entire catalog restored both albums to their original Canadian track listings. The only downside to this, of course, is that, for a large number of fans, a once formidable album was suddenly transformed into two significantly less spectacular offerings, but such is life. Like many Triumph albums that followed, Rock & Roll Machine opens with a rousing Gil Moore hard rock stomper, "Takes Time," before giving way to one of Rik Emmett's more melodically inclined numbers, "Bringing It on Home," which gave many listeners their first taste of his vocal resemblance to Rush singer Geddy Lee (a similarity that would haunt Triumph throughout their career). Of note, Rock & Roll Machine also boasts some of the band's most daring forays into progressive rock pomposity, via the two-part "New York City Streets" (the first mixing MOR and jazzy bits; the second returning to hard rock) and the three-part "City" suite, which includes a brief snatch of Holst's The Planets and some stupendous Spanish guitar work from Emmett on the hilariously named segment "El Duende Agonizante" (which roughly translates to "The Agonizing Gnome"). But the album closes with power, thanks to the title track's muscular return to Triumph's natural heavy rock element, including a full-fledged guitar solo section midway through -- making it a natural concert staple for years to come. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

Product Details

Release Date:	04/12/2005
Label:	Tml Entertainment Inc.
UPC:	0713137800220

Tracks

1. Takes Time
2. Bringing It on Home
3. Little Texas Shaker
4. New York City Streets, Pt. 1
5. New York City Streets, Pt. 2
6. The City: War March/El Duende Agonizante/Minstrel's Lament
7. Rocky Mountain Way
8. Rock & Roll Machine

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Triumph   Primary Artist
Mike Levine   Keyboards,Guitar (Bass)
Gil Moore   Drums,Vocals,Percussion
Rik Emmett   Guitar,Vocals
Colina Phillips   Vocals (Background)
Beau David   Vocals (Background)
Gord Waszek   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Triumph   Composer
Gil Moore   Composer
Rik Emmett   Composer
Rocke Grace   Composer
Robin Brouwers   Assistant
Kenny Passarelli   Composer
Doug Hill   Producer
Joe Vitale   Composer
Joe Walsh   Composer
Mark Wright   Engineer
George Semkiw   Remixing
Peter Woods   Crew
John Hanna   Design
Greg Biribauer   Crew
R. Emmett   Composer
Jim Murray & the Caravan   Photography
Jeff Stobbs   Assistant
Dave Dickson   Crew
Mike Levine   Composer,Producer