Quite a band’: Jonathan Cain goes inside the original sess

[tater1977]

Quite a band’: Jonathan Cain goes inside the original sessions for Journey’s “Faithfully”
Posted by Something Else! Reviews

http://somethingelsereviews.com/2012/09 ... aithfully/

Sometimes, inspiration can happen with all of the suddenness and illumination of a lightning strike: Such was the case when Journey entered the studio to record “Faithfully,” keyboardist and songwriter Jonathan Cain says.

The Cain-penned track, which rose to No. 12 on the Billboard charts, was originally included on Journey’s 1983 effort Frontiers. That album, home to three other Top 40 singles (No. 8 “Separate Ways,” as well as “After the Fall” and “Send Her My Love,” which both went to No. 23 on the charts) would eventually earn six-times platinum sales — and “Faithfully” became one of Journey’s signature ballads.

In a new talk with Atlantic City Insiders held just before a Journey concert in Atlantic City, Cain took listeners inside the recording sessions for “Faithfully” — the last track recorded for Frontiers.

“The song surpassed any of my wildest dreams; Steve Perry sang such a wonderful vocal,” Cain says. “But it was a last minute thing. You hear the stories about doing one more ballad for an album — and that was the last ballad we did. We had never played it at rehearsal, and it took just three takes! I thought that band was quite a band.”

Unfortunately, Frontiers would be among the last to feature the hitmaking lineup of vocalist Steve Perry, guitarist Neal Schon, drummer Steve Smith, bassist Ross Valory and Cain. Journey used studio musicians for its rhythm section on 1986′s Raised on Radio, before returning as a group after a long layover for 1996′s Trial by Fire. An ailing Perry then left the band, and the core group of Cain, Schon and Valory (with drummer Deen Castronovo, and a series of vocalists) has continued on without him.


“I kept hoping that there would be a reunion,” Cain told Atlantic City Insiders, “but Steve was reluctant with his health situation. He was really fighting some serious health issues that really set him back. There was no going forward. We waited maybe three years between 1987-89, and we did nothing, then Bad English happened. Then Steve called in 1996, and we did Trail by Fire. We were supposed to go on tour, and then he had more health issues and these were serious ones — physically impairing.”


After a period of transition, Journey eventually settled on frontman Arnel Pineda, a Filipino singer the group discovered on YouTube. Their last two albums with Pineda have been Top 20 Billboard hits.

“We rolled the dice on him,” Cain admits. “It was something out of left field. But we believed in him, once we met him. We fell in love with the guy — the heart of the guy. Not only was he a man with a wonderful voice, but he was a great man.”

The only project in Journey’s long history to outsell Frontiers was its nine-times platinum predecessor Escape from 1981, Cain’s first album with the band.

[Gideon]

God bless Jon can for being such a talented instrumentalist and musical genius. This band owes him everything.

[Don]

God bless Jon can for being such a talented instrumentalist and musical genius. This band owes him everything.

Hey Tito, you misspelled Cain.

[slucero]

interesting.. never heard Cain refer to Perry's health this way...

“....He was really fighting some serious health issues that really set him back. There was no going forward. We waited maybe three years between 1987-89, and we did nothing, then Bad English happened. Then Steve called in 1996, and we did Trail by Fire. We were supposed to go on tour, and then he had more health issues and these were serious ones — physically impairing.”

[Gideon]

God bless Jon can for being such a talented instrumentalist and musical genius. This band owes him everything.

Hey Tito, you misspelled Cain.

No, I butchered it.

[portland]

interesting.. never heard Cain refer to Perry's health this way...

“....He was really fighting some serious health issues that really set him back. There was no going forward. We waited maybe three years between 1987-89, and we did nothing, then Bad English happened. Then Steve called in 1996, and we did Trail by Fire. We were supposed to go on tour, and then he had more health issues and these were serious ones — physically impairing.”

+1 ~ Maybe he knew more than he has said in the past?

[The_Noble_Cause]

A soundtrack single, 3 releases, one dvd, and nearly 10 years of touring is considered "a period of transition." Interesting.

[Gideon]

A soundtrack single, 3 releases, one dvd, and nearly 10 years of touring is considered "a period of transition." Interesting.

Speaking of DVD, did anyone ever get their hands on the 30th anniversary footage?

[Tito]

God bless Jon can for being such a talented instrumentalist and musical genius. This band owes him everything.

Hey Tito, you misspelled Cain.

Not me, but I'll add my two cents. If it wasn't for Cain, this band would be no better than the equivalent of Kansas. He took them to the next level or two - elite company.

[Yoda]

God bless Jon can for being such a talented instrumentalist and musical genius. This band owes him everything.

Hey Tito, you misspelled Cain.

Not me, but I'll add my two cents. If it wasn't for Cain, this band would be no better than the equivalent of Kansas. He took them to the next level or two - elite company.

Hey, I LOVE Kansas! Easily my second favorite band next to Journey.

[Archetype]

A soundtrack single, 3 releases, one dvd, and nearly 10 years of touring is considered "a period of transition." Interesting.

