Thunder Seven is the seventh studio album by Canadian hard rock band Triumph, released in November 1984. Three songs on the second half of the album follow a concept based on time-related themes.

Thunder Seven
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 19, 1984 (1984-11-19)[1]
RecordedJuly–August 1984[2]
StudioMetalworks (Mississauga, Ontario)
GenreHard rock, heavy metal
Length40:51
LabelMCA
Producer
Triumph chronology
Never Surrender
(1982)
Thunder Seven
(1984)
Stages
(1985)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]

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. "Spellbound" was also released as a single, though it did not prove as successful, only charting in Canada and barely scraping the top 100.[4]

Thunder Seven was the last Triumph album that did not feature any outside writers. All prior Triumph albums, with the exception of 1977's Rock & Roll Machine, were written entirely by the band members.

Artwork

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The album cover is illustrated by artist Dean Motter and is a mechanized version of the Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci.

Track listing

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All tracks written by Gil Moore, Mike Levine and Rik Emmett, except where noted.

Side one

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  1. "Spellbound" – 5:11 (lead vocals: Gil Moore)
  2. "Rock Out, Roll On" – 5:18 (lead vocals: Rik Emmett)
  3. "Cool Down" – 4:51 (lead vocals: Rik Emmett)
  4. "Follow Your Heart" – 3:27 (lead vocals: Gil Moore & Rik Emmett)

Side two

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  1. "Time Goes By" – 6:02 (lead vocals: Rik Emmett)
  2. "Midsummer's Daydream" (Rik Emmett) – 1:41 (instrumental)
  3. "Time Canon" – 1:31 (lead vocals: Rik Emmett)
  4. "Killing Time" – 4:14 (lead vocals: Rik Emmett & Gil Moore)
  5. "Stranger in a Strange Land" – 5:15 (lead vocals: Rik Emmett)
  6. "Little Boy Blues" – 3:43 (instrumental)

Singles

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  • "Follow Your Heart"/"Stranger in a Strange Land" - MCA 52540; released December 1984 (Canada); released February 1985 (US)
  • "Spellbound"/"Cool Down" - MCA-52520; released January 1985 (Canada and US)
  • "Killing Time"/"Rock Out Roll On" - MCA 52635; Promo; December 1985 (US and Canada)

Personnel

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  • Rik Emmett – vocals, guitars, bass guitar, music sequencer, Prophet 5 synthesizer, Roland Jupiter 8, Synclavier, Fairlight CMI Series III, Clavinet, bass pedals
  • Gil Moore – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Michael Levine – bass guitar, keyboards, Prophet 5 synthesizer, Synclavier, 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

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  • Eddie Kramer – producer, mixer
  • Ed Stone – engineer
  • Hugh Cooper – mixing
  • Noel Golden – assistant engineer
  • Yoshiro Kuzumaki – mastering on original LP
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering on CD issues
  • Brett Zilahi – re-mastering on 2004 re-issue
  • Dean Motter – art direction, illustration, design

Charts

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Chart (1984–1985) Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[5] 37
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[6] 43
US Billboard 200[7] 35

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[8] Platinum 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[9] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "RIAA certifications". Recording Industry Association of America.
  2. ^ Liner notes.
  3. ^ Allmusic review
  4. ^ Homepage | The Official Community of Triumph
  5. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0523". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Triumph – Thunder Seven". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "Triumph Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  8. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Triumph – Thunder Seven". Music Canada.
  9. ^ "American album certifications – Triumph – Thunder Seven". Recording Industry Association of America.
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