MR

This week’s gallery: Broadcast legends or Journey fashion?

http://blog.sfgate.com/thebigevent/2012 ... y-fashion/


Apparently you’re getting your fill of half-naked men and women on other parts of SFGate.com. For the second week in a row, the highbrow topic (historic San Quentin photos) won out over the nutrition-free option (the Montana/Clark bromance, including lounging-by-the-pool photos) when readers voted for the June 8 Let’s Go to the Morgue! For those keeping score, that’s two votes for the angel on my shoulder and zero votes for the devil.

This week, your scruples will be challenged even more. Steve Perry’s bare midriff is involved.

Voting closes at 9 p.m. tonight. The winner will appear in The Big Event on Thursday. More information on the choices below.



View Results
The fashion of Journey (52%, 76 Votes)

Sports broadcast announcing legends (48%, 71 Votes)





The Fashion of Journey: A retrospective of the amazing threads worn by the Bay Area band Journey, from the 1970s to the 2000s. This includes concert shots (Day on the Green!), promotional photos and the exquisitely awesome photo shoot for the Pink section of the Chronicle in 1983, as the band prepared to embark on the “Frontiers” tour. Leather pants! Bare chests! Neal Schon’s expanding and contracting afro! Now it’s your turn girl to cry!

Sports Broadcast Legends of the Bay Area: Working with reader requests from our recent Today’s Special ranking local sports announcers, we’ll pay tribute to some favorites from the 1950s to 1990s, including Bill King, Russ Hodges, Lon Simmons and Wayne Walker.

Updated 9:02 p.m.: Journey fans rallied in the last few minutes, after my controversial decision to publicize on Twitter the razor-thin broadcast legends lead. The final vote was 93-91 in favor of Journey — look for that Thursday, unless the estate of Russ Hodges files an injunction …

http://blog.sfgate.com/thebigevent/2012 ... y-fashion/

PETER HARTLAUB is the pop culture critic at the San Francisco Chronicle and founder/editor of The Big Event.

Steve Perry is Journey.

Don wrote:Steve Perry is Journey.

A lot of Journey hating in the comments. Yes, SP is journey and the greatest singer of all time.

The Fashion of Journey: Everybody wants a thrill …

(The results of the vote and Journey fashion won)....

http://blog.sfgate.com/thebigevent/2012 ... #more-4306

Journey may be the most polarizing band in Bay Area history. I’m an outspoken defender. Their music doesn’t promote deep thinking, but it makes me happy. “Escape” is an outstanding album (above all, masterfully sequenced), and if it weren’t for the decision to remove two of the three best songs for movie soundtracks, “Frontiers” might have been even better. We all need the clowns to make us smile …

There is one thing about the band we can all agree on: Neal Schon’s giant 1976 hair is like the Joe DiMaggio hitting streak. With apologies to Noel Redding and Bob Ross, it’s a fashion statement that will likely never be beaten. And it was just one excellent highlight for a band that has spent three-plus decades throwing hundreds of trends in the pop culture blender and pouring out fashion smoothies, mixing and matching everything from leather pants to bolo ties to Peruvian sweaters.(Or is it Bolivian? It was the 1970s — the garment could have been knit by centaurs …)

This week’s Let’s Go to the Morgue! is a tribute to The Fashion of Journey. I scoured the Chronicle photo morgue, finding archived images and articles from the band’s formation to its peaks and valleys, breakups and comebacks. Throughout the turmoil of changing lineups, there was one constant: The band looked relentlessly bitchin’.

I’ve also included two articles below — the Chronicle scoop by Joel Selvin announcing the 1974 formation of Journey, and the first review after Steve Perry joined the band. A few more thoughts …


* Slide No. 13 is probably my favorite. I’m hoping Perry went to at least one of those girls’ proms, Davy Jones/Brady Bunch-style. If you know one of the girls, please as them to contact me at phartlaub@sfchronicle.com. I want to interview you for my Let’s Go to the Q&A project.

* Note in the review (below) of Perry’s debut that “Lights in the City” was part of a three-song encore. It later became “Lights.” I’ll have to ask Selvin if he would have written something different, knowing that the song would become an unofficial SF anthem, played a gazillion times at stadiums/political events/etc.

