MR

I think this album is so great and there are many things about it that would be interesting to discuss I thought a thread was in order.

I love the guitar on this album, but there is a very unusual solo piano song called Eternal Love. What a beautiful and classic little gem! As much as I love this tune, I cannot figure out what it is doing on Neal Schon's solo album, and I was wondering if anyone has any insights. I bought the digital album which doesn't have any liner notes.

I remember reading a long time ago, where Neal said he sometimes develops melodic ideas at the piano and then translates them to guitar. That made me wonder, is Neal good enough at piano to have composed or performed this? I was thinking it is probably Jan Hammer, but then why would it be included on a solo guitarist album without any guitar touches added to it? I Would love to know who composed and performed this, and why it was included on Vortex. I am glad it was, but it is definitely strange.

Eternal Love was written and performed by Igor Len who plays keys on most of the cd and also co-wrote a couple other songs. I read that Neal just liked it so much he wanted to include it. Jan Hammer plays synth solos on three tunes.

NoMoreTails wrote:Eternal Love was written and performed by Igor Len who plays keys on most of the cd and also co-wrote a couple other songs. I read that Neal just liked it so much he wanted to include it. Jan Hammer plays synth solos on three tunes.

Thanks for that!

Igor Len is great. He played a huge role in I on U which I think was a fantastic album and one of Neal's best.

A funny thing about this song, is that it is kind of like Vortex's Open Arms! It just goes to show that despite the stories about how Neal and everyone hated Open Arms and laughed about it and no matter how much Neal insists he only wants to rock, he actually has a soft spot for soft and beautiful things. I love that.

Just ordered mine today.

I think the structure of this album and the song sequencing is interesting and works very well. There seems to be a coupling of many of the songs on the album where they could almost be thought of as different movements of a larger composition six tracks :

Miles Beyond / Awakening

Cuban Fly Zone / El Matador

In a Cloud / Irish Cream

then you have the Eternal love which breaks the pattern. The songs that seem like couplets are not actually sequenced together on the album, but could have been:

Lady M / Triumph of Love

Twilight-Spellbound / Talk to me

Mom / White Light

It makes me wonder if some of them didn't originate together and then wind up being broken into two different songs. It was a good idea putting most of them together, because one just flows into the other, while if they had been widely scattered it would create the feeling of having heard it already.

I have listened up to the end of Vortex. Track Two on CD 2 is the greatest thing I have ever heard. I am excited to heard the rest very soon.

JourneyHard wrote:I have listened up to the end of Vortex. Track Two on CD 2 is the greatest thing I have ever heard. I am excited to heard the rest very soon.

Do you mean "Schon and Hammer Now"?

I really like that song too. I think this song should appeal to fans of Neal that don't get his more experimental side. Its got a lot of catchy hooks for melodic rock fans. I think the song deserved a better name, though.

Majestic wrote:Do you mean "Schon and Hammer Now"?

I really like that song too. I think this song should appeal to fans of Neal that don't get his more experimental side. Its got a lot of catchy hooks for melodic rock fans. I think the song deserved a better name, though.

Yes! That is my favorite song on Vortex. Speaking of Vortex, NS Vortex seems like it could have lyrics put to it rather easily. I have some of my own that I sing when it is on. Journey might want to snatch this track, and add lyrics.

JourneyHard wrote:

Majestic wrote:Do you mean "Schon and Hammer Now"?

I really like that song too. I think this song should appeal to fans of Neal that don't get his more experimental side. Its got a lot of catchy hooks for melodic rock fans. I think the song deserved a better name, though.

Yes! That is my favorite song on Vortex. Speaking of Vortex, NS Vortex seems like it could have lyrics put to it rather easily. I have some of my own that I sing when it is on. Journey might want to snatch this track, and add lyrics.

It's a really great song. I think that one should really appeal to fans of Journey music too. I don't agree about Journey doing anything except making unique songs from scratch, however.

I'd be more excited about "Vortex" if Schon's "So U" didn't come out so recently. Hard to believe the latest cd is his best work ever when Neal is pumping out solo cds faster than the Octomom pumps out welfare babies. Imo more recent releases like "I on U" and "The Calling" don't stand the test of time like "Late Nite" or "Beyond the Thunder."

The_Noble_Cause wrote:I'd be more excited about "Vortex" if Schon's "So U" didn't come out so recently. Hard to believe the latest cd is his best work ever when Neal is pumping out solo cds faster than the Octomom pumps out welfare babies. Imo more recent releases like "I on U" and "The Calling" don't stand the test of time like "Late Nite" or "Beyond the Thunder."

