#20: Magic Power by Triumph

City: Regina, SK
Radio Station: CJME
Peak Month: November 1981
Peak Position in Regina ~ #5
Peak Position in Vancouver ~ did not chart
Peak Position on Billboard Hot 100 ~ #51
YouTube: “Magic Power”
Lyrics: “Magic Power”

In 1975 three local Toronto rockers, guitarist Rik Emmett, drummer Gil Moore and bass and keyboard player Mike Levine decided to jam on a chance encounter at a club called the Hollywood Tavern on The Queensway in Toronto. They decided to form a band and started to perform in clubs in the local Toronto area. Moore and Emmett did the vocals for this hard rock trio. From their live performances they were able to secure a record deal with Attic Records.

In 1976 they released a self-titled debut album that had limited success, but their live concert  tour caught fire south of the border helping them establish a following, especially in Texas. In 1977, Triumph released Rock and Roll Machine that included a nod to their growing fan base in Texas with “Little Texas Shaker”, the story of a Texan groupie. The album charted in the bottom of the Billboard 200 Album chart. A single was released that was a cover of Joe Walsh’s 1973 hit “Rocky Mountain Way“. The song was originally released on Walsh’s album The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get.

In 1979, the single “Hold On” reached #38 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the lead single from the band’s third album Just A Game. A second track, “Lay It On The Line”, reached #72 on the Canadian RPM Top 100 Singles chart, and #86 on the Hot 100 in America.

From the 1980 album Progressions of Power, “I Can Survive” cracked the Top 100 pop charts in both Canada and the USA. While another track from that album, “I Live For The Weekend”, reached #59 on the UK pop singles chart.

In 1981, Triumph released their fifth studio album titled Allied Forces. Their second single release from the album was “Magic Power”.

The band sings in the chorus “I’m young wild and free, I’ve got the magic power of the music in me.” The magic power of music is the key to dealing with challenges. The verses in the song name of few of these: 1) gaining clarity, 2) shifting from a rotten day to the accessing dreams for your life, 3) feeling sad and lonely, 4) dealing with compromises and “red tape” in a world where music can be your one escape.

“Magic Power” climbed to #5 in Regina (SK), Ottawa, and Toronto, #11 in Kitchener (ON), #14 in Hamilton (ON), Chicago, and Halifax (NS), and #16 in Washington DC.

In 1986, from The Sport of Kings album came “Somebody’s Out There”. The song reached #27 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1992, Edge of Success was the tenth and final studio album released by Triumph.

Triumph have recorded ten studio albums, four live albums and five compilation albums. Of their albums Rock and Roll Machine went double platinum. Three more went platinum, and seven were certified gold. Triumph have been able to continue to sell their albums all the way to the bank based on consistent touring and strong fan support. On April 6, 2008, Triumph was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame as part of the Juno Awards.

Triumph have been generous over the years in donating their star-power to charitable causes. Their largest single charitable contribution was their final appearance at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, January 22, 1987. This was part of the “Sounds United” campaign of the United Way of Canada, Greater Toronto Division. All the proceeds from this concert of $179,356.66 were donated to the United Way. Over the years Triumph has raised in excess of $250,000 through its Signed Guitars Program. And since 2009 Triumph has signed over 100 Fender guitars and donated them to various charities for live and silent auctions, raising between $1,500 and $6,500 each. Individually, Rik Emmett has also contributed guitars for Kids With Cancer, CNIB Ride For Sight and Barrett House Aids Hospice. In 2011 Triumph donated their music and business archives to the University of Toronto Libraries. The appraisers for the university valued Triumph’s donation at over a million dollars at the time.

Moore, Levine and Emmett have participated, together and alone, in many major fundraising events, including the Emmett’s appearance on “Tears Are Not Enough”, the Canadian recording artists hit single for Ethiopian Famine Release in 1985. That single raised over $3.5 million. In January 2005 Gil Moore was on the committee, along with Tom Cochrane and Rush’s Alex Lifeson, and others, who spearheaded the tsunami relief effort, Canada for Asia in response to the need in the Thai Peninsula. In  2007 Triumph was inducted into the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame. This resulted in a reunion and some touring.

May 8, 2026
Ray McGinnis

References:
Triumph – The Band, Triumph.com
Throwback Thursday: Maple Leaf Gardens, 1987, Triumph.com
Triumph Productions, University of Toronto Libraries
Nick Aveling, Q&A: Gil Moore’s Triumphant Return, National Post, May 18, 2010
Erin Duvall, Keith Urban Rocks “Rocky Mountain Way” with Legendary Joe Walsh of The Eagles, One Country.com, June 30, 2016
Joe Walsh bio, Joe Walsh.com
Rik Emmett bio, Rik Emmett.com
Thom Jennings, Catching Up With Mike Levine From Triumph, Rock Show Critique.com, April 27, 2016.

CJME 1300-AM Regina (SK) | November 20, 1981