Dave Bickler era Vs. Jimi Jamison era

by **TripleRex** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:21 pm

OK guys, this is not one of those typical "Vote for which version of Survivor you like best!!!" type of threads. I'm sure there have been enough of those. I'm sort of a brand new Survivor fan and have a question for the long time loyal fans.

I've never owned a Survivor album or cd in my life. I always loved "Eye of the Tiger" and on the rare chance that I hear it on the radio I crank it up. This last weekend I bought The Best of Survivor (2006). I know a lot of the Jamison songs since they were all over MTV and radio back in the 80s. However, I didn't remember any of the Bickler songs except Tiger. I absolutely love "Caught in the Game" and cannot stop playing it!

Here's what I noticed. There seems to be a very obvious change in song style when they changed singers, at least as far as what I hear from the 14 songs on this cd. Dave's era seems much more rockin'. Jimi's era seems much more "80s pop rock cheese hits." I find myself listening to all of Dave's songs and skipping over much of the rest. This is not a criticism of the songs sung by Jimi. Those songs were very successful. They just seem like they were purposely trying to write cheesey pop hits, where as the previous stuff rocks harder. And before you tell me, I know that the songs were NOT written by the singers, so really it's a reflection on the two songwriters. Again, not a put down, just saying what I prefer. Perhaps they would have released the same exact songs even if Dave had stayed in the band.

OK, here's what I want to know. Are all the songs on Caught in the Game as good as the title song? Do the first four albums pretty much rock like the songs on this Best Of? I'm thinking about getting Eye of the Tiger and Caught. Should I? What about the other albums?

And if you WANT to answer a "versus" question, then which era do you prefer based on the song styles (not the singers)?

Thanks guys. I really want to check out some more stuff from this talented bunch of guys.

by **survivorfan2005** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:38 pm

I choose the Robin era! lol

I really can't say because I love them all. Nice question though.

by **Slander** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:51 pm

Caught in the Game without a doubt is Survivor's best and most mature album. I think you are right when you say cheesy 80's stuff but it's well crafted song writing. I CAN'T HOLD BACK IS AN AWESOME ROCK TRACK. But if you want to hear what Survivor sounds like at their best listen to Caught in the Game. Moody and Rockin'.

by **Red13JoePa** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:22 pm

That new Best Of came out?

by **silvergirl66** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:51 am

Welcome Triplerex! I'm a Dave Bickler fan through and through. I love VS with Jimi but I'd have to say your right, to commerical pop for the rest, but that was the time then. You must get Survivors first 4 albums...... you will love them. Try ebay for a source. Everyone has their favorite Dave era album and mine is Premonition mainly cause the songs on that album are what I heard first of the band but I love all of Dave's albums. I highly recommend the first 4, you won't be disappointed! Dave rulz!:)

by **survivorfan2005** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:16 am

sorry guys, Jimi won

http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?la ... mi+Jamison

by **silvergirl66** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:24 am

what is that? I'm sure the jj worshipers voted more than once.

They never play fair.

by **TripleRex** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:59 am

silvergirl66 wrote:Welcome Triplerex! I'm a Dave Bickler fan through and through. I love VS with Jimi but I'd have to say your right, to commerical pop for the rest, but that was the time then. You must get Survivors first 4 albums...... you will love them. Try ebay for a source. Everyone has their favorite Dave era album and mine is Premonition mainly cause the songs on that album are what I heard first of the band but I love all of Dave's albums. I highly recommend the first 4, you won't be disappointed! Dave rulz!:)

Thanks for the info. I love "Poor Man's Son" which is on the Best Of. Unfortunately there are no songs from the first album on it. I've already been checking ebay.

by **MarcelJordan** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:17 pm

TripleRex wrote:
silvergirl66 wrote:Welcome Triplerex! I'm a Dave Bickler fan through and through. I love VS with Jimi but I'd have to say your right, to commerical pop for the rest, but that was the time then. You must get Survivors first 4 albums...... you will love them. Try ebay for a source. Everyone has their favorite Dave era album and mine is Premonition mainly cause the songs on that album are what I heard first of the band but I love all of Dave's albums. I highly recommend the first 4, you won't be disappointed! Dave rulz!:)

Thanks for the info. I love "Poor Man's Son" which is on the Best Of. Unfortunately there are no songs from the first album on it. I've already been checking ebay.

