Perry's voice

[annpea]

I only do what the little voices tell me to.

some people claim that i do only what "the voice" tells me to do.

[Granny]

[quote="Saint John"]Perry's voice is the greatest of all-time and I'm actually grateful that it changed. What makes the guy impossible to replicate is the fact that he had several voices. There were the early years...yuck. Maybe two or three songs I like, but not one single album prior to Escape interests me in totality.

Then came the Escape album and there was a hint of rasp. He had an absolutely angelic voice with just a touch of edge to it. Perhaps the pinnacle of his voice. At the very least, the middle ground between what his voice was and what it would come to be.

Frontiers and Raised On Radio ushered in a moodier, darker Steve Perry. However, the albums couldn't have been different. Frontiers had some in your face rockers, and ROR was mostly Journey with a touch of R&B. Anyway, vocally, there was a grit to his voice. A lot of resonance, but he still had the magic touch and could combine raw power (Frontiers) with the ability to carress and lay down sultry lyrics (ROR).

TBF gets an incomplete. Nothing live to go by so I can't comment.

In short, the guy's voice evolved, or whatever you want to call it, but it was a blessing in that it always gave the fans something to look forward to. Journey's albums never sounded the same post-Escape because Perry never did. I think that was an awfully incredible blessing and curse. There's not a fucking singer that has graced this planet that could hang with Perry from 1980-1983.

PS As far as what caused his voice to go I would speculate that it was a combination of an insane touring schedule, booze and age. I'm sure he can still sing, but I highly doubt it would be anything like 1986 or prior. He could sound like Darth fucking Vader and I'd pay at least $2,000 to see him on stage one more time with Schon, Cain, Smith/Castronovo and Valory.[/quote




OMG I agree with everything you said, and thats a first.

[steveo777]

Problem with Perry is that unlike a lot of singers, he hasn't aged onstage

Seriously, who knows what he will sound like? A couple years back I bought a Michael McDonald CD remembering what he sounded like when he was with the Doobie Brothers. Man, what a let down that was. I hope SP still has it. I'm gonna spend the money anyway.

[annie89509]

Problem with Perry is that unlike a lot of singers, he hasn't aged onstage

Seriously, who knows what he will sound like? A couple years back I bought a Michael McDonald CD remembering what he sounded like when he was with the Doobie Brothers. Man, what a let down that was. I hope SP still has it. I'm gonna spend the money anyway.

Man, I remember Whitney Houston's voice in her prime (just about my all-time favorite female singer). This latest release of hers ... she's lost her range and sounds really raspy. But, yet, it's selling like gangbusters because it's Whitney Houston. With some guys like Rod Stewart and SP (2 of my other all-time favorites), raspy sounds good. With Whitney, not so much (to my ears).

Funny ... some people here like to criticize loons for wanting/wishing for a Perry/Journey reunion. Yet, SJ comes out and pretty much says the same thing -- and he's not a loon.

[whirlwind]

Problem with Perry is that unlike a lot of singers, he hasn't aged onstage

Seriously, who knows what he will sound like? A couple years back I bought a Michael McDonald CD remembering what he sounded like when he was with the Doobie Brothers. Man, what a let down that was. I hope SP still has it. I'm gonna spend the money anyway.

Man, I remember Whitney Houston's voice in her prime (just about my all-time favorite female singer). This latest release of hers ... she's lost her range and sounds really raspy. But, yet, it's selling like gangbusters because it's Whitney Houston. With some guys like Rod Stewart and SP (2 of my other all-time favorites), raspy sounds good. With Whitney, no so much (to my ears).

Funny ... some people here like to criticize loons for wanting/wishing for a Perry/Journey reunion. Yet, SJ comes out and pretty much says the same thing -- and he's not a loon.

St. John is the biggest loon of all. He has just been hidding under a bushel for awhile. He was BT's biggest nightmare at one time.

[cinkidd]

If Steve Perry's voice is really shot - what did it in? Was he a smoker? Maybe a pot smoker? Did he not rest it enough on tour?

Because you think about Dennis DeYoung, who sang as much and toured as much as Perry, and his voice is as good (or even better) than it was in Styx's heyday. But he was only singing 2/3 of the songs - Tommy Shaw was there to sing at least 6-7 songs a night. Steve didn't have that back up.

Listen up Turd Brain,

Please don't run in here insinuating Perry was hitting the bong or snorting lines. He was a rock star, however, the guy took great care of his voice. He sang arguably the most difficult catalog in music history, so of course it took it's toll, but there is so very much out there that you nor I have zero idea of what affected the man to not perform or to just stay out of the industry, that to not comment at all is a much classier move than to guess what vices he may or may not have done.

