The first Surrender album was the introduction to the mainstream music industry of Canadian legend Alfie Zappacosta.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Surrender
ALBUM: Surrender
LABEL: Capitol
SERIAL: ST-11938
YEAR: 1979
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada
LINEUP: Alfie Zappacosta – vocals, guitars * Steve Waddington – guitars * Peter Curry – keyboards * Mike Delaney – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Anyway You Want * 02 Some People * 03 Nicole * 04 Turn Down The Mission * 05 Buddy * 06 Alone Too Often * 07 Big City Streets * 08 Young Seaman
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Surrender Background
The first Surrender album was the introduction to the mainstream music industry of Canadian legend Alfie Zappacosta.
Alfie had a prior background through the late 70’s disco scene and a plethora of Top 40 type bands. He roped together some of his cohorts to pursue a change in direction, that of melodic hard rock. Hence the creation of Surrender.
This album has been best described as a classic in the genre. However, I would have to lay some doubt on that. The songs themselves do not live up to the hype and reputation this album has been accorded over the years.
It is very good in places with some of the arrangements being somewhat over extended. That’s fine if you are fan of 6-7 minute 70’s styled progressive rock. It shifts between some superb tracks and then unfortunately some ordinary ones as well.
Surrender [L to R]: Geoff Waddington, Steve Jensen, Alfie Zappacosta, Paul Delaney, Peter Curry
The Songs
Mostly they come across as a commercial sounding version of Yes but without the Jon Anderson vocals.
On their softer moments there is a definite comparison to early Ambrosia.
There’s lots of good instrumentation between Jensen, Curry, and the rhythm section. This is evidenced on tracks such as ‘Some People’ and ‘Alone Too Often’.
There are a couple of good ballads such as ‘Nicole’ (the lengthy guitar solo at the end is excellent) and the overly long ‘Young Seaman’.
The albums coup de grace is undoubtedly ‘Turn Down The Mission’. An absolute belter, and somewhat out of place on this album considering the style of the other tracks onboard.
This track perhaps has single handedly and inadvertently converted this album to god like status. Without doubt this track is awesome.
The hard rockin’ ‘Buddy’ tries admirably to follow in it’s footsteps and has some nice keyboard touches from Peter Curry.
‘Big City Streets’ also tries to be mean but despite it’s best intentions doesn’t quite get there.
In Summary
Problems with personnel and record labels didn’t help their cause. They only managed to release a 4 track EP called ‘No Surrender’ as a follow up to this one in 1982.
As we all know, Zappacosta went on to a solo career which continues to this day.
Surrender Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
