Question About Tempo of Journey Live...

[Enigma869]

It just occurred me as I was listening to a lot of old live Journey recordings (with Perry) how fast many of the classics were performed live. Does anyone know what the reason behind this was? It seems sort of odd to listen to how fast most of these songs are performed. In fact, it seems only Faithfully and Open Arms are performed at their original tempos. It seems as though they're rushing through all of these songs. There is a performance from 1983 in Norman, OK that every track I've listened to sounds VERY rushed.


John from Boston

[dcvader]

I've noticed the same thing. It's sounds very odd to me. I hope someone will be able to shed some light on this. I would like to know as well.

[Melissa]

I have noticed that before too, esp. "Ask the Lonely" lol

[jrnyjetster]

They did this alot on the FRONTIERS tour.....my guess is that they may have wanted to squeeze as many songs into the set as possible?

[jrnysc]

They are played almost at cd level these days. Sound almost at cd level, too!!

[ohsherrie]

They did this alot on the FRONTIERS tour.....my guess is that they may have wanted to squeeze as many songs into the set as possible?

That's what I've alway thought too. There was just so much material from so many albums that people expected to hear, and then they had to fit in the songs from whichever new album they were touring for.

JeremyP mentioned in another thread a while back that some of that "speeded up" sound came from something to do with the taping of the bootlegs. Or maybe it was the conversion from tape to CD. He slowed a couple songs down to what would have been the original sound.

[Melissa]

They are played almost at cd level these days. Sound almost at cd level, too!!

And the singing is incredible.

[conversationpc]

I would doubt that it has anything to do with how the bootlegs were recorded. Musicians playing live do tend to play a bit faster rather than slower, for some reason. I know they play to a click track now so perhaps they didn't back then.

[Saint John]

It just occurred me as I was listening to a lot of old live Journey recordings (with Perry) how fast many of the classics were performed live. Does anyone know what the reason behind this was? It seems sort of odd to listen to how fast most of these songs are performed. In fact, it seems only Faithfully and Open Arms are performed at their original tempos. It seems as though they're rushing through all of these songs. There is a performance from 1983 in Norman, OK that every track I've listened to sounds VERY rushed.


John from Boston

According to Herbie Herbert, certain member(s) indulged in quite a bit of cocaine in the early 80's. That may have had something to do with it.

[Enigma869]

According to Herbie Herbert, certain member(s) indulged in quite a bit of cocaine in the early 80's. That may have had something to do with it.

Whether or not Herbie's claim about Perry's habit is true or not, it seems like a bit of a reach for this to have been the reason they seemed to be flying through the songs, as the instruments were certainly in sync with the vocals! Also, cocaine being used in rock bands during the 80's wasn't exactly an out of the ordinary occurrence!


John from Boston

[RPC13]

I actually know the answer to this...

I read somewhere that during the Frontiers tour, they sped up a lot of the songs in order to give Steve Perry's voice a break. Up until that tour, Perry was superman and could sing anything at any time. But in 1983, he had turned 34, and his voice was changing. It now actually took a little effort to sing some of the songs. In an interview, he mentions that he used to have to save a little gas in order to hit the high notes at the end of 'Faithfully'. Instead of lowering keys on the songs, they decided to speed them up a little bit so that his voice wouldn't be holding high notes as long.

[tammy]

Now that's interesting, RPC13...I always assumed that it was because of the adrenaline pumping faster thru their bodies during LIVE shows. I know that figure skaters will sometimes finish ahead of their music for that reason...they are just more pumped up & rearing to go from the energy of the audience and all.

[Gibby]

Interesting... I've always wondered this myself. Wheel in the sky live with Perry seems almost twice as fast as the studio version.

[Saint John]

Interesting... I've always wondered this myself. Wheel in the sky live with Perry seems almost twice as fast as the studio version.

Which is a good thing. I can't stand the studio version. Too slow and mushy.

[Tom Jrnyfn]

I actually know the answer to this...

