Underrated Album Tracks

[Idiosyncrasy]

Hey,

I was listening to Caught in the Game yesterday and it struck me that there are some real hidden gems in Survivor's back catalogue which don't get talked about much.

Do you guys have a soft spot for an album track that never seems to get mentioned when people talk about Survivor?

I've heard a lot of people dislike Half-Life, but to me it's one of the highlights of the album. Love the stabbing keys.
Slander has a lot of 'old school' Survivor sound to it, IMO.
And how about 'Ready For the Real Thing' - love the verses, but I don't think the chorus quite lives up to them!
I don't think I need to mention Santa Ana Winds - who doesn't love that one?!?

The debut... well my edition's got Rebel Girl on it which is just stunning, but I also love Youngblood, As Soon As Love Finds Me, and Whole Town's Talkin'.

On Premonition, my personal favourites are Poor Man's Son (kinda obvious) but I absolutely love Runway Lights. It's funny, I had the album on cassette for years and it has a different running order to the CD - it ends with Runway Lights. My other favourite is Light of a Thousand Smiles (love the Peterik call-back parts - "spreading through the fields...". I wish they'd play these songs live!

Eye of the Tiger has got The One That Really Matters, Children of the Night (how awesome is the Queen style middle-eight in that one?!), and I'm Not That Man Anymore (love the epic guitar solo... almost recreated in the middle of Half-Life actually!)

Vital Signs has got It's the Singer Not the Song and I See You in Everyone (my favourite song on the whole album)...

When Seconds Count has got Rebel Son, and Oceans (just stunning!) but I also love the verses to Back Street Love Affair (even if they're a bit synth heavy even for me!) Anyone else like this song?

Too Hot to Sleep... I find this their patchiest album to be honest. I can take or leave Here Comes Desire, Tell Me I'm the One, and Can't Give It Up, and Rhythm of the City is okay, but nothing special to me. Burning Bridges, as we all know, is in another league. One track that doesn't get talked about much is the title track. Love this one! Gritty and moody and with real attitude.

Anyone care to contribute?

- Danny.

[TageRyche]

I'm going to leave out the debut album for now.

Premonition has Light Of A Thousand Smiles which I've always loved.

Caught In The Game has Jackie Don't Go, Slander and Santa Ana Winds.

Eye Of The Tiger has The One That Really Matters, I'm Not That Man Anymore and Silver Girl.

Vital Signs has Popular Girl, It's The Singer Not The Song, I See You In Everyone and Broken Promises.

When Seconds Count has In Good Faith, Can't Let You Go and Backstreet Love Affair.

Too Hot To Sleep has the title track and She's A Star.

[Jeremy Holiday]

Outside of those already mentioned...."Let it Be Now" and "Whatever It Takes" are two of my favorites on the debut

[Joe Vana]

Outside of those already mentioned...."Let it Be Now" and "Whatever It Takes" are two of my favorites on the debut

Hands down...Unquestionably, Undoubtably "Hearts a Lonely Hunter"....

The Guitar work is STELLAR, Raw, emotional...

Dave's Vocals are Brilliant, breathtaking....

Piano is GREAT...Lyrics GREAT....Drum track solid as hell.....

Could go on and on....

[Slander]

Outside of those already mentioned...."Let it Be Now" and "Whatever It Takes" are two of my favorites on the debut

Hands down...Unquestionably, Undoubtably "Hearts a Lonely Hunter"....

The Guitar work is STELLAR, Raw, emotional...

Dave's Vocals are Brilliant, breathtaking....

Piano is GREAT...Lyrics GREAT....Drum track solid as hell.....

Could go on and on....

Great song! My vote is for Santa Ana Winds. It has a Hotel California feel to it. Love it.

