1 CD – UK Import – Rock Candy remaster
Despite notching up a huge worldwide hit single with “Eye Of The Tiger”, SURVIVOR’s career trajectory was in a state of some flux. The band’s last album – the 1983 released ‘Caught In The Game’ – although still maintaining an outstanding level of production and song writing, failed to connect with their audience, leaving the band scratching their heads in disbelief.
Disappointed but not deterred, they retreated back to their home city of Chicago and laid down plans to record another album, one that would, as it turned out, put them squarely back in the spotlight. Naturally, changes had to be made, not least of all a change of lead vocalist from Dave Bickler to Jimi Jamison.
In addition, the band decided to recall veteran producer Ron Nevison (Heart, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company) back into the fold to handle knob twiddling duties. The results were spectacular. ‘Vital Signs’ blew the roof of the charts, delivering three US top 20 hit singles (“The Search Is Over”, “High On You”, and “I Can’t Hold Back”) whilst the album itself made #16 on the album charts. It was a spectacular recovery from what had looked like a desperate situation and is now recognised as arguably Survivor’s finest moment, packed with killer tracks and boasting a superior production. Truly one of the most essential AOR albums of all time.