MR

My dad surprised me with this CD earlier, they actually had Neal's stuff in our local music store. It's the only one of Neal's solo projects I haven't listened to yet.

I'm checking it out right now.. interesting to note that Ross Valory and Prairie Prince, Journey's first drummer, are on the record.

What are your thoughts on this offering?

I've always wanted to check it out, but it's pretty rare. Tell us what you think about it.

raisedonfaith wrote:I've always wanted to check it out, but it's pretty rare. Tell us what you think about it.

I'm about halfway through the disc. It's definitely a far cry different from stuff like "Electric World" and "Beyond the Thunder," but interesting in its own right. If you're a fan of bluesier hard rock, you'll love it. Production could use some work, but the music's solid and there's alot of Neal to go around.

raisedonfaith wrote:I've always wanted to check it out, but it's pretty rare. Tell us what you think about it.

I just bought it last year, and what it is is just Neal doing what I think he actually does the best. Playing kinda stripped down (but hard) blues/blues rock (with a pretty heavy-ass blues vocalist).

Having it now, I can't believe it took me this long to actually seek it out it is a wonderful record.

Who is the vocalist again? Richard Ross?

Love Pirana Blues...it's my 3rd fave after Beyond the Thunder at #1 and Late Nite at #2.

I love the album. It's between that and "i on u" for my favorite of Neal's solo albums.

Always loved this album. Still waiting for PBII. Used to say at BT that NS should do a solo blues tour to support it...start in New Orleans and work his way up the blues trails to Chicago.


later~

Arkansas wrote:Always loved this album. Still waiting for PBII. Used to say at BT that NS should do a solo blues tour to support it...start in New Orleans and work his way up the blues trails to Chicago.


later~

That'd be cool, especially if he ended up in Ohio somewhere along the way

ProgRocker53 wrote:

Arkansas wrote:Always loved this album. Still waiting for PBII. Used to say at BT that NS should do a solo blues tour to support it...start in New Orleans and work his way up the blues trails to Chicago.


later~

That'd be cool, especially if he ended up in Ohio somewhere along the way

Agreed!

A Clevelander here.

Good record. The singers voice takes a little getting used to. Haven't listened to it in quite a while. Recall really likeing the tune "Girl Like You" though it may be more of a rock track than a true blues tune.

Cool Stuff

ProgRocker53 wrote:My dad surprised me with this CD earlier, they actually had Neal's stuff in our local music store. It's the only one of Neal's solo projects I haven't listened to yet.

I'm checking it out right now.. interesting to note that Ross Valory and Prairie Prince, Journey's first drummer, are on the record.

What are your thoughts on this offering?

I love this cd. my screen name was GirlLikeYou forever and still is in most places. that song is about me.

I always knew I liked you prog. it is very raw--but it is a gem. one of my top 5 cds that I have ever owned.

Neal is in his element in this genre. I hope you can try to get a copy of Neal doing Jimi Hendrix with Paul Rodgers and Neal with Paul Rodgers doing some bluesy ditties by a guy named Muddy Waters. Neal is phenomenal--Paul Rodgers, Todd Jensen and Deen Castornovo are astounded at the performance too, if you should happen to get lucky and get a hold of that dvd. there are some clips of the Muddy Waters thing on youtube (I'll go scout it out) but I have never seen any video of the Piranha Blues or the Hendrix Set. Deen plays with him on those 2 cds.

sorry- that was a little more info than you asked for but I LOVE Neal in the blues vein.

ProgRocker53 wrote:What are your thoughts on this offering?

I thought the disc was poorly named, as I don't hear blues when I hear this record....more like blues/jam rock. But we're not talking Stevie Ray and Buddy Guy....so when I first heard it, I was like WTF? blues? come on!

But this is also coming from a guy that Perry had announced as the "best blues guitarist in the whole wide world"
But when pitted against real blues artists, he forgets what key he's in!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upQiz1pyO9I&

The PBII album should have guest singers and he should cover SRV's 'Riviera Paradise' as the last track.


later~

Arkansas wrote:The PBII album should have guest singers and he should cover SRV's 'Riviera Paradise' as the last track.


later~

No, NOBODY should touch Riviera Paradise!!

jrnyman28 wrote:No, NOBODY should touch Riviera Paradise!!

+1

Ever!

Frankly any of Stevie Ray's work should be considered sacred ground and never even touched upon. Especially someone as un-blues as schon.

Arkansas wrote:Always loved this album. Still waiting for PBII. Used to say at BT that NS should do a solo blues tour to support it...start in New Orleans and work his way up the blues trails to Chicago.


later~

yup--I am still on that bus.

PBII--I'll never stop begging.

strangegrey wrote:

ProgRocker53 wrote:What are your thoughts on this offering?

I thought the disc was poorly named, as I don't hear blues when I hear this record....more like blues/jam rock. But we're not talking Stevie Ray and Buddy Guy....so when I first heard it, I was like WTF? blues? come on!

