The Music in My Head

[tater1977]

The Music in My Head – 6/10/19

Posted by Victor Lewis | Jun 10, 2019 | The Music in My Head

https://chapelboro.com/the-music-in-my- ... ad-6-10-19

“OH SHERRIE” is a song co-written and recorded by STEVE PERRY, one of the most polarizing figures in music. To confirm that, all you have to do is tell somebody you like him and you’ll get a wide range of responses…mostly, either, “Yeah, that guy’s amazing.” Or…just as often, “You’re kidding me. Steve Perry sucks and I hate that guy!” I’ve learned this lesson the hard way because I’ve said—out loud—that I like Steve Perry. And I’ve been attacked relentlessly for just expressing that opinion.

I think the guy could really sing. He could hit some amazing high notes when he was singing with JOURNEY, a band that packed arenas all over the country in the late 70’s and 80’s. Before he joined the group, Journey was a really good band, with some accomplished musicians, but not really all that commercially successful.

The band had some really loyal, avid fans, but didn’t sell a whole lot of records, and never went mainstream. In other words, they couldn’t get a hit record. Then Perry came along and Journey music was blasting out of radios all over America…with one hit after another. They’ve got a long list of big songs, like “Lights,” “Wheel In The Sky,” “Stone In Love,” and “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’.” There was “Any Way You Want It” and “Separate Ways.” And, of course, there was the most downloaded song in the history of downloads—at least it was at one time—“Don’t Stop Believing.”

Where JOURNEY picked up so many haters was with the ballads. “Faithfully.” “Open Arms.” “Who’s Crying Now.” All those songs were written by Perry and the keyboard player, Jonathan Cain, and the rock fans in the crowd really hated ‘em.

Although the songs were immensely popular with Journey’s most avid fans, and as I said before, really packed those huge arenas. And Journey traveled a lot, playing shows all over the country and all over the world! Some people claim Steve Perry was responsible for ruining Journey with all those soft love songs. You either loved those ballads or hated them…and therein lies the polarization, for the band, but mostly for Steve Perry.

He recorded an album called “Street Talk” while he was still with the group, and the most recognizable song off that album was “Oh, Sherrie,” a song he wrote about his girlfriend at the time. (She’s in the video and he walks away with her.) A lot of people thought it was another Journey song since it sounded a lot like some of their other stuff, and because…well, Steve Perry was the vocalist. He does have a distinct sound, no question about that.

He left the group. A lot of people hated him for that. He recorded another album. And then he became a recluse, pretty much over the next decades….but recently, he’s resurfaced and even has a new album out there right now…and guess what? It’s mostly ballads. That’s what he wants to do. He’s 70 years old now. Rich. And I guess he can do whatever he wants to do.

Anyway, this song, “OH SHERRIE” is stuck in my head today. Like him or not, here’s STEVE PERRY!

[scarab]

A song on Street Talk "Stuck in my head" recently is "I believe." The very Motown (ish) Angel Eyes brought me back to this song.
Remember buying the cassette in 1984 at a Kmart of all places.
Remember asking my dad If I could borrow a couple bucks to by a tape, I had all but 2 bucks to by it for 9.99.
His reply was, I have just about any tape you would need, he was thinking an an adhesive tape

After telling him no I want to but a music tape he gave me the look of "really". But gave me the two bucks.

Oh Sherrie was good, and after initial listens only Its Only Love, You should be Happy, and Strung Out (which I loved) and glad I got to hear live in 86 (Did he ever do this on his FTLOSM tour?)

Oops I forgot about Running Alone, great song and one of his rare power ballads solo. (That were actually released)

But other songs were constant skips. The two songs that took a lot to grow on where Captured by the Moment and I believe,
But the other song that didnt make Street Talk was instant love for me and had to buy the Oh Sherrie 45 to hear Dont tell me why youre leaving.

[kgdjpubs]

[quote="scarab"
Oh Sherrie was good, and after initial listens only Its Only Love, You should be Happy, and Strung Out (which I loved) and glad I got to hear live in 86 (Did he ever do this on his FTLOSM tour?) [/quote]

As far as I'm aware, Strung Out never got played after the ROR tour. I've heard Oh Sherrie, Foolish Heart, and She's Mine (which I think made an appearance in a few '95 shows).

