New Perry X-Mas Music

[Onestepper]

Five years later, Steve Perry is still in a holly jolly mood. He's expanding 2021's The Season with six additional songs – including "What a Wonderful World," which you can stream below.

He first began exploring Yuletide favorites with the Silver Bells EP in 2019. The Season followed as the former Journey frontman's first new LP since 2018's Traces, a comeback that was almost 25 years in the making. A deluxe edition expanded The Season with 10 more tracks in 2022, including Perry's first original holiday song, "Maybe This Year."


This latest update, now retitled The Season 3, is due on Nov. 8 from Dark Horse Records. Other new tracks include "Jingle Bell Rock," "Let It Snow" "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" and the resonant songbook classic "Call Me Irresponsible."

READ MORE: Ranking All 52 Journey Songs From the '80s

Perry initially returned to these songs in an effort to reignite the Christmas spirit after a holiday lost to the pandemic. "The ones I recorded were the ones that touched me most when I was a child, that emotionally meant the most to me and conjured up the spirit of Christmas — that was my decision-making process," Perry told UCR.

He said he hoped to create a very specific atmosphere: "The spirit of this record is a fireplace burning, sitting in front of it quietly, no media going on, just a cup of eggnog — with ice and a little bit of fresh nutmeg on it. That's it."

These sessions were again co-produced by Traces collaborator Thom Flowers, and featured multi-instrumentalist Dallas Kruse. Drummer Vinnie Colaiuta has also appeared on several songs. The animated video for "What a Wonderful World" was created by Magdalene Kennedy featuring archival family photos.

"I've always loved the magic in holiday songs," Perry said in a news release for the new album. "When I was a child, I would hear them on the radio in my grandmother's kitchen while she was cooking. Today when I hear those songs, they take me back to so many wonderful memories. The magic of music is a very emotional gift. The idea of me recording a holiday record started many years ago and now has grown into my latest collection, The Season 3."

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/steve-p ... -season-3/

[The_Noble_Cause]

Thanks for sharing. The lack of replies pretty much sums up the excitement around this project.

Let's hold out hope that Perry's pal, Trev Lukather, can get SP to have coffee with his father in law, Jonathan Cain.

[jrnyman28]

I love Perry. I love many versions of “What A Wonderful World” from Louis Armstrong to the Ramones to that Hawaiian Ukeleli dude. But it must be said that the version on this album is absolutely the WORST thing I’ve ever heard. It is so boring….

[Journey/Survivor]

I love Perry. I love many versions of “What A Wonderful World” from Louis Armstrong to the Ramones to that Hawaiian Ukeleli dude. But it must be said that the version on this album is absolutely the WORST thing I’ve ever heard. It is so boring….

I don't know why Perry insists on constantly (at least the last 30 years) intentionally singing certain lines in a way that makes his voice sound ultra weak and like he's in physical pain?

Kenny Rogers recorded a version of "I'll Always Love You" when he was fairly old, and he sounded very weak on it. And Rogers should have never released that. Perry is out to top that for sounding old and weak.

[jestor92]

As much as I’d like to hear new original music from Perry I’m happy to see him releasing anything at this point in his life. If him singing XMas covers is what is making him happy then good for him. We don’t have to buy. Just be happy for him to be active when a lot of his contemporaries are retiring and passing.

[Monker]

As much as I’d like to hear new original music from Perry I’m happy to see him releasing anything at this point in his life. If him singing XMas covers is what is making him happy then good for him. We don’t have to buy. Just be happy for him to be active when a lot of his contemporaries are retiring and passing.

I don't think he is doing these releases for "normal" recording artist reasons. IMO, he's just doing what he wants to do on his own time to have fun with it. It's not anything I am interested in buying...but I'm not going to critique or complain about it either. If it makes him happy, then that is all that should matter to him. I can see him rereleasing this just to get the duet with his dad on a release, and add a couple more songs. I mean, he's in the final stage of his life...he should live it however he wants.

[JourneyHard]

I don't think he is doing these releases for "normal" recording artist reasons. IMO, he's just doing what he wants to do on his own time to have fun with it. It's not anything I am interested in buying...but I'm not going to critique or complain about it either. If it makes him happy, then that is all that should matter to him. I can see him rereleasing this just to get the duet with his dad on a release, and add a couple more songs. I mean, he's in the final stage of his life...he should live it however he wants.

