For the love of Strange Medicine

[STORY_TELLER]

Trying to freshen my iPod playlist and I dusted off this disk.

Got to wondering why I've had it sitting for so long. I mean, did I not like it? Or did I just not like it enough? Gave it a once through and I think I figured out why this disk didn't score bigger with Journey fans:

It's a pretty damn dark album!

It's much more commercial and melodic rock in a Journey vein than Street Talk, but Perry really seemed to be writing from a dark place. Most albums that are dark aren't well received. Probably doubly so from someone like Perry, who's song book is based largely in positive soaring songs.

Anybody got favorite tracks from this thing? I just MP3'ed the following:
You Better Wait
For the Love of Strange Medicine (title track)
Stand Up
Anyway

I like others, but didn't want the overly dark tracks in this playlist.
Thoughts?

[ProgRocker53]

It's a decent album.

I mean, it's got some snoozers, but the better tracks make up for it in abundance. LOVE "You Better Wait," "Stand Up (Before It's Too Late)," and "Somewhere There's Hope."

I prefer Street Talk on the whole, as do many I'm guessing.

[Saint John]

Stunningly awesome vocals and stunningly shitty music and arrangements. Kind of like putting perfume on a pig.

[Since 78]

Just doesn't do much for me.

[AlteredDNA]

Faves:

You Better Wait
Young Hearts Forever
Anyway

[Rick]

Stunningly awesome vocals and stunningly shitty music and arrangements. Kind of like putting perfume on a pig.

Yeah, can't really get into that album, or Street Talk. Perry is too damn soft with his solo stuff.

[annie89509]

As a certifiable perryloon , I have to like it because it is a Steve record. Some stunning vocals, most notable songs (to me) were YBW, Missing You, Anyway, the I AM song, and the title track. I do wish it was not so sad and depressing (I understand it was during a time of SP's life that he had to get things off his chest). Steve himself said he opened his heart for all to see and showed his vulnerability with that record.

On the flip side, I thought ST was a "happy" record. Brassy, motown-ish. And, maybe, he was in "that place" in his life, between the 2 Journey masterpieces.

So, now, 14 years later, we are still sitting here wondering if he has another chapter of his life to tell us about.

[Deb]

As a certifiable perryloon , I have to like it because it is a Steve record. Some stunning vocals, most notable songs (to me) were YBW, Missing You, Anyway, the I AM song, and the title track. I do wish it was not so sad and depressing (I understand it was during a time of SP's life that he had to get things off his chest). Steve himself said he opened his heart for all to see and showed his vulnerability with that record.

On the flip side, I thought ST was a "happy" record. Brassy, motown-ish. And, maybe, he was in "that place" in his life, between the 2 Journey masterpieces.

That's one of the reasons I love ST! love when SP gets his motown on.......liked this one the first time I heard it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeoGyv1CXM8
Some of my fave stuff out of JSS and EM is when they go all motown/soul too.

As far as faves from FTLOSM.....pretty much the same 3 as Prog. I love "Stand Up" gawd that song comes across great LIVE! Have that song on a boot, if you haven't heard it Annie, let me know and I'll upload the song.

[Saint John]

Street Talk is outstanding. One of very few albums that I consider to be almost flawless. I should buy it one of these days.

[jrnyman28]

Yawn.
Too many times Iit felt like I could tell what he was trying to do but not quite pulling it off. Still has some good songs, but I hardly ever listen to this one.

[Schon Rules All]

FTLOSM is a mood album. I remember I was driving from Glendale To Tucson, which is a bit of a road trip on its own... got into the desert and lost radio reception (This was before the almighty IPod) , So I went through my car to see what CD's I had brought and for whatever reason it was the only CD in my car.

Originally I thought "Fuck"

But as I put it in the player, and cranked it up, it was just me in the car, middle of the night, no one around for miles, and REALLY listened to it. I just got lost and mesmerized into that cd. It has so many messages, so many deep levels of inner thought. You have to be in the mood for it though. I never had a moment like that with any other cd, ever. Trial By Fire comes close though.

[annie89509]

As a certifiable perryloon , I have to like it because it is a Steve record. Some stunning vocals, most notable songs (to me) were YBW, Missing You, Anyway, the I AM song, and the title track. I do wish it was not so sad and depressing (I understand it was during a time of SP's life that he had to get things off his chest). Steve himself said he opened his heart for all to see and showed his vulnerability with that record.

On the flip side, I thought ST was a "happy" record. Brassy, motown-ish. And, maybe, he was in "that place" in his life, between the 2 Journey masterpieces.

That's one of the reasons I love ST! love when SP gets his motown on.......liked this one the first time I heard it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeoGyv1CXM8
Some of my fave stuff out of JSS and EM is when they go all motown/soul too.

As far as faves from FTLOSM.....pretty much the same 3 as Prog. I love "Stand Up" gawd that song comes across great LIVE! Have that song on a boot, if you haven't heard it Annie, let me know and I'll upload the song.

I have a few FTLOSM concert boots, Deb, and I believe Stand Up is in it. I dunno, that song hits me like something one would hear in church--too gospel/sermony--and I'm not that religious. Missing You livegrabs me more. There's something about his voice, sincerety of his singing that song.

My favorite song on ST is Strung Out. I tell you, it was in the beginning of my re-discovery of SP&Journey. I came across his video, you know, the one in the dark warehouse rehearsing with his band. The bigwigs showed up to hear him. He is in a torn white t-shirt and jeans. He suddenly shouts: Turn off the Lights! Then proceeded to strut, sweat/hair flying all over the place, singing Strung Out! I sat straight up, 2 feet in front of my TV set, mouth agape, mesmerized by his singing and movement. It was this defining moment, that turned me down the road into perryloon-dom. And my family has not recovered since!

