REVELATION - PRESS RELEASE

[Voyager]

They did the Greatest Hits with Arnel because WalMart approached them with a deal and asked them to. It's just money in the bank for them.

I'm not doubting what you were told Rick, but I find it hard to believe that WalMart would approach a classic rock band and ask them to re-record their classics. When did WalMart become a record label? Have they ever done this with any other band before? Unless I could see it in writing from an authoritative source I simply cannot swallow it. Nothing personal with you at all. I think you are just repeating the information you have received. But do you know what the source of it is? Is there any way to corroborate this?

[Marzdog]

I deal with Walmart and I would not put it past them to ask for the band to re-record their classics. Wouldn't surprise me in the least.

I'm not doubting what you were told Rick, but I find it hard to believe that WalMart would approach a classic rock band and ask them to re-record their classics. When did WalMart become a record label? Have they ever done this with any other band before? Unless I could see it in writing from an authoritative source I simply cannot swallow it. Nothing personal with you at all. I think you are just repeating the information you have received. But do you know what the source of it is? Is there any way to corroborate this?

[Voyager]

I deal with Walmart and I would not put it past them to ask for the band to re-record their classics. Wouldn't surprise me in the least.

It would also be a good way to justify doing something very controversial. "Hey, how could we pass it up? WalMart made us an offer we couldn't refuse." I'm not doubting that WalMart offered to market the project exclusively... I just have to wonder who came up with the brainchild for the two-disc project - Neal Schon or WalMart?

I still have to admire Neal for being willing to roll the dice.

[ttango1]

I knew I was right, but then everyone added the fricken' S.

Oh and I'm telling you that the reason they did Faithfully a 2nd time is because they video timing was off with the band. They were early and the video didn't match what they were singing.

[TRAGChick]

....so -

Are we to expect a "counter-attack" opening-salvo from Mr. Perry....say, late April/Early May?

[Marzdog]

Being that REO did a previous deal with Walmart while having the same management as Journey, I wouldn't doubt that much of the language in the deal is similar and that the buyer from Walmart said something to the effect of "why don't you guys do something similar to what we did with REO." It probably was a pretty simple deal to negotiate on both sides...let's be honest, if you're gonna sell your sole to the devil, why not let Walmart be the devil?

It would also be a good way to justify doing something very controversial. "Hey, how could we pass it up? WalMart made us an offer we couldn't refuse." I'm not doubting that WalMart offered to market the project exclusively... I just have to wonder who came up with the brainchild for the two-disc project - Neal Schon or WalMart?

I still have to admire Neal for being willing to roll the dice.

[TRAGChick]

Being that REO did a previous deal with Walmart having the same management as Journey, I wouldn't doubt that much of the language in the deal is similar and that the buyer said something to the effect of "why don't you guys do something similar to what we did with REO." It probably was a pretty simple deal to negotiate on both sides...let's be honest, if you're gonna sell your sole to the devil, why not let Walmart be the devil?

....why would I sell my shoe to the devil....?



Sorry; HAD to...

[Rick]

They did the Greatest Hits with Arnel because WalMart approached them with a deal and asked them to. It's just money in the bank for them.

I'm not doubting what you were told Rick, but I find it hard to believe that WalMart would approach a classic rock band and ask them to re-record their classics. When did WalMart become a record label? Have they ever done this with any other band before? Unless I could see it in writing from an authoritative source I simply cannot swallow it. Nothing personal with you at all. I think you are just repeating the information you have received. But do you know what the source of it is? Is there any way to corroborate this?

I understand your skepticism, and to be honest, I don't even remember where I read that. But wherever I read it, it sure made me believe it. Didn't they do this with the Eagles? Not the classics, but their last album?

[Voyager]

I just can't picture one of WalMart's reps calling Journey's management out of the blue and asking, "Hey, would Journey be willing to re-record their greatist hits with a new singer and package it with a live Vegas DVD and a new CD of original music for us to market for you exclusively?" What I can picture is Journey's management putting the project idea together and successfully pitching it to WalMart as an exclusive deal. That seems much more probable, doesn't it?

