Nobody Can Fuck With Journey, EVER!

[kgdjpubs]

Actually, I'm pretty sure that you and I have discussed that in the past.

I've said this several times before, but I'll say it again...

Steve Perry has the most amazing voice, but Jimi Jamison has the best voice.

What I mean by that is that Steve Perry can hit these unbelievably high notes that virtually no other man can hit, and he's amazing with that high range. But Jimi Jamison has the best sounding voice. Again, and this goes for every single one of us on this website, that is a matter of preference.

There are people who would tell all of us that both Steve Perry and Jimi Jamison suck as singers. They'd be wrong! But it would still be their opinion.

But believe it or not, I do know a lot of people who feel that Jamison is a better singer than Perry. I consider them to be almost equally great singers, but I know some people who think that it's not even close, that Jamison is a far better singer.

A good friend of mine that is a singer (and who's own singing voice is a lot like Perry's) feels that Jamison is a much better singer.

And there's a member of this websites forums that has said that he prefers a male singer to sound like a male singer, and that's why he prefers Jamison over Perry.

I just feel that Jamison has more "soul" to his voice and vocal delivery than Perry. Not by much, but a little bit anyway.

Interesting. I think "preference" can only take you so far. We need to start looking at what the masses say. For a little research, you will hear singers back in the day compliment Steve Perry and literally call him the voice, this is coming from guys like Jon Bon Jovi who is probably one the most famous and currently successful artists ever, even bigger than Journey/Survivor rolled together. Yo tube comments, you look at them all, Perry this Perry that, there really isn't much said about Jamison, which again I feel he is under rated, but also start to think about the range and diversity of the songs, I like Jamison he is outstanding in the studio, perfect tone all the good stuff for a commercial sound, but LIVE on the other hand he was OK, didn't give as much as Perry did.

Reality, will find the majority of professional singers and fans will consider Steve Perry in another league. You see Jimmy Jamison is considered "one of the best 10 ten" to some, the minority. But! Steve Perry is either considered one of "If not" the best of all time, that is something nobody gets to say.

You can say you prefer Jimmy Jamison to Steve Perry, that is fine, like I can say I prefer John Farnham to Steve Perry - but neither is better! it's that simple, because they are our favourites, it doesn't make them better.

There are several people that have been called "the voice". Sam Cooke, Steve Perry, Glenn Hughes, John Farnham, and probably more that I'm forgetting. I think each of those listed could do things with their voice that the others couldn't. Each also has their own list of admirers.

In Jamison's favor, I don't think many people other than diehard Survivor fans have heard some of his best work (Across the Miles, Man Against the World), and I think popularity ranks fairly high on determining who is the best as far as credit is given, even though it should have no relevance. Perry got far more airplay than Jamison. Truthfully, Bickler got more airplay than Jamison.

You can't influence people if nobody hears you, and it doesn't matter how great you are. Personally, I think Mark Free could hold his own against most of the singers out there, and never got any credit because nobody heard him. Marc Anthony can probably sing circles around 98% of the singers out there, but has rarely ventured into AOR/pop, so is generally not included since he generally stays in a different style of music. John Farnham can sing virtually any style of music, one of the few who actually sounds BETTER live than studio, and has basically lost nothing over 40 years, but virtually nobody outside of Australia has heard of him, even though he is all but worshipped there.

In the end, "best" or "favorite" is going to come down to a combination of personal tastes (style, pitch, etc) vs. technical abilities (clarity, range, tone, etc). Those qualities aren't going to be the same for two people, nor are they going to be the same for different music styles. I like Perry a lot, but I would take Jamison over Perry any day for a blues album. For a Motown album, Perry over Jamison without question.

I think Jamison beats early Perry, even though from a technical standpoint, Perry's voice was virtually effortless. That said, for me, mid 80s Perry was very close to the perfect combination of pitch, phrasing, range and style. I'll take ROR-era Perry any day over WSC-era Jamison, although you really couldn't go wrong with either choice. It's all a matter of preference.

[Journey/Survivor]

Actually, I'm pretty sure that you and I have discussed that in the past.

I've said this several times before, but I'll say it again...

