JIM JAMISON-CROSSROADS MOMENT

[Joe Vana]

unless FS AND JP are on it, it is not Survivor.
JV

We all know Jim is a much stronger songwriter than others and we also know that the others I refer to, are good at taking an exsisting melody or idea and "fleshing it out". That has been my statement since day 1. Why are we vilified for thinking that? Not by you so to speak,but by others?

Well....I think they are both equal in strength of songwriting, but not equal in drive to write, or in being prolific.....JP writes 20 tunes to every one FS writes....but....the stuff they write together is FAR SUPERIOR to the stuff they write aside from each other and this is just my opinion....commercially there is the facts, but for me, as a true fan of Survivor, not just the certain members, but as a whole the facts cannot be denied....

I have written with FS, and JP....the differences are there, and so are the similarities....I IMMEDIATELY see how them working together is a perfect fit.....

JP is the FIRE that MAKES Frankies STEEL.....and together, you have the original Survivor....

JV

[Ehwmatt]

Well....I think they are both equal in strength of songwriting, but not equal in drive to write, or in being prolific.....JP writes 20 tunes to every one FS writes....but....the stuff they write together is FAR SUPERIOR to the stuff they write aside from each other and this is just my opinion....commercially there is the facts, but for me, as a true fan of Survivor, not just the certain members, but as a whole the facts cannot be denied....

I have written with FS, and JP....the differences are there, and so are the similarities....I IMMEDIATELY see how them working together is a perfect fit.....

JP is the FIRE that MAKES Frankies STEEL.....and together, you have the original Survivor....

JV

I'm NO fan of the current line-up but I still think Reach was a good album. As long as some combination of Jamo/Frankie/JP/Bickler is there, it will still at least hearken back to Survivor. Frankie can write, for sure. I also love JP's Above the Storm (in my top 4 for 2006 for sure), WS, and Pride of Lions projects in recent years and Ides in the past. Separately, I'd give JP the slight edge in songwriting - not only is he more prolific, but for my money, he's pretty damn consistent as well. But I agree, you put those two minds together and you get something neither man can equal on his own.

[Richard Epps]

Above The Storm is a great record,2006 was a good year for Survivor fans.

[Joe Vana]

Above The Storm is a great record,2006 was a good year for Survivor fans.

To be honest I never dug that album...ALL the other stuff is cool....but that album did not do it for me....JUST MY OPINION....I know you guys love it.....

JV

[Slander]

We all know Jim is a much stronger songwriter than ot
I have written with FS, and JP....the differences are there, and so are the similarities....I IMMEDIATELY see how them working together is a perfect fit.....

JP is the FIRE that MAKES Frankies STEEL.....and together, you have the original Survivor....

JV

We can pretend here all we want, but JV speaks the truth. I would like to congratulate JJ on a nice comeback. I'm glad things are moving in the right direction for him.

[Slander]

I still thought he sounded fantastic on Reach, especially Fire Makes Steel?

I thought this album was pretty good although many seem to poo poo it after the JJ and FS split. It would be nice if people could give this album a spin without bias. Do you agree red? Your thoughts.

[Journey/Survivor]

I still thought he sounded fantastic on Reach, especially Fire Makes Steel?

I thought this album was pretty good although many seem to poo poo it after the JJ and FS split. It would be nice if people could give this album a spin without bias. Do you agree red? Your thoughts.

My feelings about the REACH album have been the same all along. It's my least favorite Survivor album because it doesn't Rock enough over all for my tastes. FMS and GMTW Rock, but I wish there were at least a couple more songs on the album that Rocked like it. Also, I wish JP had been involved with the album beyond the few songs on the album that he had co-written in years past.

But REACH still blows away 99% of the albums out there by the majority of other bands, and it was great to finally have a full length Survivor album after having had to wait 18 years.

[Red13JoePa]

Yea but I think Frankie the producer did a good and honest job of capturing Jamo the vocalist AS-IS, 2006 no gimmicks, no tricks, just kinda "this guy's a badass singer and this is how he sounds now."

[Andrew]

Yea but I think Frankie the producer did a good and honest job of capturing Jamo the vocalist AS-IS, 2006 no gimmicks, no tricks, just kinda "this guy's a badass singer and this is how he sounds now."

in my opinion, I think this is where FS fell down as a producer and having recieved high praise from me in the past, I was disappointed in his effots on Reach.

