A question

[ayup]

Hi

I don't post that much here, but I do enjoy reading the musings and some of the rantings that frequent this board. But I can't recall anybody asking this question so here goes -

Would Jeff Scott Soto fit the bill as the singer for Journey (if there was ever another vacancy) ?

cheers

Rich

[Red13JoePa]

"Rantings?"




....anyway, to your point: I think so. JSS could definately pull it off. But I hope it does not come to that. Steve Augeri's doing a great job.

[NealIsGod]

That depends on your personal opinion of him, but I think if he did join, it would be similar to Sammy joining VH way back when. Sammy's vox took VH in another direction, and I think Soto would do the same for Journey. I don't care for Shit SirkUS, so I would not like him to be in Journey.

[NoMoreTails]

JSS is a great rock singer and very versatile covering everything from R&B to metal but I don't see him as the type of singer Journey requires vocally or stage presence wise. I thought he was incredible live with Soul Sirkus and did sound great on the Journey tunes that were done, though not Perry/Augeri/Chalfant-ish. There is a definite Perry influence evident at times as on SS's Coming Home, but its more in delivery than a natural Perry-similar voice.

[NoMoreTails]

That depends on your personal opinion of him, but I think if he did join, it would be similar to Sammy joining VH way back when. Sammy's vox took VH in another direction, and I think Soto would do the same for Journey. I don't care for Shit SirkUS, so I would not like him to be in Journey.

NIG, I'm thinking you never saw SS live but can't recall for certain. I saw them in Alexandria, VA. I'm thinking you saw Journey at Ram's Head, Baltimore and that Alexandria would have been reasonably close to you.
I have the say, the two SS shows I saw, right in front of Neal on a low stage with his guitar eye level were probably the two best shows I've ever seen. As great as some of the Journey shows have been, the SS shows were a complete showcase for Neal, he was absolutely amazing imo.

[Red13JoePa]

NIG, I used to feel that way about WOrld Play but I've done a 180 with my last 6 or 7 spins. Incredible record.
Agree w/ the sammy point. It would not be like replacing Perry with augie or any of the other perry like singers.

[NealIsGod]

That depends on your personal opinion of him, but I think if he did join, it would be similar to Sammy joining VH way back when. Sammy's vox took VH in another direction, and I think Soto would do the same for Journey. I don't care for Shit SirkUS, so I would not like him to be in Journey.

NIG, I'm thinking you never saw SS live but can't recall for certain. I saw them in Alexandria, VA. I'm thinking you saw Journey at Ram's Head, Baltimore and that Alexandria would have been reasonably close to you.
I have the say, the two SS shows I saw, right in front of Neal on a low stage with his guitar eye level were probably the two best shows I've ever seen. As great as some of the Journey shows have been, the SS shows were a complete showcase for Neal, he was absolutely amazing imo.

True, I have not seen them live. I just try and try to like World Play, but can't get into it. I love a lot of Neal's work, but can't get into SS. I didn't care for Hardline, either. I love Journey, HSAS, and some Bad English. His solo stuff is great, too, esp. Late Nite and Beyond the Thunder.

[NoMoreTails]

True, I have not seen them live. I just try and try to like World Play, but can't get into it. I love a lot of Neal's work, but can't get into SS. I didn't care for Hardline, either. I love Journey, HSAS, and some Bad English. His solo stuff is great, too, esp. Late Nite and Beyond the Thunder.

Not to say that I think seeing them live would have made you like the record better, but that is was an awesome setting to see Neal in, although the venues were not what you'd expect for Neal.
I liked Hardline but not to the extent I like SS. I think SS lies somewhere between Hardline and HSAS but more toward the HSAS side. I wonder how different the material would have been if it had ended up as Planet Us songs, as they were originally intended, and how Sammy's contributions may have made a difference for you. I honestly, being a big Sammy fan myself, don't feel that Planet Us could have been any better.

