Trial By Fire - Journey's best album?

[danielb]

”If he should break your heart” going into ”Forever in blue” is a Journey double punch of the highest calibre

[Journey/Survivor]

When Journey first announced that they were going to be releasing a reunion album, I hoped that it would be a Hard Rocking album. When I found out that the title of the album would be Trial By Fire I thought that sounded like a title that a band would use for a Rocking album.

During my first listen to the album on the day that it came out, I was happy with MOL, One More and Castles burning.
Then I was being disappointed at how light the album was as I was continuing to listen the first time through. But just before it got to the song Trial By Fire I thought to myself that at least this next song will be a Rocker.
Damn was I disappointed when I then found out that it was a soft ballad!!!

For the record, I actually do love the song TBF. But still it was a huge disappointment at the time that what I thought for sure was going to be a Rocker turned out to be a ballad.

A week or so after the album came out I had a few of my friends over to my place. Those friends of mine are also huge music fans. When I mentioned that the new Journey album was called Trial By Fire, one of my friends said something like "With that title it sounds like it's going to be a really Rocking album, or at least the one song anyway."

[Art Vandelay]

At the time of the reunion, Perry's vocals were still the signature of the band. The music was tailored around his vocal styles and capabilities at that point, which I happen to like and appreciate. While many people wished that there were heavier rock tunes on the album, everyone involved was probably being protective of his voice and being realistic of what could be sung live if they went on tour. Probably the same reason why Strange Medicine doesn't have as many uptempo rock songs.

If you listen to some of the live bootlegs of the Medicine tour, he was pushing it a bit on the heavier Journey songs. You're in the moment when you are there live, but to listen to them afterwards they sounded a helluva lot different that what he did years past. Even the ROR tour had those moments. But when he performed the slower, melodic R&B laced songs on the tour, he was 100% on and in his element. And he owned it.

The TBF song choices were made for a reason and it was a smart decision, creatively.

[The_Noble_Cause]

At the time of the reunion, Perry's vocals were still the signature of the band.

Still is.

[Marabelle]

I read where he says ‘interpret each song through your mind’ and of course I have and I do. The way he does it. The words. Melodies. A nudge here, an utterance of exposure and I become enraptured. But I am just a typical fan embraced by the voice music and song.

[Gideon]

At the time of the reunion, Perry's vocals were still the signature of the band. The music was tailored around his vocal styles and capabilities at that point, which I happen to like and appreciate. While many people wished that there were heavier rock tunes on the album, everyone involved was probably being protective of his voice and being realistic of what could be sung live if they went on tour. Probably the same reason why Strange Medicine doesn't have as many uptempo rock songs.

If you listen to some of the live bootlegs of the Medicine tour, he was pushing it a bit on the heavier Journey songs. You're in the moment when you are there live, but to listen to them afterwards they sounded a helluva lot different that what he did years past. Even the ROR tour had those moments. But when he performed the slower, melodic R&B laced songs on the tour, he was 100% on and in his element. And he owned it.

The TBF song choices were made for a reason and it was a smart decision, creatively.

Perry's vocal transformation over the years due to a likely combination of that brutal touring schedule and poor care is fascinating to track.

The single biggest difference is audibly between 1981 and 1983.

I love letting my friends listen to Infinity/Evolution/Departure/Escape and then to Frontiers/Street Talk/Raised on Radio/FTLOSM and they think it's a different singer.

But I'd argue the second most notable jump is between 1994's FTLOSM and 1996's TBF.

Perry was raspy but strong as hell on both the studio and live performances of FTLOSM. By comparison, he's raspier and much more withered in TBF. Still sounds great, of course, but he's clearly nowhere near the power or range he used to have.

[Journey/Survivor]

Perry's vocal transformation over the years due to a likely combination of that brutal touring schedule and poor care is fascinating to track.

The single biggest difference is audibly between 1981 and 1983.

I love letting my friends listen to Infinity/Evolution/Departure/Escape and then to Frontiers/Street Talk/Raised on Radio/FTLOSM and they think it's a different singer.

But I'd argue the second most notable jump is between 1994's FTLOSM and 1996's TBF.

Perry was raspy but strong as hell on both the studio and live performances of FTLOSM. By comparison, he's raspier and much more withered in TBF. Still sounds great, of course, but he's clearly nowhere near the power or range he used to have.

Even though Perry didn't hit a lot of the high notes on Frontiers that we had been used to in the past, I still felt like he had a strong voice on the Frontiers album and tour, and could probably still hit the high notes really well.

As you mentioned, I've always been shocked at how much weaker Perry sounds on TBF as opposed to how he sounded on FTLOSM.

[danielb]

He probably sounded his best on Street Talk and ROR. At least, those are the two albums I would say are the most Perry-esque.

[Art Vandelay]

Perry's vocal transformation over the years due to a likely combination of that brutal touring schedule and poor care is fascinating to track.

The single biggest difference is audibly between 1981 and 1983.

I love letting my friends listen to Infinity/Evolution/Departure/Escape and then to Frontiers/Street Talk/Raised on Radio/FTLOSM and they think it's a different singer.

But I'd argue the second most notable jump is between 1994's FTLOSM and 1996's TBF.

Perry was raspy but strong as hell on both the studio and live performances of FTLOSM. By comparison, he's raspier and much more withered in TBF. Still sounds great, of course, but he's clearly nowhere near the power or range he used to have.

Even though Perry didn't hit a lot of the high notes on Frontiers that we had been used to in the past, I still felt like he had a strong voice on the Frontiers album and tour, and could probably still hit the high notes really well.

As you mentioned, I've always been shocked at how much weaker Perry sounds on TBF as opposed to how he sounded on FTLOSM.

