Nice Article in SF Chronicle

[mnmsjrny]

For those who haven't seen the link at BT:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f ... ID9BV1.DTL

Was a nice treat to wake up and hear my local radio station talking about this article this morning.

[NealIsGod]

Great article, thanks for posting the link. I have always proclaimed the song, Escape, as my all-time favorite Journey tune, so I liked this part of the article:

After that, you've reached "Escape," a five-minute, 16-second track with only four intelligible phrases. (They are: "They won't take me, they won't break me," "He's on the streets breakin' all the rules," "I've got dreams I'm livin' for" and "This is my escape, yes I'm on my way.") And yet it still prevails as the best song on the album -- maybe on any album.

Listening to the song "Escape" is the equivalent of getting a personal two-hour life-coaching session by Tony Robbins and then smoking PCP. Each time "Escape" finishes, I am completely convinced that I can dunk a basketball, break a 2-by-4 in half with my bare hands and eat 25 hot dogs in a minute.

[NealIsGod]

Another interesting part:

Cain said the follow-up to "Escape," "Frontiers," might have been an even better album, but it was dismantled at the last minute; the superb "Only the Young" and "Ask the Lonely" were removed so they could appear on the "Visionquest" and "Two of a Kind" soundtracks. Journey has considered re-releasing the album in its original state, but Cain says no one can remember the sequencing.

[Red13JoePa]

I was just spinning the cd version of the Escape Houston DVD pckg in the car today.... I do kinda enjoy the title track.

[*Laura]

Very nice read,thanks.
Made me nostalgic...

[Marabelle]

Only heard Escape about a year ago...amazing vocals by Mr. Espee and the band was just at its best! I don't think they were able to get any better than that..cause that was unfreakinabelievable!

[jrnyman28]

Another interesting part:

Cain said the follow-up to "Escape," "Frontiers," might have been an even better album, but it was dismantled at the last minute; the superb "Only the Young" and "Ask the Lonely" were removed so they could appear on the "Visionquest" and "Two of a Kind" soundtracks. Journey has considered re-releasing the album in its original state, but Cain says no one can remember the sequencing.

This really surprises me. I know Neal is fond of the "experimental" nature of side 2 so I would think he is not in support of the idea. Besides, who would really care at this point?

[mnmsjrny]

Great article, thanks for posting the link. I have always proclaimed the song, Escape, as my all-time favorite Journey tune, so I liked this part of the article:

After that, you've reached "Escape," a five-minute, 16-second track with only four intelligible phrases. (They are: "They won't take me, they won't break me," "He's on the streets breakin' all the rules," "I've got dreams I'm livin' for" and "This is my escape, yes I'm on my way.") And yet it still prevails as the best song on the album -- maybe on any album.

Listening to the song "Escape" is the equivalent of getting a personal two-hour life-coaching session by Tony Robbins and then smoking PCP. Each time "Escape" finishes, I am completely convinced that I can dunk a basketball, break a 2-by-4 in half with my bare hands and eat 25 hot dogs in a minute.

You're welcome, though I'll disagree that "Escape" is the best song on the album I DO agree with the "two hour life-coaching..." bit. I know when I hear the song I'm totally energized. And I've been known to play it when undergoing a life changing moment. LOUDLY.

No, my favorite bit is:

The album begins with "Don't Stop Believin,' " a song that just may have magical properties within its opening piano signature. Seriously, lock yourself in a room right now and listen to that keyboard part 35 times in a row. Sick of it yet? If you said yes, then you're a filthy liar.

Now here's the mind-blowing part. As any serious "Escape" fan will tell you, that's only the third- or maybe fourth-best track on the album.

25 years, countless times played, goosebumps every time. Hell, the song brought me to TEARS last summer (surprising the heck outta me) And it's not even my favorite track off Escape!

[NealIsGod]

Hell, the song brought me to TEARS last summer (surprising the heck outta me)

Yeah, me too. Perry really butchered it at the rally.

