MR

I'm curious about this one line on your front page:

" at one stage he fronted the band for a one-off show after the departure of Steve Perry in 1998."

What show was this? Are you talking about the Herbie roast? The Herbie roast was in the early 90's...before TBF.

I think you may be right....the time frame of years and events is fading like my memory. I'll clarify that with Kevin.

Mac,

While you're clarifying with Kevin can you pull some good audio as well? That would be Excellent! MR.X material as well.

L8r,

Aaron

I stand corrected - this was the gig I was thinking of, but Kevin confirmed it was 1993...how time flies!

Says Kevin:

Yes it was with Journey, it was with Aynsley Dunbar, Steve Smith, Gregg Rolie, Neil Schon, Ross Valory, Jon Cain, and myself at Bimbo's in San Francisco during October of 1993. It was to roast our then manager Herbie Herbert for a Thunder Road Benefit. I actually have photos of that show. I don't have them scanned in, but maybe I could do that tomorrow and send one. You may be able to check online at the San Francisco Chronicle for an article around October 11, 1993. It was a great evening of entertainment, many artists throwing down serious performances.

Andrew wrote:I stand corrected - this was the gig I was thinking of, but Kevin confirmed it was 1993...how time flies!

Says Kevin:

Yes it was with Journey, it was with Aynsley Dunbar, Steve Smith, Gregg Rolie, Neil Schon, Ross Valory, Jon Cain, and myself at Bimbo's in San Francisco during October of 1993. It was to roast our then manager Herbie Herbert for a Thunder Road Benefit. I actually have photos of that show. I don't have them scanned in, but maybe I could do that tomorrow and send one. You may be able to check online at the San Francisco Chronicle for an article around October 11, 1993. It was a great evening of entertainment, many artists throwing down serious performances.

Thanks for that info, Andrew and Kevin! That must have been one hell of a show!

Chalfont writes Neal "Neil?"

Weak, Kevcat, thought you were a student, an ADMIRER.

Hope he sounds good covering Purry.

Wow, talk about a once in a lifetime performance.

Yeah they should have recruited Chalfant then. TBF was weak at best and Chalfants voice is strong and fits Journey perfectly, plus the guy can write. I think things would have been a lot different, in a good way, had they done so. I'm really curious how they ended up picking Augeri over Chalfant. Seems like it would have been a no-brainer to go with Kevin..

Trial by Fire was unbelievable, and an amazing display of maturation. Come on!

1. Message of Love - OK, kind of a ripoff of Separate Ways, but a good rocker.
2. One More - Griws on you over time.
3. When You Love a Woman - Classic love ballad. Nobody does it better.
4. If He Should Break Your Heart - Would have been a #1 hit in the '70's or '80s.
5. Forever in Blue - Very underrated. Great tune.
6. Castles Burning - Ouch. Awful.
7. Don't Be Down on Me Baby - Next, please.
8. Still She Cries - Would have been a Top 10. Perry is amazing on this track.
9. Colors of the Spirit - Good filler song.
10. When I Think of You - Another chart-topper back in the day. Stunning. Perry never sounded better or more sincere.
11. Easy to Fall - I had visions of Perry singing the climax of this song, coat-tails flying...could have been. Beautiful number.
12. Can't Tame the Lion - Not bad.
13. It's Just the Rain - Listen to Perry sing "Touch me...touch me, crazy...how your kiss betrays me". UNREAL.
14. Trial by Fire - That's no drum loop. That's Smitty. One of their most ambitious and best songs ever.
15. Baby I'm a Leavin' You [Hidden Track] - Fun.

That record BLOWS AWAY ROR, Evolution, and Departure. Perry's register changed, but he never sounded better.

7 Wishes wrote:Trial by Fire was unbelievable, and an amazing display of maturation. Come on!

1. Message of Love - OK, kind of a ripoff of Separate Ways, but a good rocker.
2. One More - Griws on you over time.
3. When You Love a Woman - Classic love ballad. Nobody does it better.
4. If He Should Break Your Heart - Would have been a #1 hit in the '70's or '80s.
5. Forever in Blue - Very underrated. Great tune.
6. Castles Burning - Ouch. Awful.
7. Don't Be Down on Me Baby - Next, please.
8. Still She Cries - Would have been a Top 10. Perry is amazing on this track.
9. Colors of the Spirit - Good filler song.
10. When I Think of You - Another chart-topper back in the day. Stunning. Perry never sounded better or more sincere.
11. Easy to Fall - I had visions of Perry singing the climax of this song, coat-tails flying...could have been. Beautiful number.
12. Can't Tame the Lion - Not bad.
13. It's Just the Rain - Listen to Perry sing "Touch me...touch me, crazy...how your kiss betrays me". UNREAL.
14. Trial by Fire - That's no drum loop. That's Smitty. One of their most ambitious and best songs ever.
15. Baby I'm a Leavin' You [Hidden Track] - Fun.

