Genre:Â rock
Rating:Â ** (2 stars)
Title:Â Â Survivor
Company:Â Polydor
Catalog:Â 2344084
Year:Â 1978
Country/State:Â UK
Grade (cover/record):Â VG+ / VG+
Comments:Â UK pressing
Available:Â 1
Catalog ID :6268
Price:Â $10.00
In 1976 Eric Burdon recorded an album of new material with a reformed original Animals line-up. Legal issues saw the collection shelved for two years so Burdon decided to return to a solo career. Recruiting an all-star cast of friends and associates including Alex Korner and Zoot Money (who co-wrote the bulk of the album with Burdon), he went into London's Advision Studios, recording 1978's "Survivor" with former Animal Chas Chandler handling production chores. Surrounded by a crew of this caliber and talent, you would have hoped for something inspirational from Burdon. Didn't happen. Instead the album showcased Burdon clearly looking for direction - was he a pop star ? An R&B act ? A rocker ? Burdon clearly didn't know which way to turn. The end result was a mishmash of an album that ended up pleasing nobody. That was unfortunate since the collection exhibit flashes of true talent; especially when Burdon seemed to relax and let go of the 'tough guy' image he seemed so attached to. Check out his performances on 'Hook of Holland' and 'P.O. Box 500' ... fun and way more entertaining than anything else on the album.
- 'Rocky' was a surprisingly decent slice of conventional rock with Burdon finding a key that was both comfortable and attractive. Picture the kind of stuff bands like Slade and Status Quo were churning out in the mid-1970s and you'll have a feel for this likable number. rating: *** stars YouTube has a clip of Burdon lip-synching the song on the German television program PopRock (love the enthusiastic German audience): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og9wQSqCRL8
- In contrast, the atmospheric ballad 'Woman of the Ring' was a more typical performance in that it aptly reflected the damage done to Burdon's voice. Quite a pretty track, the main problem with this one was Burdon's frog croak of a voice. You were left to wonder if he was actually going to make it through the whole song. Kicking in at the end of the song, Maggie Bell's shrieky voice didn't help the track. rating: *** stars
- Another Burdon-Money composition, 'The Kid' was another likeable mid-tempo rocker that again featured a Burdon talk-sing performance. P.P. Arnold added her shrill backing vocals to the mix and hearing the pair of them trying to out-yell one another was actually kind of fun. rating: ** stars
- 'The Tomb of the Unknown Singer' found Burdon trying to do country-blues number... Pompous and overblown, this one was just plain painful to sit through. I never thought I'd catch myself saying something like this, but I'd rather hear a Kris Kristofferson LP any day of the week. rating: * star
- 'Famous Flames' could have been a decent blues-rocker, but producer Chandler seemingly felt obligated to bury Burdon under waves of shrill female backing singers and an overly busy arrangement. Oh well, this one was at least listenable. rating: ** stars
- Hollywood Woman' was a catchy enough song, but some horrible lyrics and another strangled vocal wiped out whatever momentum was generated. Taken from the same German television appearance referenced above, YouTube had a performance clip of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7AZPP7D0Zg&feature=related rating: ** stars
- Judging by the lyrics including the classic couplet "she has a calculator up her red dress ..." I'm guessing Burdon's affection for Amsterdam didn't have anything to do with the city's museums. Giving credit where due, this was easily the album's stand out tune. Burdon actually sounded engaged and as if he were having fun spitting this one out. rating: **** stars
- Yeah, Burdon's always enjoyed his reputation as a blues singer, but to my ears his barebones acoustic cover of 'I Was Born To Live the Blues' was simply dull and plodding. rating: * stars
- After the last blues number, virtually anything would have sounded good. 'Highway Dealer'' certainly wasn't any great shakes, but luckily the song included a tasty, jazz-tinged lead guitar solo. rating: ** stars
- At least to my ears Burdon's always sounded better when he simply relaxed and didn't try too hard. That was definitively the case on the closer 'P.O. Box 500'. A rollicking rocker, Burdon sounded like he was having fun on this one and the results were one of the album's best performances. rating: **** stars
"Survivor" track listing
(side 1)
1.) Rocky (Eric Burdon - Zoot Money) - 4:00
2.) Woman of the Rings (Eric Burdon) - 4:17
3.) The Kid (Eric Burdon - Zoot Money) - 3:13
4.) The Tomb of the Unknown Singer (Johnnie Barnett) - 4:27
5.) Famous Flames (Eric Burdon - Zoot Money) - 4:16
(side 2)
1.) Hollywood Woman (Eric Burdon - Zoot Money) - 3:53
2.) Hook of Holland (Eric Burdon - Zoot Money) - 4:31
3.) I Was Born To Live the Blues (McGee) - 3:55
4.) Highway Dealer (Eric Burdon - Zoot Money) - 3:26
5.) P.O. Box 500 (Eric Burdon - Zoot Money) - 4:39
