Finally, former Survivor lead singer JIMI JAMISON‘s previously unreleased 2007 solo album “Jimmy Wayne Jamison” is being released. The album is entirely written and produced by fellow former Survivor bandmate Jim Peterik and recorded with a cast of fine musicians, including Peterik and Mike Aquino (Mecca, Pride Of Lions).
After leading Survivor to the top of the charts in the mid-80s, powerhouse vocalist Jimi Jamison reunited with Jim Peterik to cut… a country-rock album? The concept seems perplexing, yet it makes perfect sense.
The singer was born Jimmy Wayne Jamison in smalltown Mississippi. Those who knew him best said that you could hear his Southern roots, no matter what he was singing. Today’s country music often blurs the line between true old school country, pop, and straight up rock & roll. The same is true with ”Jimmy Wayne Jamison” which at times, doesn’t stray too far from the Jimi Jamison that we all know and love so dearly.
A young Jamison performed songs by The Marshall Tucker Band in his dues paying club days, cut background vocals for Molly Hatchet, and sang prominent harmonies all over ZZ Top’s massive ‘Eliminator’ album. ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons referred to Jamison as the “fourth member” of the group after working, touring, and hanging out with them in multiple occasions.
Meanwhile, master songwriter Jim Peterik had written with Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, and Blackhawk. Peterik zeroes in on one thing about Jamison’s vocals that he registered almost immediately. “I heard what I called ‘the yodel’ in his voice, which is what I call the ‘Southern twang,’” he explains. “It’s not really Southern, but he’s got a catch in his voice that I made sure was in every song.”
“It’s not like he sings this album with a certain twang or anything like that, it’s just Jamison,” Peterik offers as an expert summary. “I mean, there’s really not a huge dividing line between the two Jamisons, the ‘rock Jamison’ and what you’re hearing on this record, at least in my opinion. Maybe it’s a little more gentle? But he’s still rockin’.”
Jimi Jamison’s ”Jimmy Wayne Jamison” album has never been heard… until now, thanks to this impeccable Iconoclassic Records CD, the second posthumous release from the Jimi Jamison Archives. There’s a very nice liner notes essay by Matt Wardlaw (Ultimate Classic Rock radio DJ and journalist) documenting the album’s creation.
Highly Recommended
Tracklist:
1. Live Life (4:13)
2. Love You All Over The World (3:55)
3. Runaway Train (3:16)
4. Strong At The Broken Places (3:30)
5. I Wanna Touch You There (2:55)
6. Heart Of A Woman (4:17)
7. Sound Of Home (4:45)
8. Alive (4:29)
9. Till You Love Someone (4:17)
10. Come Dancing (4:03)
11. A Kiss To Remember You By (3:08)
Jimi Jamison – Jimmy Wayne Jamison – 2024, Iconoclassic Records ,FLAC+MP3, CD w. Scans
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