Steve Perry has the most amazing voice, but Jimi Jamison has the best voice.

What I mean by that is that Steve Perry can hit these unbelievably high notes that virtually no other man can hit, and he's amazing with that high range. But Jimi Jamison has the best sounding voice. Again, and this goes for every single one of us on this website, that is a matter of preference.

There are people who would tell all of us that both Steve Perry and Jimi Jamison suck as singers. They'd be wrong! But it would still be their opinion.

But believe it or not, I do know a lot of people who feel that Jamison is a better singer than Perry. I consider them to be almost equally great singers, but I know some people who think that it's not even close, that Jamison is a far better singer.

A good friend of mine that is a singer (and who's own singing voice is a lot like Perry's) feels that Jamison is a much better singer.

And there's a member of this websites forums that has said that he prefers a male singer to sound like a male singer, and that's why he prefers Jamison over Perry.

I just feel that Jamison has more "soul" to his voice and vocal delivery than Perry. Not by much, but a little bit anyway.

Interesting. I think "preference" can only take you so far. We need to start looking at what the masses say. For a little research, you will hear singers back in the day compliment Steve Perry and literally call him the voice, this is coming from guys like Jon Bon Jovi who is probably one the most famous and currently successful artists ever, even bigger than Journey/Survivor rolled together. Yo tube comments, you look at them all, Perry this Perry that, there really isn't much said about Jamison, which again I feel he is under rated, but also start to think about the range and diversity of the songs, I like Jamison he is outstanding in the studio, perfect tone all the good stuff for a commercial sound, but LIVE on the other hand he was OK, didn't give as much as Perry did.

Reality, will find the majority of professional singers and fans will consider Steve Perry in another league. You see Jimmy Jamison is considered "one of the best 10 ten" to some, the minority. But! Steve Perry is either considered one of "If not" the best of all time, that is something nobody gets to say.

You can say you prefer Jimmy Jamison to Steve Perry, that is fine, like I can say I prefer John Farnham to Steve Perry - but neither is better! it's that simple, because they are our favourites, it doesn't make them better.

I don't consider Jon Bon Jovi to be bigger than Journey and Survivor rolled together. In fact I don't consider him to be bigger than Journey alone. But that doesn't matter anyway, as far as I'm concerned.

But as was already pointed out in one of the posts after yours, Perry has been heard by a larger group of people, therefore there will be a larger group of people to compliment Perry's singing.

With that said, there are a lot of people, professional singers included, that have talked about Jamison being one of the absolute best. I have heard individuals call Jamison "The Voice" already, and one of Jamison's nicknames is "Golden Throat."

Jamison is known as being an excellent live singer as well. Every singer will have a bad night every now and then, including Perry. But overall, Jamison is known as being an excellent live singer. And from what I've always heard, most of the recordings of Jamison's singing were done in 1 or 2 takes, whereas Perry is notorious for doing take after take in the studio.

I want to make clear that I consider Jamison to be only slightly better than Perry. If someone else thinks that Perry is slightly better than Jamison, that's fine by me. I just can't understand or agree with someone thinking that Perry is way better than Jamison. I also don't agree with some of the people that I've heard say that Jamison is way better than Perry.

On other websites I'm usually the one who's in bitter arguments in defense of Steve Perry when people aren't giving him enough credit. Make no mistake, I'm a HUGE fan of Steve Perry's singing and songwriting.

[Tito]

Jon Bon Jovi sold out to the liberal establishment. That's why they're still around.

[Journey/Survivor]

Apparently, Peterik did NOT lay down keyboards on the Survivor cds (though may well have written the keyboard parts), so his keyboard skills are probably somewhat in question. I'll still give Cain the edge here.

Where did you hear that baloney?

I have sat in Jim's living room and have watched him tinkle the ivory with finesse few could match. And he's a killer guitar player too.

The comment was based on a comment over on the Survivor board that some other people did some keyboards for Survivor--and I believe the comment was more regarding the WSC album. If you say Peterik did virtually everything, then I'll stand corrected.