Im a DB fan. But i find it funny that most people like CITG feeilng its mature and rocking and not cheezy. Now I dont' get me wrong I love CITG album but certain tunes IMO already signalled the Survivor was going to be more pop anyway. We do know that VS songs were written with Dave in mind right? Just wondering.

Here's a test. Listen to What do you really think. and then listen to High On you back to back. To me I think they are quite similar in form. I'd like to know what other think of this?

by **Slander** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:38 pm

Name another song that sounds like HALF-LIFE, SLANDER, OR SANTA ANA WINDS....and don't tell me Burning Bridges. Give me a break. The Producing on Caught in the Game is darker. It wasn't produced by Ron Nevison and you can certainly hear the difference. Son do you have a hearing problem?

by **Red13JoePa** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:45 pm

Who produced it, the band themselves or at least FS/JP???

by **Slander** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:08 am

Hey JoPa. Frankie produced. Sorry about the lions on Saturday.

by **Red13JoePa** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:09 am

They got waxed.....you love it and you know it.

by **Slander** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:25 am

I think Brady Quinn is over rated and I also think the Irish got some home cookin from the officiating too. I'm a big fan of Paterno. Integrity is everything.

by **Red13JoePa** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:33 am

They made some huge mistakes out there that need not be repeated.
The + was they did not get pushed around and blown off the ball like they did during the dark era of 03-04....

by **Slander** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:37 am

By the way I never heard back from Survivor wemaster or Robin Mcauleys webmaster on why Jimi played in Lewiston. It ticks me off.

by **silvergirl66** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:53 am

I know, nobody is talkin!

Plus they were suppose to play two dates in NY and didn't.

by **Slander** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 2:02 am

It will be a good thing if they decided not to play those venues because they were recording. We shall see. Also I noticed that Robin makes no mention of Survivor on his myspace website.

by **silvergirl66** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 2:15 am

hmmmm, maybe Robin is just a temporary? They are just waiting for Dave to say yes, he'll come back

I know!!!! somebody smack me!

by **MarcelJordan** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 3:23 pm

Slander wrote:Name another song that sounds like HALF-LIFE, SLANDER, OR SANTA ANA WINDS....and don't tell me Burning Bridges. Give me a break. The Producing on Caught in the Game is darker. It wasn't produced by Ron Nevison and you can certainly hear the difference. Son do you have a hearing problem?

Im talking about What you really think. Is that NOT pop? And don't q me on HL, SL and SAW. I agree those are dark tunes. SAW is my personal fav. I was saying there were "hints". And it finally showed in the next record which was SPECIFICALLY for Dave. JJ was not even in their thoughts. It just so happened DB fell ill. Survivor WAS going pop anyway, whether one wishes to believe it or not.

Speaking of Ron Nevison he was INVOLVED with their S/T. Not a stranger to FS anyway. They also tried Mutt Lange (after WSC) but he was FULLY BOOKED for the next 6 years (FS mentioned this, just not sure exactly how many years). In came Frank Fillipetti, bringing back that hard edge. Imagine Survivor sounding like AC/DC, Def Lepp,.....BILLY OCEAN :lol:

by **squirt1** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 2:18 pm

Isn't Bickler being paid enormous $$$$ to sing the Budweiser commercials?

by **patrick Colin** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 7:32 pm

TripleRex wrote:
silvergirl66 wrote:Welcome Triplerex! I'm a Dave Bickler fan through and through. I love VS with Jimi but I'd have to say your right, to commerical pop for the rest, but that was the time then. You must get Survivors first 4 albums...... you will love them. Try ebay for a source. Everyone has their favorite Dave era album and mine is Premonition mainly cause the songs on that album are what I heard first of the band but I love all of Dave's albums. I highly recommend the first 4, you won't be disappointed! Dave rulz!:)

Thanks for the info. I love "Poor Man's Son" which is on the Best Of. Unfortunately there are no songs from the first album on it. I've already been checking ebay.