[MarcelJordan]

Here are my fav underrated tracks :

Somewhere In America (more like MD style on drums imo-to me the BEST tune in the S/T)
Love Is On My Side (I like everything really but been playing this one quite often)
Silver Girl (My feelings undiminished for EOTT album love every tune equally really)
What Do You Really Think? (sound of what was to come in VS)
Broken Promises (which also happens to be the closest sound to the Blues imo)
Oceans (the only tune I listen to in WSC *runs away* )
Too Hot To Sleep (title track, something about it )
Talking 'bout Love (Frankie said that he'd still preferred JJ singing it,"would have been a different sound sonically" but no matter, its a great tune)


Justin

[Ehwmatt]

Talkin Bout Love
Oceans
Can't Let You Go
Slander
Santa Ana Winds
I See You In Everyone (can anything off VS be "underrated?")
Someone Else's Sleepless Night (FMS demo)
Whole Town's Talkin

are some that come to mind...

[Joe Vana]

Talkin Bout Love
Oceans
Can't Let You Go
Slander
Santa Ana Winds
I See You In Everyone (can anything off VS be "underrated?")
Someone Else's Sleepless Night (FMS demo)
Whole Town's Talkin

are some that come to mind...

OCEANS....crap, I forgot that one....I first heard that in JP's living room at his old house right after it was recorded....he then showed me a slide of what the cover was going to look like, I didn't get it....but once it was done I did....that song brings back great memories...JV

[Tito]

I've heard a lot of people dislike Half-Life, but to me it's one of the highlights of the album. Love the stabbing keys.
Slander has a lot of 'old school' Survivor sound to it, IMO.
And how about 'Ready For the Real Thing' - love the verses, but I don't think the chorus quite lives up to them!
I don't think I need to mention Santa Ana Winds - who doesn't love that one?!?

Half-Life is OK. What Do you Really Think is probably one of their weakest tracks recorded. The rest of the album is good, I'm probably to harsh on the album. Your Ready For the Real Thing analysis is probably accurate.

The debut... well my edition's got Rebel Girl on it which is just stunning, but I also love Youngblood, As Soon As Love Finds Me, and Whole Town's Talkin'.

On Premonition, my personal favourites are Poor Man's Son (kinda obvious) but I absolutely love Runway Lights. It's funny, I had the album on cassette for years and it has a different running order to the CD - it ends with Runway Lights. My other favourite is Light of a Thousand Smiles (love the Peterik call-back parts - "spreading through the fields...". I wish they'd play these songs live!

The debut is probably my favorite album on theirs. Definitely, the one I play the most. A raw, straight ahead rock album. IMO, every track is strong (some more than others obviously). Nothing Can Shake Me, Youngblood, Can't Getcha Out of My Mind, the list goes on and on.

Premonition is another real solid album and one of my favorites.

Eye of the Tiger has got The One That Really Matters, Children of the Night (how awesome is the Queen style middle-eight in that one?!), and I'm Not That Man Anymore (love the epic guitar solo... almost recreated in the middle of Half-Life actually!)

Vital Signs has got It's the Singer Not the Song and I See You in Everyone (my favourite song on the whole album)...

When Seconds Count has got Rebel Son, and Oceans (just stunning!) but I also love the verses to Back Street Love Affair (even if they're a bit synth heavy even for me!) Anyone else like this song?

Too Hot to Sleep... I find this their patchiest album to be honest. I can take or leave Here Comes Desire, Tell Me I'm the One, and Can't Give It Up, and Rhythm of the City is okay, but nothing special to me. Burning Bridges, as we all know, is in another league. One track that doesn't get talked about much is the title track. Love this one! Gritty and moody and with real attitude.

EOTT is another strong album (ok I'm repeating myself). Ironically, because it is so overplayed, probably EOTT the song itself is my least favorite song on the album...but at one time probably the most favorite. Silver girl is a classic, I'm not that Man Anymore, Ever Since The World Began, American Heartbeat (took awhile for that one to stick but it has), etc.

Vital Signs was one of the albums I tossed around last week in the other forum as a possible 100% album. Ironcially, because of the song you mention, Singer Not The Song, I would say it is not a 100%. That is their weakest song on that album, however it's not a bad song per se.

