Jubilee wrote:I agree with most of your post. Journey probably should have grabbed Chalfant when they had the chance, and never looked back. My concern is how Rolie would have (realistically) fit into a revamped Journey. When Rolie made his exit, Journey shook off any pretense of its prog-rock past and became a full-fledged pop-rock band. They became a band that was current, relevant, and most important of all, "radio friendly".
I think it's an oversimplification to pigeonhole Rolie as some meandering latin jazz fusion artist.
During his time with the band, there was a share of radio friendly stuff: Lights, Wheel in the Sky, Any Way You Want It, Feeling That Way, Where Were You etc.
Saint John’s opinion notwithstanding, that stuff holds up to anything that came after him.
In fact, I’d go one further, and say it holds up better...
Unlike the contrived saccharine torch songs of Cain, I think Rolie’s writing came from a place of genuine artistry.
Jubilee wrote:Upon his departure from the band, Rolie commented something to the effect that he did not like the direction the band was headed musically. He then went on to front his own Santana-esque/prog-rock band - something apparently more to his liking. IMHO, going with Rolie would have been a step backward for the band. It didn't appear Rolie had any interest in the pop/rock band that Journey had become, and the band certainly couldn't return to being a 70's-ish prog-rock band (not if they were interested in any measure of sucess).
Rolie's later work with The Storm would seem to dispute this.
When the AOR bug bit him, he had no problem getting right back in the saddle.
The Storm doesn't sound like rambling hook-free 70's prog-rock, it sounds as commercial as anything Journey put out - just maybe a little less 80’s synth-heavy.
It is true, however, that Rolie has no interest in making this type of music RIGHT NOW.
Jubilee wrote:And oh, by the way, what would have become of Jon Cain? More rhythm guitar work for Cain, perhaps?
That's for the band to work out. Other groups have done it.
And if you believe Chalfant, the Rolie-Cain lineup came as close as writing together.
In fact, when Chalfant played with the band for Herbie’s birthday in 1993, not only were Rolie and Cain in attendance, but so were Dunbar and Smitty!
Would love to know how that worked out.
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:39 am
You can still hear enough though to tell that he kicked ASS on it. 
He did skate around the highest note of the song, but considering his age...I'll excuse him for it. 
