Signs of Life (Billy Squier album)


Signs of Life is the fourth studio album by American musician Billy Squier. It was co-produced by Meat Loaf's famed songwriter Jim Steinman, replacing Reinhold Mack, who had produced Squier's previous two hit records, Don't Say No and Emotions In Motion, as well as Queen's The Game.
The album's best known song, "Rock Me Tonite", was his best charting hit and second #1 single in the Mainstream Rock charts, but is also known for its notoriously homoerotic music video, which is often regarded 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 is a whole chapter dedicated to it.

Commercial and critical reception

Signs of Life was released to great anticipation and became his third-in-a-row platinum selling record. It debuted at #61 on the Billboard 200, becoming his highest debut on the chart. The album ended up narrowly missing the Top 10 and peaked at #11, thus making his previous two efforts Squier's only Top 10 albums.
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 and critics in the time of its release and also replaced good chunk 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". However, nowadays the album stands as a strong cult favorite despite its reputation as a "career killer".

Track listing

Personnel