Speaking of DVD, did anyone ever get their hands on the 30th anniversary footage?

I'm really interested in this too

[annie89509]

interesting.. never heard Cain refer to Perry's health this way...

“....He was really fighting some serious health issues that really set him back. There was no going forward. We waited maybe three years between 1987-89, and we did nothing, then Bad English happened. Then Steve called in 1996, and we did Trail by Fire. We were supposed to go on tour, and then he had more health issues and these were serious ones — physically impairing.”

Time heals all wounds. I think the bitterness and rancor associated with the breakup have subsided. Everyone concerned, the diehards included, have pretty much got over it.

[slucero]

interesting.. never heard Cain refer to Perry's health this way...

“....He was really fighting some serious health issues that really set him back. There was no going forward. We waited maybe three years between 1987-89, and we did nothing, then Bad English happened. Then Steve called in 1996, and we did Trail by Fire. We were supposed to go on tour, and then he had more health issues and these were serious ones — physically impairing.”

Time heals all wounds. I think the bitterness and rancor associated with the breakup have subsided. Everyone concerned, the diehards included, have pretty much got over it.

ok.. but what Cain said sheds some interesting new light on Perry's health at the time...and give give Perry much more credibility regarding his health at the time and how he handled it.

[annie89509]

Yeah, can't say what's truly on their minds when they give these interview quotes, Slu. I was merely wistfully referring back to the snipy remarks made by Neal/Jon circa '99 - '01. If these same statements re SP's "serious" health issues were made then, it certainly would have curtailed, if not nipped in the butt, messageboard bantering over whether SP's hip problem is faked or not.

[scarab]

sounds like Jon is implying Steve had some bad emotional problems the 1988+
makes sense.
I always thought truly toast was meant for fatigue, but there was probably some more going on.
The song strange medicine have to do with this time?

Hope Steve has healed in every way.

[slucero]

sounds like Jon is implying Steve had some bad emotional problems the 1988+
makes sense.
I always thought truly toast was meant for fatigue, but there was probably some more going on.
The song strange medicine have to do with this time?

Hope Steve has healed in every way.

I don't think it was mental at all...

"serious health" issues and "physically impairing" is pretty much to the point..

[whocares]

Steve has said in interviews, that Strange Medicine was about what his Mom went through before she died.


It's a shame there wasn't more INSIGHT to the Faithfully session(s), than a few sentences or so. I mean most know it was about missing his wife, but give us some REAL insight, instead of mostly an article about other stuff.

[jrny84]

A soundtrack single, 3 releases, one dvd, and nearly 10 years of touring is considered "a period of transition." Interesting.

Speaking of DVD, did anyone ever get their hands on the 30th anniversary footage?

This is on a dvd?

[Gideon]

A soundtrack single, 3 releases, one dvd, and nearly 10 years of touring is considered "a period of transition." Interesting.

Speaking of DVD, did anyone ever get their hands on the 30th anniversary footage?

This is on a dvd?

I believe they taped footage somewhere in Texas for what was supposed to be a 30th anniversary DVD (during the 2005 tour), but then Tapegate occurred and the footage was shelved.

[tater1977]

A soundtrack single, 3 releases, one dvd, and nearly 10 years of touring is considered "a period of transition." Interesting.

Speaking of DVD, did anyone ever get their hands on the 30th anniversary footage?

This is on a dvd?

I believe they taped footage somewhere in Texas for what was supposed to be a 30th anniversary DVD (during the 2005 tour), but then Tapegate occurred and the footage was shelved.

Grand Prairie / Dallas TX..Not the DVD but the audio.. Didn't Hurricane Katrina hit about that time too?

[fightingilliniJRNY]

A soundtrack single, 3 releases, one dvd, and nearly 10 years of touring is considered "a period of transition." Interesting.

Speaking of DVD, did anyone ever get their hands on the 30th anniversary footage?

This is on a dvd?

I believe they taped footage somewhere in Texas for what was supposed to be a 30th anniversary DVD (during the 2005 tour), but then Tapegate occurred and the footage was shelved.

Grand Prairie / Dallas TX..Not the DVD but the audio.. Didn't Hurricane Katrina hit about that time too?

Yes, they filmed a show on the 30th Anniversary Tour in 2005 for DVD release. Never saw the light of day, which seems to be all the reason needed for understanding the Tapegate situation.

Here's a screencap from the video company that was going to do the show and did the Live in Manila DVD:



So the DVD did get produced. Just not released.

[SF-Dano]

A soundtrack single, 3 releases, one dvd, and nearly 10 years of touring is considered "a period of transition." Interesting.

Speaking of DVD, did anyone ever get their hands on the 30th anniversary footage?

This is on a dvd?

I believe they taped footage somewhere in Texas for what was supposed to be a 30th anniversary DVD (during the 2005 tour), but then Tapegate occurred and the footage was shelved.

Grand Prairie / Dallas TX..Not the DVD but the audio.. Didn't Hurricane Katrina hit about that time too?

Yes, they filmed a show on the 30th Anniversary Tour in 2005 for DVD release. Never saw the light of day, which seems to be all the reason needed for understanding the Tapegate situation.