* I know the comments are going to be filled with Journey negativity, and I get that. I think it’s a generational thing, and I had the advantage of being in my tweens and early teens when the band was at its peak. Most people love or hate the band. For the six people out there on the fence, listen to “Escape” (or “E5C4P3″) from beginning to end. There isn’t a bad track on that album, and the best songs (the title track is my favorite) weren’t No. 1 hits. This was at a time when most huge acts had two or at best three good songs on an album (see Don Henley, Phil Collins) and a ton of crap. I will continue to defend Journey …

* I’ll say it again: After pouring through the archives, I’ve developed a new appreciation for Chronicle music critic Joel Selvin, who was hustling at the center of so much local music history. He tells some of the best stories in his recent book “Smart Ass: The Music Journalism of Joel Selvin.” And you can still hear him at 11 p.m. Sunday nights on KSAN 107.7.

Navarro wrote:

Don wrote:Steve Perry is Journey.

A lot of Journey hating in the comments. Yes, SP is journey and the greatest singer of all time.

Agree and dissagree. Agree that SP is the greatest singer that Journey ever had so far, but not the greatest singer in the world.

The Sushi Hunter wrote:

Navarro wrote:

Don wrote:Steve Perry is Journey.

A lot of Journey hating in the comments. Yes, SP is journey and the greatest singer of all time.

Agree and dissagree. Agree that SP is the greatest singer that Journey ever had so far, but not the greatest singer in the world.

1980 Steve Perry had it all. Beautiful tone, phrasing, range, and control. Freddie is the only one in SPs league. Of course, we are talking about rock singers. I prefer Perry over opera too (other tenors like Placido Domingo, etc...). Perry has the X factor. Comparing genres becomes comparing apples to oranges very quickly.

Well I love Steve Perry but I sure wouldnt say he was the greatest voice of all time. Sorry Steve, that credit goes to a Mr Roy Orbison.

Perry would probably agree with you....

Jeremey wrote:Well I love Steve Perry but I sure wouldnt say he was the greatest voice of all time. Sorry Steve, that credit goes to a Mr Roy Orbison.

Well, you were almost right.

1. Elvis Presley
2. Roy Orbison
3. Jeremey Frederick
4. Steve Perry
5. Arnel Pineda
100. Bob Dylan

HAHAHA!

steveo777 wrote:

Jeremey wrote:Well I love Steve Perry but I sure wouldnt say he was the greatest voice of all time. Sorry Steve, that credit goes to a Mr Roy Orbison.

Well, you were almost right.

1. Elvis Presley
2. Roy Orbison
3. Jeremey Frederick
4. Steve Perry
5. The little Asian guy who sounds just like Steve Perry
100. Bob Dylan

HAHAHA!

Fixed

Don wrote:

steveo777 wrote:

Jeremey wrote:Well I love Steve Perry but I sure wouldnt say he was the greatest voice of all time. Sorry Steve, that credit goes to a Mr Roy Orbison.

Well, you were almost right.

1. Elvis Presley
2. Roy Orbison
3. Jeremey Frederick
4. Steve Perry
5. The little Asian guy who sounds just like Steve Perry, Don Henley, Don Ho, Jon Bon Jovi, Steven Tyler
100. Bob Dylan

HAHAHA!

Fixed

Fixed Fixed

steveo777 wrote:

Jeremey wrote:Well I love Steve Perry but I sure wouldnt say he was the greatest voice of all time. Sorry Steve, that credit goes to a Mr Roy Orbison.

Well, you were almost right.

1. Elvis Presley
2. Roy Orbison
3. Jeremey Frederick
4. Steve Perry
5. Arnel Pineda
100. Bob Dylan

HAHAHA!

steveo777 wrote:

Don wrote:

steveo777 wrote:

Jeremey wrote:Well I love Steve Perry but I sure wouldnt say he was the greatest voice of all time. Sorry Steve, that credit goes to a Mr Roy Orbison.

Well, you were almost right.

