Kevin Elson question

[tj]

I know that a lot of people here believe that Generations wasn't a good album and I have seen quite a few put that on Kevin Elson as the producer. It seems like he did good work with the band in the past on Departure, Captured, Escape, and Frontiers. My guess is that is why they went with him on Generations. Obviously, they went back to Kevin Shirley for Revelation and Eclipse, so it seems that the band wasn't pleased with the results of Generations either.

Did Elson lose his touch? , Was it that he did a great job on Generations and without him it would have been worse? Someone else was really behind the success of the previous albums (Mike Stone or Steve Perry)?

[Journey/Survivor]

I can't answer your question about why they used Elson on Generations.
But I'm glad that they did. I have always preferred his producing over Kevin Shirley's.
And I think that a lot of people drastically exaggerate how "bad" his production was on Generations.

[tater1977]

- off subject a tad -

Kevin Shirley posted on his FB...

https://www.facebook.com/kevthecave?fref=photo

tbt 20 years ago - "TRIAL BY FIRE" - having fun with Journey - Steve Perry (Journey), Neal Schon, Ross Valory Leslie Langlo Millis
ps Gutted by Prince's death - only posting because I am packing to move, and I keep coming across old photos. K

20 years ago.jpg

[FamilyMan]

Let's be honest. The late great George Martin himself couldn't have saved Generations from itself. It was the material, more than the mastering. There are two or three really good songs, but that's it.

[tj]

I can't answer your question about why they used Elson on Generations.
But I'm glad that they did. I have always preferred his producing over Kevin Shirley's.
And I think that a lot of people drastically exaggerate how "bad" his production was on Generations.

I agree. I have preferred the sound of the Elson produced albums more than the Shirley.

[scarab]

Generations could not be saved by any producer.
This is the only Journey album, pre or post perry that I find 1/2 the songs not just bad, but even cringe worthy.

Still the 2 deen songs and a place in your heart is classic Journey.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Regarding Generations.... there is some valid material on there. Specifically, Faith in the Heartland, Place in Your Heart, Better Life, Never Too Late. Better Together is more of a B-side rocker. Knowing That You Love Me is typical inoffensive Cain schmaltz. Beyond the Clouds is good. The Ross song Gone Crazy should have been the bonus track instead of Never Too Late. It has a kitsch novelty factor just like Perry doing his best Bob Marley with Baby Im a Leaving You. The 2 Augeri solo tracks, Believe and Butterfly, stop the album's momentum dead in its tracks. They don't belong on there. Pretty much the album should have been split between Augeri and Deen. Lose the Cain, Ross, Neal tracks. Throw in some unused songs from the Arrival sessions and you have another classic. Soul Sirkus was Neal's priority during Gens and it's obvious. The track selection and the sequencing leaves a lot to be desired. Not having a solid follow-up to Arrival is the biggest missed opportunity of the SA years.

[slucero]

Let's be honest. The late great George Martin himself couldn't have saved Generations from itself. It was the material, more than the mastering. There are two or three really good songs, but that's it.

No amount of mastering can save any mix. The mix has to be great to begin with.


Mastering is simply polishing what is already there.

[annie89509]

I rather enjoyed all the songs on Generations…even the musical chairs lead singer turns .. haha. Of course, even to my layman’s ears, I can tell the production quality is way below standard compared to any of the other Journey albums. This was, after all, a freebie giveaway. The songs, though, had a certain charm to them. I liked listening to Gen more so than Arrival, which (to me) was too long and drawn out...a few good songs, but mainly cookie-cutter ballads.

[The_Noble_Cause]

This was, after all, a freebie giveaway.

True, but it was later sold retail by Sanctuary (now defunct) with a few bonus tracks. You could also argue that the "free" cd was built into the cost of the concert tickets. The expectations were high to follow-up Arrival, and Gens was a huge let down. Too much filler. Not focused at all.

[The_Noble_Cause]

- off subject a tad -

Kevin Shirley posted on his FB...

https://www.facebook.com/kevthecave?fref=photo

tbt 20 years ago - "TRIAL BY FIRE" - having fun with Journey - Steve Perry (Journey), Neal Schon, Ross Valory Leslie Langlo Millis
ps Gutted by Prince's death - only posting because I am packing to move, and I keep coming across old photos. K

20 years ago.jpg

Anyone remember the stories of Perry getting upset during the TBF recording and throwing a fire extinguisher? Monker, weigh in here.

[lparn]

Was glad to see Arnel rerecord place in your heart and faith in the heartland those 2 never too late and knowing that you love me were classic Journey songs. I don't think I have listened to the rest in years