[mnmsjrny]

Another interesting part:

Cain said the follow-up to "Escape," "Frontiers," might have been an even better album, but it was dismantled at the last minute; the superb "Only the Young" and "Ask the Lonely" were removed so they could appear on the "Visionquest" and "Two of a Kind" soundtracks. Journey has considered re-releasing the album in its original state, but Cain says no one can remember the sequencing.

This really surprises me. I know Neal is fond of the "experimental" nature of side 2 so I would think he is not in support of the idea. Besides, who would really care at this point?

I was too. I do think Jon's right that if OTY and ATL had been on "Frontiers" back in '83 it would have been as big, or bigger, than Escape was. Those two songs are really strong and could have been much bigger hits. At this stage of the game though, why bother? Any Journey fan interested enough in putting those two songs back on Frontiers has done it.

As for the track listing... I know one of the things up for auction has a test printing of Frontiers with Only the Young on it... in the place of Back Talk.

[mnmsjrny]

Hell, the song brought me to TEARS last summer (surprising the heck outta me)

Yeah, me too. Perry really butchered it at the rally.

LOL... well, that's not what I was referring to, but that was a bit painful.

As a word of warning though, be very very careful when seeing Journey around your birthday.

[jrnyman28]

"A lot of times when I was playing with them, it was like we were somewhere else above Berkeley, flying around," Cain said of the "Escape" sessions. "I felt like I was in a glider. It was the perfect time and the perfect place with the right bunch of guys."

Do you think Jon could say that now?

[jrnyman28]

I do think Jon's right that if OTY and ATL had been on "Frontiers" back in '83 it would have been as big, or bigger, than Escape was. Those two songs are really strong and could have been much bigger hits.

That has been debated here. And while the CD may have been stronger, I am not sure it would have had much effect. The songs most likely would not have been singles as Frontiers already released 4 singles. And I think it was a good strategy to use those songs later, during the down time between Frontiers and ROR. Those two songs kept Journey on the radio.

[mnmsjrny]

"A lot of times when I was playing with them, it was like we were somewhere else above Berkeley, flying around," Cain said of the "Escape" sessions. "I felt like I was in a glider. It was the perfect time and the perfect place with the right bunch of guys."

Do you think Jon could say that now?

Um... he did. If I read the article right, Jon was interviewed about Escape thus generating the above comment.

[mnmsjrny]

That has been debated here. And while the CD may have been stronger, I am not sure it would have had much effect. The songs most likely would not have been singles as Frontiers already released 4 singles. And I think it was a good strategy to use those songs later, during the down time between Frontiers and ROR. Those two songs kept Journey on the radio.

Well that would depend on what order they decided to release the singles. Maybe "Only the Young" gets released instead of "After the Fall" (after all, OTY made GH, ATF didn't) Hell, Escape had 6 singles, no reason Frontiers couldn't have had that many too.

And yes, using them later was a good strategy -- in hindsight. In 1983, there was no reason to expect Journey to NOT release another album for 3 years (at least not in the eyes of the general public, whatever the hell was going on behind the scenes at the time remained there.) And who knows, two bigger singles might have prolonged the Frontiers tour thus postponing Street Talk and all that followed.

Not saying that we'd have seen a different version of Journey over 2 songs, but ya know, sometimes it's those small, seemingly inconsequential decisions that make the biggest change.

[Rockindeano]

I don't buy any of you guys argument about sequencing and this release or that release. Sure, there is some strategey, but come on? Journey was so damned huge, OTY and ATL would have gotten released too. In fact, ATL wasn't a decent hit anyways...it got lost and buried.

Look, when a band is hot, they release anything, and it will be a hit. Case in point. After the Fall was released because the band was selling out 3, 4 sometimes 5 nights in same cities, and the promoters wanted to keep capitilizing on momentum. Enter ROR. The band was so fractured and even though it had released BGTY, IBAWY, the rest were barely hits. Suzanne charted 17, but I never heard it on radio..GCHI and WCTNGF weren't really decent numbered hits. It's all about how hot the band is, and striking when the iron is hot.

[jrnyman28]

"A lot of times when I was playing with them, it was like we were somewhere else above Berkeley, flying around," Cain said of the "Escape" sessions. "I felt like I was in a glider. It was the perfect time and the perfect place with the right bunch of guys."