1. Elvis Presley
2. Roy Orbison
3. Jeremey Frederick
4. Steve Perry
5. The little Asian guy who sounds just like Steve Perry, Don Henley, Don Ho, Jon Bon Jovi, Steven Tyler
100. Bob Dylan

HAHAHA!

Fixed

Fixed Fixed

Jeremey wrote:

steveo777 wrote:

Jeremey wrote:Well I love Steve Perry but I sure wouldnt say he was the greatest voice of all time. Sorry Steve, that credit goes to a Mr Roy Orbison.

Well, you were almost right.

1. Elvis Presley
2. Roy Orbison
3. Jeremey Frederick
4. Steve Perry
5. Arnel Pineda
100. Bob Dylan

HAHAHA!

Are you on your period?
Kris Kristofferson never gave himself much credit either. Lord help me Jesus! LOL

steveo777 wrote:

Jeremey wrote:Well I love Steve Perry but I sure wouldnt say he was the greatest voice of all time. Sorry Steve, that credit goes to a Mr Roy Orbison.

Well, you were almost right.

1. Elvis Presley
2. Roy Orbison
3. Jeremey Frederick
4. Steve Perry
5. Arnel Pineda
100. Bob Dylan

HAHAHA!

99. Tom Petty

Does Telly make the list?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mUA55Du9dw

At 1:30 into it, you know she really needed that drink to continue on doing this video.

steveo777 wrote:

Jeremey wrote:

steveo777 wrote:

Jeremey wrote:Well I love Steve Perry but I sure wouldnt say he was the greatest voice of all time. Sorry Steve, that credit goes to a Mr Roy Orbison.

Well, you were almost right.

1. Elvis Presley
2. Roy Orbison
3. Jeremey Frederick
4. Steve Perry
5. Arnel Pineda
100. Bob Dylan

HAHAHA!

Are you on your period?
Kris Kristofferson never gave himself much credit either. Lord help me Jesus! LOL

LOL!

Navarro wrote:

steveo777 wrote:

Jeremey wrote:Well I love Steve Perry but I sure wouldnt say he was the greatest voice of all time. Sorry Steve, that credit goes to a Mr Roy Orbison.

Well, you were almost right.

1. Elvis Presley
2. Roy Orbison
3. Jeremey Frederick
4. Steve Perry
5. Arnel Pineda
100. Bob Dylan

HAHAHA!

99. Tom Petty

Petty is a musical genius who happens to sing...Though I can't tolerate or appreciate ANYTHING Dylan has ever done.

Jeremey wrote:

Navarro wrote:

steveo777 wrote:

Jeremey wrote:Well I love Steve Perry but I sure wouldnt say he was the greatest voice of all time. Sorry Steve, that credit goes to a Mr Roy Orbison.

Well, you were almost right.

1. Elvis Presley
2. Roy Orbison
3. Jeremey Frederick
4. Steve Perry
5. Arnel Pineda
100. Bob Dylan

HAHAHA!

99. Tom Petty

Petty is a musical genius who happens to sing...Though I can't tolerate or appreciate ANYTHING Dylan has ever done.

Interesting. I would like to know why you feel this way about Petty. I agree with you on Dylan and feel pretty much the same way about Petty. Maybe I haven't listened enough or am not getting it? Musically, at least from what I have listened to, he is using simple and relatively predictable structures both harmonically and melodically. His voice is like nails on a chalk board for me. When I think of musical genius, I think of Bach. Anyways, I respect your opinion and love to hear why you feel this way. BTW, still enjoying your CD, great stuff!

Navarro wrote:
Interesting. I would like to know why you feel this way about Petty. I agree with you on Dylan and feel pretty much the same way about Petty. Maybe I haven't listened enough or am not getting it? Musically, at least from what I have listened to, he is using simple and relatively predictable structures both harmonically and melodically. His voice is like nails on a chalk board for me. When I think of musical genius, I think of Bach. Anyways, I respect your opinion and love to hear why you feel this way. BTW, still enjoying your CD, great stuff!

