Anyone else miss Journey's "Live" backing vocals??

[G.I.Jim]

You know...I've been disturbed by this for the longest time and I'm wondering if I'm alone? Journey used to have such kick-ass REAL backing vocals by the guys, and for years now they've used backing tracks instead of honest-to-goodness backing vocals. Neal hardly EVER gets up to the mic anymore, and I just wish they'd at least make an effort to reproduce their sound live.

Listen to this clip of the very first time they sang "Separate Ways" live back in 1982. They're not perfect, but I love them just the same. MAN I miss this Journey!!! Check this out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7uGcACB ... re=related

[Don]

Pre recorded backup vocals and click tracks. It's all the rage now isn't it?

[Aaron]

Jim,

Have a look at the Ramo/Hugo and Valentine cd's. They just might fill the void you're looking for. They did it for me.

L8r bro,

Aaron

[bluejeangirl76]

MAN I miss this Journey!!!

We all do.

[G.I.Jim]

Jim,

Have a look at the Ramo/Hugo and Valentine cd's. They just might fill the void you're looking for. They did it for me.

L8r bro,

Aaron

While I am a fan of Hugo's AND Valentines, they're not filling the live void of Journey. I own all but one of Hugo's cd's, but I was referring to their live backing vocals. They worked their asses off on stage, and all of them actually sang live back then. I have the "Frontiers and Beyond" video, and hearing them all harmonize backstage was freaking awesome!!!

I would have KILLED to see them back then. Too bad I was a budding teenager with nothing on the mind but BOOTY!!! I didn't know anything about Journey until they'd already called it quits.

[DrFU]

You know...I've been disturbed by this for the longest time and I'm wondering if I'm alone? Journey used to have such kick-ass REAL backing vocals by the guys, and for years now they've used backing tracks instead of honest-to-goodness backing vocals. Neal hardly EVER gets up to the mic anymore, and I just wish they'd at least make an effort to reproduce their sound live.

Listen to this clip of the very first time they sang "Separate Ways" live back in 1982. They're not perfect, but I love them just the same. MAN I miss this Journey!!! Check this out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7uGcACB ... re=related

If time travel ever becomes possible, 1982 Day on the Green would be one of my first stops ...

[Saint John]

lol...Cain looks like a giant bumblebee and Neal looks like fucking A.C. Slater. And why does Perry say "Reckless hearts" instead of "Troubled times" at the beginning of the second verse (2:15 mark)?

[G.I.Jim]

lol...Cain looks like a giant bumblebee and Neal looks like fucking A.C. Slater. And why does Perry say "Reckless hearts" instead of "Troubled times" at the beginning of the second verse (2:15 mark)?

They had JUST written the song, and I'm sure they just tweaked the lyrics a tad. I do it all the time to mine if I come up with a better line. I just re-wrote a few lines of my "Eye Of The Storm" song yesterday. I can't wait until I can play it for you guys...I've rerecorded the entire song, and it's a serious rocker now along the lines of "Separate Ways" or "Chain Reaction". You're going to like it!

[Saint John]

lol...Cain looks like a giant bumblebee and Neal looks like fucking A.C. Slater. And why does Perry say "Reckless hearts" instead of "Troubled times" at the beginning of the second verse (2:15 mark)?

They had JUST written the song, and I'm sure they just tweaked the lyrics a tad. I do it all the time to mine if I come up with a better line. I just re-wrote a few lines of my "Eye Of The Storm" song yesterday. I can't wait until I can play it for you guys...I've rerecorded the entire song, and it's a serious rocker now along the lines of "Separate Ways" or "Chain Reaction". You're going to like it!

I'd love to hear your new song, Jim. Post that fucker right on here. I see Perry tried the Arnel ending at the end of the song. Didn't work out too well for him, though. Loved that performance. I especially loved the way he sang "Distant eyse, promises we made were in Va-a-a-ain, vain, in vain." That was fuckin' incredible.

[G.I.Jim]

lol...Cain looks like a giant bumblebee and Neal looks like fucking A.C. Slater. And why does Perry say "Reckless hearts" instead of "Troubled times" at the beginning of the second verse (2:15 mark)?

