MR

I just pulled out TBF, or actually dialed it up on the ol' iPod. A very excellent album. But what sticks out to me everytime is the drumming. There's a lot of discussions about singers when it comes to this band but am I the only one missing Steve Smith? I mean, Deen is very good and when I listen to him, it's not like I think, "oh, I wish Smith would play this instead". But on TBF, there's some powerful druming that I haven't really heard from Deen on the following albums.

Wait, this can be my role on this board - as soon as someone even mention Deen, I will go on at length about how much better Smith is, and how he might be coming back soon, and that the band never can be what it was when Smith was in the band.

I agree with you Smith was the best .He could just let it rip big time

Smitty was a perfect fit for that era of Journey and I remember reading an interview with Deen that it was difficult for him at first to get all the subtle nuances of Smitty's playing down, since he had a jazz background, unlike Deen. I think Deen will be the right guy in conjunction with Jeff, if the write some new stuff together for Journey. But, yeah, Smitty had technique out the ars.

The last Vital Information album was killin'. I love jazz, and got to see them live, it smoked.

Smith is on another road now.....

JDouglee wrote:The last Vital Information album was killin'. I love jazz, and got to see them live, it smoked.

Smith is on another road now.....

I think that was one thing that was so cool with TBF, to show that he still could rock. Although, Vital Information can rock pretty good too, but in a jazzy way.

Check Tony MacAlpine's "Chromaticity"....2002 I believe. Smith can still rock allright.

Yeah, Steve really let loose on that particular album, which was a welcome change. I always felt that he underplayed on the earlier studio albums for the most part, which might've had something to do with the various producers. I'm not sure. But yes, the drumming is stellar on TBF. He's an amazing talent. Makes me want to chuck my sticks on many occasions!

swepett wrote:I just pulled out TBF, or actually dialed it up on the ol' iPod. A very excellent album. But what sticks out to me everytime is the drumming. There's a lot of discussions about singers when it comes to this band but am I the only one missing Steve Smith?

Deen is a phenomenal drummer, I agree. Smith brought a ton of finesse to Journey's sound and yes, I miss that at times. However, he is so much into drum clinics and Jazz Fusion that I doubt that he is at all interested in doing "rock" anymore.

On a related note, has anyone seen the video on YouTube.com of that 12 year-old monster drummer?! Un-freakin'-believable!

There was a few articles in Moderne Drummer
Actually Smitty won a few MD awards
He said he really had to fine tune his drumming to fit Journey and the sound Steve Perry was looking for.
Smitty is a very skilled drummer honing his skill with exercizes such as paradiddles.
I attribute the sound alot to his snare depth, heads which I think were remo black pinstripe
which gives a deep sound and damping and possible miking as the SP solo albums in my opinion are lacking in drum power.

JDouglee wrote:The last Vital Information album was killin'. I love jazz, and got to see them live, it smoked.

Smith is on another road now.....

I got to meet Steve Smith a few years ago after a Vital Information gig. He was very nice and accommodating to the fans. I didn't have the guts to ask him about anything relating to Journey though. I will say this. He was absolutely phenomenal to watch. I've never seen a drummer play at that level before. It was incredible and he made it look effortless.

Steve Smith is simply amazing!
He was/is such a hard working drummer.A true talent.

Shadowsong,I remember that article.I was stunned of how much effort he put into developing his skills!
He earned my full respect.

Here an interesting article from 1997,for those of you who haven't read it yet.

STEVE SMITH

And a nice video

Mr.Hi Hat

Thanks for the reads!
I have always been amazed by Steve Smith's drumming.

I, too, miss Smitty. He got me to actually listen to the drums as an instrument. Deen brings a huge presence with his voice, but I miss the stylings of Smitty. Just listen to ROR...you can tell which songs Smitty played on, and they are definately better for it.

Great drummer, although you wouldn't really know it from Trial By Fire...man that album had more ballads than a Chicago 80's compilation.

