Ever Since the World Began

Last updated
"Ever Since the World Began"
Song by Survivor
from the album Eye of the Tiger
Released1982
Genre Rock
Length3:48
Label
Songwriter(s)

"Ever Since the World Began" is a power ballad [1] by American rock band Survivor, released in 1982 from the group's third album Eye of the Tiger , featuring Dave Bickler as lead singer. Composed by the band's guitarist Frankie Sullivan and keyboardist Jim Peterik, the song was written for someone fighting against cancer; Frankie Sullivan said in an interview that a member of his immediate family was battling the disease and later succumbed to it. He said the song had a lot of true meaning to him. It also had a lot of significance for co-writer Jim Peterik, as it was one of the final songs he played for his father before the latter's death shortly before the Eye of the Tiger album's release. [2]

Other versions

"Ever Since the World Began"
Single by Tommy Shaw
from the album Ambition
B-side "The Outsider"
Released1987
Recorded1987
Genre Rock
Length4:08
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
Tommy Shawsingles chronology
"No Such Thing"
(1987)
"Ever Since the World Began"
(1987)
"My Hallucination"
(1995)

Styx member Tommy Shaw recorded his version of the song for his third solo album Ambition in 1987. It was released as a single and reached No. 75 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. [3]

"Ever Since the World Began"
Single by Jimi Jamison
from the album Lock Up Soundtrack
B-side "Cry Alone"
Released1989
Recorded1989
Genre Rock
Length3:48
Label Scotti Brothers
Songwriter(s)
  • Frankie Sullivan
  • Jim Peterik
Jimi Jamisonsingles chronology
"Ever Since the World Began"
(1989)
"Taste of Love"
(1991)

Following the temporary disbandment of Survivor in 1989, Bickler's successor in the band, Jimi Jamison recorded a solo cover of "Ever Since the World Began" for the 1989 film Lock Up . It was released as his debut solo single.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Survivor (band)</span> American rock band

Survivor is an American rock band formed in Chicago in 1978 by Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan. The band achieved its best success in the 1980s, producing many charting singles, especially in the United States. The band is best-known for their double-platinum-certified 1982 hit "Eye of the Tiger", the theme song for the 1982 motion picture Rocky III; that single spent six weeks at number one in the US. The band continued to chart in the mid-1980s with singles like "Burning Heart", "The Search Is Over", "High on You", "Is This Love", and "I Can't Hold Back." Before Survivor formed, Jim Peterik was the lead vocalist–guitarist for the band The Ides of March. The Jim Peterik Band formed after Peterik had released his album Don't Fight the Feeling on Epic Records in 1976. The liner notes of the album, written by Jim Charney, refer to Peterik as a "survivor". This note inspired the name of Peterik's next grouping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eye of the Tiger</span> 1982 single by Survivor

"Eye of the Tiger" is a song by the American rock band Survivor. It was written as the theme song for the 1982 film Rocky III and released that year as a single from Survivor's third album, Eye of the Tiger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Peterik</span> American rock musician and songwriter

James Michael Peterik is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the founder of the rock band Survivor, as vocalist and songwriter of "Vehicle" by the Ides of March, and as co-writer of the anthem "Eye of the Tiger", the theme from the 1982 film Rocky III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankie Sullivan</span> American guitarist (born 1955)

Frankie Sullivan is an American guitarist, best known for being a founding member of the rock band Survivor. He has been the only permanent fixture in its lineup since the band's 1977 inception.

David Bickler is an American singer, best known as the lead singer for the rock band Survivor from 1978 until 1983, most notably on the #1 U.S. hit "Eye of the Tiger". In addition to his wide vocal range, his trademark look included a beret. Bickler would go on to provide the vocals in advertisements, including Bud Light's "Real Men of Genius" TV and radio commercials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Frederiksen</span> American rock singer (1951–2014)

Dennis Hardy "Fergie" Frederiksen was an American rock singer best known as the former lead singer of Trillion, Angel, LeRoux and Toto, as well as providing backing vocals for Survivor. He contributed to hit singles in three consecutive years, all with different bands: Survivor's "American Heartbeat" in 1982, LeRoux's "Carrie's Gone" in 1983 and Toto's "Stranger in Town" in 1984.

<i>Too Hot to Sleep</i> 1988 studio album by Survivor

Too Hot to Sleep is the seventh studio album from rock band Survivor, released in 1988. It was a relative commercial disappointment, reaching only #187 on the Billboard album charts, though "Across the Miles" is one of their biggest AC chart hits. After this album, founders Frankie Sullivan and Jim Peterik put the band on indefinite hiatus, while lead vocalist Jimi Jamison would continue to tour under the Survivor name. Drummer Marc Droubay and bassist Stephen Ellis were replaced by studio musicians on the album. This album marks the final Survivor release to feature Peterik. The lineup of Sullivan and Jamison would not reunite until 2000.

