“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 (who had left because of vocal problems) 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’ & ‘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.”

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, one bonus track, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album, interview with band leader Jim Peterik and additional previously unseen photos spread out over a 16 page full colour booklet.

TRACK LISTING: 1. I Can’t Hold Back 2. High On You 3. First Night 4. The Search Is Over 5. Broken Promises 6. Popular Girl 7. Everlasting 8. It’s The Singer Not The Song 9. I See You In Everyone BONUS TRACK 10. The Moment Of Truth

Survivor ‘Caught In The Game’ CANDY087

“FROM PRETTY much out of nowhere Survivor scored one of the biggest ever selling hit singles in 1982 with the classic ‘Eye Of The Tiger’, a song written for the blockbuster movie ‘Rocky III’, featuring Sylvester Stallone. Buoyed by that success, the band took stock and regrouped to record their fourth album, the much overlooked ‘Caught In The Game’.

Mostly written and rehearsed in a Carpet Warehouse in their native Chicago, then recorded in Los Angeles and produced by guitarist Frankie Sullivan (engineered by future Guns N’ Roses producer Mike Clink), the album is a pithy coalescence of Survivor’s trademark sound and style. Arresting but smoothly produced, the songs ring with crystal clear clarity, refusing to out stay their welcome. With ‘Caught In The Game’, ‘What Do You Really Think?’, ‘I Never Stopped Loving You’ and the epic ‘Santa Ana Winds’ standing out from the pack.

Amazingly, the album (originally released in 1983) failed to repeat the massive achievement of the ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ record, delivering no hit singles and making only a fleeting appearance on the album charts. It was a shocking development especially when you consider that ‘Caught In The Game’ harbours some of the band’s best songs. It was also the last album to feature vocalist Dave Bickler, and saw the band going through some major changes in an effort to reverse their lack of continued good fortune.”

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album, interview with band leader Jim Peterik, memorabilia and new photos spread out over a 12 page full colour booklet.

TRACK LISTING: 1. Caught In The Game 2. Jackie Don’t Go 3. I Never Stopped Loving You 4. It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way 5. Ready For The Real Thing 6. Half-Life 7. What Do You Really Think? 8. Slander 9. Santa Ana Winds

OK, it's Survivor, but these are their two best albums and Vital Signs is their biggest. Caught In The Game is their heaviest album (probably why it stiffed) and the title track shows why Frankie Sullivan is such a wicked guitarist-criminally underrated whether you like the band or not.
Vital Signs has a nice bonus cut "The Moment Of Truth" which was a hit from the Karate Kid soundtrack and was Jimi Jamison's first tune with the band.
I like the band but own no albums other than the last and best comp Ultimate Survivor. Maybe sometime I'll get these but if you like good commercial Hard Rock (the term AOR makes me shiver) these are really well done.

One more step to the poorhouse here I'm afraid.
I bought Caught In The Game as soon as it came out on vinyl and was pleasantly surprised by just how hard rocking it was although there's the obligatory ballad on it.
Vital Signs for the uninitiated is the home of I Can't Hold Back of which I did once have a copy of the video on Betamax (RIP).
IIRC, I thought Volcano Entertainment issued these in the States in the early 2000's.

i have the japan remasters from 1999 with bonus tracks and they sound great ( not sure if this the same remastering job as tha new one's) but i did get them autographed by jim perterik .

These are newly remastered with new liner notes and everything. Supposedly they sound very, very nice and look the same. Rock Candy does first class work all the way through.
I did have a Japanese Caught In The Game release with the OBI strip and sold it for a nice chunk of change, although mine did not have bonus tracks.
Kaja is correct in that Caught In The Game rocks-I guess fans wanted more ballads and Pop and that's what Vital Signs delivered. Both albums are great.
For the uninitiated, here's "Caught In The Game" which features a killer riff and one mean-ass solo. One of my favorite songs from the decade and great vocals and melodies too. It was a minor hit, but it should've been huge!

"Santa Ana Winds" is amazing! I won an auction for the Japanese Pony Canyon pressing of "Caught In The Game", and am waiting on it to arrive.

That's the one I had and sold-no bonus tracks. I will get this new one from Rock Candy. Is this new one something you'd also get or will you just keep the Japanese one?
And, yes, "Santa Ana Winds" is incredible-that song has way more depth than the average person would realize this band had.
I always liked Bickler over Jamison-he had a grittier voice, but Jamison was very good-a Steve Perry type singer. Current singer Robin McAuley is OK-he did some good things with Grand Prix and MSG but Bickler was the man (and the voice of the hilarious "real men of genius" Budweiser commercials!).