Steve Smith on Songs with Journey (excerpts)

[tater1977]

Steve Smith on Songs with Journey (excerpts)

(This was in an article last year, kind of interesting...a couple excerpts from it)..

“LOVIN,’ TOUCHIN,’ SQUEEZIN,’” with Journey (EVOLUTION, 1979): A true story from composer/singer Steve Perry, who in the liner notes to Journey’s Time3 compilation recalls seeing his girlfriend give another man this lingering kiss goodbye before he sped away in a Corvette. Perry called “Lovin,’ Touchin,’ Squeezin,’” with its nifty stuttering rhythm signature and soaring nah-nah-nah conclusion, “love justice.” This would become the first Top 20 hit for Journey.

Steve Smith: That rhythm is a simple 12/8 blues shuffle, a very traditional old-school blues feel. The song developed as a jam started by Steve Perry playing the bass. Actually, that song is reminiscent of a Sam Cooke song called “Nothing Can Change This Love”; Steve was very influenced by the great Sam Cooke. When Journey worked on writing new songs it was a collaborative effort, the band wrote collectively in a rehearsal room. The music would develop in a jam session-style situation. Most of Journey’s music was developed collectively at first and then fine-tuned into songs. I learned a lot from that situation and continue to write like that to this day. Most material for the Tone Center albums was written that way, as is much of Vital Information’s music. It’s an effective way to write because it makes the most of the creative collaboration of all of the musicians involved.

Sam Cooke: Nothing Can Change This Love

http://youtu.be/xEGS2_jl2_Y

Journey - Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' 1979 Evolution

http://youtu.be/bI7SJuItKFs


“SEND HER MY LOVE,” with Journey (FRONTIERS, 1983): One of four Top 40 hits found on this album, “Send Her My Live” went to No. 23 on the U.S. pop charts. The lonesome anthem is notable for more than an atmospheric turn by Neal Schon on guitar, however. It also includes perhaps the most notable drumming contribution on Journey’s string of familiar ballads from Smith, who contributes a slyly involving polyrhythm. Frontiers was the last full-length project Smith would work on with Journey before the one-off reunion Trial by Fire in 1996.

Smith: The rhythm for that song was inspired by the Joe Zawinul composition “In A Silent Way” from the Miles Davis album In A Silent Way. The drummer on that was Tony Williams and he played quarter notes with a cross-stick on the snare drum – a very hypnotic groove. It was one of the first jazz-rock albums, and had a particular freshness because of the use of Fender Rhodes and an open modal playing style. That was an album I’d listened to and digested, and this is a great example of drawing upon your background to come up with ideas to inspire you how to play a particular song. With “Send Her My Love,” that became an essential feel for the song — that quarter-note, cross-stick rhythm, and that comes straight from “In A Silent Way.”


Miles Davis IN A SILENT WAY (rehearsal) Vinyl LP

http://youtu.be/f-kDZoxz9NU

Journey - Send Her My Love (Live In Tokyo 1983) HQ

http://youtu.be/dPCAZscUrQY

[Art Vandelay]

Thanks for sharing! Very interesting stuff.

One of the great things that I took from listening to Journey is all of the incredible influences behind each of the band members, particularly Perry and Smith. Hearing about Perry's Motown/R&B influence helped me discover and learn to quickly love Sam Cooke, Otis, Marvin Gaye, and the lis goes on and on. And it was experimenting with Steve Smith's jazz projects (Vital Information, Steps Ahead, Buddy's Buddies), that directed me towards jazz music and the infinite list of jazz masters. I love reading about musical influences!

One song that I always found to be an influence on Journey, particularly Smith's drum fills, was Elton John's 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.' I always respected Nigel Olsson's playing with Elton, and the creative ways that he would play behind Elton. I don't know if Nigel was an influence on Steve S or not, but damn it if I don't think of 'Faithfully' when I hear this...especially the fill at 3:40-3:48.

Do any of you agree?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI5xme5k5AQ

[FamilyMan]

Thanks for sharing! Very interesting stuff.

One of the great things that I took from listening to Journey is all of the incredible influences behind each of the band members, particularly Perry and Smith. Hearing about Perry's Motown/R&B influence helped me discover and learn to quickly love Sam Cooke, Otis, Marvin Gaye, and the lis goes on and on. And it was experimenting with Steve Smith's jazz projects (Vital Information, Steps Ahead, Buddy's Buddies), that directed me towards jazz music and the infinite list of jazz masters. I love reading about musical influences!

One song that I always found to be an influence on Journey, particularly Smith's drum fills, was Elton John's 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.' I always respected Nigel Olsson's playing with Elton, and the creative ways that he would play behind Elton. I don't know if Nigel was an influence on Steve S or not, but damn it if I don't think of 'Faithfully' when I hear this...especially the fill at 3:40-3:48.

Do any of you agree?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI5xme5k5AQ

Funny that you mention Nigel Olsson. Some of my earliest memories I have are as a kid listening to those early Elton John albums. Olsson's drums always had such a distinct sound, and I loved how high up in the mix they always were... especially on captain fantastic. If you're a fan of Nigel's, find yourself a copy of Elton's live album "Here and There." the guy absolutely killed it live, as does Smitty. they also had similar kits. Nigel is still Elton's drummer today, but he's not allowed to stretch himself nearly as much as those early days.

[conversationpc]

Interesting read...Thanks for the info!

[RedWingFan]

excerpts

[tater1977]

excerpts

LoL I knew it didn't look right..Thanks..