The specific point that I was making was on the complexity of the keyboard parts so as to compare. Peterik obviously could play the stuff live, but there's really no reason to lay down extravagant keyboard parts on Journey or Survivor. Unlike Journey, there isn't a boatload of Survivor live recordings, and even less with a keyboard solo. In the end, it's pretty subjective as to who is a "better" keyboard player, and then there is the feel vs. technical skills debate.

From a technical standpoint, Cain is the better keyboardist. I enjoy their playing pretty much evenly.

Actually, I have a number of live recording where Peterik plays a keyboard solo.

[WIX]

Nobody Can Fuck With Journey, EVER!


sTEVE pERRY DID, He took half the stone !

[Journey/Survivor]

Jamison a slight edge on lead vocals over Perry....

Are you serious, I have never ever seen anybody ever say that ever. I'd be interested to know you would make such a claim and why you would give the edge to Jamison. Even Andrew was puzzled, I'm sure Jimmy would be puzzled as well Because I've never seen Jamison being regarded as the voice, in fact Jamison is under rated in my opinion.

Didn't Casey Kasim call him one of the best voices he's ever heard?

i thought Jamison was a porn star

That's a different Jamison.

[Journey/Survivor]

Yeah...I've come to appreciate a good bit of Survivor's back catalogue, prior to Jamison, and really like a lot of it but you just can't compare it to Journey's at all.

That's a good place to start; Pre-Jamison. Which albums are your picks CP?

Easy...Premonition. Especially the Japanese version with the full version of Summer Nights--as opposed to the butchered, cut and skewered version that is normally found.

Ranking Bickler era
1. Premonition...hard rock, partial ballad, mid-tempo
2. Eye of the Tiger...good album once you get past the title track which really has little to do with the rest of the album
3. Caught in the Game...not a bad album, but not very commercial
4. Survivor...band trying to find it's feet. Not much in common with later albums.

Note for the uninitiated...Bickler-era Survivor does NOT sound like Jamison-era Survivor. Writing team was the same, but you are looking at guitar-driven songwriting instead of keyboard-driven songwriting, which is a much tougher, edgier sound.

I like that first Survivor album...a lot! I actually think it's one of their better albums. During the Bichler era I would put it probably #2. Probably EOTT is #1 and Premonition is a very close #3. CITG is #4.

As far as filler that's tough to say. I would say Jouney- Infinity, Escape, and even probably ROR have no filler (maybe 1 song on ROR). I thought CITG had some filler. Frontiers had it stayed in its original form would have no filler but still has only a little.

I'll call it a draw on vocalist and perhaps bass although slight edge to Valory is more likely. Drums and guitars isn't even close. Keys isn't close either plus Cain played guitar on the albums and with the exception of Survivor's first album I don't think Peterik ever picked up a guitar again in Survivor. Actually, I think he does play guitar on COTN. Now, I think Peterik is a better guitar player than Cain but Peterik didn't really play in Survivor so Cain rolls over him here.

TITO. Your a good guy. But it's Bickler, dammit.

As far as the Schon/Sullivan comparison...Schon is easily the better soloist. Sullivan is a great soloist IMO. But Schon is the #1 greatest soloist IMO. But I do prefer Sullivan's riffs and rhythm playing overall. Schon does play some great riffs too, but not as many great ones as Sullivan. But at the same time Journey didn't play that hard riffing style as much as Survivor does.

Whereas Cain is technically a better keyboardist than Peterik, Peterik is a better guitarist than Cain. Nothing against Cain's guitar playing by any means, but Peterik is a far better guitarist than most people realize. Peterik was a rhythm guitarist on Survivor's first 3 albums.

[Journey/Survivor]

Jimi Jamison facts and quotes part II

Jamison was the #1 choice to take over as Deep Purple's new singer in the early 1990's. Jamison was hired to be the new singer, but then his agent and Scotti Brothers Records pressured him to quite the band to focus on his solo career. Joe Lynn Turner was then hired to be Purple's singer.

Also in the early 1990's, Jimi Jamison, Joe Walsh, John Entwistle and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter formed a group. They worked on a few songs, but didn't pursue it much beyond that.