But this is also coming from a guy that Perry had announced as the "best blues guitarist in the whole wide world"
But when pitted against real blues artists, he forgets what key he's in!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upQiz1pyO9I&

Well, it's not a traditional BB King style Blues album, but it is great Blues Rock.

strangegrey wrote:

jrnyman28 wrote:No, NOBODY should touch Riviera Paradise!!

+1

Ever!

Frankly any of Stevie Ray's work should be considered sacred ground and never even touched upon. Especially someone as un-blues as schon.

Neal schon is one of the best Blues Rock players ever!

strangegrey wrote:

ProgRocker53 wrote:What are your thoughts on this offering?

I thought the disc was poorly named, as I don't hear blues when I hear this record....more like blues/jam rock. But we're not talking Stevie Ray and Buddy Guy....so when I first heard it, I was like WTF? blues? come on!

But this is also coming from a guy that Perry had announced as the "best blues guitarist in the whole wide world"
But when pitted against real blues artists, he forgets what key he's in!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upQiz1pyO9I&

you sure about that???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SppXqq0UJNk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ztq__WSidM

he was kinda young in that 78 clip

Journey/Survivor wrote:Neal schon is one of the best Blues Rock players ever!

Blues rock? Eh, I dunno about that. There's a huge list of players far more suited to the title. You clearly haven't been exposed to real blues....

Journey/Survivor wrote:

strangegrey wrote:

jrnyman28 wrote:No, NOBODY should touch Riviera Paradise!!

+1

Ever!

Frankly any of Stevie Ray's work should be considered sacred ground and never even touched upon. Especially someone as un-blues as schon.

Neal schon is one of the best Blues Rock players ever!

no

Journey/Survivor wrote:

strangegrey wrote:

jrnyman28 wrote:No, NOBODY should touch Riviera Paradise!!

+1

Ever!

Frankly any of Stevie Ray's work should be considered sacred ground and never even touched upon. Especially someone as un-blues as schon.

Neal schon is one of the best Blues Rock players ever!

I'm sorry, but as a big Schon fanboy, I've gotta deny that. Neal is one of the best overall rock players ever, fact, but one of the best blues rockers? Nope..

There are different flavors of blues, just like there are different flavors of rock.
I think 'Piranha' blues fits the album perfectly...definitely some jazz/fusion there...heavy blues with a bite.

If you wanna sit over here on the river in Clarksdale and listend to John Lee Hooker and Pinetop Perkins all day, then fine. I do that often. But I also like the jazz influence (Crusaders) and I like the mexican influence too (Santana). Blues is a heavy wide-spectrum emotion, not a simple definitive playing style.

Now then, I will say that I was surprised the first time I listened to Piranha Blues and I too was feeling kind of miffed, but over the years of festival going (Texas folk to New Orleans jazz to Memphis blues), I've realized tons of different flavors, and I've gone back to PB for a whole new appreciation. I love that album.


later~

It is definately a blues rock record...and a kick ass one at that. And I think the bluesy influence Schon has actually leant itself to his emotional level of melodic playing...

Arkansas wrote:There are different flavors of blues, just like there are different flavors of rock.
I think 'Piranha' blues fits the album perfectly...definitely some jazz/fusion there...heavy blues with a bite.

If you wanna sit over here on the river in Clarksdale and listend to John Lee Hooker and Pinetop Perkins all day, then fine. I do that often. But I also like the jazz influence (Crusaders) and I like the mexican influence too (Santana). Blues is a heavy wide-spectrum emotion, not a simple definitive playing style.

Now then, I will say that I was surprised the first time I listened to Piranha Blues and I too was feeling kind of miffed, but over the years of festival going (Texas folk to New Orleans jazz to Memphis blues), I've realized tons of different flavors, and I've gone back to PB for a whole new appreciation. I love that album.


later~

thank you.

WHY O WHY is it necessary to compare and rank? it's good, he's good, others are good. nuff said. good grief.

I'm done. I'm glad you ike it prog. it will be a favorite in your library for a long time, I'm sure.

FishinMagician wrote:

Journey/Survivor wrote:

strangegrey wrote:

jrnyman28 wrote:No, NOBODY should touch Riviera Paradise!!

+1

Ever!

Frankly any of Stevie Ray's work should be considered sacred ground and never even touched upon. Especially someone as un-blues as schon.

Neal schon is one of the best Blues Rock players ever!

no

YES

Again, I'm not saying that he plays traditional Blues like BB King or Albert King, but if your talking about Blues Rock then he is without question one of the best players in the world.

Journey/Survivor wrote:Again, I'm not saying that he plays traditional Blues like BB King or Albert King, but if your talking about Blues Rock then he is without question one of the best players in the world.

Neal is a great guitar player. But he is not really a blues-rock player. I does it here, and on a few occassions like with Paul Rodgers. But since he is not a 'full-time' blues-rock player it is very difficult to put him on that list of greats. There are FAR too many others...

Hell, Neal has a hard enough time being recognize for his guitar playing at all, but to marginalize it to blues-rock is not fair or accurate.

nutz4Neal wrote:Love Pirana Blues...it's my 3rd fave after Beyond the Thunder at #1 and Late Nite at #2.

Love late nite - fucking hard to find in UK but worth the digging (pre-internet buy)