TNC, please do not wear sweats outside with that bulging hard on.......You might get arrested.

So U doesn't count because it is a completely different animal. That album shouldn't be called a Neal Schon album since it is really just a unique band featuring Mendoza on vocals with a couple guest spots from Castronovo. The Calling was quite some time ago already, and I think Vortex really kicks the teeth out of that one.

I agree with you that Late Nite was pretty special, and I still like that one. I on U has stood the test of time with me, and I think it and Vortex are Neal's best fusion type solo records to date. Beyond the Thunder was good, but I think with the exception of two or three tracks, it sounds a bit dated already.

Have you listened to Vortex yet? I know you liked Eclipse, and I think Vortex is every bit as adventurous and experimental as Eclipse was even though its not the same musical territory.

I think this live version of Lady M sounds even better than the album. Very nice!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5X4pXKZkqA

Majestic wrote:I think this live version of Lady M sounds even better than the album. Very nice!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5X4pXKZkqA

Listened to it a couple times and couldn't put my finger on what I was hearing.
Finally...The Beatles - The Long And Winding Road in parts of it.

steveo777 wrote:

The_Noble_Cause wrote:I'd be more excited about "Vortex" if Schon's "So U" didn't come out so recently. Hard to believe the latest cd is his best work ever when Neal is pumping out solo cds faster than the Octomom pumps out welfare babies. Imo more recent releases like "I on U" and "The Calling" don't stand the test of time like "Late Nite" or "Beyond the Thunder."

TNC, please do not wear sweats outside with that bulging hard on.......You might get arrested.

Dude, did you even read my post? Neal's latest stuff doesn't even give me a softie.

Majestic wrote:
Have you listened to Vortex yet? I know you liked Eclipse, and I think Vortex is every bit as adventurous and experimental as Eclipse was even though its not the same musical territory.

Majestic - Only some stuff online. The last Neal side-project that was badass was SoulSirkus. Everything else has been Neal taking a Jackson Pollock approach to music...just going in a studio and noodling around, adding some drums, pro-tooling it together. I just can't see myself buying this one.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Majestic wrote:
Have you listened to Vortex yet? I know you liked Eclipse, and I think Vortex is every bit as adventurous and experimental as Eclipse was even though its not the same musical territory.

Majestic - Only some stuff online. The last Neal side-project that was badass was SoulSirkus. Everything else has been Neal taking a Jackson Pollock approach to music...just going in a studio and noodling around, adding some drums, pro-tooling it together. I just can't see myself buying this one.

Definitely agree SoulSirkus was a badass project. But from one Schon fan to another, you are making a mistake bypassing this one. Since you've only heard a few tracks from it, I suggest you give the whole thing a couple listens and I think you will find a lot to like about it and probably want to pick it up.

You can still stream the entire album here: https://www.teamrock.com/news/2015-06-1 ... ex-in-full

Majestic wrote:

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Majestic wrote:
Have you listened to Vortex yet? I know you liked Eclipse, and I think Vortex is every bit as adventurous and experimental as Eclipse was even though its not the same musical territory.

Majestic - Only some stuff online. The last Neal side-project that was badass was SoulSirkus. Everything else has been Neal taking a Jackson Pollock approach to music...just going in a studio and noodling around, adding some drums, pro-tooling it together. I just can't see myself buying this one.

Definitely agree SoulSirkus was a badass project. But from one Schon fan to another, you are making a mistake bypassing this one. Since you've only heard a few tracks from it, I suggest you give the whole thing a couple listens and I think you will find a lot to like about it and probably want to pick it up.

You can still stream the entire album here: https://www.teamrock.com/news/2015-06-1 ... ex-in-full

You've convinced me. I will give it a full listen.

- Off topic sort of

Joe Bonamassa & The Three Kings Band, Shoreline Amphitheater

https://youtu.be/vCEKmukYEO8

Nice find! But I was thinking, it really must suck being a guitarist when Schon takes the stage.

I have only listened to the first CD of Vortex once. I have kept listening to the second CD in my car, and loving it. Should I put the first CD back in?

JourneyHard wrote:I have only listened to the first CD of Vortex once. I have kept listening to the second CD in my car, and loving it. Should I put the first CD back in?

I only have the digital so to me, it is all a whole collection, no CD parts, and I enjoy it like that. It's a pity you have to change discs but there is some really great stuff you're missing out on if only playing the second one.

I think that I somewhat prefer disc 2 overall.

But disc 1 also has some great songs on it, and I was addicted to listening to "Miles Beyond" which is track 1 of disc 1.

Journey/Survivor wrote:I think that I somewhat prefer disc 2 overall.