(explain to me how the best song from those sessions ended up as the Japanese bonus track? *sigh*)

WalrusOct9 wrote:Great drummer, although you wouldn't really know it from Trial By Fire...man that album had more ballads than a Chicago 80's compilation.

(explain to me how the best song from those sessions ended up as the Japanese bonus track? *sigh*)

Gotta disagree about "I Can See it in Your Eyes", though. It's an okay song, but there are at least three rock tracks and some of the ballads that are better than that song. I do think it would've made a big difference in the perception of the album by fans, though, if it had been included at the expense of one of the slower tunes.

I've always liked the drums on Colors Of The Spirit a lot. Not a huge fan of the song itself but the drums rock.

Red13JoePa wrote:I've always liked the drums on Colors Of The Spirit a lot. Not a huge fan of the song itself but the drums rock.

Same here...Not the greatest song, but the atmosphere of that song, of which the drums play a huge part, is excellent.

conversationpc wrote:

WalrusOct9 wrote:Great drummer, although you wouldn't really know it from Trial By Fire...man that album had more ballads than a Chicago 80's compilation.

(explain to me how the best song from those sessions ended up as the Japanese bonus track? *sigh*)

Gotta disagree about "I Can See it in Your Eyes", though. It's an okay song, but there are at least three rock tracks and some of the ballads that are better than that song.

In your opinion. Not mine.

oops, double post

I've never been feeling the magic of ICSIIYE the way some do. Like the opening riffs and vocals but the song seems to die out and go nowhere. Like incomplete.

Red13JoePa wrote:I've never been feeling the magic of ICSIIYE the way some do. Like the opening riffs and vocals but the song seems to die out and go nowhere. Like incomplete.

You're high, Grossie. It has one of those great "outros" that you love so much.

WalrusOct9 wrote:Great drummer, although you wouldn't really know it from Trial By Fire...man that album had more ballads than a Chicago 80's compilation.

Not only that, but Smitty was burning...and so far back in the mix you couldn't even hear it.

Steve Smith is a drummers' drummer! This gut is what you call a swing drummer, meaning he can adapt to ANY genre of music, and plays with a distinct style that moves a song.

Just a tidbit of info on him....Steve is probably one of the top 5 drummers in tthe world.He's got amazing 'finger control' which means he can move the sticks lightening fast with his fingers, nit his wrist. So if you see him playing at amazing speed, you'll notice his arms or wrist don'tt seem to be moving....it's all in his fingers.

There are some videos of his recent wotrk at drummerworld.com

NealIsGod wrote:

Red13JoePa wrote:I've never been feeling the magic of ICSIIYE the way some do. Like the opening riffs and vocals but the song seems to die out and go nowhere. Like incomplete.

Your high, Grossie. It has one of those great "outros" that you love so much.

I got so bored by the middle, I guess I never made it to outro. Still have the damn thing saved on napster that's how much I liked it. Never put it on cd.

You telling me I missed one of the great Schon/Cain outros? Love those things (when they;re good, they are SO good ala After The Fall).

Red13JoePa wrote:

NealIsGod wrote:

Red13JoePa wrote:I've never been feeling the magic of ICSIIYE the way some do. Like the opening riffs and vocals but the song seems to die out and go nowhere. Like incomplete.

Your high, Grossie. It has one of those great "outros" that you love so much.

I got so bored by the middle, I guess I never made it to outro. Still have the damn thing saved on napster that's how much I liked it. Never put it on cd.

You telling me I missed one of the great Schon/Cain outros? Love those things (when they;re good, they are SO good ala After The Fall).

Yeah, the last minute or so is great. Neal shreds.

reality is...in a band like Journey...no one really cares whose drumming (unless u r a drummer )..... with the exception of Deen though..as he has the vocal thing up his sleeve

If I could create a "dream Journey", it would include:

Schon
Perry
Valory
Rolie
Castronovo

Imagine that lineup with everyone in their prime.

Augeri.