[NealIsGod]

True, I have not seen them live. I just try and try to like World Play, but can't get into it. I love a lot of Neal's work, but can't get into SS. I didn't care for Hardline, either. I love Journey, HSAS, and some Bad English. His solo stuff is great, too, esp. Late Nite and Beyond the Thunder.

Not to say that I think seeing them live would have made you like the record better, but that is was an awesome setting to see Neal in, although the venues were not what you'd expect for Neal.
I liked Hardline but not to the extent I like SS. I think SS lies somewhere between Hardline and HSAS but more toward the HSAS side. I wonder how different the material would have been if it had ended up as Planet Us songs, as they were originally intended, and how Sammy's contributions may have made a difference for you. I honestly, being a big Sammy fan myself, don't feel that Planet Us could have been any better.

I am sure if Sammy was singing it, I would like it a lot better. Soto just doesn't do it for me.

[The_Noble_Cause]

But I can't recall anybody asking this question so here goes -

Umm, dude, if you looked down the forum you would see that someone asked this very question just last week.

http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... hp?t=15902

Anyways, in case you are wondering how JSS would sound on a Journey track, here he is singing a snippet of "Whose Crying Now".

http://youtube.com/watch?v=phOxVANFJCI&search=Soto

(NOTE: May wish to hit "pause", give the clip time to load and then resume "play")

[Red13JoePa]

True, I have not seen them live. I just try and try to like World Play, but can't get into it. I love a lot of Neal's work, but can't get into SS. I didn't care for Hardline, either. I love Journey, HSAS, and some Bad English. His solo stuff is great, too, esp. Late Nite and Beyond the Thunder.

Not to say that I think seeing them live would have made you like the record better, but that is was an awesome setting to see Neal in, although the venues were not what you'd expect for Neal.
I liked Hardline but not to the extent I like SS. I think SS lies somewhere between Hardline and HSAS but more toward the HSAS side. I wonder how different the material would have been if it had ended up as Planet Us songs, as they were originally intended, and how Sammy's contributions may have made a difference for you. I honestly, being a big Sammy fan myself, don't feel that Planet Us could have been any better.

I am sure if Sammy was singing it, I would like it a lot better. Soto just doesn't do it for me.

Dude, you're CRACKED. 1 word for you: PEEPHOLE. Put that on right now and if that does not kick your ass I will concede the bogus notion that The Glimmer Twins are inferior to Lennon/McCartney.

[NealIsGod]

Dude, you're CRACKED. 1 word for you: PEEPHOLE. Put that on right now and if that does not kick your ass I will concede the bogus notion that The Glimmer Twins are inferior to Lennon/McCartney.

Peephole SUCKS. Horrible song. I can't believe Sammy wrote or contributed to writing that song. I was all pumped to hear that tune, too. VERY disappointed.

[NoMoreTails]

Dude, you're CRACKED. 1 word for you: PEEPHOLE. Put that on right now and if that does not kick your ass I will concede the bogus notion that The Glimmer Twins are inferior to Lennon/McCartney.

Makes you think that JSS could sound like Sammy on every song if he wanted.
Neal, Marco, and Virgil were unbelievable on the middle section of that song live.

[TRAGChick]

Anyways, in case you are wondering how JSS would sound on a Journey track, here he is singing a snippet of "Whose Crying Now".

http://youtube.com/watch?v=phOxVANFJCI&search=Soto

HOLY $#!T!!

NICE JOB!!

Two things he hit amazingly:

1. "Love will survive, somehow, SOOOME WAAAAAAYY..."

2. GORGEOUS "bluesy-walkdown" scale on the final "Wonder who's cryin' now""....my jaw DROPPED when I heard it...NOT AN EASY FEAT to do an "improv" on a Classic Journey melody.

Interesting to note: He's singing in the same key as the original song, but he has more mid-to-lower-tones to his vocals...makes it "warmer".

[*Laura]

JSS is a very good singer,he really has a nice warmth in his voice,but IMO he wouldn`t be fit for Journey.I mean not if Journey would want to recapture their golden sound.

