Thunder Seven
Encyclopedia
Thunder Seven is a concept album
by the Canadian
Heavy Metal band Triumph
, released in November 1984. It was the band's seventh studio album
. The album examines the actions and abnormalities of man at the turn of the 21st century.
The album was certified gold in the US
by the RIAA, with sales of over 500,000 copies, on April 21, 2003, almost nineteen years after its initial release.
"Follow Your Heart
" was the band's highest charting single of the time, reaching #88 in both the UK and the US. Though another single was released under the form of "Spellbound", the single didn't prove as successful, only charting in Canada, and barely scraping the top 100.
Thunder Seven was the last Triumph
album to not feature any outside writers; prior to this, no album featured non-band songwriters since Rock and Roll Machine
(1977).
and was a mechanized version of the Vitruvian Man
by Leonardo Da Vinci
. The cover is a visible element of the album's concept, in which the band examines the actions and abnormalities of man at the turn of the 21st century.
, Mike Levine and Rik Emmett
, except where noted.
with
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
by the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Heavy Metal band Triumph
Triumph (band)
Triumph is a Canadian hard rock power trio that was popular in the late 1970s through the 1980s. Eight of the band's albums were certified gold or higher, and Triumph was nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including Group of the Year Award in 1979, 1985, 1986 and 1987.Like their fellow Canadians...
, released in November 1984. It was the band's seventh studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
. The album examines the actions and abnormalities of man at the turn of the 21st century.
The album was certified gold in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by the RIAA, with sales of over 500,000 copies, on April 21, 2003, almost nineteen years after its initial release.
"Follow Your Heart
Follow Your Heart (song)
"Follow Your Heart" is a hard rock song and the fourth track from Triumph's 1984 album Thunder Seven. It reached number 35 on the Canada pop chart; number 88 in the U.S....
" was the band's highest charting single of the time, reaching #88 in both the UK and the US. Though another single was released under the form of "Spellbound", the single didn't prove as successful, only charting in Canada, and barely scraping the top 100.
Thunder Seven was the last Triumph
Triumph (band)
Triumph is a Canadian hard rock power trio that was popular in the late 1970s through the 1980s. Eight of the band's albums were certified gold or higher, and Triumph was nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including Group of the Year Award in 1979, 1985, 1986 and 1987.Like their fellow Canadians...
album to not feature any outside writers; prior to this, no album featured non-band songwriters since Rock and Roll Machine
Rock and Roll Machine
Rock and Roll Machine was the second album by Canadian hard rock band Triumph, released in 1977. The album was released on RCA Records in the US in 1978 and again on MCA Records in 1980. The album resulted in the band's first hit single, a cover version of Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way"...
(1977).
Artwork
The album cover was illustrated by artist Dean MotterDean Motter
Dean Motter is an illustrator, designer and writer who worked for many years in Toronto, Canada, New York City, and Atlanta. Motter is best known as the creator and designer of Mister X, one of the most influential "new-wave" comics of the 1980s....
and was a mechanized version of the Vitruvian Man
Vitruvian Man
The Vitruvian Man is a world-renowned drawing created by Leonardo da Vinci circa 1487. It is accompanied by notes based on the work of the famed architect, Vitruvius. The drawing, which is in pen and ink on paper, depicts a male figure in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart and...
by Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
. The cover is a visible element of the album's concept, in which the band examines the actions and abnormalities of man at the turn of the 21st century.
Track listing
All tracks written by Gil MooreGil Moore
Gil Moore is most famous for being the drummer and vocalist of the Canadian power trio, Triumph...
, Mike Levine and Rik Emmett
Rik Emmett
Richard Gordon Emmett is a vocalist, guitarist, and founding member of the Canadian rock band Triumph. Emmett left Triumph in 1988 to pursue a solo career. His first solo album, Absolutely, was released in 1990 and became a moderate hit across North America thanks to the hits "When a Heart...
, except where noted.
Side one
- "Spellbound" – 5:11
- "Rock Out, Roll On" – 5:18
- "Cool Down" – 4:51
- "Follow Your HeartFollow Your Heart (song)"Follow Your Heart" is a hard rock song and the fourth track from Triumph's 1984 album Thunder Seven. It reached number 35 on the Canada pop chart; number 88 in the U.S....
– 3:27
Side two
- "Time Goes By" – 6:02
- "Midsummer's Daydream" (Rik Emmett) – 1:41
- "Time Canon" – 1:31
- "Killing Time" – 4:14
- "Stranger in a Strange Land" – 5:15
- "Little Boy Blues" – 3:43
Singles
- "Follow Your HeartFollow Your Heart (song)"Follow Your Heart" is a hard rock song and the fourth track from Triumph's 1984 album Thunder Seven. It reached number 35 on the Canada pop chart; number 88 in the U.S....
"/"Stranger in a Strange Land" - MCA 52540; released December 8, 1984 (US, Canada and UK) - "Spellbound"/"Cool Down" - MCA-52520; released December 8, 1984 (Canada, UK and US)
- "Killing Time"/"Rock Out Roll On" - MCA 52635; Promo; December 15, 1984 (US and Canada)
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| December 8, 1984 | Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
37 |
| December 8, 1984 | The Billboard 200 | 35 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | "Follow Your Heart Follow Your Heart (song) "Follow Your Heart" is a hard rock song and the fourth track from Triumph's 1984 album Thunder Seven. It reached number 35 on the Canada pop chart; number 88 in the U.S.... " |
Pop Singles | 88 |
| 1984 | "Spellbound" | Pop Singles | 97 |
Personnel
- Rik EmmettRik EmmettRichard Gordon Emmett is a vocalist, guitarist, and founding member of the Canadian rock band Triumph. Emmett left Triumph in 1988 to pursue a solo career. His first solo album, Absolutely, was released in 1990 and became a moderate hit across North America thanks to the hits "When a Heart...
– vocals, guitars, bass guitar, music sequencer, synthesizer, clavinet, bass pedals - Gil MooreGil MooreGil Moore is most famous for being the drummer and vocalist of the Canadian power trio, Triumph...
– drums, percussion, vocals - Michael Levine – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, keyboards, synthesizers, organ, clavinet, bass pedals
with
- Lou Pomanti – synthesizer, keyboards, programming, producer
- Al Rogers – background vocals
- Sandee Bathgate – background vocals
- Dave Dickson – background vocals
- Herb Moore – background vocals
- Andy Holland – background vocals
Production
- Eddie KramerEddie KramerEdwin H. Kramer is an audio engineer and producer who has worked with, among others, Led Zeppelin, Triumph, Kiss , Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Spooky Tooth, Peter Frampton, Curtis Mayfield, Santana, Anthrax, Carly Simon, Loudness, and Robin Trower.-1960s:Eddie...
– producer, mixer - Ed Stone – engineer
- Hugh Cooper – mixing
- Noel Golden – assistant engineer
- Yoshiro Kuzumaki – mastering on original LP
- Bob LudwigBob LudwigBob Ludwig is an American mastering engineer.He is a well known and respected figure within the music industry. His name is credited on the covers of albums released across the world, and he has won numerous awards....
– mastering on CD issues - Brett Zilahi – re-mastering on 2004 re-issue
- Dean MotterDean MotterDean Motter is an illustrator, designer and writer who worked for many years in Toronto, Canada, New York City, and Atlanta. Motter is best known as the creator and designer of Mister X, one of the most influential "new-wave" comics of the 1980s....
– art direction, illustration, design