Survivor was initially going to be the second phase of the Jim Peterik Band, but sounding nothing like the original version found on ‘Don’t Fight That Feeling’, a band name change was in order.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Survivor
ALBUM: Survivor
LABEL: Scotti Bros
SERIAL: SB 7107
YEAR: 1979
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Dave Bickler – lead vocals, keyboards * Frankie Sullivan – lead guitar, vocals * Jim Peterik – guitar, lead vocals ‘Love Has Got Me’ * Dennis Johnson – bass, moog synthesizer * Gary Smith – percussion, drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Somewhere In America * 02 Can’t Getcha Offa My Mind * 03 Let It Be Now * 04 As Soon As Love Finds Me * 05 Youngblood * 06 Love Has Got Me * 07 Whole Town’s Talkin’ * 08 20-20 * 09 Freelance * 10 Nothing Can Shake Me From You * 11 Whatever It Takes * 12 Rebel Girl (bonus)
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
It must be a case of good timing with the recent reissue of the debut Survivor album. Recorded in 1979 but released in January 1980 (we’ll put it in our 1979 category) after a shockingly slow label transition by Scotti Bros, this album and this band might’ve slipped through the cracks if not for the determination of the three leading lights of the band: Jim Peterik, Frankie Sullivan and Dave Bickler.
In hindsight, most of the readers at Glory Daze will know the back, future and current history of Survivor. I don’t need to remind all the regular trainspotters here what their story is all about. Let’s focus on the situation regarding this debut album. Glory Daze regular Reyno Roxx has written a comprehensive backgrounder on the band and the circumstances behind ‘Survivor’ the album, as you can read on the Rock Candy reissue liner notes.
The formation of the band came about during the 1977-1978 period, with Peterik, Dennis Johnson and Gary Smith all involved with Peterik’s 1976 solo LP ‘Don’t Fight That Feeling’. Sullivan and Bickler were previously with Jamestown Massacre, though Sullivan’s more recent foray was with the excellent Mariah (a future incarnation of JM) while Bickler’s more recent work at the time was in the advertising and jingles industry.
Initially, it was going to be the second phase of the Jim Peterik Band, but sounding nothing like the original version found on ‘Don’t Fight That Feeling’, a band name change was in order, hence Survivor.
The Songs
With the backing of A&R heavyweight John Kalodner, Survivor were signed to Atlantic, but were put on the Scotti Bros label who at the time had a distribution arrangement with Atlantic. The inner-workings of label distribution that affected Scotti Bros would delay the release of the debut Survivor for nearly a year, recorded in 1979 but released in January 1980.
Scotti Bros moved to have Epic Records as their distributor but the contractual situation took some time to resolve hence the delay. The album was initially produced by Ron Nevison, but Kalodner didn’t like the mix so handed it to Bruce Fairbairn up at Little Mountain Studios in Vancouver to fix.
Peterik’s aim with Survivor was to occupy the same territory as Foreigner, and when compared to that band’s 70’s material, then the comparison is close.
There is not too much of the keyboard work which would be their trademark on future albums, as Jim Peterik actually played guitar on this record with Dave Bickler credited for the keyboards. Still, what we do get is classy radio rock clearly aimed at the FM stations of the day.
Plenty of highlights here: ‘Can’t Getcha Offa My Mind’ is a catchy tune for sure, ‘Let It Be Now’ is a brash but still radio friendly outing, ‘As Soon As Love Finds Me’ sees Sullivan dominating with some hot lead guitar work, while Bickler’s piano adds the contrast.
The two tracks which see Survivor moving in a ballad direction are ‘Whole Town’s Talkin’ and the lush ‘Nothing Can Shake Me From Your Love’. Though at this stage of their career, neither of these tracks can compare to something like ‘The Search Is Over’, the seed was definitely sown as far back as this album.
In Summary
Because of the delay to the release, there was no momentum to back it up with any substantial tour dates, even though they did some gigs with Kansas, Jefferson Starship and Triumph, but these were not significant.
Returning in 1981 with ‘Premonition’, the rhythm section had been replaced, and now the band was settled to a point where they would consolidate through to the ‘Caught In The Game’ era, working through the mega-successful period of ‘Eye Of The Tiger’, an iconic moment of the 80’s as we all know.
Survivor on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