P.S. - I'm glad we have a place to discuss this kind of stuff in a reasonable back-and-forth way as Journey fans old and new. If I would be posting these kind of questions on BT I would have been banned for blasphemy of the Holy Journey.

[Marzdog]

I think that Azoff/Consolo went to Walmart with the new CD in mind much like the same management did with The Eagles, as a NEW CD ONLY. From there, as I said earlier, it wouldn't surprise me that the "idea" of re-recording the classics came from what REO did with Walmart, as Journey in their current state (without Perry), certainly isn't what The Eagles position is less Felder. So, being that they didn't think that a new Journey CD would do what a new Eagles CD would do, it is feasible that Walmart asked for a new "Greatest Hits" type package to push the CD much like they did with REO.

I'd go so far as to believe that this deal came about as more of a package deal for Azoff's "classic rock" contingent. Sure, each of the three bands has different $$ involved, but, when you stop and think of the pitch from Azoff to Walmart, it isn't far fetched..."Hey Walmart, how would you like to exclusively have The Eagles, Journey, and REO's new CD all to yourself and here is what we are prepared to do for you?"

I just can't picture one of WalMart's reps calling Journey's management out of the blue and asking, "Hey, would Journey be willing to re-record their greatist hits with a new singer and package it with a live Vegas DVD and a new CD of original music for us to market for you exclusively?" What I can picture is Journey's management putting the project idea together and successfully pitching it to WalMart as an exclusive deal. That seems much more probable, doesn't it?

[STORY_TELLER]

The band is just making money. They're chasing financial success over artistic achievement. It's not about being creative anymore. It's about paying the bills.

All well and good and $15 for all that stuff sounds like a great deal, but I for one won't be buying it on principle. I'll go catch a show, because Arnel can clearly do the catalogue justice, but I could give two shits about having a DVD of him singing Perry's songs. Give me DVD's of Perry singing Perry's songs and you can have my money. Hell, go remaster the original recordings in 5.1 surround and I'll rebuy every album again. Go even further and have Journey do what Kiss has done. Release everything noteworthy in the video vault of the band in their heyday (eg. Kissology/Kissology 2). I'll shell out big bucks for that. I think everyone would.

If there are any decent (original) tracks on Arnel's new album, I'll buy them individually via iTunes. But I'm not supporting a re-recording of anything. That includes KNOCK OFFS. ...ahem...

[Clasicrockldy]

I understand your skepticism, and to be honest, I don't even remember where I read that. But wherever I read it, it sure made me believe it. Didn't they do this with the Eagles? Not the classics, but their last album?

The Eagles last album was a 2 disc set of new material, not regurgitated hits.

[Voyager]

The band is just making money. They're chasing financial success over artistic achievement. It's not about being creative anymore. It's about paying the bills.

All well and good and $15 for all that stuff sounds like a great deal, but I for one won't be buying it on principle. I'll go catch a show, because Arnel can clearly do the catalogue justice, but I could give two shits about having a DVD of him singing Perry's songs. Give me DVD's of Perry singing Perry's songs and you can have my money. Hell, go remaster the original recordings in 5.1 surround and I'll rebuy every album again. Go even further and have Journey do what Kiss has done. Release everything noteworthy in the video vault of the band in their heyday (eg. Kissology/Kissology 2). I'll shell out big bucks for that. I think everyone would.

If there are any decent (original) tracks on Arnel's new album, I'll buy them individually via iTunes. But I'm not supporting a re-recording of anything. That includes KNOCK OFFS. ...ahem...

Yes, yes, and yes.

[youkeepmewaiting]

I understand the re-recordings, but i just wish that the new songs were promoted as "disk one"

[TRAGChick]

I understand the re-recordings, but i just wish that the new songs were promoted as "disk one"

Or, "The ONLY Disc"...

[Rick]

I understand your skepticism, and to be honest, I don't even remember where I read that. But wherever I read it, it sure made me believe it. Didn't they do this with the Eagles? Not the classics, but their last album?

The Eagles last album was a 2 disc set of new material, not regurgitated hits.

