TRIUMPH the sport of kings MCA-5786
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Artist = TRIUMPH
Title = the sport of kings
Label = MCA
Catalog# = MCA-5786
Barcode = 076732578612
Release = USA
Year =
RPM = 33rpm
Disc Size = 12"
Number of Discs = 1
Mono/Stereo = stereo
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A Polished Triumph: The Sport Of Kings (MCA-5786)
Today’s entry focuses on the eighth studio album from the Canadian hard rock power trio, Triumph. We are looking at the 1986 US pressing of The Sport Of Kings, released on MCA Records with the catalog number MCA-5786.
Released in 1986, this album represents the band’s most determined push into the mainstream American AOR (Album Oriented Rock) market. Following the trends of the mid-80s, Triumph refined their sound, smoothing out the hard rock edges in favor of lush production, synthesizers, and radio-friendly hooks. This shift drew comparisons to bands like Survivor and the Ron Nevison-produced era of Heart.
The album was a commercial success, reaching #33 on the US Billboard charts. It features the hit single Somebody’s Out There, a catchy, mid-tempo rocker that received heavy FM airplay. The opening track, Tears In The Rain, sets the tone with its polished melodic rock sound.
Despite the commercial sheen, the band’s musicianship remains top-tier. Rik Emmett’s soaring high-tone vocals and guitar work are the centerpiece. Fans of the band’s heavier roots often point to the sequence of the Spanish guitar interlude Embrujo flowing into the hard-driving Play With The Fire as the album’s artistic peak, showcasing emotional solos and the trio’s instrumental prowess.
MCA-5786 captures a specific moment in 80s rock history where technical proficiency met high-gloss production. While some die-hard fans prefer their grittier earlier work or the subsequent album Surveillance, The Sport Of Kings remains a key bestseller in their catalog, perfect for fans of sophisticated, melodic arena rock.