STEVE PERRY PUT JOURNEY TO SHAME WITH STREET TALK

[tater1977]

STEVE PERRY PUT JOURNEY TO SHAME WITH STREET TALK

Tim Badrick's NEW LOST TREASURES REVIEW


http://losttreasuresmusicreview.blogspo ... th.html#!/

STREET TALK is one those albums which you could easily pigeon hole as being a dated and typically unadventurous exercise in FM radio friendly rock recorded by a bunch of soulless studio hacks who were only interested in making a lot of money out of the adult orientated rock (AOR) craze at the time.

STEVE PERRY was well established as the lead singer of american AOR band JOURNEY when he ventured out to record this better than average AOR album in 1984. JOURNEY has never been one of my favourite bands believe it or not, for someone who was raised on and quite enjoyed listening to stadium rock during my childhood years there were just so many other bands to choose from, and to me, JOURNEY was nearly always too airbrushed and studio perfected.

I always preferred FOREIGNER or TOTO over Journey if i wanted to listen to AOR. Perry come on board JOURNEY in 1977 in time for the recording of the transitional album INFINITY, transitional as in the band making a deviation away from hairy progressive rock to more pop inspired soft rock, although this album still retained a heavy prog influence. By the time JOURNEY had recorded EVOLUTION in 1979 and DEPARTURE in 1980, there wasn't too much of the pre-1977 progressive elements left in the band's dynamics, instead opting for the safe territory of pure AOR radio friendly rock.

Although sales of 1981`s ESCAPE hit the stratosphere, like we're talking 9 times platinum over the past 30 years, the album to me is a convoluted disappointment in comparison to the much more robust music which FOREIGNER and TOTO recorded in the early 80`s. Journey were becoming far too cliche and predictable, but for whatever reason ESCAPE hit a chord with a massive US audience. FRONTIERS from 1983 did throw up one JOURNEY song i do like, the melodramatic to the max power ballad SEPERATE WAYS and i guess i have a soft spot for the more laid back ballad FAITHFULLY, but the rest of this album is just like ESCAPE - boring and soulless studio polished made for radio fillers.

Between 1983 and 1986, artistic tensions in the band boiled over and by the time RAISED ON RADIO was recorded in 1986, two members of the band, bass player Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith had been fired and were replaced by studio musicians to complete the recording of it.

Obviously Steve Perry's more soul and pop inclinations contributed towards much of the tension in the band up against the die hard progressive rock inclinations of founding members Neal Schon and Jonathon Cain, and following FRONTIERS in 1983, which was a monumental commercial success, Perry followed his rebellious instinct like most lead singers do and recorded STREET TALK with a crack team of classic rock loving session musicians.

The song RUNNING ALONE is a great anthem, bit hard to hear Perry's singing but unlike so many Journey songs you can just tell his heart is really into singing it.


http://youtu.be/pFf7MXCbG6o


Everyone knows the song OH! SHERRIE, it is the opening track on STREET TALK and it was a huge success as a single. YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY and the Motown inspired I BELIEVE are two other songs that really put anything JOURNEY recorded in the 80`s to shame. Ten songs, five fillers but five songs which i rate as being up there with the best AOR classic rock of all time.

[STORY_TELLER]

Interesting. But who is this guy and why does his opinion matter?

[Rick]

This guy's an idiot.

Obviously Steve Perry's more soul and pop inclinations contributed towards much of the tension in the band up against the die hard progressive rock inclinations of founding members Neal Schon and Jonathon Cain

[STORY_TELLER]

This guy's an idiot.

Obviously Steve Perry's more soul and pop inclinations contributed towards much of the tension in the band up against the die hard progressive rock inclinations of founding members Neal Schon and Jonathon Cain

+1

[Art Vandelay]

Interesting. But who is this guy and why does his opinion matter?

Why do any of our opinions matter?

[JustMyStyle]

This guy's an idiot.

Obviously Steve Perry's more soul and pop inclinations contributed towards much of the tension in the band up against the die hard progressive rock inclinations of founding members Neal Schon and Jonathon Cain

founding members Neal Schon and Jonathon Cain .... seriously!!! ...rookie

[Don]

Arnel Pineda is Journey.

Just stopped by Bev-Mo and grabbed a couple ten packs of Stella Pub cans for the Holiday tomorrow. Can't wait to get off work!

[STORY_TELLER]

Interesting. But who is this guy and why does his opinion matter?

Why do any of our opinions matter?

Individually posted to a board of dialogue discussion they don't, but one man's opinion posted or printed and read as a monologue creates the perception of authority or legitimacy -- case in point: Rolling Stone Magazine. And oh yeah -- fuck those guys.

[Frontiers65]

Sorry...but I think "For The Love Of Strange Medicine" was a better album.

[Gideon]

Sorry...but I think "For The Love Of Strange Medicine" was a better album.

+1
And had that included Let Go, Lost Angels, Somebody Somewhere... then it would have rivaled a Journey album easily.

[STORY_TELLER]

Sorry...but I think "For The Love Of Strange Medicine" was a better album.

+1
And had that included Let Go, Lost Angels, Somebody Somewhere... then it would have rivaled a Journey album easily.

I know you don't agree -- something about male genitalia I think, yes? lol...

-- but --

I would add Home At Last to that grouping.

[AR]

Sorry...but I think "For The Love Of Strange Medicine" was a better album.

Not me. I hated that CD. Different strokes though.

[Gideon]

Sorry...but I think "For The Love Of Strange Medicine" was a better album.

+1
And had that included Let Go, Lost Angels, Somebody Somewhere... then it would have rivaled a Journey album easily.

I know you don't agree -- something about male genitalia I think, yes? lol...