That record BLOWS AWAY ROR, Evolution, and Departure. Perry's register changed, but he never sounded better.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! How refreshing. A voice of reason.

7 Wishes wrote:Trial by Fire was unbelievable, and an amazing display of maturation. Come on!

1. Message of Love - OK, kind of a ripoff of Separate Ways, but a good rocker.
2. One More - Griws on you over time.
3. When You Love a Woman - Classic love ballad. Nobody does it better.
4. If He Should Break Your Heart - Would have been a #1 hit in the '70's or '80s.
5. Forever in Blue - Very underrated. Great tune.
6. Castles Burning - Ouch. Awful.
7. Don't Be Down on Me Baby - Next, please.
8. Still She Cries - Would have been a Top 10. Perry is amazing on this track.
9. Colors of the Spirit - Good filler song.
10. When I Think of You - Another chart-topper back in the day. Stunning. Perry never sounded better or more sincere.
11. Easy to Fall - I had visions of Perry singing the climax of this song, coat-tails flying...could have been. Beautiful number.
12. Can't Tame the Lion - Not bad.
13. It's Just the Rain - Listen to Perry sing "Touch me...touch me, crazy...how your kiss betrays me". UNREAL.
14. Trial by Fire - That's no drum loop. That's Smitty. One of their most ambitious and best songs ever.
15. Baby I'm a Leavin' You [Hidden Track] - Fun.

That record BLOWS AWAY ROR, Evolution, and Departure. Perry's register changed, but he never sounded better.

I may not completely agree with you on every song, but your overall rating of the record is dead on. I don't think it blows ROR away. I tend to see them a equally excellent.

7 Wishes wrote:Trial by Fire was unbelievable, and an amazing display of maturation. Come on!

10. When I Think of You - Another chart-topper back in the day. Stunning. Perry never sounded better or more sincere.

I think his sincerity on this song comes from the fact that he is singing about his mom. I pretty much agree with your assessment of TBF. It is still my favorite Journey record and the one I listen to the most from start to finish (okay, I zip through the last half of Castles Burning).

7 Wishes wrote:Trial by Fire was unbelievable, and an amazing display of maturation. Come on!

1. Message of Love - OK, kind of a ripoff of Separate Ways, but a good rocker.
2. One More - Griws on you over time.
3. When You Love a Woman - Classic love ballad. Nobody does it better.
4. If He Should Break Your Heart - Would have been a #1 hit in the '70's or '80s.
5. Forever in Blue - Very underrated. Great tune.
6. Castles Burning - Ouch. Awful.
7. Don't Be Down on Me Baby - Next, please.
8. Still She Cries - Would have been a Top 10. Perry is amazing on this track.
9. Colors of the Spirit - Good filler song.
10. When I Think of You - Another chart-topper back in the day. Stunning. Perry never sounded better or more sincere.
11. Easy to Fall - I had visions of Perry singing the climax of this song, coat-tails flying...could have been. Beautiful number.
12. Can't Tame the Lion - Not bad.
13. It's Just the Rain - Listen to Perry sing "Touch me...touch me, crazy...how your kiss betrays me". UNREAL.
14. Trial by Fire - That's no drum loop. That's Smitty. One of their most ambitious and best songs ever.
15. Baby I'm a Leavin' You [Hidden Track] - Fun.

I pretty much agree with you on almost every song except #2 One More.......still waiting for that one to grow on me, for some reason it just isn't. LOL, and #11 Easy To Fall......were you in my head?

7 Wishes wrote:Trial by Fire was unbelievable, and an amazing display of maturation. Come on!

1. Message of Love - OK, kind of a ripoff of Separate Ways, but a good rocker.
2. One More - Griws on you over time.
3. When You Love a Woman - Classic love ballad. Nobody does it better.
4. If He Should Break Your Heart - Would have been a #1 hit in the '70's or '80s.
5. Forever in Blue - Very underrated. Great tune.
6. Castles Burning - Ouch. Awful.
7. Don't Be Down on Me Baby - Next, please.
8. Still She Cries - Would have been a Top 10. Perry is amazing on this track.
9. Colors of the Spirit - Good filler song.
10. When I Think of You - Another chart-topper back in the day. Stunning. Perry never sounded better or more sincere.
11. Easy to Fall - I had visions of Perry singing the climax of this song, coat-tails flying...could have been. Beautiful number.
12. Can't Tame the Lion - Not bad.
13. It's Just the Rain - Listen to Perry sing "Touch me...touch me, crazy...how your kiss betrays me". UNREAL.
14. Trial by Fire - That's no drum loop. That's Smitty. One of their most ambitious and best songs ever.
15. Baby I'm a Leavin' You [Hidden Track] - Fun.