<i>When Seconds Count</i> 1986 studio album by Survivor

When Seconds Count is the sixth studio album by the American rock band Survivor, released in October 1986. The album included the hit single, "Is This Love", which peaked at #9 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1987. The album reached #49 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

<i>Vital Signs</i> (Survivor album) 1984 studio album by the rock band Survivor

Vital Signs is the fifth studio album by American rock band Survivor and their first with vocalist Jimi Jamison released in September 1984. The album was their second most successful in the U.S., reaching #16 on the Billboard Album charts and being certified platinum by the RIAA. The album includes singles "I Can't Hold Back" which peaked at #13 on Billboard Hot 100 chart, "High on You" reached #8, "The Search Is Over" #4 and "First Night" #53.

<i>Caught in the Game</i> 1983 studio album by Survivor

Caught in the Game is the fourth album by American rock band Survivor, released in October 1983. It features guest appearances by Mr. Mister's Richard Page and REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin. It is the band's last album to-date to feature lead vocalist Dave Bickler, who left due to vocal surgery. Bickler rejoined the band from 1993 to 2000, and again from 2013 to 2016. The first single "Caught In The Game" went to #77 at Billboard Hot 100 chart and later "I Never Stopped Loving You" failed to hit the Hot 100 reaching only #104.

<i>Eye of the Tiger</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Survivor

Eye of the Tiger is the third album by American rock band Survivor, released in 1982. It reached #2 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

<i>Premonition</i> (Survivor album) 1981 studio album by Survivor

Premonition is the second album by American rock band Survivor, released in October 1981 in the United States and February 1982 elsewhere. It was the first album to use the Survivor script logo.

<i>Survivor</i> (Survivor album) 1979 studio album by Survivor

Survivor is the first album by the American rock band Survivor, recorded and released in 1979. It is the band's only album with its original drummer, Gary Smith, and bass guitarist, Dennis Keith Johnson. The recording sessions, overseen by the A&R executive John Kalodner, were not without difficulties. First, Ron Nevison replaced Barry Mraz as producer, and then the project had to be taken to Bruce Fairbairn in Vancouver to achieve a mix that was to Kalodner's satisfaction. The album took eight months to finally be released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimi Jamison</span> American singer (1951–2014)

Jimmy Wayne Jamison was an American singer. Best known as Jimi Jamison, he earned recognition as the frontman for the rock bands Target, Cobra, and Survivor from 1984 to 1989, performing the songs "Burning Heart" from the film Rocky IV, "The Moment of Truth" from The Karate Kid, along with other top-20 Survivor hits "I Can't Hold Back", "High On You", "The Search Is Over" and "Is This Love". He officially rejoined Survivor in 2000, remaining in the group until 2006, only to rejoin again in 2011. Acclaimed for his vocal abilities, Jamison is also known for having co-written and performed the theme song "I'm Always Here" for the 1990s TV series Baywatch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Hold Back</span> 1984 single by the rock band Survivor

"I Can't Hold Back" is a song recorded by the rock band Survivor. It was the first hit single from their 1984 album Vital Signs. The song reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #14 on the Cash Box Top 100. It also returned the band to #1 for three weeks on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Survivor album) Compilation album by Survivor

Greatest Hits is the title of two compilation albums released by the American rock band Survivor in 1989 and 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicle (song)</span> 1970 song by The Ides of March

"Vehicle" is a song recorded by American rock band the Ides of March for their debut album Vehicle (1970). The song was released as the lead single from the album in March 1970 through Warner Bros. Records. Written by vocalist and frontman Jim Peterik, it is about a girl that often used him for her mode of transportation, leading Peterik to surmise that he was little more than her "vehicle". The arrangement includes a distinctive horn section riff, which caused some listeners to mistake the band for Blood, Sweat & Tears, who were also popular in that era.

Robert Gary Smith is an American musician and songwriter. He was a member of Chase and a founding member of Survivor. Smith has also performed or recorded with B.B. King, Joe Williams, Vic Damone, Patrick Leonard, Leslie West (Mountain), Steve Forman, Will Lee, Elliott Randall, Bobby Kimball, Tommy Shaw, Darryl Jones, Jim Peterik, John Gary, Bruce Gaitsch, Eric Miyashiro, Clark Terry, Chuck Findley, Larry Carlton, Jaco Pastorius and many others.

<i>The Best of Survivor</i> 2006 greatest hits album by Survivor

The Best of Survivor is a 2006 compilation album by the American rock band Survivor, containing 14 songs from 1981 to 1988.

"High on You" is a song by the American rock band Survivor. It was the band's second single and first top-ten hit from their 1984 album Vital Signs.

References

  1. November 2015, Paul Elliott04. "The 20 Greatest Power Ballads You Won't Find On Power Ballad Compilation Albums". Classic Rock Magazine.
  2. Peterik, Jim. Through the Eye of the Tiger Dallas, TX: BenBella Books, Inc. 2014.
  3. "Tommy Shaw Chart History - Billboard Hot 100". Billboard . Retrieved February 13, 2021.