Quote..."When we did The Search Is Over, Ron {producer Ron Nevison} ran everybody out of the studio. We had a couple of glasses of Pouilly-Fuisse wine, and he said 'go out there and sing it.' So I went out and did it once, and he said 'Do it one more time.' I sang it again, and we were getting a bit tipsy. I came into the control room and he's got tears running down his face." The song was completed in two takes.

On his spectacular lead vocal, {on Man Against The World} Jamison reveals,...Quote..."That's the first take. Ron Nevison listened to the demo and said, 'Were not going to beat that vocal, so let's build the track around it.'

When discussing the recording session of his song "As Is," Jimi Jamison said...Quote... When Mickey {Thomas} came to Jim's studio to sing I sat him down behind the console and played him a rough mix on this one. When he turned around he had a tear in his eye. He said that the song was a classic and that it was one of my best vocals. I don't know if it is or isn't but it sure was nice hearing that from one of my favorite singers of all time."

[journey361]

I don't believe their is any argument here, with no disrespect to any singer period, past or present. But SP from (circa) 1976-80 was downright not from this earth. It is not even a close second from anyone. He had some tools (Perry tolls) that can't be ignored. Jamison, Bach, even, Cooke, etc..., would probably be the first to admit it if they were honest with themselves. I'm an in total awe of Perry and what he could do with not as much aas a blink of an eye. I would love to see Jamison, cram on WCTNGOF,SOMETHING TO HIDE,MOTHER-FATHER. Perry's falsetto with control was just plain freakish and not of this planet. I love other singers and i am by no means blind to other artists, but this man owes nothing to anybody at anytime. His legacy will last for ever. He was truly one of a kind. That being said, every1 has their own objectives towards what they believe to be true and not so true, but to say Jamison or any other singer was better than (THE VOICE) is not being honest with themselves. He was downright jaw dropping, unreal.

[stevew2]

Jon Bon Jovi sold out to the liberal establishment. That's why they're still around.

I ve got more veins to my sack then you have to half your brain you bobble dick licker

[Rip Rokken]

No band could follow them on stage and do the different amount of stuff that the boys did. NO BAND EVER!

Dude, you seriously need to get into some Winger!

[stevew2]

No band could follow them on stage and do the different amount of stuff that the boys did. NO BAND EVER!

Dude, you seriously need to get into some Winger!

you like his little hairy titties

[Ehwmatt]

I don't believe their is any argument here, with no disrespect to any singer period, past or present. But SP from (circa) 1976-80 was downright not from this earth. It is not even a close second from anyone. He had some tools (Perry tolls) that can't be ignored. Jamison, Bach, even, Cooke, etc..., would probably be the first to admit it if they were honest with themselves. I'm an in total awe of Perry and what he could do with not as much aas a blink of an eye. I would love to see Jamison, cram on WCTNGOF,SOMETHING TO HIDE,MOTHER-FATHER. Perry's falsetto with control was just plain freakish and not of this planet. I love other singers and i am by no means blind to other artists, but this man owes nothing to anybody at anytime. His legacy will last for ever. He was truly one of a kind. That being said, every1 has their own objectives towards what they believe to be true and not so true, but to say Jamison or any other singer was better than (THE VOICE) is not being honest with themselves. He was downright jaw dropping, unreal.

I'm kinda with Journey/Survivor here. Tonally, Jamison's voice, across his entire catalogue, is just a bit more pleasing to me. This is mainly because every once in a while, I'll be listening to some early Perry stuff and actually get... a bit annoyed. Every once in a while it just grates on me and I find it screechy. That happened when I threw People and Places on today for instance. But Perry did have incredible control/range, the likes of which Jamison probably couldn't equal.

With all that said, I don't think Jimi would be any more interested in singing Perry stuff than SP would be in covering his stuff. What's the point? I don't think either man, both incredible singers, would do justice to the other's material.