I am surprised Perry doesn't do a Vegas Residency. He could do it for two months or two years or whatever he wanted. And he could sing anything he wanted during the shows. People would just be happy to see him. It doesn't have to be all Journey. It could be Sam Cooke covers or Christmas songs or whatever he wanted. He could have a lot of fun.

[OlHoag]

Yikes. I love Louis Armstrong, the song "What a Wonderful World" and Steve Perry, that version is...not so great. Couldn't even listen to the entire thing.

Seems most of Perry's vocals in recent attempts has a tone of sadness to me, which is sad.

[jrnyman28]

And the duet he just released with his dad?! Nice sentiment but Boring, too!

[The_Noble_Cause]

And the duet he just released with his dad?! Nice sentiment but Boring, too!

I listened. It was sad. Still love Steve's tone.

[Monker]

I knew that a few years back John Farnham did a Christmas album with Olivia Newton-John. I never looked at because I am not into this sorta thing. With the "The Season" being released I thought I would look it up. I saw they both did "The Christmas Song", so I was going to compare them...but, no...it just doesn't seem right. The thing is, John and Steve are the same age...I don't know how John kept his voice so..."great" for so long. He truly was a machine, stopped only by cancer surgery to his neck and 1/2 his face. Regardless, I thought I would put this here. It is in the same jazzy sorta 30's style...but even this late in the careers, ONJ and Farnham sound great:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 7XSdmhgiLM

Maybe if Perry got Dolly or somebody to do a duet album it would push him to a higher level. Maybe.

[ADALBL]

Interesting. It just so happens that both versions were recorded in the exact same key so they are easy to compare. Both are really good and fit perfectly when you are in the traditional holiday music mood - which I am during most of the holiday season. Sonically, I think Steve's version sounds better. It's a bit more nuanced as well and therefore feels more emotional to me. Also, Steve's vocal timbre is one-in-a-lifetime and just so great. So while I liked both versions, I prefer Steve's.

[Art Vandelay]

I understand why people may put the brakes on after listening to What a Wonderful World and the duet with his Dad. Both have a vibe of bittersweet sadness. If you can, check out his version of Rudolph. Much more soulful and upbeat, and IMO demonstrates that he still has the chops.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aDfDcqBuRw

[The_Noble_Cause]

I understand why people may put the brakes on after listening to What a Wonderful World and the duet with his Dad. Both have a vibe of bittersweet sadness. If you can, check out his version of Rudolph. Much more soulful and upbeat, and IMO demonstrates that he still has the chops.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aDfDcqBuRw

After your description, I listened optimistically - but even this was low energy and a downer.

[jrnyman28]

Heard his version of Jingle Bell Rock today….that’s usually a “rockin’” tune….no energy.

[Monker]

Heard his version of Jingle Bell Rock today….that’s usually a “rockin’” tune….no energy.

To me, since Traces, he sounds very sanitized...very calculated, not just letting go and singing. IMO, it sounds like he is over thinking things and worried about making mistakes or how his aged voice sounds. That is why I think it would be good to have someone else duet with him...to get him to loosen up, relax, and just sing. I doubt anybody is expecting him sound like "Open Arms" so I think he needs to get out of his own head and let loose...let go of whatever it is that holds him back.

[jrnyman28]

Heard his version of Jingle Bell Rock today….that’s usually a “rockin’” tune….no energy.

To me, since Traces, he sounds very sanitized...very calculated, not just letting go and singing. IMO, it sounds like he is over thinking things and worried about making mistakes or how his aged voice sounds. That is why I think it would be good to have someone else duet with him...to get him to loosen up, relax, and just sing. I doubt anybody is expecting him sound like "Open Arms" so I think he needs to get out of his own head and let loose...let go of whatever it is that holds him back.

I get the same feeling, maybe a lack of confidence is his voice? I also feel like he created these songs 100% himself. There’s no real life in the instruments either. Doing it all on a computer in his studio? Very utilitarian.
I am so glad he is doing something, after the near 30 year absence but I want him all in. I didn’t care for Traces but at least it felt good, organic, human.

[Jubilee]

I understand why people may put the brakes on after listening to What a Wonderful World and the duet with his Dad. Both have a vibe of bittersweet sadness. If you can, check out his version of Rudolph. Much more soulful and upbeat, and IMO demonstrates that he still has the chops.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aDfDcqBuRw

After your description, I listened optimistically - but even this was low energy and a downer.

I dunno. I kinda liked this arrangement. But I definitely agree, the energy level is low (real low). At this point, maybe this is as good as it gets.