James Young on Journey's new material

[Archetype]

JY Young: Well, we’ve definitely got plans to work up new music, but I look at the new CD that Journey and Foreigner put out two or three years ago with their new singers and I didn’t hear one of those songs ever played on the radio. The albums charted because they were packaged with greatest hits and video.

Link

[DrFU]

JY Young: Well, we’ve definitely got plans to work up new music, but I look at the new CD that Journey and Foreigner put out two or three years ago with their new singers and I didn’t hear one of those songs ever played on the radio. The albums charted because they were packaged with greatest hits and video.

Link

Doesn't seem like he's saying it sucks ... Just that the buying public isn't interested in new music from classic rock bands?

[Michigan Girl]

He's not telling us anything new, nothing that hasn't already been said
by many folks here, many times. I feel certain he speaks the truth, for the most
part, I just don't happen to fall into that category ...I've heard the hits live and
listened to the remakes a time or two, just to say I did.
I've got classsic Journey the way I want them ...classic! I understand exactly
where he's coming from, he makes perfect sense ...except where Babe is
concerned.

[Eric]

If they're not gonna make new music ever again what's the point of following a band?

[jrny84]

I have to disagree with the fact that he said none of the songs on "Revelation" were played on the radio. "After All These Years" was a top ten ac hit, and "Where Did I Lose Your Love", was a top 20 ac hit. I still hear "After All These Years" on the radio, especially satellite. He is right though, that most people are not interested in new music by classic rock bands...they want the old hits.

[Eric]

I have to disagree with the fact that he said none of the songs on "Revelation" were played on the radio. "After All These Years" was a top ten ac hit, and "Where Did I Lose Your Love", was a top 20 ac hit. I still hear "After All These Years" on the radio, especially satellite. He is right though, that most people are not interested in new music by classic rock bands...they want the old hits.

True....those two songs along with Foreigner's "When it comes to Love" were all played a ton on Sirius' Blend and do still get played today.

If a band is only interested in being an active current entity with writing and recording new music to get played on terrestrial radio than I'm not interested in following them closely.

Bottom line.

I'm very disappointed in those comments. Cyclorama may not have sold but it was a kick ass fucking record. Brave New World is my favorite song they've ever done - and that didn't sell.

[Don]

If they're not gonna make new music ever again what's the point of following a band?

There is always a point, be it melodic comfort food/ reminiscing or what ever.
Look at Pink Floyd. They haven't released an album in forever but if either Gilmour or Waters go out on tour, it's an instant sellout. Floyd has three albums in the top 200 album chart right at this moment. A lot of those sales are people who already own Floyd material but just want to replace an old CD or load a new digital device. For them, no new material isn't a turnoff as long as the classics are always available. That's how a lot of people feel about Journey too.
The band's facebook likes increased by one million people last year but Eclipse only moved 70k. In contrast, their back catalog saw 630,000 albums sold last year.
So many variables when it comes to classic artists. Throw money away creating new material or keep dolling up the old stuff as long as people continue to buy it. What's a band to do?

[Gideon]

Agreed.
Mainstream musical success doesn't happen in a vacuum. You need look no further than REO Speedwagon, who still have their iconic lead singer, and yet achieve negligible success with new material.
It really undermines the idea that new albums w/ Perry would tear up the charts and bring about a true renaissance for Journey.

[Michigan Girl]

I've always wondered why artists release new music and then refuse
to play it ...except you do have the disc.

[Don]

Agreed.
Mainstream musical success doesn't happen in a vacuum. You need look no further than REO Speedwagon, who still have their iconic lead singer, and yet achieve negligible success with new material.
It really undermines the idea that new albums w/ Perry would tear up the charts and bring about a true renaissance for Journey.

I agree with that. Just look at the sales totals of the Greatest Hits two and Eclipse, both out sold by the original Greatest Hits this past year. The only way a Perry led Journey album makes a dent is if it also includes re-records of the Dirty dozen at this point. People want what was, not what is.

[Gideon]

+1

I've always wondered why artists release new music and then refuse
to play it ...except you do have the disc.

This was my biggest gripe with Journey in 2011. The balls they grew for Revelation apparently were sucked off them. Perhaps by Michaele?

[Don]

+1

I've always wondered why artists release new music and then refuse
to play it ...except you do have the disc.

This was my biggest gripe with Journey in 2011. The balls they grew for Revelation apparently were sucked off them. Perhaps by Michaele?

I think Michaele, in a warped sort of way has put it into Neal's head that there is life outside of and beyond Journey. I believe him getting back on track with getting his solo stuff ready for release is a small part of that.
I can imagine him in front of the mirror (with pants!), Michaele coaching him from the side and Neal repeating over and over again
"I am Neal Schon. I am Journey. I am bigger than Journey. I am Neal Schon. I am Journey. I am bigger than Journey. I am Neal Schon. I am Journey. I am bigger than Journey."

[Gideon]

Neal with pants?
You've pretty much strained credulity past the breaking point here.

[Toph]

JY Young: Well, we’ve definitely got plans to work up new music, but I look at the new CD that Journey and Foreigner put out two or three years ago with their new singers and I didn’t hear one of those songs ever played on the radio. The albums charted because they were packaged with greatest hits and video.

Link

JY is a bitter boy... Given that he brought little to Styx, Never wrote a hit record for Styx and never sang lead on a hit record for Styx, he really has no reason to comment.

[Ehwmatt]

JY Young: Well, we’ve definitely got plans to work up new music, but I look at the new CD that Journey and Foreigner put out two or three years ago with their new singers and I didn’t hear one of those songs ever played on the radio. The albums charted because they were packaged with greatest hits and video.

