Classic Rock Bottom

While everyone is busy with Novembers Music challenge heres a respite of sorts...

 

By the way, if you havent started yet, no worries, you'll get a kick out of the back and forth from the usual suspect bottom feeders who took last week off the get it done early! Now they dont what to do with themselves...

 

http://classic-rock-bottom.ning.com/forum/topics/classic-rock-botto...

 

This week I want to look at a cool vocalist, one of the many who really caught my attention in the 80's. Although I first heard him when Eye of the Tiger came out, it was the album Caught In The Game that blew me away and I took notice of his performance. Caught In The Game is still on my list of "can't live without" albums to this day.

 

Some wiki snippets about Dave Bickler and then I'll give you three tracks to sample ... What do you think? What vocalists caught your attention at one time?

Bickler is best known as an original member of Survivor from 1977 to 1983. He rejoined with Co-Founders Frankie Sullivan & Jim Peterik in 1993 staying until early 2000. He was a part of the group for their first four albums: Survivor, Premonition, Eye of The Tiger and Caught in the Game. Although primarily serving as the band's lead vocalist during this time, he is also credited with playing keyboards on Survivor's first two albums (including being the sole keyboardist on their debut album, before rhythm guitarist Jim Peterik began to take over the role on Premonition, although future releases would see Peterik replaced in-studio by session musicians).

Bickler left the band in late 1983 after he developed polyps on his vocal cords and required surgery and voice rest, a condition that would take a year and a half to recuperate from. Bickler was also unhappy about his lack of a bigger payday he felt was owed him for the multi-platinum success the band had from their hit album Eye of The Tiger released a year earlier.  After leaving Survivor, Bickler continued recording with other groups in the Chicago area and doing commercial jingles and ads. Bickler rejoined Survivor in early 1993 as lead vocalist for a Greatest Hits album on Scotti Bros. featuring two new songs "You Know Who You Are" and "Hungry Years" (which he co-wrote). Bickler recorded new music with the band in hopes of a new album, but ongoing lawsuits and trademark ownership issues with former singer Jimi Jamison halted the release.

 

PLAYLIST --> http://snack.to/adunlctz

Premonition
1981

1 - Chevy Nights

Premonition is the second album by American rock band Survivor, released in October 1981 in the United States and February 1982 elsewhere. It was the first album to use the Survivor script logo.

 

The album, along with many other Survivor albums, was briefly taken out of print in 2009, but was remastered and reissued the following year and distributed by Rock Candy Records. The album includes the singles "Poor Man's Son" (#33, US Chart), one of the songs that would be part of their live set list, and "Summer Nights" (#62, US Chart).

 

Eye Of The Tiger
1982

2 - American Heartbeat

Survivor's breakthrough arrived when actor Sylvester Stallone asked them to provide the theme song for his movie Rocky III. Stallone had heard "Poor Man's Son" and wanted a song similar to it. The band agreed to write him a song and soon released "Eye of the Tiger". The new song featured a faster tempo while still incorporating the stylish, nearly identical power chords. It had an enormous impact on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at #1 and remaining there for a total of six weeks. It also topped the British charts. The song was in the Top 40 for a total of 18 weeks and was Australia's #1 single for four weeks. "Eye of the Tiger" won the band a Grammy Award, was voted Best New Song by the People's Choice Awards, and also received an Academy Award nomination. The album of the same title, Eye of the Tiger, was released by the band later in 1982 and contained another Top 40 hit in the United States, "American Heartbeat" (#17 US). The album went on to chart at #2 in the United States.

 

Caught In The Game
1983

3 - Caught In The Game

Caught in the Game is the fourth album by American rock band Survivor, released in October 1983. It features guest appearances by Mr. Mister's Richard Page and REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin. It was also the band's last album with lead vocalist Dave Bickler, who left due to vocal surgery; he rejoined the band from 1993 to 2000 and again in 2013.

 

The album was one of the many Survivor albums briefly taken out of print in 2009. However, it was remastered and reissued in 2010, distributed by Rock Candy Records.

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Bonus Material...

As a huge fan of Survivor in all its forms, it is nice to see them getting some love. The early stuff holds up remarkably well all these years later.

Alternate songs from each album that I'd suggest checking out:

 

Premonition - "Poor Man's Son"

Eye of the Tiger - "Silver Girl"

Caught In the Game - "Jackie Don't Go" and "Santa Ana Winds"

Cant think of a bad tune on CITG.  I am missing their debut though, anyone got a good read on that one?

I have it on vinyl but haven't listened to it in a while.

I have it on CD. It's still wrapped.

If I were to pick my favs from each of these alblums listed with the alblum covers above of the alblums, it would be:

Summer Nights

Hesitation Dance (dunno why, but I like this song off this alblum)

Caught In The Game (so, you got one right. 3 alblums and one correct from those 3 alblums).

"By the way, if you havent started yet, no worries, you'll get a kick out of the back and forth from the usual suspect bottom feeders who took last week off the get it done early! Now they dont what to do with themselves..."

And this is referring to who exactly? Shouldn't be Rjhog and I since I don't believe we took last week of to listen to all those alblums as well as more alblums so you could catch up and (correct me if I'm wrong, Rjhog), we might listen to even MORE alblums. 

I understand you're stressing. It's ok. You might get done by mid-December.

Funny thing, I was going to listen to the debut Survivor album this morning, but will now wait. Maybe Monday?

Well, even though you did your best and only got one song right, I'll still give you a thumbs up for this mini-trip through some of Survivor's early alblums.  

If you two didn't take last week off then ... Oh nevermind!

By the way.. Your song choices are awesome, but I loved the bass line in Chevy Nights and thought it was a great lead in track.

Chevy Nights off that alblum?

I just bought Caught In The Game on vinyl for less than a buck, but now my vinyl to mp3 transfer software isn't working properly for some reason, so at the moment I can't transfer it.  I've always wanted to delve a little deeper into this band but just never have.  I'm looking forward to listening to this post.

I agree with Scott on the bass line in the first track.  Way cool.  It's one of those nostalgic songs, the type I don't normally like, but I did like this.  

American Heartbeat sounds like a song from an eighties movie soundtrack.  I'm guessing it was not since that wasn't mentioned.  It seems to have been a moderate hit, but truthfully, I can't remember hearing it back in the day.  But I do like this one too

Caught In The Game was definitely the best track here.  Again, an eighties soundtrack feel to me, but an absolute killer hook.  What a great chorus.  I wish I could convert this vinyl to mp3, but since I can't, maybe I'll do a bit of shopping.

My ranking of these three:

1. Caught In The Game

2. Chevy Nights

3. American Heartbeat

Nice post my friend.  Looks like this one will be in the running for my Top SHT's of 2013.

Top SHT is good SHT... Thanks boss...

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