THE Hard Rock and AOR Reference on the Internet!

Bands: 10325 CDS: 25012 Songs: 297499

Nov. 13, 2024: 25,000th CD added to Heavy Harmonies! The 25,000th CD has been added here at HH, and the album with that distinction is the new comeback album from Krokus lead singer Marc Storace, entitled Crossfire. -Dan

#s A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Compilations    Soundtracks    Tributes

Artist: King Kobra

(click on Artist's name above to return to artist's main page)

King Kobra Homepage

CD Title: Thrill of a Lifetime

 

Category: AOR

Year: 1986

Label: Axe Killer (Capitol Records)

Catalog Number: 3057322

Personnel

Mark Free lead and backing vocals
Carmine Appice drums, percussion, backing vocals
David Michael-Philips lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals, guitar synth
Johnny Rod bass, backing vocals
Mick Sweda lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals, guitar synth
Duane Hitchings additional keyboards
CD reissued by Axe Killer Records in 2000 as a numbered edition of 2,000 with slipcase and bonus track (bonus track weirdly NOT performed by King Kobra, rather the Jon Butcher Axis).

Tracks

1.	Second Time Around	4:03
2.	Dream On	4:26
3.	Feel the Heat	3:53
4.	Thrill of a Lifetime	4:06
5.	Only the Strong Will Survive	3:54
6.	Iron Eagle (Never Say Die)	3:30
7.	Home Sweet Home	4:21
8.	Overnight Sensation	4:20
9.	Raise Your Hands to Rock	3:47
10.	Party Animal	3:53
11.	This Raging Fire bonus track	4:09
Total Running Time:		44:22

If you see any errors or omissions in the CD information shown above, either in the musician credits or song listings (cover song credits, live tracks, etc.), please post them in the corrections section of the Heavy Harmonies forum/message board.

The music discographies on this site are works in progress. If you notice that a particular King Kobra CD release or compilation is missing from the list above, please submit that CD using the CD submission page. The ultimate goal is to make the discographies here at Heavy Harmonies as complete as possible. Even if it is an obscure greatest-hits or live compilation CD, we want to add it to the site. Please only submit official CD releases; no bootlegs or cassette-only or LP-only releases.

EPs and CD-singles from King Kobra are also welcome to be added, as long as they are at least 4 songs in length.

---

Existing comments about this CD

From: TT	Date: November 26, 2001 at 9:07
While I still think that Ready to Strike was a better release, this one reminds me of what ICON did with their first and second. A great hard rock album followed by a more commercial approach. Still good with some strong cuts, but Ready to Strike was by far their best.

From: Mike A

Date: December 19, 2001 at 18:31

Not as strong or as heavy as Ready To Strike but a great album. 'Second Time Around' leads off the album. This song should have been a single. It's a great commercial song. Other great songs include 'Overnight Sensation' & 'Only The Strong Will Survive. It also has the theme song to Iron Eagle and one of the first rock/rap songs in 'Home Street Home' and as usuall an awesome vocal performance from Mark Free.

From:	Date: December 31, 2001 at 11:15
Thrill Of A Lifetime=100% Quality.Viva King Kobra!!!

From: David

Date: March 24, 2002 at 12:33

Alright this is a good album, but not really up my alley, it's very soft rock, not very heavy at all which for me is dissapointing. Mark Free has got a great voice but I don't think he uses it as well as he can. With a lead singer like Mark they have the potentional to be as good as giant! The best song on the cd is 'Home Street Home' it has got plenty of attitude and just a fun alround song. Just one more thing the production of the album is very good for 1986

From: Tony

Date: June 27, 2002 at 12:27

If there ever was an album that was a sign of the times it's this one!! I like this album, I really do, but they just try SSOO damn hard on it to have a hit. You get the feeling they want to be heavier but hey in 86' you were competing with the Night Ranger's and Bon Jovi's of the world. For melodic pop-rock though this is almost a perfect cd. Kinda makes you think these guys were so talented they could have tackled any genre they wanted.

From: koogles	Date: June 30, 2002 at 18:46
If you loved Survivor during Jimi Jamison's 4 year presidential term, you'll drool over tracks like 'Feel The Heat', 'Thrill of a Lifetime', 'Second Time Around' and 'Iron Eagle (Never Say Die)'. Mark Free is an AOR god... well, goddess now... and if you love this CD, check out Signal 'Loud and Clear', Unruly Child's self-titled and Free's 'Long Way From Love'. BRILLIANT!!!

