Nice GH Vol.2 Article/Review

[JRNYMAN]

Steve Spears, moderator and editor of Stuckinthe80s.com, wrote a very positive and supportive article about Greatest Hits Vol. 2 and posted it on the front page of his site today.

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/80s/conte ... hits-vol-2

NOVEMBER 01, 2011
Steve Perry, Journey dazzle with 'Greatest Hits. Vol. 2'

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.

[Ehwmatt]

I'm just checking out the iTunes samples on my shitty laptop internal speakers. I think I hear some marked differences. But I just don't know if I can stomach shelling out $17 (between GH 1+2) for tunes I already own in so many formats.

[JRNYMAN]

I'm just checking out the iTunes samples on my shitty laptop internal speakers. I think I hear some marked differences. But I just don't know if I can stomach shelling out $17 (between GH 1+2) for tunes I already own in so many formats.

+1. That's EXACTLY, word-for-word the way I feel about it.

[Yoda]

I'm just checking out the iTunes samples on my shitty laptop internal speakers. I think I hear some marked differences. But I just don't know if I can stomach shelling out $17 (between GH 1+2) for tunes I already own in so many formats.

Amazon has the download for GH2 for $3.99. I've been listening to it today. The MP3s sound pretty good, but I'm waiting for the vinyl.

[Don]

I'm just checking out the iTunes samples on my shitty laptop internal speakers. I think I hear some marked differences. But I just don't know if I can stomach shelling out $17 (between GH 1+2) for tunes I already own in so many formats.

Amazon has the download for GH2 for $3.99. I've been listening to it today. The MP3s sound pretty good, but I'm waiting for the vinyl.

Amazon did it right by selling it at that point yesterday and today. Sony not wasting money on cover art and just mirroring the first package except for the color was smart also.
As I said in earlier posts, the older material benefits enormously, at least to my ears with this latest remaster. Not so noticeable until you crank it up but then, you hear a big difference.

If this thing breaks into the Billboard 100 on downloads alone, it will further highlight the incompetence in the digital download arena being displayed by the current Journey management, especially when it comes to Eclipse, an album they refuse to promote beyond Wal-Mart despite that retailer no longer having a download service.

[Majestic]

Will this present an opportunity for the band to reformulate the tired dirty dozen by ditching some of the stale hits for some old yet fresh tunes that have yet to be worn out on tour?

[Don]

Will this present an opportunity for the band to reformulate the tired dirty dozen by ditching some of the stale hits for some old yet fresh tunes that have yet to be worn out on tour?

I seriously doubt that though word is Journey will be bringing some older songs back in to the setlist next tour like Line Of Fire and DOA again. Despite the wolf tickets they were selling earlier about playing new Eclipse tracks regardless of what the crowd thinks, they seemed to back down from that resolution by the end of the tour. I don't think Arnel has ever covered a song like LOF with its up and down vocal delivery and mixed in falsettos and weird highs.

[Ehwmatt]

Will this present an opportunity for the band to reformulate the tired dirty dozen by ditching some of the stale hits for some old yet fresh tunes that have yet to be worn out on tour?

I seriously doubt that though word is Journey will be bringing some older songs back in to the setlist next tour like Line Of Fire and DOA again. Despite the wolf tickets they were selling earlier about playing new Eclipse tracks regardless of what the crowd thinks, they seemed to back down from that resolution by the end of the tour.

Shit songs. Play quality lesser known songs like The Party's Over, I'll be alright without you, After the Fall etc.

[Don]

Will this present an opportunity for the band to reformulate the tired dirty dozen by ditching some of the stale hits for some old yet fresh tunes that have yet to be worn out on tour?

I seriously doubt that though word is Journey will be bringing some older songs back in to the setlist next tour like Line Of Fire and DOA again. Despite the wolf tickets they were selling earlier about playing new Eclipse tracks regardless of what the crowd thinks, they seemed to back down from that resolution by the end of the tour.

Shit songs. Play quality lesser known songs like The Party's Over, I'll be alright without you, After the Fall etc.

I agree with this to a point. There has been absolutely no clamor at all for these songs, why they would play them over new material or any of their Billboard charters is a mystery to me.

[brandonx76]

Can someone just record the GHV2 vinyl to their computer, and convert to high quality MP3...honestly, I think that would be better than buying a record player

[Don]

Can someone just record the GHV2 vinyl to their computer, and convert to high quality MP3...honestly, I think that would be better than buying a record player

Huh? Why not just buy the mp3 version or CD of the album then? They're remastered audio also, not just the vinyl.

[brandonx76]

Can someone just record the GHV2 vinyl to their computer, and convert to high quality MP3...honestly, I think that would be better than buying a record player

Huh? Why not just buy the mp3 version or CD of the album then? They're remastered audio also, not just the vinyl.

Well riddle me this, why are they making anything on vinyl anymore? I think the message is it sounds better...if that's the case, can't you just record it played on vinyl for the same effect??

[Don]

Can someone just record the GHV2 vinyl to their computer, and convert to high quality MP3...honestly, I think that would be better than buying a record player

Huh? Why not just buy the mp3 version or CD of the album then? They're remastered audio also, not just the vinyl.

Well riddle me this, why are they making anything on vinyl anymore? I think the message is it sounds better...if that's the case, can't you just record it played on vinyl for the same effect??

I think the whole point is supposed to be about how the equipment makes it sound better from hearing the warm of the sound as the needle runs through the grooves or something like that. It's all a bunch of hogwash to me. Recording it being played on vinyl would take away from the experience of having a thirty pound turntable to fiddle with.