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Jimi Jamison - Crossroads Moment
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Product Description
Lovers of great Melodic Rock, it is truly time to rejoice! November 08 heralds the release of Jimi Jamison's brand new album, “Crossroads Moment”.
This is Jimi's first recording since his swan song as lead singer with Survivor on their 2006 release “Reach”. Even upon first listen it is apparent that something almost indefinable has changed since that record. The music is more melodic and rocking than ever before harkening back to those magic days of “Vital Signs”, “When Seconds Count” and “Too Hot To Sleep”. Perhaps the magic ingredient here is the addition of Jamison’s former Survivor bandmate Jim Peterik, who is back in the role as co-producer and songwriter. To that blend, add a Jamison more determined than ever to regain his rightful place in the echelons of great rock lead singers.
"I feel I have something to prove with this record. It is my chance to say that I am back with a vengeance ready to rock harder than ever. I think my new passion can be heard on every cut. Singing those great Peterik melodies and lyrics felt like coming home", says Jimi.
“Crossroads Moments” was recorded between February and July of ‘08 at Jim Peterik’s World Stage Studios near Chicago. Behind the board is longtime Peterik collaborator Larry Millas (Pride of Lions, World Stage, Ides of March) in the capacity of co-producer and engineer. "My main goal with this record was to keep it focused to what the fans want the most - that means strong beats, inspiring lyrics and soaring melodies. I feel Jimi really hit his stride vocally as well", said Jim Peterik.
Although Peterik wrote every song on this collection, he channelled everything through Jamison’s life philosophy and experience. "Sometimes Peterik and I”, explains Jamison “would just get together for a beer and I'd spill out what's going on in my life. Next thing you know he would play me a song directly inspired by that conversation. “Crossroads Moment” comes to mind as well as "Can't Look Away". Jim has that knack of setting my life to music".
Variety is the touchstone here. From hard rockers in the “Feels Like Love”, “First Night” style you will find sonic gems such as “Battersea” (where guitar ace Tommy Denander takes his star turn), “She's Nothing To Me” and “Love the World Away” or the powerful “Make Me A Believer” with Night Ranger drummer Kelly Keagy appearing as special guest. You will also hear mid-tempo treats such as “Bittersweet” (a duet with Starship singer Mickey Thomas) and “Till the Morning Comes”. In the power ballad department Jimi Jamison helped write the book. Taking off from Survivor classics such as “Everlasting” and “In Good Faith” are such future classics like “Lost” and his ode to self acceptance “As Is”. "When Jim first played me this one my eyes welled up with tears. I couldn't help it. It just moved me", says Jamison.
The recording band is largely Peterik alumni: Ed Breckenfeld on drums, Klem Hayes and Bill Syniar on bass, Jim Peterik, Mike Aquino and Joel Hoekstra on guitar and Christian Cullen, Jeff Lanz and Jim Peterik on keyboards. Background vocals are handled by Thom Griffin (Trillion, Ambition) and Jim Peterik.
As a grand finale, they have created “When Rock Was King”, a playful looking back at the rocking 80s when we all had "big dreams, big hair, big visions". Joining Jimi on this loving tribute are some of his greatest contemporaries: Don Barnes of .38 Special, Dave Bickler, Survivor's original lead singer, Joe Lynn Turner of Rainbow, Mickey Thomas of Starship, Mike Reno of Loverboy and Jim Peterik. A video is in the works and will be included on the cd.
“Crossroads Moment” is about a man standing at the juncture of future and past: a man looking back at yesterday with bands such as Target, Cobra and Survivor, and taking all he had learned and bringing it into a brilliant future. All the good will he has built up through his career of recording and tireless touring is soon to payoff like a jackpot of success with his fan base and the countless musicians that call him friend. Jimi had come full circle. Jimi has come back home.
Samples:
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, 'Till The Morning Comes, That's Why I Sing, Friends We've Never Met, When Rock Was King, Alive
Product Reviews
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Jimi Jamison
Posted by Fred on 4th Dec 2008
If you were –like me- disappointed in the return of SURVIVOR a couple of years ago, both in their live shows and their comeback cd... weep no more. Singer Jimi Jamison has a new solo album out which will have all SURVIVOR fans jump with joy.
When I saw SURVIVOR live in 2005, I experienced one of the biggest musical disappointments in my life. Yes, the band had been one of my absolute favourites in my ‘formative’ years as a rock music fan, and this show was so atrociously bad, that I nearly gave up on the band. The animosity between guitarist Frankie Sullivan and Jimi Jamison was so obvious it spoiled the complete show. A poor performance from the whole band. The album “Reach”, which was released a year later, redeemed them somewhat, but it was still a far cry from their classic albums of the 80’s.
Jimi Jamison left the band the same year, which was probably one of the best decisions he ever made. On his third solo album (after the weak “When Love Comes Down” and the brilliant “Empires”, which was originally released under the JIMI JAMISON’S SURVIVOR banner), Jamison has renewed his working relationship with that other ex-SURVIVOR bandmate Jim Peterik, who wrote all songs and co-produced the albums, as well as singing and playing on it. Sounds like the good old days? Sure thing...this collaboration has resulted in an album which sounds very close to classic SURVIVOR albums like “Vital Signs” and “When Seconds Count”. This is so superior to “Reach” that there is no doubt what (or rather who) the missing factor was on that album: Jim Peterik has proven with his solo work, with his band PRIDE OF LIONS and now with this album that he is still the master of the classic SURVIVOR magic.
Although I thought that he had lost a lot of his voice when I saw him live, in the studio Jamison is still the unique vocalist he’s always been. Of course everyone knows him as the vocalist for SURVIVOR, but his earlier work with COBRA and TARGET is definitely worth checking out as well. What few people know, is that he was all but announced as the vocalist for DEEP PURPLE, until his own manager prevented this (PURPLE went for Joe Lynn Turner instead). And of course he was the composer and singer of the ‘Baywatch’ theme ‘I’m Always Here’. “Crossroads Moment” is the latest highlight in his career.
The new album has a string of excellent AOR songs: a mix of midtempo rockers and (power) ballads, which can compete with the best SURVIVOR tracks. Personal favourites include the powerful opener ‘Battersea’, ‘Can’t Look Away’, ‘Make Me A Believer’, ‘Behind The Music’, ‘Bittersweet’, the tearjerkers ‘Lost’ and ‘As Is’,... oh hell, they’re all great songs. “When Rock Was King” is a sentimental look back at the rock of the 80’s. Jamison and Peterik are joined on vocals by a string of well-known vocalists of those days: Don Barnes (38 SPECIAL), Mike Reno (LOVERBOY), Mickey Thomas (STARSHIP), Dave Bickler (SURVIVOR) and Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW/DEEP PURPLE).
I’m curious what SURVIVOR themselves (now with ex-MSG vocalist Robin McAuley in their ranks) will have on offer in the future, but they will have to do very, very well to top this.