That record BLOWS AWAY ROR, Evolution, and Departure. Perry's register changed, but he never sounded better.

That album sucks hairy cocks.

Maturity = boring songs
Raspy voice = he couldn't sing rock anymore.
Message of Love was the only song that rocked.

The album cover looks like something Richard Simmons would love.

LOVE TBF. Only two songs i despise, #10 and #15.

BLOWS Arrival, Generations and ROR away.

1. Message of Love - Great song, even if it kinda copies one of their own
2. One More - Another great rocker, still like it today
3. When You Love a Woman - A classic mature ballad by the band
4. If He Should Break Your Heart - a weak song, that echos emptiness of the song and not the emptiness of the heart.
5. Forever in Blue - Perry sounds like he is singing underwater on this one.
6. Castles Burning - Ouch. this is hot!!!! A hard rocker, without the annoying 90's feel to it.
7. Don't Be Down on Me Baby - Next, please. (too true!!)
8. Still She Cries - a weak song by a weak voiced Perry. All the slow songs expect for WYLAW are weak, slow should not equal weak.
9. Colors of the Spirit - an ok song at best.
10. When I Think of You - Perry sounds good on this, but the song itself is not much.
11. Easy to Fall - It is an ok song, one of the better slower songs, doesn't come off has been there done that.
12. Can't Tame the Lion - Not bad, not good, the come out of the gate fast, but really go nowhere.
13. It's Just the Rain - "Listen to Perry sing "Touch me...touch me, crazy...how your kiss betrays me". UNREAL." Yes it is, but for the most part Perry is not up to par, and this song is kinda soggy.
14. Trial by Fire - Hate this song, Perry seems to be covered in smoke and can't get words out. Band seems to lacking fire.
15. Baby I'm a Leavin' You [Hidden Track] - Fun.

This record IMO is not the best by far. I count it above Departure and the first 3 cds, and everything else is way better.-ERIC

RockinDeano wrote:LOVE TBF. Only two songs i despise, #10 and #15.

BLOWS Arrival, Generations and ROR away.

Trial By Fire sounds like one of the farts that just won't come out. There are almost no hooks whatsover in it. I just do not get it. I have tried to give it a chance. Other than Message of Love, I can tolerate maybe 2 or 3 others on the disc at best. The disc just bores me to tears just like the last Perry solo disc did.

What happened to the upbeat songs?

Not one song on Arrival or Generations can beat the best songs on TBF.

The vocals on TBF are amazingly emotional and effective. Abitaman is completely retarded and/or full of shit. As if Augeri could sing any of those songs better than Perry?

Where is my fuckin' Bible ERIC?

Send me the Book, and slip a $50 in between Genesis and Exodus ok? Thanks bud.

RockinDeano wrote:Not one song on Arrival or gens can beat the best songs on TBF.

The vocals on TBF are amazingly emotional and effective. Abitaman is completely retarded and/or full of shit. As if Augeri could sing any of those songs better than Perry?

At least songs like "Signs of Life" have a fucking pulse. TBF is just depressing to my tastes.

I've been saying for a long time that, that is my favorite album! Usually someone makes fun of me but I don't care...I love that album and Steve sounds absolutely fantastic on it...sexy, mature, raspy, whatever you want to call it...gets to me on every song...castles burnign could have been left off the album, tho'...Baby I'm aleaving you is a fun great song...
Of course When U love A woman is my fav. song of all time...one of the greatsest love songs ever written...
No stone throwing please.

Granny, be honest...

When the Old Man is out getting polluted on his fishing boat, do you turn on the stereo and listen to Steve and lean back with a fresh elongated vegatable from the produce section?

Inquiring minds need to know.

That would be an awesome bootleg, although I doubt it exists, since it wasn't really a public performance.


TBF blows...a lot of songs that had potential but never quite made it, and wayyyyy too many ballads. Like "Can't Tame The Lion," cool vibe, rockin song, forgettable chorus. I don't mind the occasional ballad but IMO none of them reach the standards set by their earlier ones. Really I think Perry just didn't have the memorable melodies that he did in the earlier days...I feel the same way about FTLOSM, it's okay in theory, but there aren't a lot of melodies or choruses that stick in your head after the album is done.