I read somewhere that during the Frontiers tour, they sped up a lot of the songs in order to give Steve Perry's voice a break. Up until that tour, Perry was superman and could sing anything at any time. But in 1983, he had turned 34, and his voice was changing. It now actually took a little effort to sing some of the songs. In an interview, he mentions that he used to have to save a little gas in order to hit the high notes at the end of 'Faithfully'. Instead of lowering keys on the songs, they decided to speed them up a little bit so that his voice wouldn't be holding high notes as long.

Correct.. If you notice recordings from the Frontiers tour, he "talks" a lot of the vocals also..

[Deb]

Interesting... I've always wondered this myself. Wheel in the sky live with Perry seems almost twice as fast as the studio version.

Which is a good thing. I can't stand the studio version. Too slow and mushy.

With ya on that one SJ, I prefer WITS Live better too. Same with Lovin Touchin Squeezin......almost every single LTS performance I have heard has been better than studio......that song just takes on a life of it's own LIVE.

[Abitaman]

I've noticed the same thing. It's sounds very odd to me. I hope someone will be able to shed some light on this. I would like to know as well.

It never really bothered me untill my 11 year old said, that is way too fast, now that is what I think everytime I listen to alot of my Perry boots-ERIC

[Alex Landenburg]

I would doubt that it has anything to do with how the bootlegs were recorded. Musicians playing live do tend to play a bit faster rather than slower, for some reason. I know they play to a click track now so perhaps they didn't back then.

Exactly what I was going to answer...

[ArnelRox]

I actually know the answer to this...

I read somewhere that during the Frontiers tour, they sped up a lot of the songs in order to give Steve Perry's voice a break. Up until that tour, Perry was superman and could sing anything at any time. But in 1983, he had turned 34, and his voice was changing. It now actually took a little effort to sing some of the songs. In an interview, he mentions that he used to have to save a little gas in order to hit the high notes at the end of 'Faithfully'. Instead of lowering keys on the songs, they decided to speed them up a little bit so that his voice wouldn't be holding high notes as long.

That doesn't make any sense to me at all. For one thing, I just got done watching a concert from 1981 & several of the songs are played at a very fast tempo. For another thing, it takes more effort to actually HIT the high notes than it does to sustain them--based on my experience singing myself & talking to singers about it. It's getting to the high notes smoothly that is difficult, once ur there, sustaining them is not a strain on the voice--that's all to do w/breathing. So sorry, I can't accept this explanation.

U should ask Jeremey the answer to this question. His band Frontiers plays the songs at a pretty fast tempo. I asked him about this some time back & I can't remember his answer, but he did explain it well.

[RPM]

It is why the live version of "anyway you want it" sucks to me. wayyy to fast, stone in love
rushed doesnt sound good either, although it is quite common for most bands live doing
older material.

[Enigma869]

It is why the live version of "anyway you want it" sucks to me. wayyy to fast, stone in love
rushed doesnt sound good either, although it is quite common for most bands live doing
older material.

I honestly don't think any of these songs sound good sped up. I have always appreciated live music and have always understood that a live song is ALWAYS going to sound different than a studio track, which is why I appreciate live music. That said, flying through a song simply doesn't sound good to my ears. It almost sounds as if these guys can't get these songs over fast enough!


John from Boston

[knox]

I am another one that prefers studio versions of everything. I can't even listen to anything from the 83 tour because it is WAY rushed. It is almost like "Let's get this over with as quickly as we can".

Oh, and to me, live can't TOUCH the studio version of Wheel In The Sky or Any Way You Want It.

[tammy]

I like both LIVE and Studio versions of the songs...some do seem like they work better LIVE than studio & vice versa. But, the faster tempo does seem "more anxious" on those that do speed up...when I hear certain LIVE WITS versions all I seem to hear is a staccato-type talking from SP...and then other LIVE WITS sound quite spiritual! I think that is what makes it exciting - to hear different versions of the same song & then find one that really makes ya go..."aaaahhhh".

