Behind The Vinyl: "On The Loose" with Michael Sadler from Saga 

This song never gets old or boring. I loved it when it came out in 1982, and it's still fresh and uplifting in 2024!

This song can be categorized as progressive pop rock but it is so freaking melodic! The interplay between the guitar and the keyboards is out of this world. Although it is almost 40 years old, I am positive that we all can agree that this is truly a "timeless classic"!!!

In my opinion, this track has stood the test of time. Still sounds great today. The guitar tone still kicks it.

I miss this kind of music. No auto tune, just artists who poured their heart and soul into their music.

Saga was the most criminally underrated band in the planet. Michael is still one heck of a showman. Incredible musicians, all of them. Greetings from Puerto Rico.

Awesome song. The 80s were fantastic...nothing like that nowadays

I've always wanted to hear Dream Theater do a cover of this.

The Crichton brothers are cousins of friends I grew up with here in Ottawa. I remember the first time I heard this track. Hooked me right then and there.

Few Canadian rock bands other than Rush, have been active as long as Saga or have produced as many albums. I guess I'd be dreaming to think they would ever make the Rock and Roll hall of Frame. 23 Albums over 40 years. Millions of records sold. Sadly more well known in Germany and Canada than in the US. Sadler can still draw over 10,000 to a concert in europe..and they do. Its time we recognized them.

Before Rush, before Yes and before Pink floyd, Saga did it for me and Worlds Apart was a fantastic introduction to prog rock when I was about 11 years old. Michael Sadler is one of my all time favourite vocalist with his unmistakable style.

I still LOVE this song!!! When it first came out, it sounded so powerful...still is!!!

This is one of the best channels on youtube. I just found it today and can't stop watching!

Song that really sent me on the path to being a fan of keyboard heavy rock music that I still love today.

What an amazing song. It shocked the hell out of me when I first heard it in 1981. There was nothing else like it on the radio. Nothing. Everything about the song impressed me; the great, powerful, well-enunciated singing, the keyboards/synths, how powerful and loud it all was, yet wasn't quite Heavy Metal (which I wasn't into yet at that point, anyway). Has always really stood-out as a truly unique song. I guess it did remind me somewhat of Rush, whom I hadn't yet really gotten into at the time.

I was 13 and in 8th grade when I first heard this masterpiece. "On the Loose" was all over the radio. A friend showed me "Wind Him Up" and I was hooked. This album was my first voluntary introduction to prog rock ❤ and between the melodic interplay of the guitars on this song, the hypnotic trance-beats of the later songs, and that prayer-like one that goes "Can you say there's no regret?"... I've loved this album in my memory all these years. I am about to turn 55... "Mayday! Time just marches on! You've been wishing your life away!"

My dad bought this tape after he heard this song on the radio. He was really proud after he installed a cassette player in a 78 Toyota pickup. I knew all the words by heart when I was seven lol

Just caught SAGA at the Arcada last week. They still sound great. Michael's voice hasn't lost anything.

One of those songs that simply doesnt age. My god, a clear warning that my first marriage was doomed. I should have listened. Getting ready for the final round........

What a great vocalist.

Hearing this song transports me back to my adolescence. Simpler times coated with the complexities of youth. Great choice!

You guys need to tour America. You music kicks butt

Saw them on this tour opening for Quiet Riot, whom they blew away. Great album.

Wow, 1981, I had just been out of High School for only 1 year and getting ready for the 80's to take me and the rest of us on one hell of a ride.

Amazing voice. Amazing band live. Never got the credit or success they deserve.

Greetings from Puerto Rico!!!!!!!!!

Every time I hear this song I can’t help but think of Overnight with Andy Frost on Q107 for years.

Amazing song and i love the chorus!

This had a fun video on MTV , back when it was all music, and got a lot of airplay.

The video for this song is great

Soundtrack to my life. For reals! Saga promoting this album was my first rock concert. My first rock concert t-shirt. I could go on forever on this topic...thanks!

What great song

Great song.

Sadler/Saga rocks!

AMAZING VOCALS!!!!!

Still one of my favorite albums!! Still on vinyl!!!

This song just fills my soul.

Hey Michael, been following Saga since 78, my wife and I were at Booba's five star dive bar in Fort Myers Beach for karaoke. My wife went up and asked the dj to find On The Loose...he did, so I sang it.. could have used your help, but it was fun. Super fond memories of Saga over the years...especially when I had my wife and two sons to see one of your concerts in Toronto.

Just today in 2022 - was teaching my 2 friends this song on guitar - never gets old, a true classic song

All of these videos should have 100x the views that they do. This series should be as popular as NPR Tiny Desk. Keep them coming!

Great Song. Brings back memories.

Finally, one on this channel that I loved and never forgot--unlike those I've never heard of or those I forgot. Great channel. If I was Canadian, it would be even better.