From: Bryan	Date: July 28, 2002 at 2:09
Visit Marcie Free's Official site: www.marciefree.com -Under Reconstruction-

From: freddy de keyze

Date: October 4, 2002 at 2:38

By far the best King Kobra ever released. Their first album 'Ready To Strike' is not bad, but after all it's just standar hardrock ! This is BRILLIANT AOR, I have to agree with koogles. And David,if you think this is too soft, then you're wrong and not an AOR fan but a hardrock fan. There's nothing wrong with that, I also like hardrock, but class hardrock à la Legs Diamond, Y&T, Montrose, Van Halen etc. There is a difference between hardrock (melodic) and AOR and this is A MUST HAVE for any AOR

From: Firechicken	Date: October 4, 2002 at 13:44
You are so right my friend Freddy, this is as we say in my country 'La mierda de una cabra embarazada' Rock on my friend. You are as knowledgeable as 'un par de calcetines malolientes'! 'ready To Strike' was definitely 'mucho mejor que esta mierda'!

From: AOR Babe

Date: October 5, 2002 at 18:55

I just love this cd.. Good AOR songs turn me on and make me Want more!!!..sweet sweet songs like Thrill of a Lifetime are great and I will have to participate in that interesting AOR discussion on the message board because I am a TRUE fan of this music and can't let others who know little about this beautiful music slander it in any way..freddy de keyze why is someone making fun of your socks on the message board?..classic AOR on this cd is 'Feel The Heat' mr freddy.

From: Metal Man	Date: October 9, 2002 at 16:52
Good classic hard rock from the 80s. However, its about as interesting a listening to a bug zapper

From: raul	Date: October 26, 2002 at 9:52
hi I,m writing from Spain ( Madrid) and I,m interested in bying this Cd,but I don't Know how do it,could you help me,please?my mail is don-rds@terra.es thanks

From: xavieskay	Date: November 7, 2002 at 15:44
fuck! what an album! one of the best aor albums ever, great songs and production! and perfect work of mark free! me encanta este disco GIRL, ONLY THE STRONG WILL SURVIVE!

From: freddy de keyze

Date: December 3, 2002 at 5:52

Thanks for the support, AOR babe ! And if someone is fun making of my socks, leaves me 'cold as ice' ! At least, we know the difference between pure, true AOR and other genres. If some guys think do know it better, let 'em dreaming.I follow the scene for about 37 years (!) and probaby the guys which are laughing with me weren't even born then !With all respect for them, but what do they know sometimes about true AOR ! ? I follow it from the very beginning, till now. But I don't say I know it all

From: mark free	Date: December 13, 2002 at 1:49
Thanks for your worm words. I WILL RETURN

From: Trick Taylor

Date: February 6, 2003 at 20:30

KOOGLES- Have you ever noticed that a lot of 'AOR masterpieces' are albums that hasten a band's journey to obscurity? Cases in point: 'Wants You' from Rough Cutt, 'Night of the Crime' from Icon, and this album. A trained monkey could have formed a metal band in 1986 and been famous (look at POISON). So why wasn't King Kobra able to capitalize on the strength of 'Ready ...Strike'? Because this album was weak. Johnny, Blackie's on the phone for you. Something about a circus?

From: freddy de keyze

Date: February 12, 2003 at 12:06

Wait, I was mistaken I DO know it all...and more. I have been on the AOR scene for 112 years now and I am knowing more about AOR than anyone. I mean seriously, how could anyone know more than me, I've been on the scene for 638 years. In fact, I actually invented AOR...yeah, that's the ticket, I invented AOR. Me and Mark Free, right before I drove him to become a woman. After all, I've been in the scene for 987 years.

From: freddy de keyze

Date: February 12, 2003 at 12:13

Not to mention my good friends who are most unaware...my opinions have now become fact, yes my friends, they are now facts so please stop arguing with me/having your own opinions, etceteras. I have now been recognized by the 'Worldwide AOR Consortium, Knight's Order' as knowing everything. That's right fellas, I am now officially recognized by WACKO. This was not unexpected, as I have been under the scene for over 1500 years.