WSC, is a pretty good album. A little too poppy for some fans but not me. I like this album through and through. The title track I like as well as Can't Let You Go.

THTS, this album took a lot of time to catch on with me. I really didn't care for it as much (just bought it a year or two ago). As time went by it has grown on me but it probably my least favorite album still out of the catalog. A number of good songs but no hidden gems.

[MarcelJordan]

Talkin Bout Love
Oceans
Can't Let You Go
Slander
Santa Ana Winds
I See You In Everyone (can anything off VS be "underrated?")
Someone Else's Sleepless Night (FMS demo)
Whole Town's Talkin

are some that come to mind...

OCEANS....crap, I forgot that one....I first heard that in JP's living room at his old house right after it was recorded....he then showed me a slide of what the cover was going to look like, I didn't get it....but once it was done I did....that song brings back great memories...JV

That's really cool Joe. Oh you must have been like 18 then

Oceans from the sound to the lyrics top rate!

Words like these : "stubborn beyond the point of all reason, stranded by pride" - Poetry in motion

IMO OCEANS is like when the lovers from Can't Hold Back had been through a storm of a relationship.

[Joe Vana]

Talkin Bout Love
Oceans
Can't Let You Go
Slander
Santa Ana Winds
I See You In Everyone (can anything off VS be "underrated?")
Someone Else's Sleepless Night (FMS demo)
Whole Town's Talkin

are some that come to mind...

OCEANS....crap, I forgot that one....I first heard that in JP's living room at his old house right after it was recorded....he then showed me a slide of what the cover was going to look like, I didn't get it....but once it was done I did....that song brings back great memories...JV

That's really cool Joe. Oh you must have been like 18 then

Oceans from the sound to the lyrics top rate!

Words like these : "stubborn beyond the point of all reason, stranded by pride" - Poetry in motion

IMO OCEANS is like when the lovers from Can't Hold Back had been through a storm of a relationship.

Good example.....

The song really resonates with me.....Emotional Lyrical content (Very few Survivor tunes were this deep).....great Keyboard work....I don't know if it was Peter Wolf or Mike Moran, but whichever studio guy FS brought in Smoked on this track....the sounds as well....amazing....JP wrote really cool keyboard parts, but this song was special...the guitars are richly layerd and masterfully played....Jamo especially brought it on this track...I don't know what he ate that day, but dammit I am gonna find out and get some!!!!

That could have been the only song they ever recorded ever, and they could have been proud.....

"Like Islands we stand alone...."...Fucking Brilliant...

JV


Killer work.....

[MarcelJordan]

Talkin Bout Love
Oceans
Can't Let You Go
Slander
Santa Ana Winds
I See You In Everyone (can anything off VS be "underrated?")
Someone Else's Sleepless Night (FMS demo)
Whole Town's Talkin

are some that come to mind...

OCEANS....crap, I forgot that one....I first heard that in JP's living room at his old house right after it was recorded....he then showed me a slide of what the cover was going to look like, I didn't get it....but once it was done I did....that song brings back great memories...JV

That's really cool Joe. Oh you must have been like 18 then

Oceans from the sound to the lyrics top rate!

Words like these : "stubborn beyond the point of all reason, stranded by pride" - Poetry in motion

IMO OCEANS is like when the lovers from Can't Hold Back had been through a storm of a relationship.

Good example.....

The song really resonates with me.....Emotional Lyrical content (Very few Survivor tunes were this deep).....great Keyboard work....I don't know if it was Peter Wolf or Mike Moran, but whichever studio guy FS brought in Smoked on this track....the sounds as well....amazing....JP wrote really cool keyboard parts, but this song was special...the guitars are richly layerd and masterfully played....Jamo especially brought it on this track...I don't know what he ate that day, but dammit I am gonna find out and get some!!!!

That could have been the only song they ever recorded ever, and they could have been proud.....

"Like Islands we stand alone...."...Fucking Brilliant...