I only discovered this song on accident a month ago... I LOVE it!

Greetings from Texas, Never forgot Saga! "Wind him up" is still my favorite.

You couldn't possibly do enough of these videos. LOVE the concept. Listening to the hero's of my youth reflect on their work is amazing.

I dug it,it had a nice drive to it.

All very interesting. Very. But I want to know how at over 60 years old this guy still sounds like the studio version in recent concerts.

Just discovered "Behind the vinyl",thank you for all the videos,i am hooked!

Behind the vinyl.... Fantastic! Make them a little longer!

Camp Mini-yo-we sail camp in Muskoka. This cassette played almost non stop. Golden years.

OMG I was just listening to this last week!! Love it so much and their other one Wind him Up.

My first exposure to SAGA & first 45 I ever bought. Heavy play on MTV. Still love it, melodic earworm in a great way.

This song nailed alot of things! Just a great song!

Ah best music times!

On the Loose, One of My Top ten favorite songs, Wind Him Up as well

I can just see these guys passing a joint around before he walked in, "Hey man. I betcha I can get him to sing a song sitting on that beam up there".

Great song . Such a powerful voice . Saw saga open up for billly squire . Hollywood florida in the 80s. Have to say you guys blew the roof top and the main act. Great band and the vocals so powerful. Ps love the song wind him up. Actually I'm gonna play it now . Thank you for the great music and time .

nice ! been a fan of saga for 30+ years ....now i think my kid digs em too 🎸

Such a beautiful song!

I would get so excited as an 11 year old kid when this video came on MTV. Magic.

Actually saw Saga open for Billy Squier. Great song.

Oh wow, Saga, now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time, I saw them when they toured for this album, I can't remember who they opened for, maybe Def Leppard or someone, must have been 1983, I graduated high school that year and was scheduled to leave for the Army towards the end of September so I saw as many concerts as I could that summer before I left, I remember seeing them, Def Leppard, Krokus, Billy Squire, ZZ Top, Sammy Hagar, Zebra and I think Quiet Riot, I had a ticket to see AC/DC in Pittsburgh about a week before I left on September 21st but several weeks before the show they were having problems with Phil Rudd so the show was delayed indefinitely and I wound up giving the ticket to a friend of mine the day before I left.

Saw Saga in Edmonton on this tour. We were front row center, and got high fives...what a fun band to see. Michael played a 'briefcase drum set' that night..LOL

This was the first song I heard from saga on the radio a year ago. I loved this band ever since!!

damn I'm a fan of Classic Rock and I like hearing how the Song or the Album was made!

I was born with synesthesia. This was one of the first songs I visualized in my head

Good stuff

Great channel!!!! Just discovered this last night!! Saga Worlds Apart great album!!!

Loved the song and the album since the day it was released. Lightning in a bottle on Worlds Apart.

Sophisticated and simple at the same time,sounded like nothing else to my twelve year old ears. The future has become the past.

To write a song such as this would keep me smiling after death.

That was a bad ass song

Love Saga 😀

Fantastic record!!!

That album cover is not the same as the one I purchased. Mine had a woman with sunglasses on. What’s up with that?

It’s amazing that his voice barely changed

Killer song... great memories.

This channel rocks !

Saga masters of progressive New Wave rock...hard to classify...dynamic

By the way, THANK YOU for this channel and this series. I've just become hooked to it. It's so nostalgic and awesome!!!! 👍

Saga!!! Liked Heads Or Tails.

"We'll give you five quid or something" LOL Extraordinary vocalist.

Saga were great

First concert I went to Billy Squire and Saga I was 13.

That’s a bad ass tune:)

holy shit... the lead singer for SAGA is actually Agent 47?????

I agree best of RU-vid so far

No one will stop you now

Sounds great at NHL games

Standard "Bones" Builder MII IFS Kits

Saga was never given the true credit that they deserved in mainstream rock music. Be it the U.S. or other countries. They had a niche... A place that no other band could never fill nor imitate.

I always thought the solo sounded like prototype Dream Theater.

Is this a Canadian channel? Never heard of them.

Does Michael Sadler still wear the same crotch appliance he wore for this video way back when? Just kidding! Love this song!

😀👍🏽

Killer 💯

Good song. Wind him up was good, too.

The album that would make me become a die-hard Saga fan, then go backwards in their catalogue and forward up to now. Thank you Sadler :). One of my favorite vocalists of all time :D.

Why can't I find the original MTV video?

Huge Saga fan. Own every album and DVD. This is really cool.

fucking MTV memories of my youth just barely 11 years old and there was saga on the loose followed by Michael Jackson's Billie Jean Aldo Nova fantasy and of course Rushs subdivisions along with Judas priest and the at almost 12 years old that I never understood what it was just too funky video David Byrne and talking heads once in a lifetime, and Golden earring twilight zone video the short version 4 minutes