[wildcat75]

I don't believe their is any argument here, with no disrespect to any singer period, past or present. But SP from (circa) 1976-80 was downright not from this earth. It is not even a close second from anyone. He had some tools (Perry tolls) that can't be ignored. Jamison, Bach, even, Cooke, etc..., would probably be the first to admit it if they were honest with themselves. I'm an in total awe of Perry and what he could do with not as much aas a blink of an eye. I would love to see Jamison, cram on WCTNGOF,SOMETHING TO HIDE,MOTHER-FATHER. Perry's falsetto with control was just plain freakish and not of this planet. I love other singers and i am by no means blind to other artists, but this man owes nothing to anybody at anytime. His legacy will last for ever. He was truly one of a kind. That being said, every1 has their own objectives towards what they believe to be true and not so true, but to say Jamison or any other singer was better than (THE VOICE) is not being honest with themselves. He was downright jaw dropping, unreal.

I'm kinda with Journey/Survivor here. Tonally, Jamison's voice, across his entire catalogue, is just a bit more pleasing to me. This is mainly because every once in a while, I'll be listening to some early Perry stuff and actually get... a bit annoyed. Every once in a while it just grates on me and I find it screechy. That happened when I threw People and Places on today for instance. But Perry did have incredible control/range, the likes of which Jamison probably couldn't equal.

With all that said, I don't think Jimi would be any more interested in singing Perry stuff than SP would be in covering his stuff. What's the point? I don't think either man, both incredible singers, would do justice to the other's material.[/quote]

But Arnel can do both cover of their materials very well, i'm just saying. On the other side i wish to see them do cover of Arnel's material maybe ATTY and WIN, but don't get me wrong i love both SP and JJ and it's my wish to see all my favorite band/ singer perform together on stage. Am i asking too much? Well, they said if you want to dream, dream it big coz anyway it's free.

[jrny84]

I remember hearing Jimi Jamison for the first time, and I couldnt believe his voice. The guy is one talented and gifted singer. He actually sounds similar to perry in tone. Jimi Jamison just didnt get the exposure and recognition that Steve Perry did. For me though I would say Perry is still the better vocalist, having a much higher range, and vocal ability. Jimi Jamison is definetly one of best vocalists and very underrated.

[FishinMagician]

You know, I'm drinking and just watching the VH1 Classic top male singers, listening to the box set, but there's never been a band that can touch Journey for the complete body of work. Perry's the greatest singer ever and Augeri, Soto and Arnel kick ass too. Neal can't be touched, Jon wrote songs that will live for 100 years and Steve Smith is one of the 5 greatest all-around drummers to ever live.

From La Raza Del Sol to Faithfully, there has never been another rock band to do the huge spectrum of music that Journey has done.

I mean, I know we all have our small differences about what the band has done over the years, but can't we all agree?

Say it out loud................Journey is the baddest, most musical, most versatile band of all fuckin' time!!!!!!!!!

No band could follow them on stage and do the different amount of stuff that the boys did. NO BAND EVER!

We all have our preferences about what we wish the band had done or not done, but this band is unmatched in musical history!

Any other band.......line 'em up and bring em' on stage after Journey in their prime and watch them all fall by the wayside!

Say it with me......................JOURNEY FUCKING RULES!

i'd throw in the chili peppers as a contender for versatility and musicality. but yes.

[S2M]

I'm not sure just what criteria you are using, or how big your rose-coloreds are...but Journey is not the end-all....be-all.

Just enjoy the fuckin' music and quit comparing groups, posting the same after same gospels like you are a disciple.

We get it - you like SMFP and the J-boyz.

[Onestepper]

I'm not sure just what criteria you are using, or how big your rose-coloreds are...but Journey is not the end-all....be-all.

Just enjoy the fuckin' music and quit comparing groups, posting the same after same gospels like you are a disciple.

We get it - you like SMFP and the J-boyz.

The guy upfront admitted he was drinking. But yeah, this and the 'album of the day' stuff reminds me of BackTalk. It just does.

[madsplash]

I'm not sure just what criteria you are using, or how big your rose-coloreds are...but Journey is not the end-all....be-all.

Just enjoy the fuckin' music and quit comparing groups, posting the same after same gospels like you are a disciple.

We get it - you like SMFP and the J-boyz.

Glad you get it. Yea, it's VERY important to me that YOU get it.
I AM enjoying the music, and I'll compare whoever I want. If you don't like it, don't friggin read it, and I AM a SP disciple, and Journey IS the end-all....be-all, musically.

Again, don't like it, click by it. Don't waste your valuable time responding to me. It's obviously beneath you.