Do you think Jon could say that now?

Um... he did. If I read the article right, Jon was interviewed about Escape thus generating the above comment.

I meant about today's guys. Sorry, but I just feel a little depressed about Journey as a whole. I love the guys, glad they are touring. But I wish they would show us that they believe in themselves and this band. I don't feel that from them...

[mnmsjrny]

"A lot of times when I was playing with them, it was like we were somewhere else above Berkeley, flying around," Cain said of the "Escape" sessions. "I felt like I was in a glider. It was the perfect time and the perfect place with the right bunch of guys."

Do you think Jon could say that now?

Um... he did. If I read the article right, Jon was interviewed about Escape thus generating the above comment.

I meant about today's guys. Sorry, but I just feel a little depressed about Journey as a whole. I love the guys, glad they are touring. But I wish they would show us that they believe in themselves and this band. I don't feel that from them...

Oh... well... yeah, I kinda agree with you there. Though, you do have to take into consideration that there is something to things happening at the right place and right time and that it's impossible to make those kinds of things happen. And there is a difference between being a bunch of guys in their late 20s/early 30s going all out for the gold ring and being a bunch of guys in their 40s/50s enjoying the fruits of their accomplishments.

[Marabelle]

Got to agree with you there! To me; they need someone to light a fire under their collective "???" and seem interested in the music and not in collecting the money. I mean Mick Jagger is as old as you can get and he still is dancing and making music; almost seems like he enjoys it but when I look at those weary faces of this band; it's like there is just no satisfaction.
LOL! They need some life pumped into the band; may be this tour will get them to look beyond themselves and have fun! I think of the pic of yours Journeyman 28...and if that isn't the saddest picture. It rivals TBF and
that sad face of Espee. Mercy!

[heardonthestreet]

Crap! Just throw on " Journey's Greatest Hits and be happy, folks. It will never get any better than this!

[Rockindeano]

Crap! Just throw on " Journey's Greatest Hits and be happy, folks. It will never get any better than this!

You know what? If I didn't agree with you, I would totally assault you verbally. However, you are right on the money...you're still a bitch though.

[Liz22562]

Was that even necessary?

[Moon Beam]

No, my favorite bit is:

The album begins with "Don't Stop Believin,' " a song that just may have magical properties within its opening piano signature. Seriously, lock yourself in a room right now and listen to that keyboard part 35 times in a row. Sick of it yet? If you said yes, then you're a filthy liar.

Now here's the mind-blowing part. As any serious "Escape" fan will tell you, that's only the third- or maybe fourth-best track on the album.

25 years, countless times played, goosebumps every time. Hell, the song brought me to TEARS last summer (surprising the heck outta me) And it's not even my favorite track off Escape![/quote]


That was my fave part as well.
It's that piano lick from begining to end that hooked me and still does.
Thanks for posting this article was a good read.

[PROPERRY]

Yea, Escape is FANTASTIC!!

And speaking of the "right bunch of guys" on the Houston Live DVD/CD, it just blows me away how INCREDIBLY AMAZING they played together!!!

Lori

[NealIsGod]

Yea, Escape is FANTASTIC!!

And speaking of the "right bunch of guys" on the Houston Live DVD/CD, it just blows me away how INCREDIBLY AMAZING they played together!!!

Lori

True dat. Live 2001 ain't bad, either.

[Rockindeano]

Was that even necessary?

What? Are you bitter because of the Lightning's collapse? You don't know the history, Liz. It is deep and dark.

You obviously didn't read her BS post. Whatever floats your boat.

[Red13JoePa]

I think you'd be surprised. Liz keeps on her reading here but does not always post.....

[Rockindeano]

She is still pissed at the "Ing''s 3-1 defecit. I thought she liked me, but guess I was wrong again. Wouldn't be the first time.

[Liz22562]

Stop it Deano! You guys know who my favorite posters are.....

And yep - I'm upset about the Lightning. They played well in the first half last game. Goalie just didn't keep it together. UGH!

[Rockindeano]

You should get down there in the Sports forum Lizzy. Some good smack running down there.