| The Privilege of Power | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Riot |
| Cover: | RiotTPOP.jpg |
| Released: | 1990 |
| Recorded: | December 1988 – September 1989 |
| Studio: | Greene St. Recording, New York City |
| Genre: | Heavy metal, progressive metal |
| Length: | 57:52 |
| Label: | Epic |
| Producer: | Steve Loeb, Vince Perazzo, Rod Hui, Mark Reale |
| Prev Title: | Riot Live |
| Prev Year: | 1989 |
| Next Title: | Riot in Japan – Live!! |
| Next Year: | 1992 |
The Privilege of Power is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Riot. It was more experimental than their previous work, being an attempt at a concept album and also including a horn section on some of the tracks.
"Racing with the Devil on a Spanish Highway" is a cover of an Al Di Meola instrumental track from the album Elegant Gypsy (1977). "Killer" is about convicted killer Jeffrey R. MacDonald and features a guest vocal appearance by Joe Lynn Turner (ex-Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen).
The album was re-issued in 2003 by Collectables Records with slightly amended artwork and re-issued on 180g vinyl as a 2-LP set with Thundersteel by SPV on February 25, 2013.[1]
In 2005, The Privilege of Power was ranked number 354 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.[2]