"The Great Unknown" by Jimi Jamison

One of my favorite rock vocalists, Jimi Jamison is best known as one of the singers for the 80s melodic rock band Survivor (replacing Dave Bickler in 1984). Jamison gave the band some of their biggest hits including "Burning Heart" and "The Search Is Over." Among the more high-profile bands he fronted prior to Survivor were Target and Cobra. He's also been a frequent backup singer for ZZ Top and Joe Walsh.

As Survivor's popularity began to fade in the late 80s, Jamison tried his hand at a solo record. In 1991, he released "When Love Comes Down," which flopped despite some strong cuts like "Cry Alone" and the title track. He made a comeback of sorts with his single, "I'm Always Here," the theme to the inexplicable hit of a TV show, Baywatch. His second solo record, "Empires," failed to leverage the popularity of "I'm Always Here" and was another flop.

Jamison returned to Survivor in 2000 but left again shortly after they released "Reach" in 2006. In 2008, he teamed with ex-Survivor and Ides of March member Jim Peterik to release another solo effort, "Crossroads." Thanks to the strong melodic songwriting of Peterik, "Crossroads Moment" sounds like a proper Survivor record and provided Jamison with a batch of songs that truly showcased his voice. Standout cuts include "As Is," "She's Nothing To Me," "Behind The Music," and the title track. Although nothing charted, this is a record worth tracking down if you enjoyed Jamison's tenure in Survivor (along with the "leftovers" album he did with Peterik called "Extra Moments.")

"Never Too Late" was Jamison's final solo record before his untimely death in 2014 from a heart attack and stroke brought on by meth overdose. Another strong slice of melodic rock, the record once again proves how wonderful his voice was. "The Great Unknown" is just one of many highlights.