[Rockindeano]

This thread is hysterical, and so fucking ridiculously wrong.

Journey/Survivor has proven his idiocy front and center, and the rest of you obviously don't listen to or watch other bands besides Journey. They aren't a top 20 band in rock history; not even close. But hey, why piss on your parade?

Carry on.

[Deacon]

They aren't a top 20 band in rock history; not even close.

According to what, may I ask?

Record Sales or Public Opinion?

[lights1961]

ACTUALLY AC/DC kicks Journeys butt... and I love journey
and live ACDC kicks ass too... TNT/ROCK AND ROLL TRAIN, FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK...
Highway to hell and Thunderstruck... should I go on...
JOURNEY is good...but when you have to throw in open arms... takes it down a notch..

[Gideon]

It doesn't matter, actually.

This forum doesn't need incessant pessimism or bitching; Madsplash, though intoxicated, made a relatively positive contribution and a topic that people can espouse something other than the aforementioned pessimism and bitching.

This forum was created to be a place to discuss matters Journey related. Though it's clearly transcended such a restrained purpose and has become a community of sorts, it is still, first and foremost, a place to discuss Journey. Those who are whining and bitching about the band (though I'll admit that, objectively, they probably aren't a "top twenty" band in terms of greatness) or, God forbid, complaining about a positive atmosphere, need to remember that.

[Gideon]

ACTUALLY AC/DC kicks Journeys butt... and I love journey
and live ACDC kicks ass too... TNT/ROCK AND ROLL TRAIN, FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK...
Highway to hell and Thunderstruck... should I go on...
JOURNEY is good...but when you have to throw in open arms... takes it down a notch..

Personally, I loathe AC/DC. I think they're overrated and repetitive, but they've certainly contributed a great deal to music as we know it.

[Red13JoePa]

Jimi's a great pal, but even he would bow down to Perry.

In private I bet he wouldn't and in public I don't. Jamison's a better male singer.

Perry's a better singer/songwriter evidence by solo hits 3 or 4-0 and Jamo getting zero Survivor writing credit but pure singing it's just not the case.

[madsplash]

Jimi's a great pal, but even he would bow down to Perry.

In private I bet he wouldn't and in public I don't. Jamison's a better male singer.

Perry's a better singer/songwriter evidence by solo hits 3 or 4-0 and Jamo getting zero Survivor writing credit but pure singing it's just not the case.

Wrong. Perry's superior in all aspects.

[Gideon]

Jimi's a great pal, but even he would bow down to Perry.

In private I bet he wouldn't and in public I don't. Jamison's a better male singer.

Perry's a better singer/songwriter evidence by solo hits 3 or 4-0 and Jamo getting zero Survivor writing credit but pure singing it's just not the case.

Wrong. Perry's superior in all aspects.

You need to substantiate that (I agree, btw).

[journey361]

Back in the day, aand probably not now as they are alot older, JOURNEY on their worst day, was probably better than most bands on their best day. They kicked ass. Untill all the commercial shit took over.

[Deb]

No band could follow them on stage and do the different amount of stuff that the boys did. NO BAND EVER!

Dude, you seriously need to get into some Winger!

Like a lot of Wingers stuff too. Fave still has to be Seventeen though, love the guitar in it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlN3oEjMpUQ Kip's still looking great nowadays too. While his vocals don't quite move me like my faves' do, he's still a great singer and very talented guy. And an absolute sweetheart to boot.

[verslibre]

This thread is too funny! :lol:

No band could follow them on stage and do the different amount of stuff that the boys did. NO BAND EVER!

We all have our preferences about what we wish the band had done or not done, but this band is unmatched in musical history!

Are you sure about that?

Journey, to me, from 1981-1983 is the greatest band of all-time.

This makes me LOL!

From ballads, to heavier rock, to some Samba-Latin to Reggae. Who can name someone with this much musical talent, who ALSO took their sound to the top of the charts and sold over 75 million records world-wide?