I thought the JJ vocals were very up and down on that album and that comes from either not investing the time in getting the right vocal, or not wanting too. Either way, the album suffered for it.

[Joe Vana]

Yea but I think Frankie the producer did a good and honest job of capturing Jamo the vocalist AS-IS, 2006 no gimmicks, no tricks, just kinda "this guy's a badass singer and this is how he sounds now."

in my opinion, I think this is where FS fell down as a producer and having recieved high praise from me in the past, I was disappointed in his effots on Reach.

I thought the JJ vocals were very up and down on that album and that comes from either not investing the time in getting the right vocal, or not wanting too. Either way, the album suffered for it.

The quality of the vocal tone does not sit with the singer????

After being behind the mic and singing on probably 500 plus sessions I can tell you the quality of my vocal tone rests with me, the producer can FIX an out of tune, out of time vocal through protools and a hundred retakes BUT....the tone lies with the singer....I have PRAISED JJ's new effort, so no axe to grind here, but....JJ did not give the goods on Reach....the tone was shot, and rough....the producer CANNOT fix the tone......I know what I am saying here guys....that is why I PRAISED his tone on the new one....

You cannot blame Frankie for JJ's lackluster performance on Reach.....that dog does not hunt.....as far as the rest of the album it's all fair game....

As far as a producer, FS should have replaced his vocals with somebody else on that album if it was not up to snuff...I hear the tension in those recordings, and I hear the white flag being thrown up......it was obviously a HARD album for ALL involved.....almost like they knew the die was cast on the future before they finished the album.....sonically the album was Frankie, anymore than that I think was a struggle.....

My Opinion guys....but as far as the tone, that is pretty well fact.....

Tonefully yours........JV

[Andrew]

The quality of the vocal tone does not sit with the singer????

After being behind the mic and singing on probably 500 plus sessions I can tell you the quality of my vocal tone rests with me, the producer can FIX an out of tune, out of time vocal through protools and a hundred retakes BUT....the tone lies with the singer....I have PRAISED JJ's new effort, so no axe to grind here, but....JJ did not give the goods on Reach....the tone was shot, and rough....the producer CANNOT fix the tone......I know what I am saying here guys....that is why I PRAISED his tone on the new one....

You cannot blame Frankie for JJ's lackluster performance on Reach.....that dog does not hunt.....as far as the rest of the album it's all fair game....

As far as a producer, FS should have replaced his vocals with somebody else on that album if it was not up to snuff...I hear the tension in those recordings, and I hear the white flag being thrown up......it was obviously a HARD album for ALL involved.....almost like they knew the die was cast on the future before they finished the album.....sonically the album was Frankie, anymore than that I think was a struggle.....

My Opinion guys....but as far as the tone, that is pretty well fact.....

Tonefully yours........JV

Some of the vocals were great...some were not. That to me suggests that not enough time was spent working on making sure the best possible record was released.

EVERY vocal on the JJ solo album is on song...that to me says that JP knew how to work Jimi back into shape and get the best out of him.

Just my opinion of course

Reach was a blip on the otherwise excellent FS production record.

[Joe Vana]

The quality of the vocal tone does not sit with the singer????

After being behind the mic and singing on probably 500 plus sessions I can tell you the quality of my vocal tone rests with me, the producer can FIX an out of tune, out of time vocal through protools and a hundred retakes BUT....the tone lies with the singer....I have PRAISED JJ's new effort, so no axe to grind here, but....JJ did not give the goods on Reach....the tone was shot, and rough....the producer CANNOT fix the tone......I know what I am saying here guys....that is why I PRAISED his tone on the new one....

You cannot blame Frankie for JJ's lackluster performance on Reach.....that dog does not hunt.....as far as the rest of the album it's all fair game....

As far as a producer, FS should have replaced his vocals with somebody else on that album if it was not up to snuff...I hear the tension in those recordings, and I hear the white flag being thrown up......it was obviously a HARD album for ALL involved.....almost like they knew the die was cast on the future before they finished the album.....sonically the album was Frankie, anymore than that I think was a struggle.....

My Opinion guys....but as far as the tone, that is pretty well fact.....