His solo tour was cut short because of a bout of bronchitis, right? Maybe that did a number on him, vocally.

[The_Noble_Cause]

His solo tour was cut short because of a bout of bronchitis, right?

Allegedly.

[Monker]

His solo tour was cut short because of a bout of bronchitis, right? Maybe that did a number on him, vocally.

Yeah, there is a band meeting to decide the lineup of the Journey reunion on one of the canceled FTLOSM Florida dates, and then shortly after that the remaining dates on the FTLOSM tour were permanently canceled...and older canceled dates would not be rescheduled. Then Neal starts saying in interviews that they will get Perry in the reunion even if they have to hold him down and torture him. Yeah, it was Perry's health that canceled the FTLOSM tour.

IMO, it's a combo of the two things...Perry canceled the remaining tour dates to get his voice back in shape for Journey,.

[Art Vandelay]

My first time reading this article. Found it kind of interesting. Some new insight from Cain on the TBF session.

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/journeys-jonathan-cain-recalls-frontman-steve-perry-leaving-band-good-fragile

[UrbanCoyote]

I saw this documentary on Reelz. It was pretty decent.

[JourneyHard]

Why have 15 tracks on an album if most of it is going to be ballads? That doesn't make any sense. They should have cut it down to ten songs and then add two more rockers for twelve tracks.

Castles Burning is the worst Journey song. Why even include this on the album, but force people to get the Japanese version for the best song I Can See It In Your Eyes?

The problem with Trial By Fire is it seemed like Journey was trying to make an album the critics would love instead of an album that Journey fans would love. The whole album cries of desperation. Please love us, critics. Please love us.

That is no way to write music.

[Journey/Survivor]

I guess that I'm one of the rare people who likes Castles Burning?

They needed a heavy song like that to help make up for how ballad heavy the album was.

[jestor92]

Why have 15 tracks on an album if most of it is going to be ballads? That doesn't make any sense. They should have cut it down to ten songs and then add two more rockers for twelve tracks.

Castles Burning is the worst Journey song. Why even include this on the album, but force people to get the Japanese version for the best song I Can See It In Your Eyes?

The problem with Trial By Fire is it seemed like Journey was trying to make an album the critics would love instead of an album that Journey fans would love. The whole album cries of desperation. Please love us, critics. Please love us.

That is no way to write music.

I wonder how much of the ballad push was from the label, how much was because of Perry’s voice and tastes at the moment, and how much was based on the band feeling like their money makers were the ballads instead of the more rock tracks. I wonder that because Arrival was a lot of the same and they seemed to open up the rockers a bit in each following release.

[ebake02]

Trial By Fire is good album but I wouldn't say it's their best, I have this at #4 on my list behind Evolution, Escape and Arrival.

[Aaron]

Uh, not even close. You have to look at Roy Thomas Baker or Kevin Elson records to find it. Most likely Roy Thomas Baker.

[AR]

I've always found this album to be a snooze fest. Never rocked enough. Message of Love is the only song I return to on it.

Merry Christmas.

[Andrew]

The production sounds like a million bucks, the songs are really strong and Perry's delivery is full of melancholy and grace. Their most mature album but possibly also their best?

Absolutely one of their very best and one of my three favs. A perfect 11 track album

[Aaron]

GD Mac, really? So how about Evolution?

The production sounds like a million bucks, the songs are really strong and Perry's delivery is full of melancholy and grace. Their most mature album but possibly also their best?

Absolutely one of their very best and one of my three favs. A perfect 11 track album

[Andrew]

GD Mac, really? So how about Evolution?

Meh.

[Aaron]

Now you're killing me boss. I'm going to have to call Evolution or Departure as their best. Escape will get an honorable mention. You can't beat Roy Thomas Baker's pegging inputs and layered vocals.

GD Mac, really? So how about Evolution?

Meh.

[Andrew]

Now you're killing me boss. I'm going to have to call Evolution or Departure as their best. Escape will get an honorable mention. You can't beat Roy Thomas Baker's pegging inputs and layered vocals.

GD Mac, really? So how about Evolution?

Meh.

LOL. I know. All good records but I prefer SP when he came down a notch or two rather than those notes my dogs enjoy.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I wonder that because Arrival was a lot of the same and they seemed to open up the rockers a bit in each following release.

Everything following Arrival had no Sony, no A&R guy, and the band was mostly left to their own creative decisions.

[Aaron]

The dog notes are what make it great. Now I'm starting to get your vibe boss.

[/quote] LOL. I know. All good records but I prefer SP when he came down a notch or two rather than those notes my dogs enjoy.[/quote]

[Journey/Survivor]

Now you're killing me boss. I'm going to have to call Evolution or Departure as their best. Escape will get an honorable mention. You can't beat Roy Thomas Baker's pegging inputs and layered vocals.

GD Mac, really? So how about Evolution?

Meh.

The new Journey book goes into great detail about Roy Thomas Baker's vocal and instrumental layering on the albums that he produced. It talks about how great some of his production was on those albums, but also how Journey wanted to get away from that by the time of Departure and that that is one of the reasons why they didn't use him for the Departure album. They were also sick of him in other ways too.

[Journey/Survivor]

LOL. I know. All good records but I prefer SP when he came down a notch or two rather than those notes my dogs enjoy.

That's one of the reasons why there are people who prefer Jimi Jamison or Lou Gramm over Perry. On Frontiers Perry sounds similar in many ways to Jamison.

[Pelata]

I don't know about "best", but I absolutely love it. I bought it new when it was released and love every track on it. I actually just recently bought a Japanese press to get "I Can See It In Your Eyes". Not a bad song or performance to be had.