Can't believe I'm going to do this, but the Rock is .... ummmm..... damn this is hard.... he is RIGHT.

Rich the Going Guy

[annie89509]

Problem with Perry is that unlike a lot of singers, he hasn't aged onstage

Seriously, who knows what he will sound like? A couple years back I bought a Michael McDonald CD remembering what he sounded like when he was with the Doobie Brothers. Man, what a let down that was. I hope SP still has it. I'm gonna spend the money anyway.

Man, I remember Whitney Houston's voice in her prime (just about my all-time favorite female singer). This latest release of hers ... she's lost her range and sounds really raspy. But, yet, it's selling like gangbusters because it's Whitney Houston. With some guys like Rod Stewart and SP (2 of my other all-time favorites), raspy sounds good. With Whitney, no so much (to my ears).

Funny ... some people here like to criticize loons for wanting/wishing for a Perry/Journey reunion. Yet, SJ comes out and pretty much says the same thing -- and he's not a loon.

St. John is the biggest loon of all. He has just been hidding under a bushel for awhile. He was BT's biggest nightmare at one time.

I don't think SJ will ever admit to being a loon . Heck, he makes fun of loons .

[Jana]

I would live for his voice and album to have the vibe of songs like I'll Be Alright Without You, ROR era. Loved his tone and the energy of such songs. Live I just don't know if we're going to see a concert tour b/c I don't know the shape of his voice as far as holding up for a tour at 60 after not singing for so long. But I guarantee you he will sound great on a CD and/or a DVD of a one-time concert.

[Liquid_Drummer]

I for one believe there was damage to Perry's voice and it happened almost over night. I have heard reasons as to why but what does it matter if it is only rumor.

Listen to Separate ways on youtube where they played it the 1st time in early 82 at day on the green. This was not too long before they recorded Frontiers. In this video he had the same Escape sound, the rasp was much less and he didnt have to belt so much to hit higher notes. Fast forward to the recording of Only Solutions which was also in 82 but late 82 and you have the Frontiers voice in full effect. This change is dramatic and sudden. I am convinced that his change in voice was from damage of some kind. I love all stages of his voice but the change was just too sudden to have been natural IMHO.

The difference between 81 Houston and late 82 (only solutions) is night and day. 2nd puberty ?

[Abitaman]

Old Age

[madsplash]

I for one believe there was damage to Perry's voice and it happened almost over night. I have heard reasons as to why but what does it matter if it is only rumor.

Listen to Separate ways on youtube where they played it the 1st time in early 82 at day on the green. This was not too long before they recorded Frontiers. In this video he had the same Escape sound, the rasp was much less and he didnt have to belt so much to hit higher notes. Fast forward to the recording of Only Solutions which was also in 82 but late 82 and you have the Frontiers voice in full effect. This change is dramatic and sudden. I am convinced that his change in voice was from damage of some kind. I love all stages of his voice but the change was just too sudden to have been natural IMHO.

The difference between 81 Houston and late 82 (only solutions) is night and day. 2nd puberty ?

Well then, expain this. This is 1986 or 87 from the ROR tour. It's played very fast, but his voice is as clear as ever and his range is as big as ever. The vocal acrobatics here are amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPUFLfGm ... PL&index=2

I think I've heard him claim that his singing around this time was for diferent effect and he choose to sing different things different ways.

[Abitaman]

I did not find the ROR tour boots to be the best, played to fast, and on some shows, Perry's vocie is shot.

[portland]

Jana this one is for you!!!


and it sounds good to me 86 ROR
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYAJCueSVOM

[kgdjpubs]

I for one believe there was damage to Perry's voice and it happened almost over night. I have heard reasons as to why but what does it matter if it is only rumor.

Listen to Separate ways on youtube where they played it the 1st time in early 82 at day on the green. This was not too long before they recorded Frontiers. In this video he had the same Escape sound, the rasp was much less and he didnt have to belt so much to hit higher notes. Fast forward to the recording of Only Solutions which was also in 82 but late 82 and you have the Frontiers voice in full effect. This change is dramatic and sudden. I am convinced that his change in voice was from damage of some kind. I love all stages of his voice but the change was just too sudden to have been natural IMHO.

The difference between 81 Houston and late 82 (only solutions) is night and day. 2nd puberty ?

I wouldn't be surprised at all if there was something like you are talking about, but you have to remember that Perry did a massive overhaul of his singing style around that time anyway, and started recording studio vocals in the morning so he could get a little rasp in there. Basically, from Frontiers onward, his studio vocals are being accentuated by a deliberate stylistic change as much as physical change. There's a world of difference in his voice comparing Frontiers record vs early Frontiers live (ie the Japan show).