They had JUST written the song, and I'm sure they just tweaked the lyrics a tad. I do it all the time to mine if I come up with a better line. I just re-wrote a few lines of my "Eye Of The Storm" song yesterday. I can't wait until I can play it for you guys...I've rerecorded the entire song, and it's a serious rocker now along the lines of "Separate Ways" or "Chain Reaction". You're going to like it!

I'd love to hear your new song, Jim. Post that fucker right on here. I see Perry tried the Arnel ending at the end of the song. Didn't work out too well for him, though. Loved that performance. I especially loved the way he sang "Distant eyse, promises we made were in Va-a-a-ain, vain, in vain." That was fuckin' incredible.

I would, but it's missing the guitars AND vocals right now. I should have the vocals back from Alex within a day or two. I have an amazing guitarist lined up who many people here are familiar with. I can't spill the beans just yet, but He's joining Alex and I on the project right after Christmas. We're going to have him record 4 to 5 songs, then we're shopping to the labels. I'm getting pretty damned excited!!! I'll keep everyone posted when I'm able.

[stevew2]

Nice clip,They do a sound check on Frontiers and Beyond of Wheel in the Sky.vocals only. Awesome vocal, i couldnt find it check this out ,I like what happens at the 200 mark. Nive vocal here to.I think Neal is to lazy, and Friga has lost it, he soulds whiney and froggish. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V32jQZvTAEg

[G.I.Jim]

Nice clip,They do a sound check on Frontiers and Beyond of Wheel in the Sky.vocals only. Awesome vocal, i couldnt find it check this out ,I like what happens at the 200 mark. Nive vocal here to.I think Neal is to lazy, and Friga has lost it, he soulds whiney and froggish. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V32jQZvTAEg

That was a cool clip, thanks! I love Ross's expression around 2:20. Why Perry replaced him and Smith will NEVER make sense in my mind. They're BOTH incredible players!

[stevew2]

Nice clip,They do a sound check on Frontiers and Beyond of Wheel in the Sky.vocals only. Awesome vocal, i couldnt find it check this out ,I like what happens at the 200 mark. Nive vocal here to.I think Neal is to lazy, and Friga has lost it, he soulds whiney and froggish. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V32jQZvTAEg

That was a cool clip, thanks! I love Ross's expression around 2:20. Why Perry replaced him and Smith will NEVER make sense in my mind. They're BOTH incredible players!

Thats was retarded,especially Smitty, he is one of the best, they replaced him with a lame ass studio drummer,They were really something in the day

[WalrusOct9]

Hate to burst your bubble, but Journey's been using taped backing vocals since Rollie left.

You've heard Friga, Ross, and Napoleon sing, and you know NONE of them sound remotely like Perry, yet even on the Houston DVD, there's a whole chorus of Steve Perrys on every song.

Even on the 1982 "Separate Ways" they found time to record b-vox for the live performance, despite just writing the song.

I've always been curious how they did this though, without the tracks ever getting out of sync. They didn't have the same kind of technology they have today for that stuff.

[stevew2]

Hate to burst your bubble, but Journey's been using taped backing vocals since Rollie left.

You've heard Friga, Ross, and Napoleon sing, and you know NONE of them sound remotely like Perry, yet even on the Houston DVD, there's a whole chorus of Steve Perrys on every song.

Even on the 1982 "Separate Ways" they found time to record b-vox for the live performance, despite just writing the song.

I've always been curious how they did this though, without the tracks ever getting out of sync. They didn't have the same kind of technology they have today for that stuff.

That sound check bit they did on Frontiers and beyond was real,maybe they Steve Augeri behind the stage singin backgrounds

[G.I.Jim]

Hate to burst your bubble, but Journey's been using taped backing vocals since Rollie left.

You've heard Friga, Ross, and Napoleon sing, and you know NONE of them sound remotely like Perry, yet even on the Houston DVD, there's a whole chorus of Steve Perrys on every song.

Even on the 1982 "Separate Ways" they found time to record b-vox for the live performance, despite just writing the song.

I've always been curious how they did this though, without the tracks ever getting out of sync. They didn't have the same kind of technology they have today for that stuff.

