Location, location, location.

[The_Noble_Cause]

As for outside help on Arrival, it was another JDK mistake, he pushed them to write additional material with outside writers and ended up with songs that shouldn't have even been on the album.

Not sure if I agree with that.
Isn't Jack Blades an outside writer?
The Blades/Schon material is hands-down, undeniably the strongest material on Arrival and possibly the strongest material yet produced by this lineup.

[Red13JoePa]

As for outside help on Arrival, it was another JDK mistake, he pushed them to write additional material with outside writers and ended up with songs that shouldn't have even been on the album.

Not sure if I agree with that.
Isn't Jack Blades an outside writer?
The Blades/Schon material is hands-down, undeniably the strongest material on Arrival and possibly the strongest material yet produced by this lineup.

Quite a statement. And I'm not sure I disagree. My one quibble would be given what that collaboration's come up with so far I thought for sure TPIYH was Schon/Blades when i first heard it. (pleasantly) Surpising to me, no Blades.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I thought for sure TPIYH was Schon/Blades when i first heard it. (pleasantly) Surpising to me, no Blades.

Yes, I recall talking w/ you about this. TPIYH is indeed one of the more distinctively 80's-melodic sounding tracks. I can understand why you'd instantly associate that sound with Blades, as he had his hand in crafting other 80's-ish recent tracks like HP, WGW, IGAR.
However, it's worth noting that "To Be Alive Again" likewise shares that classic Journey sound and Blades wasn't involved in that, either

[Eric]

I still say...if Blades replaced Valory the band would be stronger than anyone can imagine...even more writing, even more vocals....MAN

[Red13JoePa]

Aw, GOD I love TPIYH. Big time proud of Cain/Schon's (Elson's) work on that thing.

Yea, Bazillian on TBAA wasn't it or was it WWMA

[The_Noble_Cause]

Aw, GOD I love TPIYH. Big time proud of Cain/Schon's (Elson's) work on that thing.

Yea, Bazillian on TBAA wasn't it or was it WWMA

Bazillian may have contribute to WWMA, I'm not sure.
However, that's not one of the more distinctively 80's tracks.
TBAA, however, does have that sound and it was written by Cain/Augeri/Tribble/Bazillian.

[amaron]

I still say...if Blades replaced Valory the band would be stronger than anyone can imagine...even more writing, even more vocals....MAN

Problem is... what good will it do?

[NoMoreTails]

As for outside help on Arrival, it was another JDK mistake, he pushed them to write additional material with outside writers and ended up with songs that shouldn't have even been on the album.

Not sure if I agree with that.
Isn't Jack Blades an outside writer?
The Blades/Schon material is hands-down, undeniably the strongest material on Arrival and possibly the strongest material yet produced by this lineup.

I agree that the Blades/Schon material is some of the strongest. Earlier in the thread I had stated that I thought the outside writing on Arrival with the exception of Blades was a mistake, I failed to make that statement this time. However, the Blades material was written earlier on evidently and JDK had nothing to do with getting Neal and Jack together as far as I've heard. I think JDK had them write with others toward the end of the writing phase.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Problem is... what good will it do?

I'm not in favor of any sort of "replacing Ross" or "replacing anyone" ideas. However, I think the advantage would be quite obvious.
You'd have a band that puts out albums more then once every 4 years.

[amaron]

Problem is... what good will it do?

You'd have a band that puts out albums more then once every 4 years.

Curiousity.. how does Valory affect the album releases?

[NoMoreTails]

I thought for sure TPIYH was Schon/Blades when i first heard it. (pleasantly) Surpising to me, no Blades.

Yes, I recall talking w/ you about this. TPIYH is indeed one of the more distinctively 80's-melodic sounding tracks. I can understand why you'd instantly associate that sound with Blades...

I don't hear any Blades influence on TPIYH myself, it sounds to me like was written by the same team that wrote Separate Ways, Chain Reaction, etc.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Problem is... what good will it do?

You'd have a band that puts out albums more then once every 4 years.

Curiousity.. how does Valory affect the album releases?

Jack Blades is a prolific writer. If he was in the band (instead of Valory) then you'd have yet another member who would (assumably) be writing constantly. More writing means more songs. More songs means more albums.

[amaron]

Problem is... what good will it do?

You'd have a band that puts out albums more then once every 4 years.

Curiousity.. how does Valory affect the album releases?

Jack Blades is a prolific writer. If he was in the band (instead of Valory) then you'd have yet another member who would (assumably) be writing constantly. More writing means more songs. More songs means more albums.

Gotcha... thought I was missing something.

[Red13JoePa]

I thought for sure TPIYH was Schon/Blades when i first heard it. (pleasantly) Surpising to me, no Blades.

Yes, I recall talking w/ you about this. TPIYH is indeed one of the more distinctively 80's-melodic sounding tracks. I can understand why you'd instantly associate that sound with Blades...

I don't hear any Blades influence on TPIYH myself, it sounds to me like was written by the same team that wrote Separate Ways, Chain Reaction, etc.

Well, your last point is what TNC's saying about the Blades collaborations. I happen to agree with that and your stance that TPIYH fits that mold. pure 80s esque melodica.

[NoMoreTails]

pure 80s esque melodica.

I agree that this is true of TPIYH, but I feel that tune has a pure Cain/Schon feel to it. I have had the impression that many of the Journey/Blades collaborations have been in a more progressive or new direction for Journey, such as Higer Place, World Gone Wild, Kiss Me Softly, although others do have more of an 80s vibe.

[ohsherrie]

I have no reason to not believe him. Do you?

No, but then I have no reason to believe or disbelieve most of what is said in interviews unless it's either substantiated or disputed by others who are in a position to know, or circumstances that I know of surrounding what's said. People tend to say in interviews what they want people to know or hear. There's nearly always a purpose, or an agenda behind interviews. Whether to promote a project or product, or to garner support for an agenda, that purpose wouldn't be very well served if the interviewee didn't try to project what he thinks will get the desired reaction from the audience. In some cases, as with the HH interview it may be just to vent.

I didn't intend for this to become a discussion about who contributed the most to Journey. I guess I inadvertently helped that happen by trying to keep Steve's contribution from being diminshed unfairly. I certainly didn't mean to sound as if I was diminishing anyone else's.

Of course the "chemistry" wasn't the only factor. I don't think anyone said it was. I didn't really understand the Napster thing, but after reading what Dave and mnmsjrny had to say I can now see how that could be a factor.

I don't want to fight about it though.