The evolution of Separate Ways

[Don]

First time played in 1982, still being worked on at that point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YPN0iHprpg

Steve Perry 1983

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-EYS1LV ... re=related



Steve Augeri 2001

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8IymJ0i ... re=related



Arnel Pineda 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvEzjpqMY74

[Don]

I actually like the 2001 DVD. Not getting into who's better or any of that, I just think the video came out very well, the shots of people in the audience and the right level of crowd noise. Just a good looking video overall.

[Ligzig]

I like the raw sound of the very link and how it's done, seems almost improv. I like the lighting of the 2001 dvd, but I never liked the Tone of Augeri and his voice seems to lack the true power to do this song justice, not meaning to offend any augeri fans. I also like the stage layout of the Manilla show but I HATE that the crowd sound is totally gone. It's lame, but performance is good.

You left out the best performance though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlxlPEOBo6o

[steveo777]

I like the raw sound of the very link and how it's done, seems almost improv. I like the lighting of the 2001 dvd, but I never liked the Tone of Augeri and his voice seems to lack the true power to do this song justice, not meaning to offend any augeri fans. I also like the stage layout of the Manilla show but I HATE that the crowd sound is totally gone. It's lame, but performance is good.

You left out the best performance though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlxlPEOBo6o

Not as bad as a rick roll, but close! Ok, that phony shit is a Journey roll. I never dug that at all.

[Red13JoePa]

First time played in 1982, still being worked on at that point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YPN0iHprpg

What a find this is. Sopken of in the liner notes of the boxset about how he butchered some of the lyrics but that it was an obvious hit in the making as the crowd loved it.

[Jana]

All the clips sound great. Augeri's is a little less vibrant and more subdued vocally than Perry's or Arnel's, but still a really good performance. Neal needs to put back on weight. He looked great in the 2001 DVD and great in the Manila DVD. His face is way too drawn and thin now from his photo on his facebook page.

[JH'sTXfan]

I actually like the 2001 DVD. Not getting into who's better or any of that, I just think the video came out very well, the shots of people in the audience and the right level of crowd noise. Just a good looking video overall.

I haven't watched it in such a long time that I'd forgotten how good it is. Deen's a monster back there!

[steveo777]

All the clips sound great. Augeri's is a little less vibrant and more subdued vocally than Perry's or Arnel's, but still a really good performance. Neal needs to put back on weight. He looked great in the 2001 DVD and great in the Manila DVD. His face is way too drawn and thin now from his photo on his facebook page.

Maybe he's been smoking crack.

[Don]

I wonder when Schon actually knew they wouldn't finish up in the studio until November. None of his comments prior gave any indication that they would have to break up the production.

[G.I.Jim]

I wonder when Schon actually knew they wouldn't finish up in the studio until November. None of his comments prior gave any indication that they would have to break up the production.

Good question. Honestly though... I'd rather them take their time with this and mix the shit out of it! I don't want another Generations. The mix on that album was horrendous. I'm taking a wait and see approach with this album. I'd love to hear a rocking album, but it HAS to sound like Journey for me to like it. Red 13 was their last "experiment" and I think it sucked terribly! Let's hope for a new "Frontiers" or "Escape" type album. It also needs at least 2 ballads.

One thing that I think has really been missing from their last 3 albums are SERIOUS backing vocals. I know Neal hated all of the over-dubbing Perry did with the vocals, but it's really missing. I'd love to hear another "Chain Reaction" or a "Separate Ways" style of backing vocals recorded on this album. Who cares if they can't replicate it live... they pipe in a good bit of their backing vocals anyway!

Just my $.02 anyways... I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[steveo777]

I wonder when Schon actually knew they wouldn't finish up in the studio until November. None of his comments prior gave any indication that they would have to break up the production.

Good question. Honestly though... I'd rather them take their time with this and mix the shit out of it! I don't want another Generations. The mix on that album was horrendous. I'm taking a wait and see approach with this album. I'd love to hear a rocking album, but it HAS to sound like Journey for me to like it. Red 13 was their last "experiment" and I think it sucked terribly! Let's hope for a new "Frontiers" or "Escape" type album. It also needs at least 2 ballads.

One thing that I think has really been missing from their last 3 albums are SERIOUS backing vocals. I know Neal hated all of the over-dubbing Perry did with the vocals, but it's really missing. I'd love to hear another "Chain Reaction" or a "Separate Ways" style of backing vocals recorded on this album. Who cares if they can't replicate it live... they pipe in a good bit of their backing vocals anyway!

Just my $.02 anyways... I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

None of the fuckers, except for Castronovo can sing any kind of backup. What would you suggest, Jim? Maybe they could get a couple soul sistas.

The days of the Journey members producing stunning BGVs are way gone.

[Don]

That's why I consider Deen their MVP. If you remove him from their live performances, you're getting seriously close to a Pre-fabbed show.

[Jana]

I wonder when Schon actually knew they wouldn't finish up in the studio until November. None of his comments prior gave any indication that they would have to break up the production.

I don't know. But this blog from Kevin the first of May makes me wonder, when he said Neal was a force to be reckoned with when he sets his mind on something. I wonder was it just Jon who maybe was pushing for more slower tempo songs or I wonder if Kevin was pushing, too, or maybe I'm reading too much into that and there was always a meeting of the minds.

