Survivor (Survivor album)
Encyclopedia
Survivor is the eponymous debut album by the American
rock band Survivor
, released in 1979. It is the group's only album with drummer Gary Smith and bassist Dennis Johnson. The recording sessions, overseen by A&R
executive John Kalodner
, were not without difficulties. First Ron Nevison
replaced Barry Mraz as producer, and then the project had to be taken to Bruce Fairbairn
in Vancouver
to achieve a mix that was to Kalodner's satisfaction. The album took eight months to finally be released.
The album lightly impacted the charts, managing a placement of #169 on the Billboard Hot 100
in the Spring of 1980. However, the opening track "Somewhere In America" was a regional hit in the Chicago
area, and the song "Youngblood", with its dramatic guitar intro, proved to be something of a blueprint for the band's smash hit of two years later, "Eye of the Tiger
".
An additional song recorded for the album, "Rockin' into the Night
", was rejected by Nevison as "too Southern"; it was given to .38 Special
who turned the song into a hit. The original Survivor recording finally became available in 2004 on the compilation Ultimate Survivor.
The single "Rebel Girl" was recorded about a year after the album sessions, though the Japanese release of the album on CD includes it as song number six. The 2010 re-issue on Rock Candy Records appends the song as a bonus track.
The model on the cover of the album is Kim Basinger
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock band Survivor
Survivor (band)
Survivor is an American rock band formed in Chicago in 1978. The band achieved its greatest success in the 1980s with its AOR sound, which garnered many charting singles, especially in the United States. The band is best known for its double platinum-certified 1982 hit "Eye of the Tiger", the theme...
, released in 1979. It is the group's only album with drummer Gary Smith and bassist Dennis Johnson. The recording sessions, overseen by A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
executive John Kalodner
John Kalodner
John David Kalodner is a retired American A&R executive. His achievements included signing Foreigner, AC/DC, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins to Atlantic Records in the seventies....
, were not without difficulties. First Ron Nevison
Ron Nevison
Multi-platinum record producer Ron Nevison, throughout his career, has operated much like a surgeon, brought in during a critical point in a band's career to bring them back to the top from the commercial brink...
replaced Barry Mraz as producer, and then the project had to be taken to Bruce Fairbairn
Bruce Fairbairn
Bruce Earl Fairbairn was a Canadian musician and international record producer from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was active as a producer from 1976 to 1999 and is considered one of the best of his era...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
to achieve a mix that was to Kalodner's satisfaction. The album took eight months to finally be released.
The album lightly impacted the charts, managing a placement of #169 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in the Spring of 1980. However, the opening track "Somewhere In America" was a regional hit in the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area, and the song "Youngblood", with its dramatic guitar intro, proved to be something of a blueprint for the band's smash hit of two years later, "Eye of the Tiger
Eye of the Tiger
"Eye of the Tiger" is a single by American rock band Survivor, from their third album Eye of the Tiger. It was released as a single on May 29, 1982, the same year as the album. It was written at the request of actor Sylvester Stallone, who was unable to get permission for Queen's "Another One Bites...
".
An additional song recorded for the album, "Rockin' into the Night
Rockin' into the Night
Rockin' into the Night is the third studio album by southern rock band 38 Special, released in 1980. It's album cover strongly resembles the album cover of the Canadian Pretty Boy Floyd's Bullets & Lipstik LP....
", was rejected by Nevison as "too Southern"; it was given to .38 Special
.38 Special (band)
38 Special is an American rock band that was formed by neighborhood friends Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant in 1974 in Jacksonville, Florida. The band's first two albums had a strong southern rock influence. By the early 1980s, 38 Special shifted to a more accessible arena rock style without...
who turned the song into a hit. The original Survivor recording finally became available in 2004 on the compilation Ultimate Survivor.
The single "Rebel Girl" was recorded about a year after the album sessions, though the Japanese release of the album on CD includes it as song number six. The 2010 re-issue on Rock Candy Records appends the song as a bonus track.
The model on the cover of the album is Kim Basinger
Kim Basinger
Kimila Ann "Kim" Basinger is an American actress and former fashion model.She is known for her portrayals of Domino Petachi, the Bond girl in Never Say Never Again , and Vicki Vale, the female lead in Batman . Basinger received a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture...
.
Track listing
- "Somewhere in AmericaSomewhere in America"Somewhere in America" is a song recorded by the band Survivor. It was the first single ever released by the band, from their 1979 self-titled debut album Survivor. The song peaked at #70 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.-External links:*...
" (Peterik) 5:13 - "Can't Getcha Offa My Mind" (Peterik, Sullivan) 3:00
- "Let It Be Now" (Peterik, Sullivan) 3:39
- "As Soon As Love Finds Me" (Johnson, Peterik, Smith, Sullivan) 2:52
- "Youngblood" (Johnson, Peterik, Sullivan) 3:31
- "Love Has Got Me" (Peterik) 3:38
- "Whole Town's Talkin'" (Johnson, Peterik, Smith, Sullivan) 3:32
- "20/20" (Johnson, Peterik, Smith, Sullivan) 3:23
- "Freelance" (Johnson, Peterik, Sullivan) 3:37
- "Nothing Can Shake Me (From Your Love)" (Peterik) 4:09
- "Whatever It Takes" (Johnson, Peterik, Smith, Sullivan) 3:46
Personnel
- Dave BicklerDave BicklerDave Bickler is an American vocalist, best known as the lead singer for the rock band Survivor from 1977–1983. His distinctive vocal was featured on the #1 U.S. hit "Eye of the Tiger". In addition to his wide vocal range, his street-wise image included a trademark beret...
: Lead Vocals, Keyboards - Frankie SullivanFrankie SullivanFrankie Sullivan, Frankie M. Sullivan III, is an American guitarist and songwriter. He is best known for being a founding member of the band Survivor, and has been the only constant member of the band since its formation in 1977.Along with former bandmate, keyboardist/vocalist Jim Peterik,...
: Guitar - Jim PeterikJim PeterikJim Peterik is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the band Survivor and as vocalist and songwriter of the hit song "Vehicle" by The Ides of March...
: Guitar and Keyboards - Dennis Johnson: Bass, MoogMoog synthesizerMoog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
- Gary Smith: Drums, Percussion
Production
- Produced By Ron NevisonRon NevisonMulti-platinum record producer Ron Nevison, throughout his career, has operated much like a surgeon, brought in during a critical point in a band's career to bring them back to the top from the commercial brink...
and Barry Mraz - Recorded & Engineered By Bruce FairbairnBruce FairbairnBruce Earl Fairbairn was a Canadian musician and international record producer from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was active as a producer from 1976 to 1999 and is considered one of the best of his era...
& Jim Peterik - Assistant Engineer: Mike ClinkMike ClinkMike Clink is a record producer who started his career as an engineer at Record Plant Studios, recording such bands as Triumph, Guns N' Roses, Mötley Crüe, Megadeth, UFO , Jefferson Starship, The Babys, Heart, Eddie Money and many others.Clink began producing in 1986...
- Mixed By Bruce Fairbairn, Jim Peterik & Bob RockBob RockRobert Jens Rock, , is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer best known for producing bands such as Aerosmith, The Cult, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, 311, Metallica, Our Lady Peace, The Offspring and most recently Bush.-Payola$ and Rock and Hyde:Rock began his music career in Langford,...
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Pop Albums |
169 |