Neal Schon at PRS WNAMM 2010

[brywool]

wow, Neal looks a lot younger in this clip than in recent years.
I'm thinking that "going in a new direction" could be disastrous, hopefully not. Not that I want them to recreate the same stuff, but hopefully, it won't be too out there. Red 13 wasn't that great of a record to me, and kind of aimless.

NEAL- PLEASE stick with Gibson and Fenders. The PRS's.... blech. The Neal Schon Les Paul was the best that Neal's guitar has sounded in a long time.

That Schon LP was/is a beast... I didn't really have an issue with his PRS sound though. What didn't you like about it?

It just didn't sound as fat as the LP did.

Yea, but was the "fatter sound" due to the guitar or the eqipment/rig Neal was using back in those days?

That's always the question. If you've got a Strat, LesPaul, PRS, Jackson, or a friggin Ukelele, they all sound different on their own. But if you put them through the same processing stuff, they'll all sound the same!

[Since 78]

I've got a strong feeling that the re-record era is over and we can expect all NEW music which is wonderful news. Now, could this be a direct to Itunes release with no major distributor?

Dude, This is great! I am exited to hear what they come up with.

[Jana]

wow, Neal looks a lot younger in this clip than in recent years.
I'm thinking that "going in a new direction" could be disastrous, hopefully not. Not that I want them to recreate the same stuff, but hopefully, it won't be too out there. Red 13 wasn't that great of a record to me, and kind of aimless.

Yeah, I thought the same thing re in a new direction. I like that they're not stagnant, but I hope it's more in the vein of like how they did when writing Arrival, where it's evolving from the '80s sound but still retaining some of the Journey melodic sound still on the album. Red13 didn't like at all, except the Walking Away From the Edge.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

wow, Neal looks a lot younger in this clip than in recent years.
I'm thinking that "going in a new direction" could be disastrous, hopefully not. Not that I want them to recreate the same stuff, but hopefully, it won't be too out there. Red 13 wasn't that great of a record to me, and kind of aimless.

Yeah, I thought the same thing re in a new direction. I like that they're not stagnant, but I hope it's more in the vein of like how they did when writing Arrival, where it's evolving from the '80s sound but still retaining some of the Journey melodic sound still on the album. Red13 didn't like at all, except the Walking Away From the Edge.

I actually enjoyed Red13, production shortfalls aside. I think The Time is a pretty solid song, as is State Of Grace.

[Don]

I just don't want it to be like a Rock opera ala Tommy or Kilroy was Here with a patriotic slant. That would be hokey. Neal did make it sound like it's something not tried before so hopefully that rules out the aforementioned concept.

Neal DID seem a tad behind the times though. Doesn't he know that A/C radio is on FM now, not AM?

[Jana]

wow, Neal looks a lot younger in this clip than in recent years.
I'm thinking that "going in a new direction" could be disastrous, hopefully not. Not that I want them to recreate the same stuff, but hopefully, it won't be too out there. Red 13 wasn't that great of a record to me, and kind of aimless.

Yeah, I thought the same thing re in a new direction. I like that they're not stagnant, but I hope it's more in the vein of like how they did when writing Arrival, where it's evolving from the '80s sound but still retaining some of the Journey melodic sound still on the album. Red13 didn't like at all, except the Walking Away From the Edge.

I actually enjoyed Red13, production shortfalls aside. I think The Time is a pretty solid song, as is State Of Grace.

Well, I take it back. You're right, The Time is a really cool song, kind of a sexy song in rhythm. State of Grace I praise for uniqueness and nice to listen to, but I don't seek it out and wouldn't want an album going in that direction since it's a concept album.

[steveo777]

Anyone think that maybe Neal is laying down the LP guitars out of respect for Les Paul's passing away?

[brywool]

I just don't want it to be like a Rock opera ala Tommy or Kilroy was Here with a patriotic slant. That would be hokey. Neal did make it sound like it's something not tried before so hopefully that rules out the aforementioned concept.

Neal DID seem a tad behind the times though. Doesn't he know that A/C radio is on FM now, not AM?

"Kilroy was Here"- God.... More like "Kill Styx Here".

If they did it like American Idiot or something (not that style, just a good concept), it could be cool. Red 13 was a "Fan" record. To the general public... I don't think it was accepted at all. I think Journey needs to be careful. They've done great with Arnel, but if they go off and do something so radicallly different, it could backfire on them. A great 'CONCEPT' for them would be ONE ballad on the album. The rest would be rock tunes.

[brywool]

Anyone think that maybe Neal is laying down the LP guitars out of respect for Les Paul's passing away?

nah.