Tonefully yours........JV

Some of the vocals were great...some were not. That to me suggests that not enough time was spent working on making sure the best possible record was released.

EVERY vocal on the JJ solo album is on song...that to me says that JP knew how to work Jimi back into shape and get the best out of him.

Just my opinion of course

Reach was a blip on the otherwise excellent FS production record.

And I respect that opinion Drew.....

It was hard for them doing those vocals on Reach....maybe they both will forget about it when JJ's album comes out, and the new Survivor album comes out (wishing)......fingers crossed!!

JV

[Andrew]

....maybe they both will forget about it when JJ's album comes out, and the new Survivor album comes out (wishing)......fingers crossed!!

JV

There ya go!

[Journey/Survivor]

The quality of the vocal tone does not sit with the singer????

After being behind the mic and singing on probably 500 plus sessions I can tell you the quality of my vocal tone rests with me, the producer can FIX an out of tune, out of time vocal through protools and a hundred retakes BUT....the tone lies with the singer....I have PRAISED JJ's new effort, so no axe to grind here, but....JJ did not give the goods on Reach....the tone was shot, and rough....the producer CANNOT fix the tone......I know what I am saying here guys....that is why I PRAISED his tone on the new one....

You cannot blame Frankie for JJ's lackluster performance on Reach.....that dog does not hunt.....as far as the rest of the album it's all fair game....

As far as a producer, FS should have replaced his vocals with somebody else on that album if it was not up to snuff...I hear the tension in those recordings, and I hear the white flag being thrown up......it was obviously a HARD album for ALL involved.....almost like they knew the die was cast on the future before they finished the album.....sonically the album was Frankie, anymore than that I think was a struggle.....

My Opinion guys....but as far as the tone, that is pretty well fact.....

Tonefully yours........JV

Some of the vocals were great...some were not. That to me suggests that not enough time was spent working on making sure the best possible record was released. Reach was a blip on the otherwise excellent FS production record.

I agree with that 100%.

[Journey/Survivor]

Yea but I think Frankie the producer did a good and honest job of capturing Jamo the vocalist AS-IS, 2006 no gimmicks, no tricks, just kinda "this guy's a badass singer and this is how he sounds now."

in my opinion, I think this is where FS fell down as a producer and having recieved high praise from me in the past, I was disappointed in his effots on Reach.

I thought the JJ vocals were very up and down on that album and that comes from either not investing the time in getting the right vocal, or not wanting too. Either way, the album suffered for it.

The quality of the vocal tone does not sit with the singer????

After being behind the mic and singing on probably 500 plus sessions I can tell you the quality of my vocal tone rests with me, the producer can FIX an out of tune, out of time vocal through protools and a hundred retakes BUT....the tone lies with the singer....I have PRAISED JJ's new effort, so no axe to grind here, but....JJ did not give the goods on Reach....the tone was shot, and rough....the producer CANNOT fix the tone......I know what I am saying here guys....that is why I PRAISED his tone on the new one....

You cannot blame Frankie for JJ's lackluster performance on Reach.....that dog does not hunt.....as far as the rest of the album it's all fair game....

As far as a producer, FS should have replaced his vocals with somebody else on that album if it was not up to snuff...I hear the tension in those recordings, and I hear the white flag being thrown up......it was obviously a HARD album for ALL involved.....almost like they knew the die was cast on the future before they finished the album.....sonically the album was Frankie, anymore than that I think was a struggle.....

My Opinion guys....but as far as the tone, that is pretty well fact.....

Tonefully yours........JV

I agree with what Andrew said about some of the vocals on Reach being very good and some not being so good.

Overall, though, Jimi still sounds better IMO than most other singers. So I don't feel there would have been any reason for Frank to have replaced Jimi based on the quality of his vocals.

I especially thought Jimi struggled on the song "One More Chance." That was a perfect example of how some parts of the album were rushed while being recorded in the studio. There should have been more takes of that song recorded.

[Joe Vana]

Yea but I think Frankie the producer did a good and honest job of capturing Jamo the vocalist AS-IS, 2006 no gimmicks, no tricks, just kinda "this guy's a badass singer and this is how he sounds now."

in my opinion, I think this is where FS fell down as a producer and having recieved high praise from me in the past, I was disappointed in his effots on Reach.

