Marshall Of Rock

Mike Levine, bassist for Canadian rock legends Triumph, is featured in a fantastic new interview with Jeb Wright at Classic Rock Revisited discussing the 30th Anniversary of the Allied Forces album. Check it out below:

Jeb: Allied Forces really skyrocketed the band into new popularity. I loved Just a Game and I liked the next album, Progression of Power, but a lot of other people did not like that one. I will admit it was not as good as the bookends on each side of it. I would guess Progressions of Power did not sell as well.

Mike: That album could have been a career killer. I love the album but it was not what it should have been. We had no time to make that record and that was the problem. We were told we had to have an album out by such and such a date or else. The quality was just okay and the songs were just okay. The best song was “I Live For the Weekend.” The others were okay tunes but it just didn’t come out the way it should have.

Allied Forces was the one that brought it home. We got to make that album at our own studio, Metalworks. The only thing we had to worry about was the delivery date.

Jeb: You guys must have been under a lot of pressure to deliver a hit.

Mike: We were under big pressure. The University of Toronto has an archive of Triumph material, as we donated all of our stuff to the University. I was looking for the tapes for Allied Forces for the 30th anniversary, limited edition, vinyl version we are putting out. We sent an entire semi of stuff to the University, and while it was all boxed up and fairly documented, it still took a lot of searching to find the tapes. In looking for the tapes, I found all of these threatening letters from the record company saying we needed to do this, or do that, and I was sitting there reading these letters, after all these years, and I was getting pretty pissed off about it. I had to stop reading them.

Jeb: Gil was known for the stage show and the light show, Rik was the most musical and you were the businessman and producer. Did you buffer the band from that kind of news, or did they know it was do or die?

Mike: It was well known. It was all full disclosure. In general, I had to go to war with the record company and I needed their blessing, because it could have all blown up.

We knew we had to make a great record this time out. Just a Game had set us up and Progressions of Power had kept us level but knew in our heart of hearts, that we had to make a great record. The record company told us, in no uncertain terms, that we had to make a great record. I told them to stay out of our faces and that we would deliver a great record.

We recorded the album in late 1980. We had the pressure of touring and everything else. The pressure was unbelievable. Back then we were supposed to deliver two albums a year, which was crazy. We were fighting all of these legal battles. Reading those letters again really make me angry.

Read the entire interview here: www.classicrockrevisited.com

Rik Emmett, Gil Moore and Michael Levine of Canadian rock legends TRIUMPH were interviewed on Wednesday night's (September 21) broadcast of the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn. The band was promoting the re-issue of the landmark "Allied Forces" album. Listen to the program in it's entirety below.

Listen here: www.rocklineradio.com
Triumph's 1981 release, "Allied Forces" has been reissued as a 30th-anniversary vinyl edition.The album's tracks are from the original source material (as prepared by the legendary Bob Ludwig), while the packaging itself exactly mirrors the original '81 vinyl version (including the four-color, UV-coated inner sleeve, complete with photos, lyrics and credits). The record itself was pressed on pristine 180-gram vinyl, which also includes a free download card, so fans can download this rock 'n' roll classic, as well as a video, directly to their digital player. The LP is being manufactured by Rainbo Records in Los Angeles, the premier replicator of vinyl in North America. The album features two of Triumph's most beloved and enduring arena rock anthems, "Magic Power" and "Fight the Good Fight". Produced by the bandmembers, the nine-track album was certified platinum and has gone on to sell an impressive 2.5 million copies worldwide.

"I am excited that the 'Allied Forces' LP is being re-released," said Levine. "Vinyl was always my favorite audio format, because it has really nice warmth and depth. Yet another reason to polish up the turntable and crank up the volume!"

"Allied Forces" track listing:

Side A
1. Fool for Your Love
2. Magic Power
3. Air Raid
4. Allied Forces
5. Hot Time (In This City Tonight)

Side B
1. Fight the Good Fight
2. Ordinary Man
3. Petite Etude" instrumental
4. Say Goodbye

Triumph will mark the 30th Anniversary of their platinum selling album ‘Allied Forces’ which has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide on September 19. The Triumph online team has put together this video to take you back to the early 80′s…and outline the "Allied Forces" upcoming re-issue release and bundle.

Triumph’s 1981 release, ‘Allied Forces’, was the album where it all came together for these Canadian prog-metallists – great compositions, great performances, and great album design…back when album designs mattered!

This from Triumphmusic.com:
And now, fans will be able to take a highly welcomed trip down memory lane, as ,‘Allied Forces’ will be reissued as a “30th Anniversary Vinyl Edition” September 22 2011.

The album’s original tracks are from the actual EQ’d masters (as prepared by the legendary Bob Ludwig), while the packaging itself will exactly mirror the original ’81 vinyl version (including the four-color, UV coated inner sleeve, complete with photos, lyrics and credits).

The record itself will be pressed on pristine 180 gram vinyl, which will also include a download card, so fans can download this rock n’ roll classic , as well as a free video, directly to their digital player.

TML Entertainment will be releasing the album, distributed by ADA in the US and UMG in Canada. The LP will be manufactured by Rainbo Records in Los Angeles, the premier replicator of vinyl in North America.

‘Allied Forces’ spawned two of Triumph’s most beloved and enduring arena rock anthems -’Magic Power’ and ‘Fight the Good Fight’. Produced by the group themselves (vocalist/guitarist Rik Emmett, bassist Michael Levine, and vocalist/drummer Gil Moore), the nine-track album was certified Platinum, and has gone on to sell an impressive 2.5 million copies worldwide.

“I am excited that the ‘Allied Forces’ LP is being re-released,” enthuses Levine. “Vinyl was always my favorite audio format, because it has really nice warmth and depth. Yet another reason to polish up the turntable and crank up the volume!”

Additionally, all three members of Triumph, will be debuting the release of the album along with host Bob Coburn, live on Rockline Radio, Wednesday, September 21st (30 years to the week of the album’s original release).

Soon, you will be able to re-create the excitement you experienced when you cruised down to the local record shop to pick up ‘Allied Forces,’ back in the fall of ’81.

Get prepared to fight the good fight once more!

‘Allied Forces’ Track Listing:

Side “A”
“Fool for Your Love” – 4:34
“Magic Power” – 4:54
“Air Raid” – 1:18
“Allied Forces” – 5:05
“Hot Time (In This City Tonight)” – 3:23

Side “B”
“Fight the Good Fight” – 6:16
“Ordinary Man” – 7:17
“Petite Etude” instrumental – 1:15
“Say Goodbye” – 4:34