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Kevin Shirley ‏@KevTheCave 20h
Not quite sure why this interview was published today, but it's very nice of Neal...

Neal Schon Journey Jonathan... http://fb.me/QiN5tck2

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‘He’s actually a musician’: Neal Schon on Journey’s relationship with producer Kevin Shirley
by Something Else!

http://somethingelsereviews.com/2013/12 ... n-shirley/

Journey has worked with producer Kevin Shirley with every lead singer going back to Steve Perry, and there’s a reason for that: “He’s very, very musical,” says co-founder Neal Schon.

Shirley first hooked up with Journey on its final date with Perry, 1996′s Trial by Fire. He oversaw Steve Augeri’s debut releases with Journey, 2001′s Arrival; as well as current singer Arnel Pineda’s first album, 2008′s Revelation — and the band’s most recent effort, 2011′s Eclipse. Shirley also mixed Greatest Hits: Live, concert recordings dating back to 1981 that saw release in 1998.

“Most producers that I have worked with in the past,” Schon tells Classic Rock Society, “they’re musical in the sense that they know how to get something out of you and they know what sounds right. But he’s actually a musician, and he’s studied music. It comes in very handy a lot of times, when you’re still not certain about a song, with the arrangement — he’ll always have great ideas. He’s very easy in the studio, and fast to work for. My only problem is, he doesn’t listen to me when I tell him I want to hear a little more of my effects cabinet!”


Since 1996, the only other producer that Journey has worked with is Kevin Elson, who returned for 2005′s Generations after having helmed albums during the band’s platinum-era hey day from 1980-83 — a period that included Departure, Dream, After Dream, Captured, Escape and Frontiers.

1978′s Infinity, Perry’s debut with Journey, and 1979′s Evolution were overseen by Roy Thomas Baker, best known for his work with Queen. Their 1975 self-titled debut was produced by Roy Halee, of Simon and Garfunkel fame.

Neal Schon on producer Don Shirly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vqnn46aoaY

tater1977 wrote: My only problem is, he doesn’t listen to me when I tell him I want to hear a little more of my effects cabinet!”

That's because he knows that people would prefer to hear an actual guitar tone, not an insane thunderous wash of delay and reverb..

After Eclipse, Shirley vowed never to work with Journey again. Personally, I like most of cds he produced. Arrival is a little muddy sounding tho. TBF and Revelation and Eclipse sound pretty great, all things considered.

The only Shirley production that I don't like is the BCC Afterglow album. The whole thing was rushed and it shows. The first two albums have great production but Afterglow is a muffled compressed mess. The life was squeezed out of it. Too bad they couldn't have just left everything set up and recorded Afterglow identically to the the first and especially 2. Terrible shame.

JohnH wrote:The only Shirley production that I don't like is the BCC Afterglow album. The whole thing was rushed and it shows. The first two albums have great production but Afterglow is a muffled compressed mess. The life was squeezed out of it. Too bad they couldn't have just left everything set up and recorded Afterglow identically to the the first and especially 2. Terrible shame.

strange.. cause Bob Ludwig mastered it too... and he mastered the 1st BCC album, George Marino mastered the 2nd...

Love the way and form Shirley captures bands...but some of his recent output has been devoid of any top end....total muddy bass heavy sound.