They're just making money, no crime in that. I'm sure they would have preferred to do that with Steve Perry, but he doesn't want to, or can't sing anymore. There's no reason to fold up shop because one of the members can't or won't work. If all businesses did that, there wouldn't be any.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

I understand the re-recordings, but i just wish that the new songs were promoted as "disk one"

Me too. First thing I noticed, actually. Oh well, still pretty excited about this.

[youkeepmewaiting]

I understand the re-recordings, but i just wish that the new songs were promoted as "disk one"

Or, "The ONLY Disc"...

Well in a dream world yes, i wish. But i think that the re-recordings with the new album will sell more than just than just the original disk on its own sadly

[fightingilliniJRNY]

Well in a dream world yes, i wish. But i think that the re-recordings with the new album will sell more than just than just the original disk on its own sadly

Bingo.

Nothing wrong with that, though...if it gets people to pop in Revelation, so be it. More people will probably hear something off of it than Generations - even though they gave that away with the concert ticket.

[Voyager]

They're just making money, no crime in that. I'm sure they would have preferred to do that with Steve Perry, but he doesn't want to, or can't sing anymore. There's no reason to fold up shop because one of the members can't or won't work. If all businesses did that, there wouldn't be any.

I agree. It would be different if Perry had died and they re-recorded the classics. I think fans would be even more outraged if that were the case.

WalMart just looks at it like another deal. They don't care about anyone's legacy as long as Journey owns the rights to do the project and they think they can make a buck on it.

[Memorex]

So why not just staple the original greatest hits cd to the package? Would that have to be approved? Hell, throw in Time 3 for that matter. Or is the fear that hearing Steve Perry next to anyone to much of a risk?

[tammy]

JOURNEY SET TO RELEASE ‘REVELATION’ JUNE 3 EXCLUSIVELY AT WAL-MART



March 11, 2008 -- A new chapter in the legendary career of multi-Platinum rockers JOURNEY--Neal Schon (guitar), Jonathan Cain (keyboards), Ross Valory (bass), Deen Castronovo (drums) and Arnel Pineda (vocals)—will begin on June 3 with the highly anticipated release of REVELATION, a three-disc CD and DVD package to be sold exclusively at Wal-Mart stores in North America.

The first disc will consist of 11 re-recorded classics, the second is filled with 11 new songs, and the third is a live, in-concert DVD. All of the music on REVELATION was produced by Kevin Shirley (who previously worked with JOURNEY on their Platinum-certified TRIAL BY FIRE album).

JOURNEY will take REVELATION on the U.S. concert trail later this July, with details to be announced in the coming weeks.

www.journeymusic.com

Boo...hiss on re-recording the Classics! Sorry, I won't be buying. It just seems really, really lame.

[7 Wishes]

I just spoke to Ross...he and I play croquet together every third Sunday and then go back to his place to listen to Lilith Fair CD's. Anyway, after our bingo game down at the retirement center, he broke the band's silence on the GH package:

Back Talk
Castles Burning
For You (acoustic)
Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' (extended version)
Topaz
I'm Gonna Leave You
Good Morning Girl (dance mix)
Into Your Arms (Big Band version)
We Built This City (Starship cover for Joe Pa)
Cookie Duster
Butterfly

[larryfromnextdoor]

I just spoke to Ross...he and I play croquet together every third Sunday and then go back to his place to listen to Lilith Fair CD's.

you poured a full glass didnt you?

[donnaplease]

I wonder if it's possible that they wanted to get the new stuff out there and they thought (or were told by TPTB from Wally World) that the only way to accomplish that successfully (relatively speaking, here) is to give the buyers something that they were already familiar with. So, we're gonna reproduce something that is already out there and the music-buying world already loves, and attach something new to it that they might grow to like. I guess kinda like them giving away their CDs at their concerts to the "casual Journey fan" that really only came to hear the dirty dozen. The fact that the re-recorded CD is listed first adds credibility to that, at least IMO.

Add to that the fact that there was heavy discussion about re-recording the classics with Jeff being on lead, with the final decision to nix that idea due to it being such an idiotic, ridiculous idea to start with (you can't mess with perfection), and it's gotta make you wonder.