But disc 1 also has some great songs on it, and I was addicted to listening to "Miles Beyond" which is track 1 of disc 1.

Miles Beyond is an awesome track! That one definitely took me by surprise and it is really unique and very unlike what one might expect from Neal.

I find the album is standing up well with me over time. I listened to it non-stop for a few weeks when I first got it then gave it a rest. Played it the other day for the first time in a month and enjoyed it so much I had to repeat it again. It has also got some of the best reviews I have ever seen for a Schon solo release on Amazon and other places. Vortex is definitely a success!

tater1977 wrote:- Off topic sort of

Joe Bonamassa & The Three Kings Band, Shoreline Amphitheater

https://youtu.be/vCEKmukYEO8

That's really fun. Neal played it pretty straight and lots of great Albert riffs in there. I think what sets Neal apart is that he's a melodic-savant. I love Joe Bonamassa. I have a Pandora station I list to several days a week that features lots of his catalog. I especially love his pairings with Beth Hart. He has an amazing picking technique. More 'straight on' than Neal, who slashes across the strings. While I love them both, Neal is just a head taller than Joe when it comes to melodic sensibility. That comes through if you compare both of their renditions of "Too Much Ain't Enough Love" with Jimmy Barnes. I could listen to these two guys trade off licks all night long.

Majestic wrote:

Journey/Survivor wrote:I think that I somewhat prefer disc 2 overall.

But disc 1 also has some great songs on it, and I was addicted to listening to "Miles Beyond" which is track 1 of disc 1.

Miles Beyond is an awesome track! That one definitely took me by surprise and it is really unique and very unlike what one might expect from Neal.

I find the album is standing up well with me over time. I listened to it non-stop for a few weeks when I first got it then gave it a rest. Played it the other day for the first time in a month and enjoyed it so much I had to repeat it again. It has also got some of the best reviews I have ever seen for a Schon solo release on Amazon and other places. Vortex is definitely a success!

To me, "Miles Beyond" sounds similar to something that Neal could have put on his "Electric World" CD, only harder Rocking than anything on EW. I agree that "Miles Beyond" is pretty unique. I was just listening to it the other day, and as I was listening to it I was thinking that it's a song that I can't imagine anyone other than Neal coming up with.

I keeping getting melodies stuck in my head, and I wonder what it is, and I play Vortex and figure out it is from that! LOL

Journey/Survivor wrote:

Majestic wrote:

Journey/Survivor wrote:I think that I somewhat prefer disc 2 overall.

But disc 1 also has some great songs on it, and I was addicted to listening to "Miles Beyond" which is track 1 of disc 1.

Miles Beyond is an awesome track! That one definitely took me by surprise and it is really unique and very unlike what one might expect from Neal.

I find the album is standing up well with me over time. I listened to it non-stop for a few weeks when I first got it then gave it a rest. Played it the other day for the first time in a month and enjoyed it so much I had to repeat it again. It has also got some of the best reviews I have ever seen for a Schon solo release on Amazon and other places. Vortex is definitely a success!

To me, "Miles Beyond" sounds similar to something that Neal could have put on his "Electric World" CD, only harder Rocking than anything on EW. I agree that "Miles Beyond" is pretty unique. I was just listening to it the other day, and as I was listening to it I was thinking that it's a song that I can't imagine anyone other than Neal coming up with.

I thought so too. I think the baseline is why it reminds of Electric World. It is reminiscent of Gypsy Dance, but much heavier. The Higher Octave label would have never let him do something like Vortex for sure!

I really like Twighlight/Spellbound a lot. Very atmospheric, and there are some excellent riffs but also room to breathe. I actually which than one was longer and I sometimes need to repeat it when it comes on.

Neal Schon on FB

Yesterday at 3:16pm · Edited ·

VORTEX kicking it yesterday standing ovation after 2nd song at CMO.

Tina --- Neal Schon is a rock god... heard him play songs off Vortex at the Journey concert in Edmonton this summer and it was AMAZING. I have to ask... is that Randy Jackson in the pic, back with Neal and the awesome Steve Smith?

Neal Schon - Yes you are correct. New Vortex ready to annihilate.

Manuel --- Omar Hakim on drums and Rachel Z on keys were not a bad line-up either.

Neal Schon --- Just trying out a couple different scenarios. I love em all.

Justin - I hope you filmed that.

Neal Schon - Will be filming a live DVD in Japan in mid February.

Yasuo - DVD?

Neal Schon - Coming to Japan mid Feb.

Neal Schon - 2 shows in Tokyo - 1 Show in Osaka and 1 in Nagoya we are looking forward to it.