On this best of you have "rebel girl" which has been added on some re-release from their first lp.

When the Greatest Hits from 1993 was released, i really enjoy the 2 newest tracks "you know who you are" and "hungry years" with the return of Dave Bickler as lead vocalist.

I like every Survivor's albums, if the songs are pop (like "when secounds count" album), are rocking (like "too hot to sleep" album), are ballads, what really matters to me is that these are good songs (and with songwriters like JP and FS, you have great choices).

About the Survivor's singer i want to say that my favourite track from the last Survivor "reach" cd is "talkin' 'bout love" sung by Frankie Sullivan (he songs also on "nevertheless": the other time that one musician took the lead vocals was on first album for "love has got me" with Jim Peterik).
Now wait to hear some new stuff with Robin McAuley (really enjoy his voice on his 2 albums with Grand Prix "there for none to see" (1982) and "samurai" (1983)).

To conclude i just say that my favourite is their second album "premonition" (with "poor's man's son") with Dave Bickler on lead vocals. To me on this album Survivor has found his style (as QUEEN with their album "II"), enjoying this album from the beginning to the end.

by **slysystem** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:18 am

Jimi Jamison...is the Best...

Burning Heart is my favorite from him even if the others come close (like never surrender or almoste every survivor traks) !
This Guy makes the Difference whatever the quality of the Song !

He could sing the Dictionnary, it would work !!
:lol:

how does the jimi jamison Band sounds like ?

i've never heard anything from it !

thanks !

by **mystichealer** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 9:08 pm

Jimi by a long way. I like Bickler, but i think the Jimi years were superior in pretty much everyway. The songwriting was stronger, the songs just way better, and the production was wayyy better as it didn't sound like it was recorded in a cave, such as the production on CITG does.
Not keen on McCauley, as i just have never liked his vocals, even dating back to the Grand Prix days. In no way whatsoever is he suited as a Survivor vocalist. Just my opinion of course.

by **Abitaman** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 2:07 am

Both singers are good. BUT, I like Jimi better. His voice seems to have more depth to it-ERIC

by **Eyeof** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:00 am

I usually don't even touch these type of post, but 'stronger songwriting'...wow...

Have you ever listened to Caught in the Game as compared to When Seconds Count...

I think the JJ era stuff is mostly just way too pop....

However, I don't think I ever truly appreciated how well each of their voices complimented each other or Survivor, until hearing the Robin show....

Hopefully the studio (if there ever really is such a thing) stuff will be better, but Robin is horrible on Eye...think of this...and i know we are all perhaps the exception, but shouldn't the number one requirement for a Survivor singer be that they are able to hit the notes on Eye of the Tiger in concert?

by **Red13JoePa** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:22 am

I like both eras but Jamison's my favorite rock singer ever so....

by **Abitaman** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:25 am

Eyeof wrote:I usually don't even touch these type of post, but 'stronger songwriting'...wow...

Have you ever listened to Caught in the Game as compared to When Seconds Count...

I think the JJ era stuff is mostly just way too pop....

However, I don't think I ever truly appreciated how well each of their voices complimented each other or Survivor, until hearing the Robin show....

Hopefully the studio (if there ever really is such a thing) stuff will be better, but Robin is horrible on Eye...think of this...and i know we are all perhaps the exception, but shouldn't the number one requirement for a Survivor singer be that they are able to hit the notes on Eye of the Tiger in concert?

Yea, I hoping the studio will sound more like Survivor than that show. But he was new, and it usually takes a new person a while to find is groove and get into the songs-ERIC

by **Red13JoePa** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 12:32 am

Slander wrote: We shall see. Also I noticed that Robin makes no mention of Survivor on his myspace website.

....head scratcher.

What in hell is going on?

by **Abitaman** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 6:19 am

Heard on the radio Survivor is playing in my hometown. Didn't hear when or where. But I am going to try and be there. Probably is Jimi doing is I'm Survivor thing-ERIc

MR

Dave Bickler era Vs. Jimi Jamison era

Dave Bickler era Vs. Jimi Jamison era

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