From: Great Dane	Date: February 17, 2003 at 22:06
Freddy De Keysie. I dont know what kind of powder youre on, but Im sure you've been on it for centuries. Ive been listening to AOR for 2, fuckin zillion years. This cd suxx. THe singer sang like a whiiiining horse, and the track Iron Eagle was just about the worst track I ever heard by a band.

Heavy Harmonies Volunteer
From: Blue Charvel	Date: February 19, 2003 at 12:38
GD, you are totally on target, that Iron Eagle crap signifies everything that went wrong with 80's metal/rock when all the bands added keyboards and lightened up for some reason...

From: freddy de keyze

Date: May 24, 2003 at 23:04

Yes, indeed, I know it all guys, and yes, it's officially now : I invented AOR ! Boy, it WAS a secret ! And to Blue Charvel and Great(?) Dane : you guys don't like keys ?! Well, then you don't like AOR. Me, who invented AOR, decided, that AOR should have keyboards if it wants to be called AOR !!!!! That's a fact, all the rest is . . . Thank you all for the compliments, and Mark Free is thankfull too !After all, he/she made some of the finest AOR records, didn't he/she ?! All hail to pure AOR !!

From: dckiss

Date: May 25, 2003 at 15:56

This album was a MAJOR let down there first album 'Ready To Strike' Was incredible. The songs aren't bad but the band just wimped out trying to go for a more radio friendly direction. If you listen to all of King Kobras albums you will find that this was a band that never really found their Identity. I have to think if they would have stayed in the vein of the 1st album that they might have been huge. For goodness sake they sure had the talent Mark Free was a great singer.

From: AOR freaky	Date: November 26, 2003 at 8:10
End of all discussion : this is a fantastic AOR CD ! Indeed, if you hate keyboards like Blue Charvel and Great Dane, then you will not like it ! But then I wonder what these two guys are doing on this AOR/melodic rock website ! Anyway : great AOR. Period !

Heavy Harmonies Volunteer
From: Blue Charvel	Date: November 26, 2003 at 10:03
Freddy, please go back to whatever slippery rock it was that you crawled back out from under. 'End of all discussion' my ass, what I said was that was what was wrong with 80's rock/metal. I know AOR is usually laden with keyboards and that's fine. KK was a hard rock band and I was disappointed they turned into an AOR band (and not even a very good one). So you like it, great, go listen to it. I don't like it, and I won't listen to it. It doesn't mean either one of us is wrong...idiot.

From: fasteddie	Date: December 29, 2003 at 16:27
Let's just say I canned this cassette, but still listen to Ready to Strike!

From: Metal Pete	Date: January 30, 2004 at 17:36
What a miserable letdown this one is. Just awful. I guess Mark was realizing he was really Marcia at that point?

From: AOR freaky	Date: February 5, 2004 at 5:35
Metal Pete, you are a metal man and not an AOR lover. Right, the first King Kobra was pure straight ahead hardrock, good, but not special. This one is a pure class AOR, far from a letdown ! Mark/Marcie has the perfect voice to do this excellent stuff ! Great AOR record. Period !

From: red

Date: February 5, 2004 at 14:45

Carmine Appice's take was that EMI wanted them to make a radio friendly album and that's what they did. Everything on this album is very subdued except Mark Free's vocals which are as good as everything he did. Mick Sweda and David Michael Phillips were very good guitarists, but their was very little for them to do here until the last three tracks. The Jon Butcher Axis bonus track is not much of a bonus as it stinks.

Heavy Harmonies Volunteer
From: Blue Charvel	Date: February 6, 2004 at 10:05
Sellout. Period!

From: King Kobra	Date: April 22, 2004 at 9:21
The second album of King kobra with Mark free {again} in vocals.....very good but it isn't 'Ready to Strike'........,The song Dream On is one of best songs i've ever heard ,Second time around and iron eagle are also very good songs.