JV


Killer work.....

Nice Synopsis.

Yes, I'd say a lot of imagery in the tune. It's heavy yet, perfectly balanced with the keyboards, full of drama.

On a different note (since you do like WSC, want to get your view), I think that if powers that be, replaced How Much Love with Burning Heart, WSC would be a stronger album. What do you think?

Justin

[Idiosyncrasy]

"Vital Signs was one of the albums I tossed around last week in the other forum as a possible 100% album. Ironcially, because of the song you mention, Singer Not The Song, I would say it is not a 100%. That is their weakest song on that album, however it's not a bad song per se. "

Oh I love It's the Singer Not the Song (even if I don't completely agree with the message haha!)

For me, the only weak spot on Vital Signs is "Everlasting". In all my years of listening to the album, that song only ever clicked with me once. It's not a bad song, but as Survivor ballads go it's far from their best and doesn't stand up to tracks such as "Heart's a Lonely Hunter", "Ever Since the World Began", or "Man Against the World".

[Joe Vana]

Talkin Bout Love
Oceans
Can't Let You Go
Slander
Santa Ana Winds
I See You In Everyone (can anything off VS be "underrated?")
Someone Else's Sleepless Night (FMS demo)
Whole Town's Talkin

are some that come to mind...

OCEANS....crap, I forgot that one....I first heard that in JP's living room at his old house right after it was recorded....he then showed me a slide of what the cover was going to look like, I didn't get it....but once it was done I did....that song brings back great memories...JV

That's really cool Joe. Oh you must have been like 18 then

Oceans from the sound to the lyrics top rate!

Words like these : "stubborn beyond the point of all reason, stranded by pride" - Poetry in motion

IMO OCEANS is like when the lovers from Can't Hold Back had been through a storm of a relationship.

Good example.....

The song really resonates with me.....Emotional Lyrical content (Very few Survivor tunes were this deep).....great Keyboard work....I don't know if it was Peter Wolf or Mike Moran, but whichever studio guy FS brought in Smoked on this track....the sounds as well....amazing....JP wrote really cool keyboard parts, but this song was special...the guitars are richly layerd and masterfully played....Jamo especially brought it on this track...I don't know what he ate that day, but dammit I am gonna find out and get some!!!!

That could have been the only song they ever recorded ever, and they could have been proud.....

"Like Islands we stand alone...."...Fucking Brilliant...

JV


Killer work.....

Nice Synopsis.

Yes, I'd say a lot of imagery in the tune. It's heavy yet, perfectly balanced with the keyboards, full of drama.

On a different note (since you do like WSC, want to get your view), I think that if powers that be, replaced How Much Love with Burning Heart, WSC would be a stronger album. What do you think?

Justin

NO!!

WSC is a 100% album for me.....there is NOTHING I would change about the album....NOTHING....

It is one of my 5 Desert Island discs.....and one of maybe 10 albums that would earn a 100% in MY book....JMHO.....

IN ORDER:

Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee
When Seconds Count - Survivor (Duh!!)
Falling In Between - Toto
Pull - Mr. Mister - Unreleased
Isolation or The Seventh One....cannot choose!!! - Toto

And if I had room for one more in my travel bag

Peter Gabriel - Up! (That's why I am so Jaked about Tony Levin playing on 5 tracks on Mecca II)

That's just my list....we all have our fav's....what are yours????

JV

[MarcelJordan]

"Vital Signs was one of the albums I tossed around last week in the other forum as a possible 100% album. Ironcially, because of the song you mention, Singer Not The Song, I would say it is not a 100%. That is their weakest song on that album, however it's not a bad song per se. "

Oh I love It's the Singer Not the Song (even if I don't completely agree with the message haha!)

For me, the only weak spot on Vital Signs is "Everlasting". In all my years of listening to the album, that song only ever clicked with me once. It's not a bad song, but as Survivor ballads go it's far from their best and doesn't stand up to tracks such as "Heart's a Lonely Hunter", "Ever Since the World Began", or "Man Against the World".