[Blueskies]

I just spoke to Ross...he and I play croquet together every third Sunday and then go back to his place to listen to Lilith Fair CD's. Anyway, after our bingo game down at the retirement center, he broke the band's silence on the GH package:

Back Talk
Castles Burning
For You (acoustic)
Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' (extended version)
Topaz
I'm Gonna Leave You
Good Morning Girl (dance mix)
Into Your Arms (Big Band version)
We Built This City (Starship cover for Joe Pa)
Cookie Duster
Butterfly

[STORY_TELLER]

I just spoke to Ross...he and I play croquet together every third Sunday and then go back to his place to listen to Lilith Fair CD's. Anyway, after our bingo game down at the retirement center, he broke the band's silence on the GH package:

Back Talk
Castles Burning
For You (acoustic)
Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' (extended version)
Topaz
I'm Gonna Leave You
Good Morning Girl (dance mix)
Into Your Arms (Big Band version)
We Built This City (Starship cover for Joe Pa)
Cookie Duster
Butterfly

This would be funny if LARRY didn't already beat you to it.

[Enigma869]

They see the songs as owned by Journey, and they have every right to do with them what they want.

I obviously have ZERO idea what this "agreement" was between Perry and Schon and Co. I've heard it explained on this site as Journey didn't need any permission from Perry to perform his songs in concert, but that permission was needed, if they ever wanted to record those tracks in a studio. In fact, I was told the 2001 DVD didn't need approval from Perry, because it was a live performance. Regardless of what agreement has expired, I don't believe that Journey "owns" any song that Perry wrote or co-wrote. The notion of that is simply ridiculous! As far as I know, the writers of a song ALWAYS retain the rights to those songs (unless they sell them off). Heck, just on American Idol tonight, they performed all Beatles songs, and I read that they were trying to get permission from McCartney since their first season to perform those songs! McCartney, as a co-writer, was the one who had to give the permission, so I'm not sure why Perry wouldn't have to do the same thing.


John from Boston

[donnaplease]

They see the songs as owned by Journey, and they have every right to do with them what they want.

I obviously have ZERO idea what this "agreement" was between Perry and Schon and Co. I've heard it explained on this site as Journey didn't need any permission from Perry to perform his songs in concert, but that permission was needed, if they ever wanted to record those tracks in a studio. In fact, I was told the 2001 DVD didn't need approval from Perry, because it was a live performance. Regardless of what agreement has expired, I don't believe that Journey "owns" any song that Perry wrote or co-wrote. The notion of that is simply ridiculous! As far as I know, the writers of a song ALWAYS retain the rights to those songs (unless they sell them off). Heck, just on American Idol tonight, they performed all Beatles songs, and I read that they were trying to get permission from McCartney since their first season to perform those songs! McCartney, as a co-writer, was the one who had to give the permission, so I'm not sure why Perry wouldn't have to do the same thing.


John from Boston

Apparently, John, there was some sort of agreement with a time frame that said they couldn't re-record. That time frame ran out in recent months, so according to some in the know, they are now free to do with the songs whatever they choose. I would assume SP will still get proceeds from any sale of music that he co-wrote though.

I think Lora explained it somewhat a few months ago.

[kgdjpubs]

They did the Greatest Hits with Arnel because WalMart approached them with a deal and asked them to. It's just money in the bank for them.

I'm not doubting what you were told Rick, but I find it hard to believe that WalMart would approach a classic rock band and ask them to re-record their classics. When did WalMart become a record label? Have they ever done this with any other band before? Unless I could see it in writing from an authoritative source I simply cannot swallow it. Nothing personal with you at all. I think you are just repeating the information you have received. But do you know what the source of it is? Is there any way to corroborate this?

as mentioned, REO and Eagles signed somewhat similar deals to release directly through Walmart, and I thought I heard someone big like Madonna (or similar) had done the same thing. From Walmart's point of view, re-recording the classics makes Walmart the owner of the recordings....therefore no royalties to the record label. This translates into Walmart at least doubling its profit, if not more for each cd sold. Over time, that's a LOT of money.

From a fan's point of view, it's maddeningly insane, but this is a business in the end, and from that standpoint, it's very smart.