I thought the JJ vocals were very up and down on that album and that comes from either not investing the time in getting the right vocal, or not wanting too. Either way, the album suffered for it.

The quality of the vocal tone does not sit with the singer????

After being behind the mic and singing on probably 500 plus sessions I can tell you the quality of my vocal tone rests with me, the producer can FIX an out of tune, out of time vocal through protools and a hundred retakes BUT....the tone lies with the singer....I have PRAISED JJ's new effort, so no axe to grind here, but....JJ did not give the goods on Reach....the tone was shot, and rough....the producer CANNOT fix the tone......I know what I am saying here guys....that is why I PRAISED his tone on the new one....

You cannot blame Frankie for JJ's lackluster performance on Reach.....that dog does not hunt.....as far as the rest of the album it's all fair game....

As far as a producer, FS should have replaced his vocals with somebody else on that album if it was not up to snuff...I hear the tension in those recordings, and I hear the white flag being thrown up......it was obviously a HARD album for ALL involved.....almost like they knew the die was cast on the future before they finished the album.....sonically the album was Frankie, anymore than that I think was a struggle.....

My Opinion guys....but as far as the tone, that is pretty well fact.....

Tonefully yours........JV

I agree with what Andrew said about some of the vocals on Reach being very good and some not being so good.

Overall, though, Jimi still sounds better IMO than most other singers. So I don't feel there would have been any reason for Frank to have replaced Jimi based on the quality of his vocals.

I especially thought Jimi struggled on the song "One More Chance." That was a perfect example of how some parts of the album were rushed while being recorded in the studio. There should have been more takes of that song recorded.

What I meant was IF FS didn't like them....and thought he could get better.....that's all.....I am NOT bashing JJ at all....

JV

[Red13JoePa]

I just think it's the way Jamison SOUNDED during those sessions, it was captured as-is I guess.

Frankie addresses it in the Reach interview with AJM.

[Joe Vana]

I just think it's the way Jamison SOUNDED during those sessions, it was captured as-is I guess.

Frankie addresses it in the Reach interview with AJM.

Agreed....the producer only has so much power and control over the sound of a vocal.....JJ is a great singer, but those were not great sessions.....probably a bad time for him is all....stress can REALLLLLLY harm a singer.....I could not sing for like 4 months because i was so stressed with outside BS.....it collapses your will to sing......

JV

[Red13JoePa]

He probly had a few options on refinining the vox and tweaking to get a more, say, THTS era sound but I like to think he opted for "No, this is the feel I want to produce these vox from a minimalistic perspective IE: Jamo's a great enough singer that I want it to stand up to being REAL LIVE sounding rather than refined."

Whatever, maybe just my fantasy but I LOVE the differences between the more mature yet still pretty Too Hot/ WSC vocal sound of say the title track, FMS or Don't Give Up and the rawness of the vox on a "Give Me The World" or (and I know AJM was shocked by the vocal sound on this one) "One More Chance."

[Journey/Survivor]

Yea but I think Frankie the producer did a good and honest job of capturing Jamo the vocalist AS-IS, 2006 no gimmicks, no tricks, just kinda "this guy's a badass singer and this is how he sounds now."

in my opinion, I think this is where FS fell down as a producer and having recieved high praise from me in the past, I was disappointed in his effots on Reach.

I thought the JJ vocals were very up and down on that album and that comes from either not investing the time in getting the right vocal, or not wanting too. Either way, the album suffered for it.

The quality of the vocal tone does not sit with the singer????

After being behind the mic and singing on probably 500 plus sessions I can tell you the quality of my vocal tone rests with me, the producer can FIX an out of tune, out of time vocal through protools and a hundred retakes BUT....the tone lies with the singer....I have PRAISED JJ's new effort, so no axe to grind here, but....JJ did not give the goods on Reach....the tone was shot, and rough....the producer CANNOT fix the tone......I know what I am saying here guys....that is why I PRAISED his tone on the new one....

You cannot blame Frankie for JJ's lackluster performance on Reach.....that dog does not hunt.....as far as the rest of the album it's all fair game....

As far as a producer, FS should have replaced his vocals with somebody else on that album if it was not up to snuff...I hear the tension in those recordings, and I hear the white flag being thrown up......it was obviously a HARD album for ALL involved.....almost like they knew the die was cast on the future before they finished the album.....sonically the album was Frankie, anymore than that I think was a struggle.....