[tater1977]

[quote="scarab"
Oh Sherrie was good, and after initial listens only Its Only Love, You should be Happy, and Strung Out (which I loved) and glad I got to hear live in 86 (Did he ever do this on his FTLOSM tour?)

As far as I'm aware, Strung Out never got played after the ROR tour. I've heard Oh Sherrie, Foolish Heart, and She's Mine (which I think made an appearance in a few '95 shows).[/quote]

Feb 1st 1987
Journey Setlist
at Sullivan Sports Arena, Anchorage, AK, USA

Only the Young

Stone in Love

Any Way You Want It

Girl Can't Help It

Send Her My Love

Open Arms

Still They Ride

Strung Out

Suzanne

Lights

Wheel in the Sky

Raised on Radio

Ask the Lonely

Who's Crying Now

Oh Sherrie

Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'

Jailhouse Rock

Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

Be Good to Yourself

Don't Stop Believin'

Faithfully

[tater1977]

[quote="scarab"
Oh Sherrie was good, and after initial listens only Its Only Love, You should be Happy, and Strung Out (which I loved) and glad I got to hear live in 86 (Did he ever do this on his FTLOSM tour?)

As far as I'm aware, Strung Out never got played after the ROR tour. I've heard Oh Sherrie, Foolish Heart, and She's Mine (which I think made an appearance in a few '95 shows).

Feb 1st 1987
Journey Setlist
at Sullivan Sports Arena, Anchorage, AK, USA

Only the Young

Stone in Love

Any Way You Want It

Girl Can't Help It

Send Her My Love

Open Arms

Still They Ride

Strung Out

Suzanne

Lights

Wheel in the Sky

Raised on Radio

Ask the Lonely

Who's Crying Now

Oh Sherrie

Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'

Jailhouse Rock

Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

Be Good to Yourself

Don't Stop Believin'

Faithfully[/quote]

ThinK in KC during FTLOSM he sang Patiently, it was around his bday.

[scarab]

Yeah was lucky enough to hear Strung Out live in 86, but when the song started I couldnt figure out with this "Journey" hit song was. I may have been a little medicated, anyway, quickly I thought, he's doing a solo song, thats cool. The crowd loved it.
Sadly at the MPLS show they didnt do Still they Ride and Ask the lonely, woulda loved to hear those before Jailhouse rock which the did do.

These are two songs I have never heard live in the 7 Journey Shows Ive been too and the 2 solo Perry.

Thankfully they didnt do Suzanne which was another song they played during the tour.


There used to be a lot of talk about a Official ROR DVD. But that has died it seems.

[youkeepmewaiting]

I think there's no ROR live DVD because Perry was coked off his face so SP doesn't want to face it

[Marabelle]

Difference between Mr Perry and some others who will remain nameless is maybe he avoided some legal entanglements but otherwise could have been swept away into the place where the monsters and shadows dwell. Avoidance and denial are constant companions and are lurking and although luscious they eventually destroy you. It’s not pretty but it is a insatiable lover. Embarrassment....probably. No excuses.

[FamilyMan]

[quote="scarab"
Oh Sherrie was good, and after initial listens only Its Only Love, You should be Happy, and Strung Out (which I loved) and glad I got to hear live in 86 (Did he ever do this on his FTLOSM tour?)

As far as I'm aware, Strung Out never got played after the ROR tour. I've heard Oh Sherrie, Foolish Heart, and She's Mine (which I think made an appearance in a few '95 shows).

Feb 1st 1987
Journey Setlist
at Sullivan Sports Arena, Anchorage, AK, USA

Only the Young

Stone in Love

Any Way You Want It

Girl Can't Help It

Send Her My Love

Open Arms

Still They Ride

Strung Out

Suzanne

Lights

Wheel in the Sky

Raised on Radio

Ask the Lonely

Who's Crying Now

Oh Sherrie

Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'

Jailhouse Rock

Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

Be Good to Yourself

Don't Stop Believin'

Faithfully

ThinK in KC during FTLOSM he sang Patiently, it was around his bday.[/quote]

OMG look at this set list. My voice hurts just reading it. No wonder Perry was cooked to a crisp on this tour.