Anyone else miss Journey's "Live" backing vocals??

[PianoMan1986]

In no way am I trying to offend anyone, but reading through these posts/replies, I'm just curious how you guys KNOW about the whole backing vocals ordeal. If any of you can back up your words (legitimately), I'd be more than happy to listen/watch - I'm just curious because obviously I must be blind and deaf to this. Thanks

Nick

As far as I can hear, they are indeed still singing backing vox live, I can definitely tell Deen is singing some of those high notes, but they are also using canned backing vox to beef up the overall sound - making it more layered if you will. I have no "inside info," just going by what I hear/see.

Those were my thoughts too...to me that's not cheating, it's more of a way to compensate for varying acoustics in different venues.

Its cheating, Neal dosent even go up the mike at times, and you hear 4 part harmony. If they use canned lead vocals, why in the fuck would it bother them to use it heavly for backgrounds.Deen and sometimes Friga {lord help us} sing.

In fairness, Ross is at the mic if Neal's not most of the time. How much he is actually contributing to the sound, that's a question I can't answer. Don't hear a lot of low end in those big harmonies usually.

Notice how no one's really answered my question...

A sidenote, does anyone remember Ross singing "Walks Like A Lady" on the 30th Anniversary Tour? Personally, I was impressed and never expected that voice to come out of him.

[stevew2]

In no way am I trying to offend anyone, but reading through these posts/replies, I'm just curious how you guys KNOW about the whole backing vocals ordeal. If any of you can back up your words (legitimately), I'd be more than happy to listen/watch - I'm just curious because obviously I must be blind and deaf to this. Thanks

Nick

As far as I can hear, they are indeed still singing backing vox live, I can definitely tell Deen is singing some of those high notes, but they are also using canned backing vox to beef up the overall sound - making it more layered if you will. I have no "inside info," just going by what I hear/see.

Those were my thoughts too...to me that's not cheating, it's more of a way to compensate for varying acoustics in different venues.

Its cheating, Neal dosent even go up the mike at times, and you hear 4 part harmony. If they use canned lead vocals, why in the fuck would it bother them to use it heavly for backgrounds.Deen and sometimes Friga {lord help us} sing.

In fairness, Ross is at the mic if Neal's not most of the time. How much he is actually contributing to the sound, that's a question I can't answer. Don't hear a lot of low end in those big harmonies usually.

Notice how no one's really answered my question...

A sidenote, does anyone remember Ross singing "Walks Like A Lady" on the 30th Anniversary Tour? Personally, I was impressed and never expected that voice to come out of him.

I was there for that, and was impressed also. That was then. he did sound good then

[texafana]

For CD's, Tapes, etc, back in the day (and still is) it was common to go back and add background vocals to the live recordings before releasing them. I've read where Journey sweetend the live releases before releasing them.

And yes, even in the late 70's early 80's you had MIDI TIME STAMP which could sync alot of devices together. Including tape drives, etc, etc.

Now days, it's common to have background singers sing live along with the digitial background voices being cued from a midi device. Journey is the only band that I wish didn't do this. I really can't stand to hear all the extra keyboard/synth crap coming from other midi devices when Cain is just playing chords. Layering sounds is one thing, but when it sounds like there's other musicians on stage it just seems wrong.

And that frickin... "round and round and round and round" from the 2001 DVD is PATHETIC!!!!! lol...

[brywool]

Hate to burst your bubble, but Journey's been using taped backing vocals since Rollie left.

You've heard Friga, Ross, and Napoleon sing, and you know NONE of them sound remotely like Perry, yet even on the Houston DVD, there's a whole chorus of Steve Perrys on every song.

Even on the 1982 "Separate Ways" they found time to record b-vox for the live performance, despite just writing the song.

I've always been curious how they did this though, without the tracks ever getting out of sync. They didn't have the same kind of technology they have today for that stuff.

Perry mentioned in an interview that after the Houston thing was recorded, they overdubbed a few harmonies onto it.

[brywool]

Journey hasn't sung live backing vox in eons.

Yet a certain someone was claiming they were "100% live" with Soto...something I strongly disputed.

And keeping Neal away from the mic is a good thing. He is a horrible singer.

Bullshit. His live backing vox always came across very well. The boots are there to prove it.

yeah, have to agree. Neal's voice fit the harmonies. Also, listen to "Late Night". He does some good stuff there. A very ... 'Hendrixy' type of voice that worked well for his stuff and Journey's harmonies.

[WalrusOct9]

Hate to burst your bubble, but Journey's been using taped backing vocals since Rollie left.

You've heard Friga, Ross, and Napoleon sing, and you know NONE of them sound remotely like Perry, yet even on the Houston DVD, there's a whole chorus of Steve Perrys on every song.

Even on the 1982 "Separate Ways" they found time to record b-vox for the live performance, despite just writing the song.

I've always been curious how they did this though, without the tracks ever getting out of sync. They didn't have the same kind of technology they have today for that stuff.

Perry mentioned in an interview that after the Houston thing was recorded, they overdubbed a few harmonies onto it.

I've never seen that interview, but it wouldn't surprise me.

However, I have bootlegs (Escape and Frontiers tours from Japan, amongst others) that sound basically the same in the b-vocal department, so I think there were definitely some tapes in effect. Even with primitive 1981 MIDI controllers, they'd still be pulling the sound from tape somehow...I'd love to get an interview with someone involved with the technical aspects of Journey tours in the early 80's.

The most blatant one is on the '86 tour though, on "Be Good To Yourself." Not sure how they did that every night without it ever going out of sync.

[Jeremey]

Journey used synched background vocals since the first tour with Escape! Technologically it was hit or miss, but for better or for worse Journey PIONEERED this sort of stage craft.

[G.I.Jim]

Journey used synched background vocals since the first tour with Escape! Technologically it was hit or miss, but for better or for worse Journey PIONEERED this sort of stage craft.

As if YOU'D know!

[Saint John]

Journey used synched background vocals since the first tour with Escape! Technologically it was hit or miss, but for better or for worse Journey PIONEERED this sort of stage craft.

I find this easy to believe. The Jon Cain era ushered in those huge choruses that were probably easy to record and synch up for live shows.

[Tito]

Journey used synched background vocals since the first tour with Escape! Technologically it was hit or miss, but for better or for worse Journey PIONEERED this sort of stage craft.

I find this easy to believe. The Jon Cain era ushered in those huge choruses that were probably easy to record and synch up for live shows.

Herbie admitted this in his interview. More proof Perry was overrated.

[Saint John]

More proof Perry was overrated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVz6lEe6 ... re=related

[Arianddu]

Journey used synched background vocals since the first tour with Escape! Technologically it was hit or miss, but for better or for worse Journey PIONEERED this sort of stage craft.

I find this easy to believe. The Jon Cain era ushered in those huge choruses that were probably easy to record and synch up for live shows.

Herbie admitted this in his interview. More proof Perry was overrated.

What, because he can't sing four part harmonies by himself live?

[Saint John]

More proof Perry was overrated.

Sounds to me like these people agree.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWuTCUhEH1Q

[conversationpc]

Herbie admitted this in his interview. More proof Perry was overrated.

Yes...Herbie is the be-all end-all of truth and reality.

[WalrusOct9]

My favorite moment with this stuff is in the Japan Escape tour bootleg DVD when during WITS Perry holds the mic out to the audience during the chorus yet his voice continues coming out of the speakers.