MR

I've mentioned this in Smitty discusssions before. Why was Smitty's drumming on Frontiers so "bombastic". Booming and resounding. It stands apart from his work on any other Journey album.

Did he use a different kit or setup that he'd never done before?

Now for ROR. Perry should re-remaster ROR with Smitty having a go at it and then include 5-8 unreleased tracks.

StoneCold wrote:I've mentioned this in Smitty discusssions before. Why was Smitty's drumming on Frontiers so "bombastic". Booming and resounding. It stands apart from his work on any other Journey album.

Did he use a different kit or setup that he'd never done before?

Probably has something to do with how the final tracks were mixed. Production values are affected by the quality of the recording studio used. Ross had a big problem with the albums that came before Escape. He never felt the bass was coming through the way it should. They changed recording studios when they went in to record Escape. It's possible they changed again (or the studio upgraded its equipment) for Frontiers. Or it could simply be different artistic choices at the mixing board.

Now for ROR. Perry should re-remaster ROR with Smitty having a go at it and then include 5-8 unreleased tracks.

Would LOVE to hear that. But it'll never happen. Even though Perry publicly states it was a mistake to remove Smith and Ross, I don't think he believes that from an artistic point of view. Rather he now realizes it was a shitty thing to do. I think he still looks at ROR (as is) with pride. I for one always felt without Smitty on the pads, it was a much weaker Journey album. Take those same tunes, same arrangements and melodies and let Smitty do his own artistic thing and it would bring it up tremendously.

STORY_TELLER wrote: I for one always felt without Smitty on the pads, it was a much weaker Journey album. Take those same tunes, same arrangements and melodies and let Smitty do his own artistic thing and it would bring it up tremendously.

Absolutely!!

Yep I think the drumming on ROR is uninspired and mechanical sounding. That contributes to the pop texture IMO.

Not necessarily the drummers fault. I think that was the sound Journey was going for. I think that's why Smitty was ditched.

A shame in more ways than one really.

STORY_TELLER wrote:

StoneCold wrote:I've mentioned this in Smitty discusssions before. Why was Smitty's drumming on Frontiers so "bombastic". Booming and resounding. It stands apart from his work on any other Journey album.

Did he use a different kit or setup that he'd never done before?

Probably has something to do with how the final tracks were mixed. Production values are affected by the quality of the recording studio used. Ross had a big problem with the albums that came before Escape. He never felt the bass was coming through the way it should. They changed recording studios when they went in to record Escape. It's possible they changed again (or the studio upgraded its equipment) for Frontiers. Or it could simply be different artistic choices at the mixing board.

Now for ROR. Perry should re-remaster ROR with Smitty having a go at it and then include 5-8 unreleased tracks.

Would LOVE to hear that. But it'll never happen. Even though Perry publicly states it was a mistake to remove Smith and Ross, I don't think he believes that from an artistic point of view. Rather he now realizes it was a shitty thing to do. I think he still looks at ROR (as is) with pride. I for one always felt without Smitty on the pads, it was a much weaker Journey album. Take those same tunes, same arrangements and melodies and let Smitty do his own artistic thing and it would bring it up tremendously.

Thanks, you summed it up well.

somethingtohide wrote:Yep I think the drumming on ROR is uninspired and mechanical sounding. That contributes to the pop texture IMO.

Not necessarily the drummers fault. I think that was the sound Journey was going for. I think that's why Smitty was ditched.

A shame in more ways than one really.

Need to edit this to say "I think that was the sound PERRY was going for". And it IS why Smitty was ditched. Perry has said that he wanted a drum machine sound and Smitty has admitted that he was unable/unwilling to do that.