I MUST say Singer Not The Song IS the prized jewel in VS. Its totally engrossing (for me) BUT the message (no pun intended) is a strange paradox.

But I have to disagree with you on Everlasting because it's EVERYTHING I expect from Survivor. I feel The chorus is dramatic as they come and Frankie is simply awesome on the solo and then at the end the soaring guitar calls out to its climactic end. Wish I could describe it better but it pulls ME in. Jimi's vocals are timed perfectly with Frankie's guitar mastery. Marc doesn't fail either. I think it is a special tune all round.

Lastly, the "weakest" in VS to me would be Popular Girl. (Let me have it, discuss )

Justin

[MarcelJordan]

Talkin Bout Love
Oceans
Can't Let You Go
Slander
Santa Ana Winds
I See You In Everyone (can anything off VS be "underrated?")
Someone Else's Sleepless Night (FMS demo)
Whole Town's Talkin

are some that come to mind...

OCEANS....crap, I forgot that one....I first heard that in JP's living room at his old house right after it was recorded....he then showed me a slide of what the cover was going to look like, I didn't get it....but once it was done I did....that song brings back great memories...JV

That's really cool Joe. Oh you must have been like 18 then

Oceans from the sound to the lyrics top rate!

Words like these : "stubborn beyond the point of all reason, stranded by pride" - Poetry in motion

IMO OCEANS is like when the lovers from Can't Hold Back had been through a storm of a relationship.

Good example.....

The song really resonates with me.....Emotional Lyrical content (Very few Survivor tunes were this deep).....great Keyboard work....I don't know if it was Peter Wolf or Mike Moran, but whichever studio guy FS brought in Smoked on this track....the sounds as well....amazing....JP wrote really cool keyboard parts, but this song was special...the guitars are richly layerd and masterfully played....Jamo especially brought it on this track...I don't know what he ate that day, but dammit I am gonna find out and get some!!!!

That could have been the only song they ever recorded ever, and they could have been proud.....

"Like Islands we stand alone...."...Fucking Brilliant...

JV


Killer work.....

Nice Synopsis.

Yes, I'd say a lot of imagery in the tune. It's heavy yet, perfectly balanced with the keyboards, full of drama.

On a different note (since you do like WSC, want to get your view), I think that if powers that be, replaced How Much Love with Burning Heart, WSC would be a stronger album. What do you think?

Justin

NO!!

WSC is a 100% album for me.....there is NOTHING I would change about the album....NOTHING....

It is one of my 5 Desert Island discs.....and one of maybe 10 albums that would earn a 100% in MY book....JMHO.....

IN ORDER:

Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee
When Seconds Count - Survivor (Duh!!)
Falling In Between - Toto
Pull - Mr. Mister - Unreleased
Isolation or The Seventh One....cannot choose!!! - Toto

And if I had room for one more in my travel bag

Peter Gabriel - Up! (That's why I am so Jaked about Tony Levin playing on 5 tracks on Mecca II)

That's just my list....we all have our fav's....what are yours????

JV

As Steve Perry said in Edge Of The Blade "PERFECT"! Okay JV you've clearly decided and all POWER to ya. After VS, unfortunately WSC let me down, tried my best to get into it but only Oceans makes the cut. The world continues to turn eh?


Desert island hmmm.

EOTT
Chicago Transit Authority
Frontiers - Journey
Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen
The Lonesome Jubilee - John Mellencamp

Justin

[Ehwmatt]

Talkin Bout Love
Oceans
Can't Let You Go
Slander
Santa Ana Winds
I See You In Everyone (can anything off VS be "underrated?")
Someone Else's Sleepless Night (FMS demo)
Whole Town's Talkin

are some that come to mind...

