Steve Perry, Journey dazzle with 'Greatest Hits. Vol. 2'

[tater1977]

Steve Perry, Journey dazzle with 'Greatest Hits. Vol. 2'

STUCK IN THE 80s.....
Steve Spears

NOVEMBER 01, 2011
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/80s/conte ... 2#comments


If you're tired hearing about Journey, try listening to Greatest Hits Vol. 2. If you think that Steve Perry is more myth than man these days, seriously, put a copy of Greatest Hits Vol. 2 into your CD player or on your turntable.

Rarely would I rave about a collection of hits being re-released in time for the holiday season, but this collection of 17 songs is something special. Journey's Greatest Hits Vol. 2, being released today on CD and on beautiful 180-gram virgin vinyl, feels like a lush, inviting time machine. From the first track, Stone in Love from 1981's Escape, you feel like you're sitting six feet away from Perry and the boys as they recorded the epic album.

But the real genius of this collection, which excludes the radio-heavy hits of Volume 1, is that it jumps from era to era -- albeit all in the glorious Steve Perry years -- and highlights tunes that sadly have been ignored too long. Three tracks from 1978's Infinity album are here -- Feeling That Way, Anytime, Patiently. And Evolution from 1979 is represented with Just the Same Way. 1980's Departure, one of the strongest albums top to bottom in their catalog, contributes Walks Like A Lady, Good Morning Girl and Stay Awhile.

Other albums adding tunes include Escape (though Don't Stop Believin', Open Arms and Who's Crying Now are omitted because they appeared in earlier collection), Raised on Radio and Time3. As the album plays, you'll find yourself rocketed back and forth from the '70s to the '90s and back to the '80s. Jet lag? Not an issue. Time suckage? Sure, but that's a good thing. Finally, fans have a greatest hits album that's worth listening to start to finish.

The key to the success of this particular collection, I believe, resides within Perry himself, who remastered the tunes back to vinyl where they originally were born. I seriously get never-ending joy knowing that the former lead singer still has his fingers in the pie and that he obviously still loves the tunes he helped create. I'm hoping for a chat with the man himself soon to get into the particulars of the project. But until that happens, just trust me. Buy the CD. If you don't have a turntable (I don't -- yet), buy one of those too. Journey Greatest Hits Vol. 2 is a reason to celebrate.

[PerryLuvr]

I love hearing great comments like this! I'm glad everyone seems to be enjoying it as much as I am!