From: Big Papa K

Date: June 13, 2004 at 2:32

This album has me divided. On one hand, total sell out and change of sound. On the other hand, the first half is some great lite aor, even if the keyboards sound out of tune. The second half starts off with a great aor anthem, 'Iron Eagle', kind of a bridge between the first and second half of the album and the styles. The rest of the album contains the awful 'Home Street Home' and three generic rockers. 7/10

From: Metal T	Date: June 29, 2004 at 0:04
Singing 'Never Say Die'---'Iron Eagle' ....Is like screaming the ABC'S through a f**king microphone ! --Beyond stupid ! but,then again its not as stupid as slicing off your johnson . -----------------

From: Abe	Date: July 11, 2004 at 12:40
isn't this the guy who had the sex change?

From: AOR freaky	Date: July 11, 2004 at 13:08
Yes, Mark Free is now Marcie Free. But the voice is what counts and the voice of Mark was (is?) great !!!!!

From: manos	Date: July 14, 2004 at 18:13
If you remove guitars the essence of this album is mainstream pop. Well crafted songs that were meant to strike the charts even if they did not accomplished that later on to the extent of their potential. Some really excellent songs, with strong verses and memorable choruses, ''Feel the Heat'', ''Only the strong Will Survive'' and ''Iron Eagle'' are the real highlights here...

From: Kim HP	Date: July 14, 2004 at 19:07
One of my favorite AOR albums along with Survivor's 'Vital Signs' and Foreigner's '4'. As stated above, the first half of the album is probably the best, with 'Second Time Around' and 'Feel The Heat' being my personal favorites.

From: Nick C	Date: January 28, 2005 at 18:59
Fantastic follow up from the debut which follows a more AOR approach. The album still kicks and is well worth grabbing. Home Street Home (listed as Sweet here), I could imagine bugging a few people as it's rap style is a bit naff and contrived but the rest is way cool.

From: pt88

Date: January 28, 2005 at 21:43

I could have seen them play but I can't remember if they opened for Kiss or something. Quite honestly I wasn't interested. I was at the Cincy Gardens and they played but I passed. I was walkin around with some friends. I think they played with material from the 2nd album on the tour. I heard their name mentioned and vaguely remember the cool drumset. From a distance they didn't sound great but I know I can't judge what I didn't see or hear.

From: ArnoldLancelot	Date: March 29, 2005 at 14:33
Probably their best for all aor lovers like me. I don't know if could be call 'Classic' but shurely, ESSENTIAL. Amazing melodies, stunning vocals from our dear Mark(now Marcie), and most of all well balanced in all the musicianship, altough the production even if it is better than the first effort, it's not as it should be(this been quite picky).

Heavy Harmonies Volunteer
From: Jez	Date: May 23, 2005 at 10:55
Definately an album of two halves this one. The first 6 tracks on this are magnificent AOR of the very fluffy variety, with only the Russ Ballard cover of 'Dream On' not quite hitting the note - (Get Russ Ballard's 'The Fire Still Burns' for the definative version of this). Track 7 'Home Street Home' is apalling and the remainder are very average hard rock fare. If only they had carried on the quality after track 6 then we would be talking classic. Programme the cd player for the first half only

From: PAUL

Date: August 27, 2005 at 13:24

HELLO JEZ,I AGREE FOR SECOND TIME WITH YOU MATE(REMEMBER ARCANGEL).TO ALL PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT THIS ONE IS CRAP,MISERABLE,SOFT ROCK,ETC(CHECK ABOVE).FIRST.ARE YOU SERIOUS?SECOND.ARE YOU AOR/MELODIC ROCK FANS OR LIKE MODERN AND ALTERNATIVE STUFF?I'M MORE AOR FAN THAN HARD ROCK,BUT I CAN'T SAY THAT THEIR FIRST ALBUM IS CRAP,CAUSE THERE ARE SOME VERY GOOD TUNES THERE(READY TO STRIKE-KILLER HARD ROCK,HUNGER-CHECK THE VIDEO CLIP,TOUGH GUYS-COULD BE INTO UNDER LOCK AND KEY OF DOKKEN)SO,OPEN YOUR EARS

From: Geoff

Date: September 19, 2005 at 20:13

Man it's sad to read over Freaky's earlier comments - literally a broken record, saying the same crap since 2002. Very sad. Anyway, I like King Kobra and on first listen I really liked this CD - very nice melodic rock, but as I cranked it last night I could have sworn they'd used a drum machine! I know they didn't, but man it sounds like that and the sound is so weak and pissy, even if some songs are very good. I like this but understand every critisism of it. I do like this, but weak disc.