From a physical standpoint, there's change all the way through, I think you're right about a drop somewhere towards the end of the Escape tour. It's pretty sudden, so my guess is that it isn't anything he did, just that his voice dropped.

[Jana]

Jana this one is for you!!!


and it sounds good to me 86 ROR
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYAJCueSVOM

Portland, there's nothing there.

[portland]

Jana this one is for you!!!


and it sounds good to me 86 ROR
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYAJCueSVOM

Portland, there's nothing there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYAJCueSVOM

let see if this works now

[kgdjpubs]

I for one believe there was damage to Perry's voice and it happened almost over night. I have heard reasons as to why but what does it matter if it is only rumor.

Listen to Separate ways on youtube where they played it the 1st time in early 82 at day on the green. This was not too long before they recorded Frontiers. In this video he had the same Escape sound, the rasp was much less and he didnt have to belt so much to hit higher notes. Fast forward to the recording of Only Solutions which was also in 82 but late 82 and you have the Frontiers voice in full effect. This change is dramatic and sudden. I am convinced that his change in voice was from damage of some kind. I love all stages of his voice but the change was just too sudden to have been natural IMHO.

The difference between 81 Houston and late 82 (only solutions) is night and day. 2nd puberty ?

Well then, expain this. This is 1986 or 87 from the ROR tour. It's played very fast, but his voice is as clear as ever and his range is as big as ever. The vocal acrobatics here are amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPUFLfGm ... PL&index=2

I think I've heard him claim that his singing around this time was for diferent effect and he choose to sing different things different ways.

he sounds about the same there as he did on late Escape/Frontiers---NOT the way he sounded early Escape. If you compare early Escape tour (the Japan video) with the late Escape or early Frontiers (that Japan video), you'll hear a pretty good change. To my ears, it was a change for the better as he was a bit lower-pitched, but he definately lost some range.

[Michigan Girl]

Jana this one is for you!!!


and it sounds good to me 86 ROR
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYAJCueSVOM

ROR was good!!! I saw three shows and I
was completely satisfied!! Things were
sped up, but who cares they were great shows!!!
By time the ROR tour came rolling around
SP/Journey had many, many shows and several tours
under their belts w/SP singing one of the most difficult
catalogs in RNR!!! Are you surprised that some
of the songs/performances were not top notch?!?
This may come as a shock to many of you, but
SP wasn't perfect prior to ROR~Pretty Damn Close, though!!

I am LMAO at some of the comments I've seen
posted lately concerning ROR and at some of the
awful clips that were chosen to accompany their
arguments. And then reading comments
by some of the same people
who have made every excuse in the book for AP and
the tuning down of the songs after two years!!
I'm getting a huge kick out of this...very comical!!!
Yeah, I’m believing you would’ve requested a refund!!

[portland]

Jana this one is for you!!!


and it sounds good to me 86 ROR
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYAJCueSVOM

ROR was good!!! I saw three shows and I
was completely satisfied!! Things were
sped up, but who cares they were great shows!!!
By time the ROR tour came rolling around
SP/Journey had many, many shows and several tours
under their belts w/SP singing one of the most difficult
catalogs in RNR!!! Are you surprised that some
of the songs/performances were not top notch!!
This may come as a shock to many of you, but
SP wasn't perfect prior to ROR~Pretty Damn Close, though!!

I am LMAO at some of the comments I've seen
posted lately concerning ROR and at some of the
awful clips that were chosen to accompany their
arguments. And then reading comments
by some of the same people
who have made every excuse in the book for AP and
the tuning down of the songs after two years!!
I'm getting a huge kick out of this...very comical!!!
Yeah, I’m believing you would’ve requested a refund!!

YOU GO GIRL.....The best ones are the ones who would pay $$$$$ to see the band together again...but don't think he can sing??? WTF??

[Jana]

Jana this one is for you!!!


and it sounds good to me 86 ROR
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYAJCueSVOM

ROR was good!!! I saw three shows and I
was completely satisfied!! Things were
sped up, but who cares they were great shows!!!
By time the ROR tour came rolling around
SP/Journey had many, many shows and several tours
under their belts w/SP singing one of the most difficult
catalogs in RNR!!! Are you surprised that some
of the songs/performances were not top notch!!
This may come as a shock to many of you, but
SP wasn't perfect prior to ROR~Pretty Damn Close, though!!

I am LMAO at some of the comments I've seen
posted lately concerning ROR and at some of the
awful clips that were chosen to accompany their
arguments. And then reading comments
by some of the same people
who have made every excuse in the book for AP and
the tuning down of the songs after two years!!
I'm getting a huge kick out of this...very comical!!!
Yeah, I’m believing you would’ve requested a refund!!

