Survivor are a by-product of the late great 80’s with a spate of albums during that time, including this one ‘When Seconds Count’.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Survivor
ALBUM: When Seconds Count
LABEL: Scotti Bros
SERIAL: 72392 75236-2
YEAR: 1986
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Jimi Jamison – vocals * Frankie Sullivan – guitars * Jim Peterik – keyboards * Stephan Ellis – bass * Marc Droubay – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 How Much Love * 02 Keep It Right Here * 03 Is This Love * 04 Man Against The World * 05 Rebel Son * 06 Oceans * 07 When Seconds Count * 08 Backstreet Love Affair * 09 In Good Faith * 10 Can’t Let You Go
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
Survivor are a by-product of the late great 80’s. With a spate of albums during that time, plus of course their defining moment ‘Eye Of The Tiger’, Survivor are to that decade what Ronaldinho is to Brazilian soccer.. inseparable.
1984’s ‘Vital Signs’ was for me, probably their strongest album, with next to no filler, and a stream of great songs. It was also the first appearance for singer Jimi Jamison, adding his soulful styled voice on top of Chicago’s finest, after having done stints with Memphis based outfits Target and Cobra.
Two years later the band are back with near on a carbon-copy of ‘Vital Signs’. I say carbon-copy but ‘When Seconds Count’ is probably one rung or two down from that prior album, but I have to admit, despite its flaws (the overly clever and pampering lyrics for one, Sullivan’s thin-sounding guitar work being the other), I still find a lot of charm with this record, and it is certainly one you can play over and over.
The Songs
One of the surprises with the track line-up for this album, is the absence of their hit single ‘Burning Heart’, culled from the ‘Rocky IV’ soundtrack. Reaching No#5 in the UK, the song never made it onto any official Survivor studio album (Greatest Hits compilations nontwithstanding).
As it was released just prior to ‘When Seconds Count’, it seemed to be a likely candidate. In its place, ‘Is This Love’ carried the torch, and along with ‘How Much Love’ and ‘Rebel Son’, the band had more than enough choices to venture out into Radio-land with.
For me though, the ballad pairing of ‘Man Against The World’ and ‘In Good Faith’ highlight Survivor’s strength, writing exquisite songs with emotion and total melody.
When the band go for broke, tracks like the aforementioned ‘Rebel Heart’ and my favourite ‘Oceans’ prove that Survivor can rock out with the best of them.
In Summary
The band continued their run of success with this album, with ‘Is This Love’ going to No#9 on the US Charts while the album went to No#2 on the Rock Album Charts.
Still for me a good album, despite what I’ve written and it probably being slightly inferior to ‘Vital Signs’ and their 1988 effort ‘Too Hot To Sleep’.
Survivor reformed for 2006’s ‘Reach’ album, though Peterik and Ellis are no longer in the band. If like me, you are a fan of Survivor then this album will already be safely stashed away in the collection.
Survivor on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