From: Dorothea	Date: February 11, 2006 at 18:55
Marcie Free is the best voice of AOR, and I know it sounds kind of typical, but it is soooo true!!

From: TomStavely

Date: April 12, 2006 at 10:40

The first song is good and 1or2 others but this album really doesnt come close to the first, As always with Heavyharmonies.com people over rate albums i mean scout this site and see if you can find a single album that gets below 8 its difficult i always try to pull people up on this but it doesnt have any effect i think therefore we may as well abolish the rating system because its become pointless. The proper rating for this album and if people were honest is 6.5 out of 10 and thats generous

From: SCANDI	Date: April 12, 2006 at 11:54
I think a '6,5/10' is the rating for a better track of the BACKSTREET BOYS. What I mean is, I suppose that the rating system is for EVERY music taste in the world. And because it's MR it always gets more than an 8. Personally, I (almost) never give more than a 9 'cos which album is nearly 'perfect'. In the same vain I'd NEVER gave a 10/10. But I often give 7s due to finer ratings.

From: TomStavely

Date: May 2, 2006 at 12:04

Yeah thats fair , unfortunately people vote more than once on a record,we really need to put a guide in for the ratings i mean 10/10 would be awesume this record is good for a single song dream On gets 10/10 and so does Overnight Sensation but the rest of the tracks are 6 and 5's so i come with 6.5 the frist album is superb and is 8.5/10 and the best Backstreet Boys song gets 0 because its them. Cheers

From: metalhead4life

Date: January 13, 2007 at 1:24

Pretty good album........definitely different from Ready to Strike as you will read this CD is keyboard oriented/AOR. 8&9 are the hard rockers on this one (tempo compared to the title track of previous album 'Ready to Strike); the rest are AOR. Some good songs on here (1-4, 8&9) and track 6 is ok. Bonus track is also good. Track 7 is one of the worst songs I ever heard (was one of the first rap plus rock songs). Fans of AOR with a spice of hard rock will like this one; recommended! 7.5/10

From: Darkstorm	Date: March 4, 2007 at 0:33
1986 was the year many artists were pressured into wrting more commercial material and I tend to like most of those albums, and this is one of them with the Y&T sounding Feel The Heat, the Cheap Trick inspired Second Time Around , the powerful uplifting Iron Eagle,the passionate Only The Strong Will Survive, and the infectious rap-rock Home Seet Home being my favorites

From: Baltasar	Date: March 12, 2007 at 16:46
Dream On... Just this song make this an absolute classic... I'd like to ask if someone has the lyric for this song, please, send me... Thanks.

From: Figge

Date: July 27, 2007 at 21:07

I like this album....but to be honest, this was a HUGE disappointment when it came out. The first KK is a masterpiece of it's time but this one is quite weak compared to that one. There are some really good songs (2nd Time Around, Dream On, Iron Eagle, Overnight Sensation) but the extremely weak and whimpy production is the let down for me. I love Mark's voice though and this is of course very well done AOR, but with an extremely dated sound. A huge minus for the horrible 'Home Street Home' too.

From: Refugee80	Date: July 31, 2007 at 16:08
This album has 3 good songs Dream On Overnight Sensation and Home Street Home Dream On is 1 of the best 80's rock songs so for that alone you must have this album but the other tracks are rubbish really, the first album was amazing this but for 3 or 4 songs was shit

From: Baltasar	Date: July 31, 2007 at 19:04
For me, only the song 'Dream On' has paid me off the CD... This song is an absolute classic....

From: RockMan10	Date: May 29, 2008 at 23:56
This one got mixed results for me. I absolutely loved it in '86 but remember wishing like crazy that it was heavier. I hated Home Street Home and Iron Eagle but the rest was great. Very good but not nearly as memorable or heavy as the first. 80/100

From: CMGio	Date: April 10, 2010 at 17:56
This is KK's best album, in my personal opinion. I love the lighter approach this album had. What pipes Mark Free has! And what awesome guitar work! The only low point is "Home Street Home," which I still find amusing.