I didn't diss him if you're referring to me in the other thread in Journey. I chose ROR for my concert to see b/c I love ROR songs and thought he looked hot and had great rhythm. After looking at a few of the clips some posted in that thead with the sped-up classics, which I never cared for that version at all of them PERIOD, I thought maybe not and would rather see Frontiers as the next DVD put out or Pre-Escape. I didn't care that his voice wasn't the same as earlier years or if he had a rough particular concert. That doesn't phase me b/c a lot of it is the delivery of Perry songs and watching him on stage that I like.

Besides they were just discussing the change in his voice and when it happened and things like that and maybe why he chose to speed them up. I considered those posters fans of Perry's and some musicians were just discussing it. And maybe some didn't like that concert for reasons they stated or the way the songs were changed.

[Jana]

Jana this one is for you!!!


and it sounds good to me 86 ROR
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYAJCueSVOM

Portland, there's nothing there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYAJCueSVOM

let see if this works now

Oh, Faithfully. I have this one already from ROR. Donch ya know I have a ton of the Faithfullys saved in my favorites to listen to.

Edit: Portland, this is the one I have from ROR. Better sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLsrmPTAgXo

[Michigan Girl]

Jana this one is for you!!!


and it sounds good to me 86 ROR
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYAJCueSVOM

ROR was good!!! I saw three shows and I
was completely satisfied!! Things were
sped up, but who cares they were great shows!!!
By time the ROR tour came rolling around
SP/Journey had many, many shows and several tours
under their belts w/SP singing one of the most difficult
catalogs in RNR!!! Are you surprised that some
of the songs/performances were not top notch!!
This may come as a shock to many of you, but
SP wasn't perfect prior to ROR~Pretty Damn Close, though!!

I am LMAO at some of the comments I've seen
posted lately concerning ROR and at some of the
awful clips that were chosen to accompany their
arguments. And then reading comments
by some of the same people
who have made every excuse in the book for AP and
the tuning down of the songs after two years!!
I'm getting a huge kick out of this...very comical!!!
Yeah, I’m believing you would’ve requested a refund!!

I didn't diss him if you're referring to me in the other thread in Journey. I chose ROR for my concert to see b/c I love ROR songs and thought he looked hot and had great rhythm. After looking at a few of the clips some posted in that thead with the sped-up classics, which I never cared for that version at all of them PERIOD, I thought maybe not and would rather see Frontiers as the next DVD put out or Pre-Escape. I didn't care that his voice wasn't the same as earlier years or if he had a rough particular concert. That doesn't phase me b/c a lot of it is the delivery of Perry songs and watching him on stage that I like.

Besides they were just discussing the change in his voice and when it happened and things like that and maybe why he chose to speed them up. I considered those posters fans of Perry's and some musicians were just discussing it. And maybe some didn't like that concert for reasons they stated or the way the songs were changed.

LMAO!!! No, Jana~just speaking in general....why were you the one that would've requested the refund?!?!?

[Jana]

Jana this one is for you!!!


and it sounds good to me 86 ROR
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYAJCueSVOM

ROR was good!!! I saw three shows and I
was completely satisfied!! Things were
sped up, but who cares they were great shows!!!
By time the ROR tour came rolling around
SP/Journey had many, many shows and several tours
under their belts w/SP singing one of the most difficult
catalogs in RNR!!! Are you surprised that some
of the songs/performances were not top notch!!
This may come as a shock to many of you, but
SP wasn't perfect prior to ROR~Pretty Damn Close, though!!

I am LMAO at some of the comments I've seen
posted lately concerning ROR and at some of the
awful clips that were chosen to accompany their
arguments. And then reading comments
by some of the same people
who have made every excuse in the book for AP and
the tuning down of the songs after two years!!
I'm getting a huge kick out of this...very comical!!!
Yeah, I’m believing you would’ve requested a refund!!

I didn't diss him if you're referring to me in the other thread in Journey. I chose ROR for my concert to see b/c I love ROR songs and thought he looked hot and had great rhythm. After looking at a few of the clips some posted in that thead with the sped-up classics, which I never cared for that version at all of them PERIOD, I thought maybe not and would rather see Frontiers as the next DVD put out or Pre-Escape. I didn't care that his voice wasn't the same as earlier years or if he had a rough particular concert. That doesn't phase me b/c a lot of it is the delivery of Perry songs and watching him on stage that I like.