I think involving outside writers with Arrival helped that album a lot...I miss Perry's voice but the songs are a lot tighter and catchier. Musically "Higher Place" blows away anything on TBF, and even uber-cheese like "All The Way" was a better ballad single than WYLAW.

You are all just apologists for that album.

I know because there are albums like that from some of my other favorite bands that I have convinced myself are good - but are really trite shit. You love the band so much that you just want find something redeeming in any CD when it comes out.

TBF sounds like good music to light candles from Journey swag and open up a vein to. I will never understand some of you all can listen to that.

I would have rather slapped the name "Journey" on the first album from THE Storm. It rocks. Much more upbeat sounding record. (to get back to the Chalfant topic a bit)

Ed, I guess it's about the differences in what we all want to hear, and therefore expect to hear, from a Journey album. All of the soulfulness and gorgeous emotive vocals that I listen to Journey for were there. In fact more so than on any other album.

ohsherrie wrote:Ed, I guess it's about the differences in what we all want to hear, and therefore expect to hear, from a Journey album. All of the soulfulness and gorgeous emotive vocals that I listen to Journey for were there. In fact more so than on any other album.

That is true and a good point. I want the hooks, guitar, and great vocals. Not really concerned or even care about the "soulfulness".

I prefer the "white bread" hard rock songs like "Ask The Lonely". Give me upbeat, borderline hard rock material with catchy choruses - that is the Journey material that does it for me. I embrace the so called "coprorate" AOR stuff.

Perry was always a great singer, but I don't delve into what he is trying to emote. Could care less about the little nuances or anything as long as the song is catchy.

WalrusOct9 wrote:and even uber-cheese like "All The Way" was a better ballad single than WYLAW.

I thought and still think, that TBF is a superb CD. The songs are a very matured version of Journey.

There are some very melodic, soulful vocals, going agianst some interesting rhythms and chord progressions. I also think this is some of Perry's best work. Just listen to Easy to Fall---probably one of their most beautifully written tunes. Perry owns this song vocally....making it essentially a 'barrier-to-entry' for any other vocalist to even attempt a try. The drums on the entire CD are insane...you've got one of the best all-around drummers bar-none, playing for the song. You get the best of both worlds here.

Listen to the bridge on When I Think of You.....an amazing, consolidated effort.

My only wish on this CD was that they did more Easy to Fall, Message of Love style songs. And, a tour would have been nice!

Chad

AR wrote:You are all just apologists for that album.

I know because there are albums like that from some of my other favorite bands that I have convinced myself are good - but are really trite shit. You love the band so much that you just want find something redeeming in any CD when it comes out.

I can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that your theory doesn't work for me.

I HATE Arrival and now despise Generations and Red13 too. I love Journey more than anyone.

Theory out the window

AR wrote:

ohsherrie wrote:Ed, I guess it's about the differences in what we all want to hear, and therefore expect to hear, from a Journey album. All of the soulfulness and gorgeous emotive vocals that I listen to Journey for were there. In fact more so than on any other album.

That is true and a good point. I want the hooks, guitar, and great vocals. Not really concerned or even care about the "soulfulness".

I prefer the "white bread" hard rock songs like "Ask The Lonely". Give me upbeat, borderline hard rock material with catchy choruses - that is the Journey material that does it for me. I embrace the so called "coprorate" AOR stuff.

Perry was always a great singer, but I don't delve into what he is trying to emote. Could care less about the little nuances or anything as long as the song is catchy.

I think it says a lot for the talent that went into Journey that the band could appeal so strongly to such a diverse audience. How many other bands' fanbases run the gamut between hard rock fans, soul fans and pop fans with the ease that Journey does? Those guys were incredible. I like some of all of it, but it's been Perry's vocals that sold it all to me. I hope with Jeff they can sell it to me again. From what I've heard so far I think there's a good possibility.

RockinDeano wrote:

AR wrote:You are all just apologists for that album.

I know because there are albums like that from some of my other favorite bands that I have convinced myself are good - but are really trite shit. You love the band so much that you just want find something redeeming in any CD when it comes out.

I can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that your theory doesn't work for me.

I HATE Arrival and now despise Generations and Red13 too. I love Journey more than anyone.

Theory out the window

If Perry sang on those, you'd find something good to say about those records. Those 3 CD's you hate have one common element. We know what that is. LOL

Theory completely holds up.

For the record, I have no use for Red13 at all, and don't think that much of Generations (only 4 decent songs).