JIMI JAMISON INTERVIEW 27 Nov 2009

[Abitaman]

I've long been a Frankie detractor, but I'm starting to realize that his guitar is the backbone of the Survivor sound as far as musical instruments go. His style is extremely "camouflaged" at times and at others times unique, but it's always essential to their sound.

I have to agree and disagree.
I agree becasue like Schon his guitar is the backdrop to the Survivor sound. It is not as "special sounding" as neal, but I can pick Frankie's playing out within seconds.
I disagree becasue, as good a Frankie maybe with the guitar sound, I do not think he is a brillant songwriter who can throw tunes and riffs out there in a blink of an eye. Here lately, 1 cd in 15 years? He has been more miss than hit. Not saying he can't write, but he is more about sound than the song itself.

[Joe Vana]

Gimme the Word is definitely up there with Survivor's rocking best. The way Frankie's tuned the guitar (someone tell me which one he's using please), and it's unmistakeable pure Frankie and intense! (although I would have preferred having it a bit more front-just a minute complaint).

It also helps that JJ had a more raw vocal, that totally befits the tune, IMO.

On a personal note, it's the guitar sound that pulls me into Survivor more than anything else. Very much like Journey as far as I'm concerned.

MJ

Very astute....

I think that is where the opinion really comes in...it depends if you are into more keys, more guitar ect. , that really determines for me which incarnation of Survivor you like more....they really varied things album to album...surely to their credit....each album had a different edge...almost surely to their credit....it was almost like a different band each time, which I love....I love when a band can sound the same, yet different....

AND, I feel as players the band is HIGHLY UNDERATED....as players every position was truly solid as Hell and fit the mold of Survivor...could you really imagine anyone replacing anyone on any of those albums??? Each guy fit the bill perfectly...and that goes for the songwriters too.....

They truly were a perfect blend....sorry if I went off topic, but was in the mood...HA!

JV

[Joe Vana]

Gimme the Word is definitely up there with Survivor's rocking best. The way Frankie's tuned the guitar (someone tell me which one he's using please), and it's unmistakeable pure Frankie and intense! (although I would have preferred having it a bit more front-just a minute complaint).

It also helps that JJ had a more raw vocal, that totally befits the tune, IMO.

On a personal note, it's the guitar sound that pulls me into Survivor more than anything else. Very much like Journey as far as I'm concerned.

MJ

Very astute....

I think that is where the opinion really comes in...it depends if you are into more keys, more guitar ect. , that really determines for me which incarnation of Survivor you like more....they really varied things album to album...surely to their credit....each album had a different edge...almost surely to their credit....it was almost like a different band each time, which I love....I love when a band can sound the same, yet different....

AND, I feel as players the band is HIGHLY UNDERATED....as players every position was truly solid as Hell and fit the mold of Survivor...could you really imagine anyone replacing anyone on any of those albums??? Each guy fit the bill perfectly...and that goes for the songwriters too.....

They truly were a perfect blend....sorry if I went off topic, but was in the mood...HA!

JV

That was my 500th post....do I get a tshirt or something????

[MarcelJordan]

Gimme the Word is definitely up there with Survivor's rocking best. The way Frankie's tuned the guitar (someone tell me which one he's using please), and it's unmistakeable pure Frankie and intense! (although I would have preferred having it a bit more front-just a minute complaint).

It also helps that JJ had a more raw vocal, that totally befits the tune, IMO.

On a personal note, it's the guitar sound that pulls me into Survivor more than anything else. Very much like Journey as far as I'm concerned.

MJ

Very astute....

I think that is where the opinion really comes in...it depends if you are into more keys, more guitar ect. , that really determines for me which incarnation of Survivor you like more....they really varied things album to album...surely to their credit....each album had a different edge...almost surely to their credit....it was almost like a different band each time, which I love....I love when a band can sound the same, yet different....

AND, I feel as players the band is HIGHLY UNDERATED....as players every position was truly solid as Hell and fit the mold of Survivor...could you really imagine anyone replacing anyone on any of those albums??? Each guy fit the bill perfectly...and that goes for the songwriters too.....

They truly were a perfect blend....sorry if I went off topic, but was in the mood...HA!

JV

Joe, you said: each album had a different edge...almost surely to their credit....it was almost like a different band each time,

Agreed! Frankie had said once to me (on the old Survivor board) that they "do try different things".

When it came to Frankie, his influences were blues and to bands like Led Zep (there's a touch of Zep in "Children of the Night" and David Gilmore (maybe alot of Gilmore ) in the "I'm not that man anymore" end Solo.

Love it!!!!

MJ