[Rockindeano]

FTLOSM is a mood album. I remember I was driving from Glendale To Tucson, which is a bit of a road trip on its own... got into the desert and lost radio reception (This was before the almighty IPod) , So I went through my car to see what CD's I had brought and for whatever reason it was the only CD in my car.

Originally I thought "Fuck"

But as I put it in the player, and cranked it up, it was just me in the car, middle of the night, no one around for miles, and REALLY listened to it. I just got lost and mesmerized into that cd. It has so many messages, so many deep levels of inner thought. You have to be in the mood for it though. I never had a moment like that with any other cd, ever. Trial By Fire comes close though.

Exactly. Very deep, and very mature, CD.

[Deb]

As a certifiable perryloon , I have to like it because it is a Steve record. Some stunning vocals, most notable songs (to me) were YBW, Missing You, Anyway, the I AM song, and the title track. I do wish it was not so sad and depressing (I understand it was during a time of SP's life that he had to get things off his chest). Steve himself said he opened his heart for all to see and showed his vulnerability with that record.

On the flip side, I thought ST was a "happy" record. Brassy, motown-ish. And, maybe, he was in "that place" in his life, between the 2 Journey masterpieces.

That's one of the reasons I love ST! love when SP gets his motown on.......liked this one the first time I heard it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeoGyv1CXM8
Some of my fave stuff out of JSS and EM is when they go all motown/soul too.

As far as faves from FTLOSM.....pretty much the same 3 as Prog. I love "Stand Up" gawd that song comes across great LIVE! Have that song on a boot, if you haven't heard it Annie, let me know and I'll upload the song.

I have a few FTLOSM concert boots, Deb, and I believe Stand Up is in it. I dunno, that song hits me like something one would hear in church--too gospel/sermony--and I'm not that religious. Missing You livegrabs me more. There's something about his voice, sincerety of his singing that song.

My favorite song on ST is Strung Out. I tell you, it was in the beginning of my re-discovery of SP&Journey. I came across his video, you know, the one in the dark warehouse rehearsing with his band. The bigwigs showed up to hear him. He is in a torn white t-shirt and jeans. He suddenly shouts: Turn off the Lights! Then proceeded to strut, sweat/hair flying all over the place, singing Strung Out! I sat straight up, 2 feet in front of my TV set, mouth agape, mesmerized by his singing and movement. It was this defining moment, that turned me down the road into perryloon-dom. And my family has not recovered since!

It's on the New Jersey one if you have it. I didn't really think much of Stand Up on the CD until I heard it live, the drums, etc...on that one live made it more bombastic (not sure if that's the word I mean ). And believe me sistah, no need to describe the Stung Out vid, LOL all too aware.......even used to be my MR nic.

[annie89509]

I will check for that boot, Deb. That's right, you used Strung Out to sign up here.

[Johnny Mohawk]

I love FTLOSM. It definitely has some Journey sounding songs as well as the more "solo Perry" style in other places.
I always liked the album, but I have to say that I enjoy the re-mastered version more.
The sound and the mix is much brighter and less muddled than on the original pressing (plus, there's extra bonus tracks).

[WalrusOct9]

The album didn't "Score big" with Journey fans because it was almost all generic ballads, few of which were overly memorable. If there were more tunes along the lines of "You Better Wait" I think the album would've done better.

Then again, I'm kind of indifferent to most of Journey's ballads so maybe that's why the album bores me to tears.

[mistiejourney]

I think the song "For the Love of Strange Medicine" is absolutely stunning.

And the video of "You Better Wait" - well, let's just say.....I, uh, reaaaaalllllly like it!

FTLOSM was a darker record, and I still say that TBF was a melancholy record. They were just a few years apart, love them both but they were not shiny-happy-people albums, by any stretch of the imagination!

[Greg]

I liked FTLOSM. It is a moody album. Not one I can listen to on any random day, but it's Steve Perry. That has to count for something.

[Moon Beam]

I seriously liked this cd, every song except for Donna Please.
That one didn't do much for me.
Anyway is my fave on most spins.

[cyndy!]

i like it. to really appreciate this album, you have to take the time to stop & really listen to it. it's not something you'd have on in the background at a kegger & expect to grab you.

[larryfromnextdoor]

it's not something you'd have on in the background at a kegger & expect to grab you.

"joe lies,, joe lies when he cries,,, it will Never be me,Never! dont you even think about it .."..

[texafana]

"You Better Wait" sounds like a Journey tune to me. Love every note of that song. Worth the price of the CD.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

FTLOSM was a darker record, and I still say that TBF was a melancholy record. They were just a few years apart, love them both but they were not shiny-happy-people albums, by any stretch of the imagination!

Agree, and thats what I kind of like about both of them. Not that Im some sort of wierdo killjoy or like being sad !!. Just the opposite, but sometimes you gotta experience that mood to properly understand life!

[NealIsGod]

I like Listen to Your Heart the best. You Better Wait is OK. So is Somewhere There's Hope. Other than that, it does nothing for me.

[STORY_TELLER]

I like Listen to Your Heart the best. You Better Wait is OK. So is Somewhere There's Hope. Other than that, it does nothing for me.

I think overall, Perry needed more talented musicians in his band. Lincoln Brewster was the most talented of the bunch, but he's still a Neal clone. There are moments where you can feel him channeling Neal, but all in all, it's like a low fat, decaf, version of Schon. Perry should have used Nuno as his guitarist. I wonder what these same songs would have sounded like with his guitar in the mix.

The drummer is very weak. Then again, Perry kept his heel on Steve Smith's creative throat in Journey, so who knows if it was Perry holding this guy back the same way. Still, once you've heard Smith....