Nora,that "bluesy walkdown" is sure nice,but,my goodness...it felt like I was watching a guy singing at a wedding party... I`m sorry.But that IS indeed a classic Journey song.If nothing`s broken,why "fix" it?

[TRAGChick]

Nora,that "bluesy walkdown" is sure nice,but,my goodness...it felt like I was watching a guy singing at a wedding party... I`m sorry.But that IS indeed a classic Journey song.

If nothing`s broken,why "fix" it?

I'm not saying that it had to be "fixed". All I'm saying is this:

Steve Perry's versions of WCN and all the others are permanently "burned" into our collective memories....and for someone to step up to the mic, TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT and pull it off, well, that's pretty damn cool.

Ask ANY male singer...most will stampede in the opposite direction when asked to sing an SP-fronted Journey song...his talent was (and still is) pretty intimidating.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Nora,that "bluesy walkdown" is sure nice,but,my goodness...it felt like I was watching a guy singing at a wedding party... I`m sorry.But that IS indeed a classic Journey song.

If nothing`s broken,why "fix" it?

I'm not saying that it had to be "fixed". All I'm saying is this:

Steve Perry's versions of WCN and all the others are permanently "burned" into our collective memories....and for someone to step up to the mic, TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT and pull it off, well, that's pretty damn cool.

Ask ANY male singer...most will stampede in the opposite direction when asked to sing an SP-fronted Journey song...his talent was (and still is) pretty intimidating.

I agree with Nora.
It takes one or two listens to get used to it, but I dig what JSS has done with the song.

[Rockindeano]

JSS is so far ahead of Augeri in talent it is plain stupid.

13, back away from the bottle.

[Red13JoePa]

JSS is so far ahead of Augeri in talent it is plain stupid.

13, back away from the bottle.

Somewhat agree. You're overstating, but still. Also, I'm praising JSS here and agree that he could pull this gig off and do so with great aplomb.
However, I still think that Augeri is the better singer/fit FOR JOURNEY.

Plus, I'm looking forward the follow up to World Play and if Augeri left and JSS replaced it would be the end of 2 really cool things including Soul SirkUs.

[*Laura]

Well,trying something different is great,but in this case...it`s useless.
Just like you can`t change Neal`s solo at the end of Who`s Crying Now,you know what I mean?Some things need to be left untouched.
I know the case of Eric Clapton who went on stage with Pink Floyd and he changed the solo from Another Brick In The Wall.He was booooed big time...
So that`s what I meant.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Plus, I'm looking forward the follow up to World Play and if Augeri left and JSS replaced it would be the end of 2 really cool things including Soul SirkUs.

Dude, you live in an alternate reality.
There won't be any follow up to SoulSirkus.
That much is obvious.
Jeff released that beligerent and noticeably bothered statement a while back, (stating, "the future seems dismal.....we had no chance of leaving our mark.")
And then in an attempt to put a cheery PR spin on the whole fiasco, Neal and Soto released a joint-statement saying they are merely on a "hiatus".

Read between the lines: The band is dead as a doorknob.

[TRAGChick]

Just like you can`t change Neal`s solo at the end of Who`s Crying Now, you know what I mean?Some things need to be left untouched.

I THINK I get what you're saying.....

But, with all due respect, NEAL SCHON'S solo's at the end of WCN live are not the same solo as the RECORDED Neal Schon on "Escape".

Or do you mean if someone else stepped up to take Neal's place.

But, if they did, they have Neal's LIVE solos to try to copy.

....or maybe I'm just thinking too much....

[Red13JoePa]

Plus, I'm looking forward the follow up to World Play and if Augeri left and JSS replaced it would be the end of 2 really cool things including Soul SirkUs.

Dude, you live in an alternate reality.
There won't be any follow up to SoulSirkus.
That much is obvious.
Jeff released that beligerent and noticeably bothered statement a while back, (stating, "the future seems dismal.....we had no chance of leaving our mark.")
And then in an attempt to put a cheery PR spin on the whole fiasco, Neal and Soto released a joint-statement saying they are merely on a "hiatus".