[Carlitto H@kk]

Anyone think that maybe Neal is laying down the LP guitars out of respect for Les Paul's passing away?

Naw, if that were the case, don't you think it'd be the other way around? Keep playing them as
a testament to LP's accomplishments and contributions to the guitar world?

Just like with his music, I think Neal gets bored really quick with the same things; he can't sit still.
maybe the LP's were heavy. Maybe he didn't get the publicity/marketing push he was promised
to promote/sell his signature LPs. Who knows...

Either way, they all wind up being essentially the same guiar anyway, right?
Floyd Trem, Fernandez Sustainers, "NoMoTailz" engraved on all the pick-ups

[Don]

I just don't want it to be like a Rock opera ala Tommy or Kilroy was Here with a patriotic slant. That would be hokey. Neal did make it sound like it's something not tried before so hopefully that rules out the aforementioned concept.

Neal DID seem a tad behind the times though. Doesn't he know that A/C radio is on FM now, not AM?

"Kilroy was Here"- God.... More like "Kill Styx Here".

If they did it like American Idiot or something (not that style, just a good concept), it could be cool. Red 13 was a "Fan" record. To the general public... I don't think it was accepted at all. I think Journey needs to be careful. They've done great with Arnel, but if they go off and do something so radicallly different, it could backfire on them. A great 'CONCEPT' for them would be ONE ballad on the album. The rest would be rock tunes.

I'm sure Jon "DeYoung' Cain will find a way to shoehorn one in there somehow. He should have them cover Allies. It's his song anyway and isn't too sappy.

[brywool]

I just don't want it to be like a Rock opera ala Tommy or Kilroy was Here with a patriotic slant. That would be hokey. Neal did make it sound like it's something not tried before so hopefully that rules out the aforementioned concept.

Neal DID seem a tad behind the times though. Doesn't he know that A/C radio is on FM now, not AM?

"Kilroy was Here"- God.... More like "Kill Styx Here".

If they did it like American Idiot or something (not that style, just a good concept), it could be cool. Red 13 was a "Fan" record. To the general public... I don't think it was accepted at all. I think Journey needs to be careful. They've done great with Arnel, but if they go off and do something so radicallly different, it could backfire on them. A great 'CONCEPT' for them would be ONE ballad on the album. The rest would be rock tunes.

I'm sure Jon "DeYoung' Cain will find a way to shoehorn one in there somehow. He should have them cover Allies. It's his song anyway and isn't too sappy.

YES. Allies was always a great song. Should've been a Huge hit for Heart. However, when I listen to it now, those electronic drums wreck it for me (Beeww! Doooh! Beew!- sounds like Mario Bros.). I was always amazed that Heart didn't play that on their tours. Really good song. At least Jon never had a rubber robot suit... Dennis, Kilroy was a cool concept and the film was good- but dang, Mr. Roboto was a pile of crap.

[Ehwmatt]

wow, Neal looks a lot younger in this clip than in recent years.
I'm thinking that "going in a new direction" could be disastrous, hopefully not. Not that I want them to recreate the same stuff, but hopefully, it won't be too out there. Red 13 wasn't that great of a record to me, and kind of aimless.

NEAL- PLEASE stick with Gibson and Fenders. The PRS's.... blech. The Neal Schon Les Paul was the best that Neal's guitar has sounded in a long time.

That Schon LP was/is a beast... I didn't really have an issue with his PRS sound though. What didn't you like about it?

It just didn't sound as fat as the LP did.

Yea, but was the "fatter sound" due to the guitar or the eqipment/rig Neal was using back in those days?

That's always the question. If you've got a Strat, LesPaul, PRS, Jackson, or a friggin Ukelele, they all sound different on their own. But if you put them through the same processing stuff, they'll all sound the same!

During the PRS era, not on the 01 DVD but later, wasn't he playing around with Diezel amps instead of his usual Marshalls? Perhaps that had something to do with it. I also loved his LP lead tone, but I kinda thought between whatever amps/pedals and the fatness of the LP itself that it sounded a bit too "scooped" for rhythms in the Journey style at times. Now, he didn't sound like Dimebag by any means, but it was a little too "modern" for some of the stuff, particularly the stuff before Escape.

[brywool]

wow, Neal looks a lot younger in this clip than in recent years.
I'm thinking that "going in a new direction" could be disastrous, hopefully not. Not that I want them to recreate the same stuff, but hopefully, it won't be too out there. Red 13 wasn't that great of a record to me, and kind of aimless.

NEAL- PLEASE stick with Gibson and Fenders. The PRS's.... blech. The Neal Schon Les Paul was the best that Neal's guitar has sounded in a long time.

