On this day in 1982: Survivor was enjoying its 5th week at #1 on the U.S. Singles Chart.
It was released as a single from their third album of the same name and was also the theme song for the film Rocky III, which was released a day before the single. The song was written by Survivor guitarist Frankie Sullivan and keyboardist Jim Peterik, and it was recorded at the request of Rocky III star, writer, and director Sylvester Stallone, after Queen denied him permission to use “Another One Bites the Dust”, the song Stallone intended as the Rocky III theme. The version of the song that appears in the film is the demo version of the song. The film version also contained tiger growls, which did not appear on the album version. It features original Survivor singer Dave Bickler on lead vocals.
It gained tremendous MTV and radio airplay and topped charts worldwide during 1982. In the United States, it held #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six consecutive weeks (the band’s only song to top the chart) and was the #2 single of 1982, behind “Physcial” by Olivia Newton John. It spent fifteen consecutive weeks in the top ten, the second-longest run of 1982, behind “Hurts So Good” by John Cougar (which was prevented from reaching the top of the Hot 100 by “Eye of the Tiger”). This top ten run is tied with the aforementioned “Another One Bites the Dust” as well as “Physical” as the longest run in the top ten for a number one song during the entire 1980s decade. The band won an award for “Best Rock Performance by Duo or Group With Vocal” at the 25th Annual Grammy Awards. In September 1982, it also peaked at #1 in the United Kingdom, remaining at the top of the U.K. Singles Chart for four consecutive weeks.
Here’s a look at the entire Top 20 on the U.S. Singles Chart from this day in 1982:
1 1 EYE OF THE TIGER –•– Survivor (Scotti Brothers)-12 (5 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 HURTS SO GOOD –•– John Cougar (Riva)-18 (2)
3 3 ABRACADABRA –•– The Steve Miller Band (Capitol)-13 (3)
4 4 HOLD ME –•– Fleetwood Mac (Warner Brothers)-10 (4)
5 5 HARD TO SAY I’M SORRY –•– Chicago (Full Moon)-12 (5)
6 6 EVEN THE NIGHTS ARE BETTER –•– Air Supply (Arista)-11 (6)
7 7 KEEP THE FIRE BURNIN’ –•– REO Speedwagon (Epic)-11 (7)
8 9 VACATION –•– The Go-Go’s (I.R.S.)-8 (8)
9 10 WASTED ON THE WAY –•– Crosby, Stills and Nash (Atlantic)-9 (9)
10 12 TAKE IT AWAY –•– Paul McCartney (Columbia)-7 (10)
11 13 YOU SHOULD HEAR HOW SHE TALKS ABOUT YOU –•– Melissa Manchester (Arista)-14 (11)
12 14 LOVE IS IN CONTROL (Finger On the Trigger) –•– Donna Summer (Geffen)-9 (12)
13 11 ONLY THE LONELY –•– The Motels (Capitol)-18 (9)
14 18 LOVE WILL TURN YOU AROUND –•– Kenny Rogers (Liberty)-8 (14)
15 8 ROSANNA –•– Toto (Columbia)-19 (2)
16 27 JACK & DIANE –•– John Cougar (Riva)-5 (16)
17 23 EYE IN THE SKY –•– The Alan Parsons Project (Arista)-8 (17)
18 20 AMERICAN MUSIC –•– The Pointer Sisters (Planet)-9 (18)
19 21 THINK I’M IN LOVE –•– Eddie Money (Columbia)-8 (19)
20 24 WHO CAN IT BE NOW –•– Men At Work (Columbia)-7 (20)