I have to disagree here... They DEFINITELY used backing vocals for the last 2 or three years they toured, but I believe the "backing" vocals you're hearing on "Separate Ways" is Cain singing and adding vocoder from his keyboard. He also used the vocoder on "Chain Reaction". It definitely beefs up the vocals. I could be way off here, but I don't think they used it until the end of their run.

[Granny]

You know...I've been disturbed by this for the longest time and I'm wondering if I'm alone? Journey used to have such kick-ass REAL backing vocals by the guys, and for years now they've used backing tracks instead of honest-to-goodness backing vocals. Neal hardly EVER gets up to the mic anymore, and I just wish they'd at least make an effort to reproduce their sound live.

Listen to this clip of the very first time they sang "Separate Ways" live back in 1982. They're not perfect, but I love them just the same. MAN I miss this Journey!!! Check this out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7uGcACB ... re=related

Journey hasn't sung live backing vox in eons.

And keeping Neal away from the mic is a good thing. He is a horrible singer.

[Saint John]

Journey hasn't sung live backing vox in eons.

Yet a certain someone was claiming they were "100% live" with Soto...something I strongly disputed.

And keeping Neal away from the mic is a good thing. He is a horrible singer.

Bullshit. His live backing vox always came across very well. The boots are there to prove it.

[Ehwmatt]

You know...I've been disturbed by this for the longest time and I'm wondering if I'm alone? Journey used to have such kick-ass REAL backing vocals by the guys, and for years now they've used backing tracks instead of honest-to-goodness backing vocals. Neal hardly EVER gets up to the mic anymore, and I just wish they'd at least make an effort to reproduce their sound live.

Listen to this clip of the very first time they sang "Separate Ways" live back in 1982. They're not perfect, but I love them just the same. MAN I miss this Journey!!! Check this out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7uGcACB ... re=related

Journey hasn't sung live backing vox in eons.

And keeping Neal away from the mic is a good thing. He is a horrible singer.

Neal is far from a horrible singer. He sounds great on all the Schon/Hammer stuff. Christ, just because the man can't hit a high D doesn't make him a horrible singer.

[PianoMan1986]

In no way am I trying to offend anyone, but reading through these posts/replies, I'm just curious how you guys KNOW about the whole backing vocals ordeal. If any of you can back up your words (legitimately), I'd be more than happy to listen/watch - I'm just curious because obviously I must be blind and deaf to this. Thanks

Nick

[Ehwmatt]

In no way am I trying to offend anyone, but reading through these posts/replies, I'm just curious how you guys KNOW about the whole backing vocals ordeal. If any of you can back up your words (legitimately), I'd be more than happy to listen/watch - I'm just curious because obviously I must be blind and deaf to this. Thanks

Nick

As far as I can hear, they are indeed still singing backing vox live, I can definitely tell Deen is singing some of those high notes, but they are also using canned backing vox to beef up the overall sound - making it more layered if you will. I have no "inside info," just going by what I hear/see.

[PianoMan1986]

In no way am I trying to offend anyone, but reading through these posts/replies, I'm just curious how you guys KNOW about the whole backing vocals ordeal. If any of you can back up your words (legitimately), I'd be more than happy to listen/watch - I'm just curious because obviously I must be blind and deaf to this. Thanks

Nick

As far as I can hear, they are indeed still singing backing vox live, I can definitely tell Deen is singing some of those high notes, but they are also using canned backing vox to beef up the overall sound - making it more layered if you will. I have no "inside info," just going by what I hear/see.

Those were my thoughts too...to me that's not cheating, it's more of a way to compensate for varying acoustics in different venues.

[Ehwmatt]

In no way am I trying to offend anyone, but reading through these posts/replies, I'm just curious how you guys KNOW about the whole backing vocals ordeal. If any of you can back up your words (legitimately), I'd be more than happy to listen/watch - I'm just curious because obviously I must be blind and deaf to this. Thanks

Nick

As far as I can hear, they are indeed still singing backing vox live, I can definitely tell Deen is singing some of those high notes, but they are also using canned backing vox to beef up the overall sound - making it more layered if you will. I have no "inside info," just going by what I hear/see.

Those were my thoughts too...to me that's not cheating, it's more of a way to compensate for varying acoustics in different venues.