Here's a screencap from the video company that was going to do the show and did the Live in Manila DVD:



So the DVD did get produced. Just not released.

Might as well just wait and try again for the 40th. A three hour, catalog spanning, Journey show. Maybe they can plot this out a little better and get some guest appearances from former members of the band. Kind of like what the Scorpions did on their Live at Wacken DVD. Start planning this now boys.

[Arkansas]

Maybe the band really didn't know what was going on with Perry at the time, and being in the dark could only speculate & question. It only make sense as private as Perry has always been. But now, 15 yrs later, they've learned a bit more about what was actually happening, so they're able to talk about it more genuinely.

I also read this as kind of an 'olive branch' from JC to SP. We'll see.



later~

[masque]

God bless Jon can for being such a talented instrumentalist and musical genius. This band owes him everything.

Hey Tito, you misspelled Cain.

Not me, but I'll add my two cents. If it wasn't for Cain, this band would be no better than the equivalent of Kansas. He took them to the next level or two - elite company.

most musicians would kill for the career and run that kansas had in the late 70's......they were selling out arenas on multiple tours, sold millions of albums and had two of the most memorable hits in the history of rock......i think being the equivalent of KANSAS would be an honor.

[scarab]

sounds like Jon is implying Steve had some bad emotional problems the 1988+
makes sense.
I always thought truly toast was meant for fatigue, but there was probably some more going on.
The song strange medicine have to do with this time?

Hope Steve has healed in every way.

I don't think it was mental at all...

"serious health" issues and "physically impairing" is pretty much to the point..

Cain said this time physically impairing, makes me think last time he had emotional problems,
sounds right..lost his mom, his many years love, toured to death...
he needed a break, some people thrive on being crazy busy, some people break...
glad Steve could give us unbelievable music until he did.

[journeyrock]

sounds like Jon is implying Steve had some bad emotional problems the 1988+
makes sense.
I always thought truly toast was meant for fatigue, but there was probably some more going on.
The song strange medicine have to do with this time?

Hope Steve has healed in every way.

I don't think it was mental at all...

"serious health" issues and "physically impairing" is pretty much to the point..

Cain said this time physically impairing, makes me think last time he had emotional problems,
sounds right..lost his mom, his many years love, toured to death...
he needed a break, some people thrive on being crazy busy, some people break...
glad Steve could give us unbelievable music until he did.

I think Steve had serious emotional issues regarding his mom's death. He's said himself that he never dealt with it. It happened during ROR and he buried her and went on tour. That is breeding ground for emotional distress. He simply came to the jumping off point and that's when he left Journey. If you piece together different interviews he's given, it all tells the story.

[slucero]

sounds like Jon is implying Steve had some bad emotional problems the 1988+
makes sense.
I always thought truly toast was meant for fatigue, but there was probably some more going on.
The song strange medicine have to do with this time?

Hope Steve has healed in every way.

I don't think it was mental at all...

"serious health" issues and "physically impairing" is pretty much to the point..

Cain said this time physically impairing, makes me think last time he had emotional problems,
sounds right..lost his mom, his many years love, toured to death...
he needed a break, some people thrive on being crazy busy, some people break...
glad Steve could give us unbelievable music until he did.

I think Steve had serious emotional issues regarding his mom's death. He's said himself that he never dealt with it. It happened during ROR and he buried her and went on tour. That is breeding ground for emotional distress. He simply came to the jumping off point and that's when he left Journey. If you piece together different interviews he's given, it all tells the story.

I'm more leaning towards "physically impairing" as meaning "hip replacement"... which was the incredibly physically impairing pain in the side Perry experienced on his hike in Hawaii.

[journeyrock]

sounds like Jon is implying Steve had some bad emotional problems the 1988+
makes sense.
I always thought truly toast was meant for fatigue, but there was probably some more going on.
The song strange medicine have to do with this time?

Hope Steve has healed in every way.

I don't think it was mental at all...

"serious health" issues and "physically impairing" is pretty much to the point..

Cain said this time physically impairing, makes me think last time he had emotional problems,
sounds right..lost his mom, his many years love, toured to death...
he needed a break, some people thrive on being crazy busy, some people break...
glad Steve could give us unbelievable music until he did.

I think Steve had serious emotional issues regarding his mom's death. He's said himself that he never dealt with it. It happened during ROR and he buried her and went on tour. That is breeding ground for emotional distress. He simply came to the jumping off point and that's when he left Journey. If you piece together different interviews he's given, it all tells the story.

I'm more leaning towards "physically impairing" as meaning "hip replacement"... which was the incredibly physically impairing pain in the side Perry experienced on his hike in Hawaii.

I agree with you, I'm refering to when he left the band in 1986-87 after ROR.

[Abitaman]

A soundtrack single, 3 releases, one dvd, and nearly 10 years of touring is considered "a period of transition." Interesting.

Amazing no mention of Augeri or Soto. Can understand the Soto part since he toured only for a year, but to leave Augeri out. That like saying the first time the hits were ever recorded was when AP did them as the second disk of Rev.