When Seconds Count [Original recording reissued]

Survivor | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 10, 1992)
• Original Release Date: 1986
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Volcano
• ASIN: B00000I9P1
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #204,425 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of this 1986 album from the AOR/Melodic Rockers. Their previous album, the note perfect, Vital Signs, resuscitated Survivor's career after a period of instability, providing them with a US Top 10 album that spawned no less than three hit singles. With the pressure on, the band retired to their native Chicago to write and rehearse their sixth album When Seconds Count, a record that would once again prove that Survivor were the kings of the American melodic hard rock scene. Recorded in Los Angeles, produced by long time associate Ron Nevison (Heart, Bad Company, UFO etc) and featuring accomplished vocalist Jimi Jamison, the album picks up perfectly from Vital Signs boasting a number of classic cuts including the hit single 'Is This Love'. Make no mistake, WSC, originally released in 1986, is a record chock full of great songs, placing Survivor in the pantheon of primo American AOR units, alongside masters of the craft such as REO Speedwagon, Journey and Foreigner. Rock Candy. 2011. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Shame!, January 26, 2003

By 

Ensio N Mikkola "book worm" (Gaithersburg, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Seconds Count (Audio CD)

I'm almost ashamed to admit how much I love this album. It's so schlocky, so cheesy, corny, goofy, 80's, unhip (even for its time) and radio friendly but darn it, it's one of my favorite albums of all time. Almost every track on this one reminds me of Lays potato chips. You can't just listen once! Er, or something like that.

I prefer to rate individual tracks when I'm reviewing music CD's.

1. "How Much Love"
The first track is really upbeat, hey, like most of this album. The guy's wondering how much love will it take to get this girl and whether his creepiness will scare her away. That's it, no guns, no bling. 3/5

2. "Keep It Right Here"
The cheese continues but fortunately, it's fine velveta. This is the first of many "commitment" songs on this album and it makes you wonder if these guys wrote these songs for their wives or girlfriends. There's a sincerity about this song that is rare in pop music. 5/5

3. "Is This Love"
This is admittedly my least favorite track, probably because I've heard it too many times already. The keyboards kind of annoy me. The saxophone solo is awesome though. 2/5

4. "Man Against The World"
Oh, melodrama. This piano ballad is a great song. That's all I can say about it! 5/5

5. "Rebel Son"
Arguably the best track on this album. This song starts off kind of slow then picks up speed with an 80's beat that could have scored any "Karate Kid" film. It'll have you coiffing your hair in no time! 5/5

6. "Oceans"
I never really liked this track. 1/5

7. "When Seconds Count"
Yep. Another commitment song. But this one's excellent and once again there's a sincerity here that is quite rare. 5/5

8. "Backstreet Love Affair"
The organ riff in this one will be stuck in your head forever. 4/5

9. "In Good Faith"
Another commitment song and my favorite track on the album. This is a typical power ballad that goes from piano to guitar. This was a really popular wedding song back in the day. 5/5

10. "Can't Let You Go"
The album ends with a great upbeat track. And good lyrics too. My hearts been branded/I can't let you go/Don't understand it/Just can't tell you no/Don't leave me stranded/'Cus I just can't let you go. Er, alright.

Buy this album. Please. If people keep buying old Survivor records, maybe that'll encourage them to get back together, like all the old fogies do. I'm looking forward to that!
6.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Survivors Absolute Best, December 4, 2002

By 

K. M. Morris (Reno, NV) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: When Seconds Count (Audio CD)

Of all the albums released by Survivor I would have to say that When Seconds Count stands as their all time best. Theres not one bad track or filler to be found on this CD at all. This is one of those CD's that you can pop in and play over and over and never get sick of it. I've owned this CD for years and I still enjoy it to this day. I've always loved how Survivor blends their Keyboards and Guitars together, which gives them their signature sound, and its all found right here.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Typically excellent...and overlooked, September 5, 2002

By 

Brett Simpson (Auckland, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: When Seconds Count (Audio CD)

Although this album yielded three charting singles only "Is This Love" was a major hit, and the album barely made the top 50. This lack of commercial success remains an enormous mystery...this is one of the best AOR albums ever released.

Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan had a real chemistry when it came to writing great songs together. This time around vocalist Jimi Jamison also had a hand in writing four of the ten tracks; for whatever reason those songs are not quite as strong as those he wasn't involved with. (Exception: "Keep It Right Here"). But apart from "Man Against The World" which everybody but me seems to love every cut is extremely good, and while it is a softer album than most Survivor records there are some great rock moments such as "Rebel Son" and "Can't Let You Go" included. However my personal favourite tracks are the title cut and the superb "Oceans". Highly recommended.