Just a Game (album)

This article is about the album. For the previously lost song by Change to Win, see Just a Game (Change to Win song). For other uses, see Just a Game.

Just a Game is the third studio album by Canadian hard rock band Triumph, released in 1979. The album contains one of Triumph's most popular songs on FM album-oriented radio, "Lay it on the Line", and the Top 40 hit "Hold On", which peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at No. 33 in Canada.

Just a Game
Studio album by Triumph
Released	March 1979[1]
Recorded	Fall & Winter 1978
Studio	Sounds Interchange Studios, Toronto and Metalworks Studios, Mississauga, ON
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal
Length	36:22
Label	Attic, RCA, TML
Producer	Mike Levine
Triumph chronology
Rock & Roll Machine (1977) Just a Game (1979) Progressions of Power (1980)
Singles from Just a Game
"Lay It on the Line" "Hold On"
Music video
"Lay It on the Line"" on YouTube
Music video
"Hold On" on YouTube

Artwork

The vinyl LP version of the album featured a sleeve that folded open to reveal a board game (though later pressings just contained a regular vinyl sleeve without this). According to a Rockline interview, the board game was Rik Emmett's idea, but Mike Levine was the one who actually designed it and decided to make it impossible to win.

The front cover of the album revealed a futuristic world where every symbol depicts a song featured on the album.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]

The Globe and Mail wrote that, "as Rush has become bogged down in a sea of pretention, Triumph has stuck to the basics and honed its heavy-metal drone to a steely edge."^[3]

Track listing

Vinyl release

Side 1

1. "Movin' On" (Moore) – 4:07
2. "Lay It on the Line" (Emmett) – 4:02
3. "Young Enough to Cry" (Moore) – 6:03
4. "American Girls" (Moore) – 5:01

Side 2

1. "Just a Game" (Emmett) – 6:13
2. "Fantasy Serenade" (Emmett) – 1:39
3. "Hold On" (Emmett) – 6:04
4. "Suitcase Blues" (Emmett) – 3:01

Cassette release

1. "Movin' On" (Moore) – 4:07
2. "Young Enough to Cry" (Moore) – 6:03
3. "American Girls" (Moore) – 5:01
4. "Lay It on the Line" (Emmett) – 4:02
5. "Suitcase Blues" (Emmett) – 3:01
6. "Just a Game" (Emmett) – 6:13
7. "Fantasy Serenade" (Emmett) – 1:39
8. "Hold On" (Emmett) – 6:04

CD release

1. "Movin' On" (Moore) – 4:07
2. "Lay It on the Line" (Emmett) – 4:02
3. "Young Enough to Cry" (Moore) – 6:03
4. "American Girls" (Moore) – 5:01
5. "Just a Game" (Emmett) – 6:13
6. "Fantasy Serenade" (Emmett) – 1:39
7. "Hold On" (Emmett) – 6:04
8. "Suitcase Blues" (Emmett) – 3:01

Personnel

• Rik Emmett – guitars, vocals
• Gil Moore – drums, vocals
• Mike Levine – bass, keyboards
• Laurie Delgrande – keyboards
• Mike Danna – keyboards
• Beau David – background vocals
• Elaine Overholt – background vocals
• Gord Waszek – background vocals
• Colina Phillips – background vocals
• Rosie Levine – background vocals

Production

• Michael Levine – producer
• Mike Jones – engineer
• Doug Neil – assistant
• George Semkiw – remixing
• Hugh Cooper – assistant
• John Golden – digital mastering
• Brett Zilahi – digital re mastering
• Rene Zamic – cover illustration
• Gary Kremnitz – photography
• Lynne Waggett – photography
• Jim Murray – photography

Charts

Chart (1979)	Peak position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[4]	19
US Billboard 200[5]	48

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[6]	Platinum	100,000^
United States (RIAA)[7]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.