That Schon LP was/is a beast... I didn't really have an issue with his PRS sound though. What didn't you like about it?

It just didn't sound as fat as the LP did.

Yea, but was the "fatter sound" due to the guitar or the eqipment/rig Neal was using back in those days?

That's always the question. If you've got a Strat, LesPaul, PRS, Jackson, or a friggin Ukelele, they all sound different on their own. But if you put them through the same processing stuff, they'll all sound the same!

During the PRS era, not on the 01 DVD but later, wasn't he playing around with Diezel amps instead of his usual Marshalls? Perhaps that had something to do with it. I also loved his LP lead tone, but I kinda thought between whatever amps/pedals and the fatness of the LP itself that it sounded a bit too "scooped" for rhythms in the Journey style at times. Now, he didn't sound like Dimebag by any means, but it was a little too "modern" for some of the stuff, particularly the stuff before Escape.

Yeah, maybe so. However, to me, Neal's rhythm sound has always been kind of thin. His lead tone's great but his rhythm just needs more balls.

The BEST sound he ever had (to me) was the Hardline album. Not sure what he did there, but the guitar was FAT.

[Ehwmatt]

Yeah, maybe so. However, to me, Neal's rhythm sound has always been kind of thin. His lead tone's great but his rhythm just needs more balls.

The BEST sound he ever had (to me) was the Hardline album. Not sure what he did there, but the guitar was FAT.

In general Neal's just gonna be remembered more for his leads. I chalk it up to his general love for lots of processing/effects. Probably a fair amount of tone suckage going on there, especially back when true bypass was a true luxury on most pedals. A few songs where I think the rhythm tones he got were DAMN GOOD though:

Just The Same Way
Stone In Love
Escape

Just off the top of my head... I'm sure there are others I enjoy.

[brywool]

Yeah, maybe so. However, to me, Neal's rhythm sound has always been kind of thin. His lead tone's great but his rhythm just needs more balls.

The BEST sound he ever had (to me) was the Hardline album. Not sure what he did there, but the guitar was FAT.

In general Neal's just gonna be remembered more for his leads. I chalk it up to his general love for lots of processing/effects. Probably a fair amount of tone suckage going on there, especially back when true bypass was a true luxury on most pedals. A few songs where I think the rhythm tones he got were DAMN GOOD though:

Just The Same Way
Stone In Love
Escape

Just off the top of my head... I'm sure there are others I enjoy.

Stone in Love yes, but I seem to remember Escape being a bit thin. Just the Same Way had a lot of acoustic guitar too.

[Ehwmatt]

Yeah, maybe so. However, to me, Neal's rhythm sound has always been kind of thin. His lead tone's great but his rhythm just needs more balls.

The BEST sound he ever had (to me) was the Hardline album. Not sure what he did there, but the guitar was FAT.

In general Neal's just gonna be remembered more for his leads. I chalk it up to his general love for lots of processing/effects. Probably a fair amount of tone suckage going on there, especially back when true bypass was a true luxury on most pedals. A few songs where I think the rhythm tones he got were DAMN GOOD though:

Just The Same Way
Stone In Love
Escape

Just off the top of my head... I'm sure there are others I enjoy.

Stone in Love yes, but I seem to remember Escape being a bit thin. Just the Same Way had a lot of acoustic guitar too.

I just love when he comes in on JTSW with a big A5 chord over the piano. It's got that classic 70s crunch that's perfect for the context of the song, although I wouldn't call it "fat."

[Don]

Foreigner created their last album with the intent of getting it on the radio, A/C specifically. Neal is going the other way, saying forget radio play, A/C specifically. I can see what Schon is getting at here. REO had two A/C hits on their last release and it did absolutely nothing for their album sales.

[steveo777]

Foreigner created their last album with the intent of getting it on the radio, A/C specifically. Neal is going the other way, saying forget radio play, A/C specifically. I can see what Schon is getting at here. REO had two A/C hits on their last release and it did absolutely nothing for their album sales.

The other tidbit where Schon says everything is in the iPod now was also kind of telling. Maybe there won't be a Walmart deal for the next album.

[Don]

Foreigner created their last album with the intent of getting it on the radio, A/C specifically. Neal is going the other way, saying forget radio play, A/C specifically. I can see what Schon is getting at here. REO had two A/C hits on their last release and it did absolutely nothing for their album sales.

The other tidbit where Schon says everything is in the iPod now was also kind of telling. Maybe there won't be a Walmart deal for the next album.

Wal-Mart hasn't really followed up anyone's exclusive packages with a second offer. If you can't give them the greatest hits, what else can you offer?