-- but --

I would add Home At Last to that grouping.

As if FTLOSM wasn't drowning its listeners in estrogen already.
I'm a guy and as much as I love that album, I always have a tampon or two on standby when I hear a song off it just in case my balls recede and a vagina blossoms forth, showering my thighs with menstrual discharge like the morning dew off a particularly hideous flower.

[artist4perry]

This guy's an idiot.

Obviously Steve Perry's more soul and pop inclinations contributed towards much of the tension in the band up against the die hard progressive rock inclinations of founding members Neal Schon and Jonathon Cain

It was Jon's writing that brought the ballads to Journey....not that it was a bad thing. I don't get comparisons. I like both for different reasons. It was the so called tension that created the best songs Journey ever had.

[artist4perry]

Sorry...but I think "For The Love Of Strange Medicine" was a better album.

+1
And had that included Let Go, Lost Angels, Somebody Somewhere... then it would have rivaled a Journey album easily.

I know you don't agree -- something about male genitalia I think, yes? lol...

-- but --

I would add Home At Last to that grouping.

As if FTLOSM wasn't drowning its listeners in estrogen already.
I'm a guy and as much as I love that album, I always have a tampon or two on standby when I hear a song off it just in case my balls recede and a vagina blossoms forth, showering my thighs with menstrual discharge like the morning dew off a particularly hideous flower.

Geez Giddy your more of a girl than we are! TMI! Most girls clean up at least and don't let it "Shower" anything your totally gross! And I liked all his albums, FTLOSM not as much as Straight Talk but that is because I prefer his R and B sound better.

[Gideon]

Sorry...but I think "For The Love Of Strange Medicine" was a better album.

+1
And had that included Let Go, Lost Angels, Somebody Somewhere... then it would have rivaled a Journey album easily.

I know you don't agree -- something about male genitalia I think, yes? lol...

-- but --

I would add Home At Last to that grouping.

As if FTLOSM wasn't drowning its listeners in estrogen already.
I'm a guy and as much as I love that album, I always have a tampon or two on standby when I hear a song off it just in case my balls recede and a vagina blossoms forth, showering my thighs with menstrual discharge like the morning dew off a particularly hideous flower.

Geez Giddy your more of a girl than we are! TMI! Most girls clean up at least and don't let it "Shower" anything your totally gross! And I liked all his albums, FTLOSM not as much as Straight Talk but that is because I prefer his R and B sound better.

These powerful visuals will hopefully find their way into your artwork!

[STORY_TELLER]

Sorry...but I think "For The Love Of Strange Medicine" was a better album.

+1
And had that included Let Go, Lost Angels, Somebody Somewhere... then it would have rivaled a Journey album easily.

I know you don't agree -- something about male genitalia I think, yes? lol...

-- but --

I would add Home At Last to that grouping.

As if FTLOSM wasn't drowning its listeners in estrogen already.
I'm a guy and as much as I love that album, I always have a tampon or two on standby when I hear a song off it just in case my balls recede and a vagina blossoms forth, showering my thighs with menstrual discharge like the morning dew off a particularly hideous flower.

So basically, you're "a guy" who favors "balls" over "vagina". Gotcha GID!

-- ahem --

Isn't lack of context wonderful?

But seriously -- you're saying HAL is more estrogen laden than say, Open Arms or Send Her My Love? I mean both of those songs are great, not tearing them down, but they sound a heck of lot softer in comparison to Home At Last to me. Perry's vocal on HAL is a power-house chest puncher. It's almost operatic in some spots. I'm really impressed with that vocal and that melody.

[Gideon]

So basically, you're "a guy" who favors "balls" over "vagina". Gotcha GID!

Now you've got it.

But seriously -- you're saying HAL is more estrogen laden than say, Open Arms or Send Her My Love? I mean both of those songs are great, not tearing them down, but they sound a heck of lot softer in comparison to Home At Last to me. Perry's vocal on HAL is a power-house chest puncher. It's almost operatic in some spots. I'm really impressed with that vocal and that melody.

No, it definitely has great vocals, but FTLOSM already has enough estrogen/saccharine injected songs as is. HAL (I feel like we're talking about 2001: A Space Odyssey) would be acceptable only if they dropped one or two of the other ballads.[/i]

[artist4perry]

Sorry...but I think "For The Love Of Strange Medicine" was a better album.

+1
And had that included Let Go, Lost Angels, Somebody Somewhere... then it would have rivaled a Journey album easily.

I know you don't agree -- something about male genitalia I think, yes? lol...

-- but --

I would add Home At Last to that grouping.

As if FTLOSM wasn't drowning its listeners in estrogen already.
I'm a guy and as much as I love that album, I always have a tampon or two on standby when I hear a song off it just in case my balls recede and a vagina blossoms forth, showering my thighs with menstrual discharge like the morning dew off a particularly hideous flower.

Geez Giddy your more of a girl than we are! TMI! Most girls clean up at least and don't let it "Shower" anything your totally gross! And I liked all his albums, FTLOSM not as much as Straight Talk but that is because I prefer his R and B sound better.

These powerful visuals will hopefully find their way into your artwork!

Sorry what I put was a bit tacky Giddy...Your a mess.

[scarab]

Jon had some great ballads with Journey,
but they had great ones before him,
Next, In the morning day, Patiently, Lights, Opened the door, Sweet and Simple, Stay Awhile, and Little Girl are as good as any Cain Ballad.
His Post Perry Ballads are very sketchy.
Kiss Me Softly is a Masterpiece, (how much Jack Blades played a part ?)Loved by you is okay, the other Arrival ballads are paint by the numbers.
Knowing that you Love me is the 2nd worst ballad Journey has ever recorded.
Only augeris butterfly exceeds that.