A lot of bands do it. I think Jim was saying he just misses the "raw" live sound of having JUST live backing vox on a given night. And I agree with him in a lot of ways, especially when the guys are capable of singing the harmonies well.

[stevew2]

In no way am I trying to offend anyone, but reading through these posts/replies, I'm just curious how you guys KNOW about the whole backing vocals ordeal. If any of you can back up your words (legitimately), I'd be more than happy to listen/watch - I'm just curious because obviously I must be blind and deaf to this. Thanks

Nick

As far as I can hear, they are indeed still singing backing vox live, I can definitely tell Deen is singing some of those high notes, but they are also using canned backing vox to beef up the overall sound - making it more layered if you will. I have no "inside info," just going by what I hear/see.

Those were my thoughts too...to me that's not cheating, it's more of a way to compensate for varying acoustics in different venues.

Its cheating, Neal dosent even go up the mike at times, and you hear 4 part harmony. If they use canned lead vocals, why in the fuck would it bother them to use it heavly for backgrounds.Deen and sometimes Friga {lord help us} sing.

[Ehwmatt]

In no way am I trying to offend anyone, but reading through these posts/replies, I'm just curious how you guys KNOW about the whole backing vocals ordeal. If any of you can back up your words (legitimately), I'd be more than happy to listen/watch - I'm just curious because obviously I must be blind and deaf to this. Thanks

Nick

As far as I can hear, they are indeed still singing backing vox live, I can definitely tell Deen is singing some of those high notes, but they are also using canned backing vox to beef up the overall sound - making it more layered if you will. I have no "inside info," just going by what I hear/see.

Those were my thoughts too...to me that's not cheating, it's more of a way to compensate for varying acoustics in different venues.

Its cheating, Neal dosent even go up the mike at times, and you hear 4 part harmony. If they use canned lead vocals, why in the fuck would it bother them to use it heavly for backgrounds.Deen and sometimes Friga {lord help us} sing.

In fairness, Ross is at the mic if Neal's not most of the time. How much he is actually contributing to the sound, that's a question I can't answer. Don't hear a lot of low end in those big harmonies usually.

[stevew2]

his voice is shot

[annie89509]

All my experience with Journey is retro, and I'm no music tech .... but, boy, those concert boots during GR-era, you really could hear his sweet singing voice in the backup vocals.

Taped backgrounds only became obvious after '80 when it did sound like a choir of Perrys on some songs.

[slucero]

You know...I've been disturbed by this for the longest time and I'm wondering if I'm alone? Journey used to have such kick-ass REAL backing vocals by the guys, and for years now they've used backing tracks instead of honest-to-goodness backing vocals. Neal hardly EVER gets up to the mic anymore, and I just wish they'd at least make an effort to reproduce their sound live.

Listen to this clip of the very first time they sang "Separate Ways" live back in 1982. They're not perfect, but I love them just the same. MAN I miss this Journey!!! Check this out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7uGcACB ... re=related

If time travel ever becomes possible, 1982 Day on the Green would be one of my first stops ...

I Was there...

Day On The Green #1: Journey, Santana, Toto, Gamma, The Tubes (June 26, 1982).

Gamma was insane...

[Aaron]

Sorry Jim, I wasn't clear and probably had too many beers last night. My point was that the layered vocals from Hugo's stuff would work because that's all I've seen from Journey since 98 (recorded backing vocals). I'd like to hear them do it again too. They did sound awesome on Frontiers and beyond.

Jim,

Have a look at the Ramo/Hugo and Valentine cd's. They just might fill the void you're looking for. They did it for me.

L8r bro,

Aaron

While I am a fan of Hugo's AND Valentines, they're not filling the live void of Journey. I own all but one of Hugo's cd's, but I was referring to their live backing vocals. They worked their asses off on stage, and all of them actually sang live back then. I have the "Frontiers and Beyond" video, and hearing them all harmonize backstage was freaking awesome!!!

I would have KILLED to see them back then. Too bad I was a budding teenager with nothing on the mind but BOOTY!!! I didn't know anything about Journey until they'd already called it quits.

[tj]

lol...Cain looks like a giant bumblebee and Neal looks like fucking A.C. Slater. And why does Perry say "Reckless hearts" instead of "Troubled times" at the beginning of the second verse (2:15 mark)?