Ballads, heavy rock, soft rock, pop, Latin (various styles), R&B/soul, fusion, instrumental, and with numerous high-charting singles and many millions of albums sold? Shit, that's easy. The first name that comes to mind is Santana. I don't like what Carlos has been doing the last ten years (dump the lame guest singers already), but before that, there's two decades-plus of absolutely fantastic music with different lead singers. Oh, yeah, didn't Rolie and Schon first record with Santana?

Perry gets the edge of Bickler probably but Jamison v. Perry is a draw (some would say Perry, some would say Jamison).

So is this the Battle Royale of the Falsettos? Is Mickey Thomas going to squeeze into his spandex and jump into the ring, too?

I'll see your Journey and Survivor, and raise you a Rush.............

.....and maybe even a Kansas.

Now we're getting somewhere...

Let me hear a power ballad from either of those bands. Or a samba from Geddy and Rush or some Reggae from Kansas.

Well, Rush did get into some reggae-isms in the early 80s. Check Signals, my favorite Rush album. Kansas has done some fine ballad-y work but that's not what they usually specialize in. Nor do they need to. Plenty of that shit out there. Samba?! WTF for? Don't you listen to Weird Al for all the samba/polka/bossa nova shit?

Kansas is a good band, but their catalog isn't nearly as strong as Journey's.

What a load. You need to listen to more Kansas. Kerry Livgren is one of rock's finest composers. Song For America, Leftoverture, Point Of Know Return, Masque (and even the first album)...spectacular. That Best Of doesn't cut it, man.

I believe they swapped out an Elefante and Walsh somewhere in the 80's if I'm not mistaken.

John Elefante sang on a couple albums and then Steve left Streets and returned to Kansas.

You are correct about Rush, they've been the same band since 74, but they went through numerous personnel changes before that.

Irrelevant. They only had a keyboardist (Lindy, brother of Geddy's wife, Nancy) and a couple other peeps, but that was when they were teens. Geddy and Alex couldn't legally buy a beer in the USA when Rush came out. Neil Peart joined the band on Geddy's 21st birthday. John Rutsey had to leave due to health issues, not infrastructural soap opera/crybaby nonsense.

Geddy is a good bass player if he can keep the stinkin thing out of the lead.

Can you elaborate? "Out of the lead"? As in what, be boring like Ross? Geddy's bass playing was the primary attractor for me when I was first getting into Rush. Does Ross even get talked about by novice and veteran bassists? I've yet to meet somebody who cites Ross as an "influence."

Schon is the greatest lead guitarist in Rock history...

Smith is the most technically skilled drummer ever...

Neal is a badass, but as long as Jeff Beck is around, he won't be Numero Uno. Beck seems limitless in his scope.

There are other axeman some of you Journeycentric people ought to check out, like Ritchie Blackmore, Al Di Meola, Steve Howe, Kerry Livgren, Steve Morse, etc.

Other drummers as good as, or better than, Steve:

Terry Bozzio
Billy Cobham
Vinnie Colaiuta
Lenny White

Valory has a slight edge on bass over Ellis

Wow, that Ellis guy must be a pretty shitty bass player, then.

There are several people that have been called "the voice". Sam Cooke, Steve Perry, Glenn Hughes, John Farnham, and probably more that I'm forgetting. I think each of those listed could do things with their voice that the others couldn't. Each also has their own list of admirers.

You wouldn't believe some of the guys I've heard called "The Voice"! Greg Lake. That's right. Greg f'in Lake. Paul Rodgers. Holy cow. I mean, those gruff voices were cool for certain styles (at least till Greg shot his out with all those ciggies), and I'm a major ELP fan, but to refer to either of them as "The Voice"? That handle should go to Ronnie James Dio, Michael Sadler, or even John Lawton* for a great all-around type of singer.

*I know, everybody's going who?? but that's not MY problem...


In closing, I'll add that there's a guy out there who's waaaaayyy past his prime, but IN his prime he was easily the equal of any vocalist mentioned in this thread (even Dio, who I hold in the highest regard). [Pre-'85] Petra's vocalist, Greg X. Volz. Very expressive. Four octave range. Hit stratospheric notes (a prereq for everyone here). Can do rockers, ballads, soulful stuff. Anything. REO wanted him in the '70s but he turned them down to sing for Petra. The guy's voice is/was just amazing.