MR

Always have been surprised that this song didn't perform as well as the band's other singles. One of my favorite ballads, with all the usual ingredients -- Cain's piano stylings, Schon's masterful guitar work and Perry's soaring vocals. Those wails Steve lets go going into and throughout the solo are amazing.
And what a solo from Neal.

ROR is obviously ever the controversial Journey album, but thoughts on this song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9vuGWjAIzQ&ob=av2n

I have mixed feelings on this song. On one hand it's a great piece and really was a vocal swan song for Perry as it marked the end for him doing the killer money notes. On the other hand, it epitomized everything that was wrong was Journey at that point as other rock bands were bringing it up a notch with their heavy power ballads while this tune was doing the opposite, really bringing Journey to the other end of of the spectrum and firmly entrenching the band into the Adult Contemporary market. The ROR album itself totally alienated the group's huge Japanese fan base who were looking for something closer to Bon Jovi or Aersomith at that time and really signified the death of the band in the global picture of hard rock.

I guess I'm one of those AC listeners as I just love, love this song to death...my favorite Journey song by far. Don's assessment is pretty accurate, I suppose, as the sound on ROR was obviously directed toward more pop vs. rock. I can understand the disappointment of long-time Journey fans who were used to, and wanted Journey, to stay rock. I look at it this way, though...the band was getting older...SP wanted to sing more ballads...and this type of song/writing is up JC's wheelhouse. I remember reading an old interview in which Jon said he really liked Steve's vocal style after hearing ST and proceeded to start writing Journey's next album (turned into ROR) in the same vein.

Neal is great no matter what style he plays in...but I suppose without his creative input...latter-day J songs w/SP would be analogous to elevator music (as the hardcores here would insist). Wait...some posters have already labeled TBF as such... lol.

I've always loved it ...course it's one of the few ROR tracks w/SS!!
I never thought it unusual ...Power Ballad/Journey?!? Course,
the song took on a whole new meaning, for me, once BTM aired!!

Remember, whoemever decided this, be it Stephen, Neal or Herbie...it was the 5th release off that record. Had it been second, instead of Suzanne, it would have changed the entire landscape of ROR, PLUS, they never played it live, so maybe the band itself wasn't too high on it; either that or it was too tough to play live.

Rockindeano wrote:Remember, whoemever decided this, be it Stephen, Neal or Herbie...it was the 5th release off that record. Had it been second, instead of Suzanne, it would have changed the entire landscape of ROR, PLUS, they never played it live, so maybe the band itself wasn't too high on it; either that or it was too tough to play live.

Probably just felt it was one of those numbers that doesn't translate well live. The piano, singing, and occasional distorted guitar chord in the early verse/chorus would leave a lot of empty space in an arena. It just doesn't feel like a concert song.

Before any one points out the prevalence of ballads in Journey setlists over the years, I maintain it's just a slow song in a different sense than even the awful Open Arms or the good Faithfully/WYLAW - that tempo would realllllly drag live, imo.

The song seems to end abruptly, almost like a radio edit. Just feels like it should go on for another minute or so.

it was in the top 5 on MTV for weeks.
never heard it on the radio.

scarab wrote:it was in the top 5 on MTV for weeks.
never heard it on the radio.

Video. I vividly recall it being no. 2 to Bon Jovi daily. Never could beat JBJ.