[JrnyScarab]

I believe a combination of adrenaline and ummm, nose candy played a role in the sped up songs. Most bands didn't play with click tracks live back then and just the excitement and drugs probably had this effect. I read where Neil Peart of Rush said in an interview that one of the hardest things to do when playing drums live is not to let the tempo get carried away because of the adrenaline and excitement of playing to a pumped up crowd. He said the Rush in Rio DVD filmed in front of the maniacal Brazilians was hard because the crowd got them so fired up. He said he really had to concentrate hard on playing at the correct speed.

[*Laura]

I believe a combination of adrenaline and ummm, nose candy played a role in the sped up songs. Most bands didn't play with click tracks live back then and just the excitement and drugs probably had this effect. I read where Neil Peart of Rush said in an interview that one of the hardest things to do when playing drums live is not to let the tempo get carried away because of the adrenaline and excitement of playing to a pumped up crowd. He said the Rush in Rio DVD filmed in front of the maniacal Brazilians was hard because the crowd got them so fired up. He said he really had to concentrate hard on playing at the correct speed.

Exactly,JrnyScarab.You hit the nail on the head.
Adrenaline,a bit of snow and the audience's response.
Usually,a sped up song means more energy exchange between the band and the crowd.Journey always loved that.

[JrnyScarab]

I believe a combination of adrenaline and ummm, nose candy played a role in the sped up songs. Most bands didn't play with click tracks live back then and just the excitement and drugs probably had this effect. I read where Neil Peart of Rush said in an interview that one of the hardest things to do when playing drums live is not to let the tempo get carried away because of the adrenaline and excitement of playing to a pumped up crowd. He said the Rush in Rio DVD filmed in front of the maniacal Brazilians was hard because the crowd got them so fired up. He said he really had to concentrate hard on playing at the correct speed.

Exactly,JrnyScarab.You hit the nail on the head.
Adrenaline,a bit of snow and the audience's response.
Usually,a sped up song means more energy exchange between the band and the crowd.Journey always loved that.

Thanks Shania Claus! It's ironic that energy exchange between the band and crowd can lead to less than desirable results when listening to recordings of those songs that go toooooo fast.

[*Laura]

I believe a combination of adrenaline and ummm, nose candy played a role in the sped up songs. Most bands didn't play with click tracks live back then and just the excitement and drugs probably had this effect. I read where Neil Peart of Rush said in an interview that one of the hardest things to do when playing drums live is not to let the tempo get carried away because of the adrenaline and excitement of playing to a pumped up crowd. He said the Rush in Rio DVD filmed in front of the maniacal Brazilians was hard because the crowd got them so fired up. He said he really had to concentrate hard on playing at the correct speed.

Exactly,JrnyScarab.You hit the nail on the head.
Adrenaline,a bit of snow and the audience's response.
Usually,a sped up song means more energy exchange between the band and the crowd.Journey always loved that.

It's ironic that energy exchange between the band and crowd can lead to less than desirable results when listening to recordings of those songs that go toooooo fast.

You're right,it's different when you are there,in the crowd,feeling the music and receiving that energy.When you are only listening to the recording means you are not in that "live show" environement/mood,so the perception is changed.You start hearing all the details.
The fast Wheel In The Sky live version is pissing me off,but I can BET I would have loved it if I would've been in the audience.

[Red13JoePa]

Agreed, all the Perry tours were intermittantly fast paced songwise, then on ROR just about every number was punched up to super overdrive.

AWYWI should NEVER need to be sped up, and it sounds like shit if you speed that one up to ROR tour proportions.

By contrast, I thought IBAWY during the Augie and now JSS eras is slower than on the record and live on say, Time3 or the Gr Hits dvd...not sure that's good, either though it's better than too fast.

[stevew2]

I always understood that Journey could play the most number of songs per concert,if thye played it faster.They had so many songs to play in short amont of time.I think it is harder to sing songs faster then they were written cause its hard to get a chance to breath.Personnaly I dont like the live stuff played so fast.It felt like they were rushing,and its hard to sing along with.Captured was a good example of playing live with the right tempo.

[megaphone]

Never liked that either. Don't tell me they were tying to fit more songs in when they did Jailhouse Rock that tour. Maybe Randy Jackson was rushing because Burger King closed at 11pm