"Work on Journey continues..... seven slamming tracks thus far, and nary a ballad in sight, and a few more due today. Neal is hell bent on rockin' out and he's quite a force to reckon with when he sets his mind on something! Poor Ross has been quite ill, but hopefully he's getting to the back end of it now and will be on top of his game next week. Jon is off to DC next week to sit on a panel before Congress on the importance of music in a kids development, Deen is a tattooed chipmunk - literally jumping off the walls, and Arnel has been writing and singing up a storm. For the tech-minded, some of Neal's setup below. Guitars: the Andersen (When You Love A Woman), PRS, Fernandes (Neal Schon), Charve."l

[G.I.Jim]

I wonder when Schon actually knew they wouldn't finish up in the studio until November. None of his comments prior gave any indication that they would have to break up the production.

Good question. Honestly though... I'd rather them take their time with this and mix the shit out of it! I don't want another Generations. The mix on that album was horrendous. I'm taking a wait and see approach with this album. I'd love to hear a rocking album, but it HAS to sound like Journey for me to like it. Red 13 was their last "experiment" and I think it sucked terribly! Let's hope for a new "Frontiers" or "Escape" type album. It also needs at least 2 ballads.

One thing that I think has really been missing from their last 3 albums are SERIOUS backing vocals. I know Neal hated all of the over-dubbing Perry did with the vocals, but it's really missing. I'd love to hear another "Chain Reaction" or a "Separate Ways" style of backing vocals recorded on this album. Who cares if they can't replicate it live... they pipe in a good bit of their backing vocals anyway!

Just my $.02 anyways... I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

None of the fuckers, except for Castronovo can sing any kind of backup. What would you suggest, Jim? Maybe they could get a couple soul sistas.

The days of the Journey members producing stunning BGVs are way gone.

You're talking out of your ass Steve! Ross, Neal, Jon AND Deen can all sing. Not to mention that they can have other singers come in to fill the gaps! Hell, Arnel could do a lot of them. If you don't think these guys can sing, just watch Frontiers and Beyond. Maybe you forget that they used to ALL sing in this band?

[steveo777]

I wonder when Schon actually knew they wouldn't finish up in the studio until November. None of his comments prior gave any indication that they would have to break up the production.

Good question. Honestly though... I'd rather them take their time with this and mix the shit out of it! I don't want another Generations. The mix on that album was horrendous. I'm taking a wait and see approach with this album. I'd love to hear a rocking album, but it HAS to sound like Journey for me to like it. Red 13 was their last "experiment" and I think it sucked terribly! Let's hope for a new "Frontiers" or "Escape" type album. It also needs at least 2 ballads.

One thing that I think has really been missing from their last 3 albums are SERIOUS backing vocals. I know Neal hated all of the over-dubbing Perry did with the vocals, but it's really missing. I'd love to hear another "Chain Reaction" or a "Separate Ways" style of backing vocals recorded on this album. Who cares if they can't replicate it live... they pipe in a good bit of their backing vocals anyway!

Just my $.02 anyways... I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

None of the fuckers, except for Castronovo can sing any kind of backup. What would you suggest, Jim? Maybe they could get a couple soul sistas.

The days of the Journey members producing stunning BGVs are way gone.

You're talking out of your ass Steve! Ross, Neal, Jon AND Deen can all sing. Not to mention that they can have other singers come in to fill the gaps! Hell, Arnel could do a lot of them. If you don't think these guys can sing, just watch Frontiers and Beyond. Maybe you forget that they used to ALL sing in this band?

Jim, I "used to" do a lot of things as well.

[G.I.Jim]

I wonder when Schon actually knew they wouldn't finish up in the studio until November. None of his comments prior gave any indication that they would have to break up the production.

Good question. Honestly though... I'd rather them take their time with this and mix the shit out of it! I don't want another Generations. The mix on that album was horrendous. I'm taking a wait and see approach with this album. I'd love to hear a rocking album, but it HAS to sound like Journey for me to like it. Red 13 was their last "experiment" and I think it sucked terribly! Let's hope for a new "Frontiers" or "Escape" type album. It also needs at least 2 ballads.

One thing that I think has really been missing from their last 3 albums are SERIOUS backing vocals. I know Neal hated all of the over-dubbing Perry did with the vocals, but it's really missing. I'd love to hear another "Chain Reaction" or a "Separate Ways" style of backing vocals recorded on this album. Who cares if they can't replicate it live... they pipe in a good bit of their backing vocals anyway!

Just my $.02 anyways... I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

None of the fuckers, except for Castronovo can sing any kind of backup. What would you suggest, Jim? Maybe they could get a couple soul sistas.

The days of the Journey members producing stunning BGVs are way gone.

You're talking out of your ass Steve! Ross, Neal, Jon AND Deen can all sing. Not to mention that they can have other singers come in to fill the gaps! Hell, Arnel could do a lot of them. If you don't think these guys can sing, just watch Frontiers and Beyond. Maybe you forget that they used to ALL sing in this band?

Jim, I "used to" do a lot of things as well.

Not true... You're STILL an asshole!