From: metalmaniac777

Date: January 13, 2011 at 8:41

These guys were never the kings of hard rock, but on their debut they were at least "hard." Like a cobra shedding its old skin, the band shed its hard rocking sound for this sophomore effort and detoured into AOR territory, complete with sugar-pop hooks and prominent keyboards to fluff things up. Many fans who had been thrilled to hear the band was releasing a 2nd album ended up severely disappointed by the group's blatant attempt to secure radio success. Of course, all is not completely lost, because Mark Free's vocals are a melodic treasure, but even those spectacular pipes can't save this CD from its deserved label of stereotypical AOR sellout. A person acquires many albums during the course of their lifetime; if this isn't one of them, you're not missing much.

From: rick kerch vzla

Date: March 25, 2011 at 12:36

Well mixed comments above...good ones and bad ones...for me this band always wanted to have radio success and were determined to do so..being backed up by the sensational voice of Mark Free who assured the recognition of the band somehow..."Second Time Around","Feel The Heat","Overnight Sensation","Raise Your Hands To Rock"(rocks)and the cheesy yet effective one "Iron Eagle(Never Say Die)" are songs that will put a in your face surely..."Dream On" the Russ Ballard covered song,as Baltasar comment said,a classic re done by KK pretty good...92/100

From: hair metal again

Date: October 12, 2015 at 8:38

excellent release by KING KOBRA once again !quite different than the debut ,this one isnt guitar driven and i believe that it was a mistake not to take advantage with those great guitarists they had and a result Thrill Of Lifetime didnt hit the spot among the fans!of course the songs sound great and if you let it a few spins ,you ll find out its beayty,many hooks and sensational melodic lines!"feel the heat","second time around",'only the strong survive" and "overnight sensation " are the best moments!great stuff

From: petermexico13

Date: October 13, 2015 at 17:01

This is a special record, King Kobra changes direction to AOR, but they did it great! In the beginning it causes a big shock with the fans, but if you open your ears to the great work and one simple thing that makes these songs grow on you, the voice of Mark Free!! Este trabajo es simplemenente la consagración de un vocalista tan espectacular llamado Mark Free, sin duda alguna es la estrella en este disco, es cierto que este cambio de sonido dada la época en que fué grabado, no hizo mucho por la banda, pero con el tiempo quienes apreciamos el trabajo por lo que es, sin importar de donde venían y después hemos seguido la carrera de este gran cantante, sabemos que cada uno de sus trabajos posteriores son joyas del género AOR, y que todo aquel que disfrute de una buena voz atesora cada uno de ellos. Grande Mark/Marcie Free!!!

From: titothetitan

Date: November 10, 2017 at 12:22

The band was forced by their label to switch to a more comemrcial aproach as RTS was a commercial failure. They all hated the album, except Mark Free. I prefer this one. It's much more friendly to the ears. Production is also excellent. 'Raise Your Hands to Rock' is heavier and fits more with the debut. 'Home Street Home' is an awful rap music. 'Iron Eagle (Never Say Die)' it's ridiculous. The rest of the songs are very good. 'Dream On' is a cover of a Russ Ballard song. All the follow-up albums sucks.

From: Roxas	Date: November 4, 2022 at 11:19
Always found the awesome Second Time Around a strange choice for an opener. I came across most of these when looking for Marcie Free songs. Apart from very mainstream bands like Def and Whitesnake mid 80's stuff passed me by. Like the first 3 tracks and Only The Strong Survive is incredible.

From: MetalllianStallion

Date: May 24, 2024 at 1:49

koogles is way off the mark on this one as this album was a band killer. Capital forced their hand with 'Thrill Of A Lifetime' being very commercial pop/rock "radio-friendly" (record label goons) with a lot of guitar synthesizers and a drum-machine (sorry Carmine). Total Neutering the band compared to the MHR debut. This train wreck never got any major airplay on radio either, as the album went LEAD. To hear it from the horses mouth ex-guitarist David Michael-Philips "We only played a few of the heavier songs "Overnight Sensation" and "Party Animal" live. The pop songs never went over very well." "A horrible mess, from start to finish. Even the cover art was embarrassing. In retrospect though, I'm glad we did a second album, because it gave us another year of life (along with the opportunity to do a few more great live shows). The tug-of-war amongst all the parties during the making of the record (band, producer, record company and manager) pretty much tore the band apart anyway."

---

You cannot leave comments for this CD because you are not currently logged in. Please click here to log in or create a Username for leaving comments.