Signs of Life is the fourth studio album by American musician Billy Squier. It was co-produced by Meat Loaf's songwriter Jim Steinman, replacing Reinhold Mack, who had produced Squier's previous two records, Don't Say No (1981) and Emotions in Motion (1982).
| Signs of Life | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 1984 | |||
| Recorded | April 28, 1984 – June 16, 1984 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 49:46 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Billy Squier chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Signs of Life | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
Commercial and critical reception
editSigns of Life became Squier's third-in-a-row platinum selling record. It was his highest new entry, at #61, on the Billboard album chart (also the peak of his next offering). The disc spent nearly a year in the charts, reaching #11. It made the Top 10 in Cash Box.[2]
The album's best known song, "Rock Me Tonite", was his best charting Pop hit and second #1 single in the Mainstream Rock charts. The perceived challenge to Squier's image as a guitar-playing rocker is often regarded as one of the main reasons for Squier's subsequent popularity decline as well as one of the worst music videos in the history of MTV; in the book I Want My MTV there is a whole chapter dedicated to it.
Apart from its lead single's music video, the album's elaborated production with heavy usage of synthesizers, as well as poppier songwriting, divided Squier's audience. Critics of the time relegated a portion of his rock audience to pop fans. In a two-star review, AllMusic's Mike DeGagne felt the album lacking the "over-the-top approach Squier usually adds to his music".[3] Nowadays, the album is viewed as one of Squier's finest artistic achievements, despite its notoriety.
Cash Box described the second single from the album, "All Night Long," as a "superb combination of tight tracks, strong vocals and high energy."[4] Cash Box said of the single "Eye on You" that it "is more typically melodic and moving than...'All Night Long'" and added that "with a strong chorus, hook and a mid-tempo backing, Squier’s vocals have a chance to breathe and he makes full use of a throaty growl."[5]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Billy Squier
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "All Night Long" | 4:51 |
| 2. | "Rock Me Tonite" | 4:56 |
| 3. | "Eye on You" | 4:42 |
| 4. | "Take a Look Behind Ya" | 5:03 |
| 5. | "Reach For the Sky" | 5:34 |
| 6. | "(Another) 1984" | 4:56 |
| 7. | "Fall for Love" | 4:52 |
| 8. | "Can't Get Next to You" | 4:36 |
| 9. | "Hand-Me-Downs" | 4:22 |
| 10. | "Sweet Release" | 6:15 |
| Total length: | 49:46 | |
Personnel
edit- Billy Squier – lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, production
- Jeff Golub – guitars, slide guitar
- Alan St. Jon – keyboards, synthesizers
- Doug Lubahn – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Bobby Chouinard – drums
Featured musicians
edit- Larry Fast – synthesizers
- Jimmy Maelen – percussion
- Eric Troyer and Rory Dodd – additional vocals on "Fall for Love" and "Reach for the Sky"
- Brian May – guitar solo on "(Another) 1984"
- Alfa Anderson – additional vocals on "(Another) 1984"
Production
edit- Billy Squier – producer
- Jim Steinman – producer
- John Jansen – production assistant
- Tony Platt – engineer
- Gary Rindfuss – assistant engineer
- J.B. Moore – mixing
- Anjali Dutt – tape operator
- George Marino – mastering
- Bill Smith – cover art design and illustration
- John Van Hamersveld – rear cover collage and inner sleeve design[6]
Charts
edit| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[7] | 96 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[8] | 59 |
| US Billboard 200[9] | 11 |
References
edit- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ "Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
- ^ "Signs of Life - Billy Squier | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
- ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 20, 1984. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 8, 1984. p. 11. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ LP liner notes
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 289. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Billy Squier – Signs of Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ "Billy Squier Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2021.