OCEANS....crap, I forgot that one....I first heard that in JP's living room at his old house right after it was recorded....he then showed me a slide of what the cover was going to look like, I didn't get it....but once it was done I did....that song brings back great memories...JV

Oceans is incredible. I was hooked as soon as I heard those lead stabs Frankie makes on that glassy single coil sound right over the synth intro. Great stuff. Then the actual song kicked in and it floored me... then I got to Frankie's solo

Just a great fuckin song

[kgdjpubs]

NO!!

WSC is a 100% album for me.....there is NOTHING I would change about the album....NOTHING....

I'd like a mix closer to the Live '87 video with the guitars up just a bit in the mix, and maybe move the tracklist around as it seems to get heavier towards the end, but not much to complain about. Great album, and I think WSC is a lot stronger than VS. Probably Jamison's best vocals ever.

It is one of my 5 Desert Island discs.....and one of maybe 10 albums that would earn a 100% in MY book....JMHO.....

IN ORDER:

Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee
When Seconds Count - Survivor (Duh!!)
Falling In Between - Toto
Pull - Mr. Mister - Unreleased
Isolation or The Seventh One....cannot choose!!! - Toto

And if I had room for one more in my travel bag

Peter Gabriel - Up! (That's why I am so Jaked about Tony Levin playing on 5 tracks on Mecca II)

That's just my list....we all have our fav's....what are yours????

JV

hmmm....
Survivor - WSC or Premonition (VERY close tie between the two--might have to give it to WSC for Man Against the World)
Magnum - On a Storyteller's Night or Wings of Heaven (never can pick between the two of them)
Dare - Out of the Silence
Cold Chisel - Circus Animals

have to think on the rest of them. Have a few that are right near 95-98%, but there's always that one song.

[Idiosyncrasy]

Talkin Bout Love
Oceans
Can't Let You Go
Slander
Santa Ana Winds
I See You In Everyone (can anything off VS be "underrated?")
Someone Else's Sleepless Night (FMS demo)
Whole Town's Talkin

are some that come to mind...

OCEANS....crap, I forgot that one....I first heard that in JP's living room at his old house right after it was recorded....he then showed me a slide of what the cover was going to look like, I didn't get it....but once it was done I did....that song brings back great memories...JV

Oceans is incredible. I was hooked as soon as I heard those lead stabs Frankie makes on that glassy single coil sound right over the synth intro. Great stuff. Then the actual song kicked in and it floored me... then I got to Frankie's solo

Just a great fuckin song

I think I remember Frankie saying that the guitar solo on Oceans was one of his favourites. Wasn't there a rumour that Pride of Lions was going to play it in Belgium, but it got cut at the last minute?

And of course, there are strong echoes of the chorus in Jamo's 'Empires' - I think it began as Empires and turned into Oceans or the other way around! They're from the same sessions anyway.

[Ehwmatt]

Talkin Bout Love
Oceans
Can't Let You Go
Slander
Santa Ana Winds
I See You In Everyone (can anything off VS be "underrated?")
Someone Else's Sleepless Night (FMS demo)
Whole Town's Talkin

are some that come to mind...

OCEANS....crap, I forgot that one....I first heard that in JP's living room at his old house right after it was recorded....he then showed me a slide of what the cover was going to look like, I didn't get it....but once it was done I did....that song brings back great memories...JV

Oceans is incredible. I was hooked as soon as I heard those lead stabs Frankie makes on that glassy single coil sound right over the synth intro. Great stuff. Then the actual song kicked in and it floored me... then I got to Frankie's solo

Just a great fuckin song

I think I remember Frankie saying that the guitar solo on Oceans was one of his favourites. Wasn't there a rumour that Pride of Lions was going to play it in Belgium, but it got cut at the last minute?

And of course, there are strong echoes of the chorus in Jamo's 'Empires' - I think it began as Empires and turned into Oceans or the other way around! They're from the same sessions anyway.

It should be one of his favorites, it's one of his best no doubt. And we all know there's a lot of good solos to choose from there. I DIG that tone he's got on that whole record. Did he play a Strat exclusively on WSC? I hear it all over the place.