My Opinion guys....but as far as the tone, that is pretty well fact.....

Tonefully yours........JV

I agree with what Andrew said about some of the vocals on Reach being very good and some not being so good.

Overall, though, Jimi still sounds better IMO than most other singers. So I don't feel there would have been any reason for Frank to have replaced Jimi based on the quality of his vocals.

I especially thought Jimi struggled on the song "One More Chance." That was a perfect example of how some parts of the album were rushed while being recorded in the studio. There should have been more takes of that song recorded.

What I meant was IF FS didn't like them....and thought he could get better.....that's all.....I am NOT bashing JJ at all....

JV

No problem. I didn't think you were trying to bash JJ.

[Idiosyncrasy]

Hi Andrew,

Just trying to account for the 20 songs you said Jimi and Jim recorded for Crossroads Moment...

We've got the final album tracks...

Battersea; Can't Look Away; Make Me A Believer; Crossroads Moment; Bittersweet; Behind The Music; Lost; Love The World Away; She's Nothing To Me; As Is; 'Til The Morning Comes; That's Why I Sing; Friends We Never Met; When Rock as King; Alive (European Bonus Track).

That brings us to fifteen.

Plus...

A Kiss to Remember You By
Come Dancing
Sound of Home
Heart of a Woman

... That's nineteen.

Just out of curiosity, what was the last track?!

Thanks!

- Danny.

[Idiosyncrasy]

I'm guessing this is a cover of the opening track from the Jillian album. Always liked this one and the re-worked version of 'My Gift' as 'The Gift of Song' was amazing on The Destiny Stone. I wonder if they've changed the lyrics to make it less overtly christian? No especial reason why they should, but it's not appearing in the context of a 'christian' album.

- Danny.

[Andrew]

Hi Andrew,
Just trying to account for the 20 songs you said Jimi and Jim recorded for Crossroads Moment...
We've got the final album tracks...

Battersea; Can't Look Away; Make Me A Believer; Crossroads Moment; Bittersweet; Behind The Music; Lost; Love The World Away; She's Nothing To Me; As Is; 'Til The Morning Comes; That's Why I Sing; Friends We Never Met; When Rock as King; Alive (European Bonus Track).

That brings us to fifteen.
Plus...

A Kiss to Remember You By
Come Dancing
Sound of Home
Heart of a Woman
... That's nineteen.

Just out of curiosity, what was the last track?!

Ok, to the album's 15 track song list you can add "Streets Of Heaven" as the Japanese bonus track (a soulful mid-tempo ballad about those we love that have left this world...and a GREAT song)

Now - Come Dancing, A Kiss..., Sound Of Home were all songs from sessions outside this solo album. So they don't count.

Other titles demoed for the record were:

Lifeforce
Chiseled In Stone
Life #9
Dream Higher
Cry Of The Wild Heart
Hearts Are Gonna Roll (you'll hear this someplace or on the next JP solo album...great rocker, but not really a JJ song)

I won't describe the other tunes as that takes away focus and attention of the finished album, which if you ask me, does indeed contain all of the best songs written for the project.

So....16 tracks on the album (including the 2 bonus tracks) + Heart Of A Woman and the other 6 tracks mentioned. That makes 23 in total.

[Idiosyncrasy]

Awesome! I hope those songs/demos are released in some form or another! Can't get enough Peterik!

Interesting that Cry Of the Wild Heart was one of them. That's on one of the Ides compilations from the early nineties (Ideology II?).

I, for one, cannot wait for the album. This is killing me!

Any news on the when the soundbytes will be up?

Thanks!

- Danny.

[Journey/Survivor]

Hi Andrew,
Just trying to account for the 20 songs you said Jimi and Jim recorded for Crossroads Moment...
We've got the final album tracks...

Battersea; Can't Look Away; Make Me A Believer; Crossroads Moment; Bittersweet; Behind The Music; Lost; Love The World Away; She's Nothing To Me; As Is; 'Til The Morning Comes; That's Why I Sing; Friends We Never Met; When Rock as King; Alive (European Bonus Track).

That brings us to fifteen.
Plus...

A Kiss to Remember You By
Come Dancing
Sound of Home
Heart of a Woman
... That's nineteen.