I think Petty is one of the greatest songwriters in rock music. He's had a 35+ year career with his band, and is probably one of the most respected names in rock and roll. His voice, while far from a "normal" vanilla style rock voice, is brilliantly controlled and colored, and he uses it in really unique ways that suit the songs themselves...Fitting them like a glove. Take the difference in the vocal from "Even The Losers" to "Breakdown" to "Learning To Fly" and see how he disappears almost into a character to serve the lyrics and feel of the songs.

While the songs appear simple from the outset, it's that brilliance that I think sets Petty apart. They are short, well constructed songs with lyrics that are very specific, and yet just vague enough for people to own and relate to in their own experiences. Additionally, although the songs are simple from a progression standpoint, the orchestration and layers of sound are very, very complex and deliberate. This is why whenever you see a bar band play "You Wreck Me," it probably sucks, LOL...because the song seems so deceptively simple at the outset, but the average bar band is going to overlook those complex tones and arrangements that make the song what it is.

He's stuck a middle finger up to the music industry for 30 years. He has never allowed the record company to control his vision, manipulate ownership of his songs, cheat fans or shortchange the integrity of what he's done, and for that, he's kind of a folk hero in the industry. When guys like Roy Orbison, George Harrison and (yes LOL) Bob Dylan look up to you, you got to be doing something right.

That being said, I can understand why his music isn't everyone's cup of tea. But I love the hell out of the guy and his music, and that's why I mentioned he far transcends just being a "singer" and is truly a musical icon.

Jus' one man's opinion LOL.

Jeremey wrote:

Navarro wrote:
Interesting. I would like to know why you feel this way about Petty. I agree with you on Dylan and feel pretty much the same way about Petty. Maybe I haven't listened enough or am not getting it? Musically, at least from what I have listened to, he is using simple and relatively predictable structures both harmonically and melodically. His voice is like nails on a chalk board for me. When I think of musical genius, I think of Bach. Anyways, I respect your opinion and love to hear why you feel this way. BTW, still enjoying your CD, great stuff!

I think Petty is one of the greatest songwriters in rock music. He's had a 35+ year career with his band, and is probably one of the most respected names in rock and roll. His voice, while far from a "normal" vanilla style rock voice, is brilliantly controlled and colored, and he uses it in really unique ways that suit the songs themselves...Fitting them like a glove. Take the difference in the vocal from "Even The Losers" to "Breakdown" to "Learning To Fly" and see how he disappears almost into a character to serve the lyrics and feel of the songs.

While the songs appear simple from the outset, it's that brilliance that I think sets Petty apart. They are short, well constructed songs with lyrics that are very specific, and yet just vague enough for people to own and relate to in their own experiences. Additionally, although the songs are simple from a progression standpoint, the orchestration and layers of sound are very, very complex and deliberate. This is why whenever you see a bar band play "You Wreck Me," it probably sucks, LOL...because the song seems so deceptively simple at the outset, but the average bar band is going to overlook those complex tones and arrangements that make the song what it is.

He's stuck a middle finger up to the music industry for 30 years. He has never allowed the record company to control his vision, manipulate ownership of his songs, cheat fans or shortchange the integrity of what he's done, and for that, he's kind of a folk hero in the industry. When guys like Roy Orbison, George Harrison and (yes LOL) Bob Dylan look up to you, you got to be doing something right.

That being said, I can understand why his music isn't everyone's cup of tea. But I love the hell out of the guy and his music, and that's why I mentioned he far transcends just being a "singer" and is truly a musical icon.

Jus' one man's opinion LOL.

A very insightful, thorough explaination. I will have to give Petty a better listen!

Thanks man, if you have access to Netflix streaming I would recommend checking out the doc on "Damn The Torpedos," one of the "Classic Album" series of the making of the record. Lots of good stuff in there although most of the time is spent discussing DTT.

Jeremey wrote:Thanks man, if you have access to Netflix streaming I would recommend checking out the doc on "Damn The Torpedos," one of the "Classic Album" series of the making of the record. Lots of good stuff in there although most of the time is spent discussing DTT.

I'm a Petty loon... lol... and the Classic Albums Damn The Torpedoes series is amazing...

not in HD.. but a good watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA_c-NFyylE

I still get excited when I hear American Girl.. just a great song..