Besides they were just discussing the change in his voice and when it happened and things like that and maybe why he chose to speed them up. I considered those posters fans of Perry's and some musicians were just discussing it. And maybe some didn't like that concert for reasons they stated or the way the songs were changed.

LMAO!!! No, Jana~just speaking in general....why were you the one that would've requested the refund?!?!?

I'm the one that changed my vote on which DVD by Journey I next really wanted to see, which is what the thread was about. Nothing more than that for me.

[Saint John]

St. John is the biggest loon of all.

Incorrect. My allegiance stops with his voice. That said, it was the greatest of all-time. Meaning in the history of the world.

He has just been hidding under a bushel for awhile. He was BT's biggest nightmare at one time.

I used to tie those dumbfucks up in knots. I was there for nothing more than to argue that Steve Augeri was NOT better than Steve Perry, vocally. That was about as easy as beating a fucking tree in a 100 yard dash.

[portland]

St. John is the biggest loon of all.

Incorrect. My allegiance stops with his voice. That said, it was the greatest of all-time. Meaning in the history of the world.

He has just been hidding under a bushel for awhile. He was BT's biggest nightmare at one time.

I used to tie those dumbfucks up in knots. I was there for nothing more than to argue that Steve Augeri was NOT better than Steve Perry, vocally. That was about as easy as beating a fucking tree in a 100 yard dash.

Yes that must have been a really hard job

[strangegrey]

"Dennis Deyoung is a voice that verges on operatic low tenor/upper baritone....but sung with a cleaner timbre. You don't hear about guys like this having massive vocal troubles....but 1 out of every 2 or 3 upper tenors with gritty timbres have severe vocal issues. "

And the #1 reason for their voice going out and getting node damage is lack of vocal chord lubrication. Seriously... this style of singing, a bit "airy" if you will, puts tremendous amounts of air over the vocal chords causing them to dry out quicker. The solution is to constantly sip (luke warm) water, during the performance and a gallon of water a day if you're performing. You can only lubricate the vocal chords through internal hydration, that's what the gallon of water is for. The sips during performance just help smooth out (moisten) the throat due to smoke, pollution, etc, etc, during the show.

That David Archfkinletta kid from American Idol is the POSTER BOY for this situation. Remember all the lip licking, tounging going on during his performances? Trying like hell desperately to lubricate his quickly drying vocal chords due to improper singing/breathing/preperation technique. Gawd he almost make me puke watching him sing. I seriously doubt he could handle more than 20-30min shows unless he's finally getting some proper training.

Im late on this post, but you hit it out of the park. Well said!

[ChildInTime]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPUFLfGm ... PL&index=2

(Separate Ways '86 vid)

If I recall correctly, that bootleg tape was recorded at the wrong speed, or the speed got warped with age. It is actually a bit faster than it is in actuality, thus Steve's voice sounds a few steps higher. One reason why tapes aren't the best!

PS: About the voice change, I always joke around that he finally went through puberty in 1982. Bwahaha. Whatever the reasons, though, I don't mind. I like his voice in all the incarnations it has taken.

[portland]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPUFLfGm ... PL&index=2

(Separate Ways '86 vid)

If I recall correctly, that bootleg tape was recorded at the wrong speed, or the speed got warped with age. It is actually a bit faster than it is in actuality, thus Steve's voice sounds a few steps higher. One reason why tapes aren't the best!

Who really fucking cares!!! If he can still sing than bring it on!! The disection of what was is really getting old...ROR tour sucked for him..his mother was dying and well my stepmom just did and we were not that close and I had a really hard time....I can't imagine if you were really close to someone and on the road and you feel like you should be somewhere else......that in itself could change one's performance...so who knows what he has left in the tank???

[yak]

St. John is the biggest loon of all. He has just been hidding under a bushel for awhile. He was BT's biggest nightmare at one time.

Just what can be assumed when one's location is "Elmo?"

[ChildInTime]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPUFLfGm ... PL&index=2

(Separate Ways '86 vid)

If I recall correctly, that bootleg tape was recorded at the wrong speed, or the speed got warped with age. It is actually a bit faster than it is in actuality, thus Steve's voice sounds a few steps higher. One reason why tapes aren't the best!

Who really fucking cares!!! If he can still sing than bring it on!! [....]

I'm sorry about your step-mother, that's awful; but there's no reason to be hostile. I was simply pointing out the poor quality of that bootleg, which many people use as evidence for their cause anyway or so it would seem. I am in no way implying that his voice in all actuality was worse for it; I was actually saying that he would sound WORSE on a bad, tinny bootleg than in-real-life or on a good quality boot. (But seriously, I'm really sorry that you're going through that right now. I know it doesn't sound like it, but I really am. *hugs* )