Just out of curiosity, what was the last track?!

Ok, to the album's 15 track song list you can add "Streets Of Heaven" as the Japanese bonus track (a soulful mid-tempo ballad about those we love that have left this world...and a GREAT song)

Now - Come Dancing, A Kiss..., Sound Of Home were all songs from sessions outside this solo album. So they don't count.

Other titles demoed for the record were:

Lifeforce
Chiseled In Stone
Life #9
Dream Higher
Cry Of The Wild Heart
Hearts Are Gonna Roll (you'll hear this someplace or on the next JP solo album...great rocker, but not really a JJ song)

I won't describe the other tunes as that takes away focus and attention of the finished album, which if you ask me, does indeed contain all of the best songs written for the project.

So....16 tracks on the album (including the 2 bonus tracks) + Heart Of A Woman and the other 6 tracks mentioned. That makes 23 in total.

That title "Life #9" reminds me of the Julliet song "8 Lives Gone" which was of course written by Peterik and Sullivan.


ANDREW

Do you know if any of the songs that were recorded that will NOT be on the album will be available in any other way? I know you said that maybe Peterik might do one or two of them some day, but do you think there's anyway that the Jamison versions will be available for purchase or can be downloaded, etc, etc?

[Andrew]

Maybe

But not most of them...only demos and not final mixes or mastered etc...

Soundbytes of a few songs tomorrow.

[Idiosyncrasy]

'Lifeforce', somewhat unsurprisingly, turns up on Peterik's new jazz album of the same title! Really not into jazz, but you can hear the Peterikisms (is that a word?!) shining through the jazz arrangement. I can easily imagine this starting off as, or becoming, a rock number.

http://www.intenseartistmanagement.com/ ... eforce.mp3

I know you don't want to go into too many details Andrew, but are these songs all in the same Survivor meets Pride of Lions style as the album tracks or were they considered too 'left-field' style-wise to make the final cut?

And while you're at it, any chance you could find out what happened to the Jim Peterik "Songs From the Vault" 2cd release that was mentioned a few years ago but which has never come about? I know there are old songwriting demos floating around, but there was a statement on Jim's official site at one point, I recall. Wasn't Escape going to do a Survivor tribute album too, in the same vein as their Foreigner one?

Heh, well with all those left over Jamo tracks I'm really looking forward to the next melodicrock.com compilation and/or MR-X rarities! (HINT HINT!)



- Danny.

[Tito]

Should I buy the Reach album?

[Eyeof]

If you don't have it, it's worth a listen....

It's not on par with a normal Survivor album, but we probably make it sound worse than it really is.

I don't think it is nearly as good as the Fire Makes Steel Demos or even Empires for that matter.

On another note, much like jv, i really just couldn't make myself get into 'Above the Storm' and i tried and tried and tried....

Frankie without JP misses something, but JP without Frankies might miss even more.

We'll be able to better tell after hearing this new JJ album I surely hope....

I am excited about it...

[Richard Epps]

'Lifeforce', somewhat unsurprisingly, turns up on Peterik's new jazz album of the same title! Really not into jazz, but you can hear the Peterikisms (is that a word?!) shining through the jazz arrangement. I can easily imagine this starting off as, or becoming, a rock number.

http://www.intenseartistmanagement.com/ ... eforce.mp3

I know you don't want to go into too many details Andrew, but are these songs all in the same Survivor meets Pride of Lions style as the album tracks or were they considered too 'left-field' style-wise to make the final cut?

And while you're at it, any chance you could find out what happened to the Jim Peterik "Songs From the Vault" 2cd release that was mentioned a few years ago but which has never come about? I know there are old songwriting demos floating around, but there was a statement on Jim's official site at one point, I recall. Wasn't Escape going to do a Survivor tribute album too, in the same vein as their Foreigner one?

Heh, well with all those left over Jamo tracks I'm really looking forward to the next melodicrock.com compilation and/or MR-X rarities! (HINT HINT!)



- Danny.

Danny,
I asked this question about the Songs From The Vaults when Jim was on ARfm here in the UK.The answer was that it is now unlikely to be released due to issues with the rights to the tracks.The quality on the bootleg of this sucks to be honest(Jim is aware of the bootleg too)