[brywool]

If journey were smart, they'd sell downloads from their site and promote the crap out of it.
no record company just straight cash. Again, they would have to foot the bill for any promo, but yeah, Record companies appear to be in the toilet so why not?

[Carlitto H@kk]

If journey were smart, they'd sell downloads from their site and promote the crap out of it.
no record company just straight cash. Again, they would have to foot the bill for any promo, but yeah, Record companies appear to be in the toilet so why not?

Has any artist ever looked into a deal with Starbucks??? They are EVERYWHERE and sell some cd's and digital download versions...
Why not look into getting an album out to both iTunes AND Starbucks

Done right, you could promote an album TO DEATH thru Starbucks alone

just thinking out loud...

[Ehwmatt]

If journey were smart, they'd sell downloads from their site and promote the crap out of it.
no record company just straight cash. Again, they would have to foot the bill for any promo, but yeah, Record companies appear to be in the toilet so why not?

Has any artist ever looked into a deal with Starbucks??? They are EVERYWHERE and sell some cd's and digital download versions...
Why not look into getting an album out to both iTunes AND Starbucks

Done right, you could promote an album TO DEATH thru Starbucks alone

just thinking out loud...

Interesting idea, although I'm not sure if Journey's music caters to the Starbucks crowd unless they do a stripped-down acoustic album or something.

[brywool]

If journey were smart, they'd sell downloads from their site and promote the crap out of it.
no record company just straight cash. Again, they would have to foot the bill for any promo, but yeah, Record companies appear to be in the toilet so why not?

Has any artist ever looked into a deal with Starbucks??? They are EVERYWHERE and sell some cd's and digital download versions...
Why not look into getting an album out to both iTunes AND Starbucks

Done right, you could promote an album TO DEATH thru Starbucks alone

just thinking out loud...

McCartney did that. Not sure how profitable it was for him though. I think Journey's music would work... simply because everyone is addicted to that stuff (not me, I'm a Dew freak).

[Since 78]

If journey were smart, they'd sell downloads from their site and promote the crap out of it.
no record company just straight cash. Again, they would have to foot the bill for any promo, but yeah, Record companies appear to be in the toilet so why not?

Has any artist ever looked into a deal with Starbucks??? They are EVERYWHERE and sell some cd's and digital download versions...
Why not look into getting an album out to both iTunes AND Starbucks

Done right, you could promote an album TO DEATH thru Starbucks alone

just thinking out loud...

Good idea! They play what they sell which is also good. The only thing is that their CDs are usually pretty pricey.

[Don]

If journey were smart, they'd sell downloads from their site and promote the crap out of it.
no record company just straight cash. Again, they would have to foot the bill for any promo, but yeah, Record companies appear to be in the toilet so why not?

Has any artist ever looked into a deal with Starbucks??? They are EVERYWHERE and sell some cd's and digital download versions...
Why not look into getting an album out to both iTunes AND Starbucks

Done right, you could promote an album TO DEATH thru Starbucks alone

just thinking out loud...

I thought the record selling thing was a big contributor to Starbucks almost folding (along with over expansion and other things)?

[Don]

Not related but I think I finally figured out why they don't sell soundboards after the shows, it's to hard to audit for royalties. A lot of their setlist has songs written by people no longer in the group and trying to keep a ledger for paying them per soundboard sold might be totally non- cost effective.

[RumTumJM]

I just hope they don't deviate from the classic sound too much. Revelation was so good, in my opinion, in capturing the classic sound. I hope the concept idea does not make the sound suffer.

[Carlitto H@kk]

If journey were smart, they'd sell downloads from their site and promote the crap out of it.
no record company just straight cash. Again, they would have to foot the bill for any promo, but yeah, Record companies appear to be in the toilet so why not?

Has any artist ever looked into a deal with Starbucks??? They are EVERYWHERE and sell some cd's and digital download versions...
Why not look into getting an album out to both iTunes AND Starbucks

Done right, you could promote an album TO DEATH thru Starbucks alone

just thinking out loud...

Good idea! They play what they sell which is also good. The only thing is that their CDs are usually pretty pricey.

True..
But that's why I said Starbucks AND iTunes.
By giving half the exclusive rights to Starbucks, you have an outlet that
can promote the heck out of the album to millions of people daily,
piping the new tunes into the ears of addicted coffee mongers everywhere.
If these folks think the Starbucks price is a bit steep, they can look it up
on iTunes At least they will have "heard of it", right?

[RocknRoll]

Thanks for posting this.

It's just so nice to see Neal relaxed and happy. The whole London thing certainly has my speculation feelers waving. OK. seeing Jeff Beck and Clapton, maybe an appearance? but Brian May? Tour plans? Guitar record? who knows?