Billy Squier "Signs Of Life"

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 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). However, the disc peaked at #11.

The album's best known song, "Rock Me Tonite", was his best charting hit and second #1 single in the Mainstream Rock charts (holding the top spot for two weeks), but is also known for its video, which did not conform to standard gender roles or expectations of masculinity at the time. 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". 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." 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."

Track listing

All tracks are written by Billy Squier.

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

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

Various Artists "The Queen's Golden Jubilee 2002 - Party At The Palace - The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace"

The Party at the Palace was a British music concert and celebration held in London in 2002. The event was in commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II held over the Golden Jubilee Weekend 1–4 June 2002. The event itself was hosted at Buckingham Palace Garden on 3 June 2002. It was the pop/rock equivalent of the Prom at the Palace, that showcased classical music.

The concert was held at the gardens of Buckingham Palace Garden as part of the Golden Jubilee. The event was touted as the greatest concert in Britain since Live Aid or possibly ever. Tickets to the event were determined by a lottery. 12,000 people attended the concert. An estimated 1 million people watched outside the Palace in The Mall and around the Queen Victoria Memorial, and 200 million on television. The concert included performances of many hit songs from the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The event was the culmination of a national day of partying. The BBC Music Live Festival also occurred on the day. At 13:00 towns across the United Kingdom had bands play The Beatles hit "All You Need Is Love" before church bells were rung around the country.

A condensed version of the concert was released on DVD. Some portions have been cut, e.g. Ruby Wax's monologue, Dame Edna's introduction of Paul McCartney performing "Blackbird" and Paul McCartney's spontaneous performance of "Her Majesty".

A live CD recording of the performance was also released in 2002.

Track list:

1. Brian May + The Royal Academy Of Music Symphony Orchestra* With Roger Taylor & Ray Cooper God Save The Queen     1:58
2. Phil Collins You Can't Hurry Love   3:04
3. Atomic Kitten Dancing In The Street    2:41
4. Shirley Bassey Goldfinger  2:57
5. Bryan Adams Everything I Do (I Do It For You)   4:18
6. Tom Jones Feat. Blue & Keith Airey You Can Leave Your Hat On   3:51
7. Queen + Phil Collins Radio Ga Ga   2:18
8. Queen + London Cast Of The Musical We Will Rock You, The* + Phil Collins We Will Rock You     1:45
9. Queen + Will Young + London Cast Of The Musical We Will Rock You, The* + Phil Collins We Are The Champions     2:38
10. Annie Lennox Why    5:36
11. Cliff Richard Feat. S Club 7 & Brian May Move It   2:43
12. Ozzy Osbourne With Tony Iommi Paranoid    3:12
13. Elton John I Want Love   4:31
14. Brian Wilson Feat. The Corrs God Only Knows   2:48
15. Brian Wilson Feat. Cliff Richard, Emma Bunton & Atomic Kitten Good Vibrations  4:22
16. Eric Clapton Layla   6:20
17. Steve Winwood Gimme Some Lovin'   2:49
18. Joe Cocker Feat. Steve Winwood & Brian May With A Little Help From My Friends  5:40
19. Rod Stewart Feat. J'Anna Jacoby Handbags & Gladrags  3:56
20. Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker, Paul McCartney, Ladysmith Black Mambazo And Various All You Need Is Love   3:37
21. Various Hey Jude   6:50

Backing Vocals – Claudia Fontaine, Margo Buchanan, Sam Brown
Bass [The House Band] – Pino Palladino
Conductor [Royal Academy Of Music Symphony Orchestra Md Assistant] – James Brett
Conductor [Royal Academy Of Music Symphony Orchestra Musical Director] – Michael Kamen
Directed By [Concert] – Geoff Posner
Drums [The House Band] – Phil Collins
Executive-Producer – Sir George Martin, Michael Kamen, Phil Ramone
Executive-Producer [Concert] – Lorna Dickinson
Guitar [The House Band] – Phil Palmer
Keyboards [The House Band] – Wix Wickens
Management [Concert Production Manager] – Elizabeth Flowers
Management [Marketing Manager] – Teresa Harte
Management [Project, For Ca Management] – Adam Sharp
Mastered By [@ Abbey Road] – Adam Nunn
Mixed By, Engineer [@ Abbey Road] – Paul Hicks
Mixed By, Engineer [@ Mayfair] – Greg Jackman*, John Hudson
Other [Pr] – Katherine Howard
Other [Rights Clearance] – Claire Jarvis, Wendy Neilson
Percussion [The House Band] – Ray Cooper
Performer [Paul Mccartney's Band] – Abe Laboriel Jr, Brian Ray, Wix Wickens, Rusty Anderson
Performer [The Royal Academy Of Music Jazz Horns] – Christopher Webster, Mike Lovett, Pablo Mendelssohn, Simon Allen, Thomas Richards
Producer – Giles Martin
Producer [Concert] – Cerrie Frost
Saxophone [The House Band] – Eric Robinson 
Supervised By [Sound] – Andy Rose

All tracks ℗ 2002 Golden Jubilee Events Ltd.

Recorded using Quantegy Tape

Recorded live at Buckingham Palace by the BBC, 3rd June 2002.

℗ 2002 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Golden Jubilee Events Limited under exclusive license to EMI Records Limited © 2002 Golden Jubilee Events Limited under licence to EMI Records Limited.

Made in the EU