Read between the lines: The band is dead as a doorknob.

Then what was the motive for coming back and "putting a cheery pr spin" on it, if not to leave the door open? If this flat out stone cold factual prophecy, "There won't be any follow up to Soul Sirkus" is as accurate as usual, like "This thread will be closed" was, then we can anticipate a second record.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Then what was the motive for coming back and "putting a cheery pr spin" on it, if not to leave the door open?

HUGE difference between politely "leaving a door open" and actually remaining a a functioning, playing unit with a working relationship.
Those ties are severed.

If this flat out stone cold factual prophecy, "There won't be any follow up to Soul Sirkus" is as accurate as usual, like "This thread will be closed" was, then we can anticipate a second record.

When I made that comment, all previous anti-BackTalk threads had been closed by Andrew.
I stand by what I said as it was predicated on historical precedence.

[Red13JoePa]

Then what was the motive for coming back and "putting a cheery pr spin" on it, if not to leave the door open?

HUGE difference between politely "leaving a door open" and actually remaining a a functioning, playing unit with a working relationship.
Those ties are severed.

If this flat out stone cold factual prophecy, "There won't be any follow up to Soul Sirkus" is as accurate as usual, like "This thread will be closed" was, then we can anticipate a second record.

When I made that comment, all previous anti-BackTalk threads had been closed by Andrew.
I stand by what I said as it was predicated on historical precedence.

Artful dodge of the question, but again why the need if the band is deader than a doornail?

[The_Noble_Cause]

Artful dodge of the question,

I didn't dodge the question.

but again why the need if the band is deader than a doornail?

Jesus. Do I really have to explain this?
'Cuz Neal and Jeff genuinely like hanging with each other.
They have great writing chemistry together.
Business monetary affairs may have got between the two of them, but at the end of the day they still respect each other as people and as mutual artists.
Hence, they decided to end on a positive note.
"leaving the door open" is as good as saying "the band is dead".
They are no longer a functioning collaborating unit any longer.
Kapeesh?

[Red13JoePa]

Artful dodge of the question,

I didn't dodge the question.

but again why the need if the band is deader than a doornail?

Jesus. Do I really have to explain this?
'Cuz Neal and Jeff genuinely like hanging with each other.
They have great writing chemistry together.
Business monetary affairs may have got between the two of them, but at the end of the day they still respect each other as people and as mutual artists.
Hence, they decided to end on a positive note.
"leaving the door open" is as good as saying "the band is dead".
They are no longer a functioning collaborating unit any longer.
Kapeesh?

I f they're the same then there's no need to put a statement out leaving the door open after JSS essentially put it in the grave. Little redundant. Unless you want to communicate to the masses that it may not be dead.

[Rockindeano]

I f they're the same then there's no need to put a statement out leaving the door open after JSS essentially put it in the grave. Little redundant. Unless you want to communicate to the masses that it may not be dead.

The reason they made that statement was because JSS spoke out on emotion, and frankly, misspoke. I bet ya Neal was pissed.

Now, TNC is correct, if JSS was in Journey, they would be tighter, and they would be fresher.

[Red13JoePa]

And if JSS misspoke about the damn thing being dead, and it pissed neal and prompted a damage control rebuttal then it is not necessarily dead.

Why would there be a need to bridle the guy if they weren't at least planning a contunuation?

[NealIsGod]

Whatever happened to this Deano, from July 25, 2004:

First off, I DO NOT want Perry back in the band. I simply said that's what Neal should do if in fact he has the burning itch to play in front of sold out arenas BY THEMSELVES again, like VH does now. Part of me was writing that because I don't think VH is doing all that hot of a live job this year. It's a newness, a revitalization for the VH fans....I LOVE Augeri in the band but unfortunately, as good as he really is, will never win over the casual fan in order to fill the big bowls....No, leave Perry to retirement(although that guys voice sends shivers down my spine), and keep Augee...