Link

JY is a bitter boy... Given that he brought little to Styx, Never wrote a hit record for Styx and never sang lead on a hit record for Styx, he really has no reason to comment.

I know you're a frequent Styx forum poster and if I remember right, a DDY fan (as am I--the fucker is easily in my top 5 singers and his longevity and great vocal form past 60 floor the hell outta me). But I don't read this comment as sour grapes or an attempt to insult Journey or Foreigner at all. It's just a comment on the state of the music business for artists in Styx's genre/age.

[tater1977]

Neal with pants?
You've pretty much strained credulity past the breaking point here.

MS was wearing them ???...

[AR]

Van Halen are playing 3 off their new CD. KISS did the same on their last tour. Cheap Trick ALWAYS record constantly and play new tracks when they are in clubs.

Journey has less time on these triple bills to do so.

[parfait]

+1

I've always wondered why artists release new music and then refuse
to play it ...except you do have the disc.

This was my biggest gripe with Journey in 2011. The balls they grew for Revelation apparently were sucked off them. Perhaps by Michaele?

Perhaps because it sucked balls. Eclipse reeks of a band who tries way too hard to sound dark and cool - but it just comes of as tacky and dull. Oh, and Journey never got any balls. A weirdly shaped clitoris perhaps, but balls? No.

[Amanda]

I have to disagree with the fact that he said none of the songs on "Revelation" were played on the radio. "After All These Years" was a top ten ac hit, and "Where Did I Lose Your Love", was a top 20 ac hit. I still hear "After All These Years" on the radio, especially satellite. He is right though, that most people are not interested in new music by classic rock bands...they want the old hits.

The only time I ever hear AATY is in the supermarket. You ask a radio station to play anything post TBF and you're ignored.

[Gideon]

+1

I've always wondered why artists release new music and then refuse
to play it ...except you do have the disc.

This was my biggest gripe with Journey in 2011. The balls they grew for Revelation apparently were sucked off them. Perhaps by Michaele?

Perhaps because it sucked balls. Eclipse reeks of a band who tries way too hard to sound dark and cool - but it just comes of as tacky and dull. Oh, and Journey never got any balls. A weirdly shaped clitoris perhaps, but balls? No.

I can imagine why you'd think that with Evolution in constant rotation, listening to "Sweet & Simple" and marinating in your vaginal secretions.
Eclipse has more balls than any album in Journey's history, but I agree that most fans don't expect that from Journey. When I saw them Nashville last year, at least half the place dropped in their seats during City of Hope. When Edge of the Moment came along, my entourage and I were the only ones still standing. Poor Neal.

[RSParker]

JY is a idiot.

[Abitaman]

JY Young: Well, we’ve definitely got plans to work up new music, but I look at the new CD that Journey and Foreigner put out two or three years ago with their new singers and I didn’t hear one of those songs ever played on the radio. The albums charted because they were packaged with greatest hits and video.

Link

JY is a bitter boy... Given that he brought little to Styx, Never wrote a hit record for Styx and never sang lead on a hit record for Styx, he really has no reason to comment.

Yes he has been bitter in the past, and IMO it is becasue people don't let the past drop. 13 years and the Styx war is still going on. Me may not sang lead or wrote a hit for the band...but he is making money off that and got his music heard.

[Michigan Girl]

+1

I've always wondered why artists release new music and then refuse
to play it ...except you do have the disc.

This was my biggest gripe with Journey in 2011. The balls they grew for Revelation apparently were sucked off them. Perhaps by Michaele?

Perhaps because it sucked balls. Eclipse reeks of a band who tries way too hard to sound dark and cool - but it just comes of as tacky and dull. Oh, and Journey never got any balls. A weirdly shaped clitoris perhaps, but balls? No.

You make a very good point here, my friend. I was about 50/50 on the
Eclipse effort, which was about 50% higher than Revelation. Since its release,
I’ve listened to She’s A Mystery a very few times. The music simply
has not stuck w/me like I had hoped; although, I don’t hate it.

I became a fan of Journey w/the addition of SP, I had never seen them
live prior to SP (probably because my parents weren’t fans then); therefore,
I don’t know how hard the band rocked at that time. Based on everything
I’ve read, their original fans, all one hundred of them (JJ), thought they’d
become soft w/the addition of SP and many of them quit following Journey?!?
Point being, anyone who became a fan of this band after late 1977 early 1978,
to rock hard, should’ve taken their business elsewhere.

Still they should be playing a song or two live and give the music a chance ...sell it!!

[parfait]

+1

I've always wondered why artists release new music and then refuse
to play it ...except you do have the disc.

This was my biggest gripe with Journey in 2011. The balls they grew for Revelation apparently were sucked off them. Perhaps by Michaele?

Perhaps because it sucked balls. Eclipse reeks of a band who tries way too hard to sound dark and cool - but it just comes of as tacky and dull. Oh, and Journey never got any balls. A weirdly shaped clitoris perhaps, but balls? No.

You make a very good point here, my friend. I was about 50/50 on the
Eclipse effort, which was about 50% higher than Revelation. Since its release,
I’ve listened to She’s A Mystery a very few times. The music simply
has not stuck w/me like I had hoped; although, I don’t hate it.

I became a fan of Journey w/the addition of SP, I had never seen them
live prior to SP (probably because my parents weren’t fans then); therefore,
I don’t know how hard the band rocked at that time. Based on everything
I’ve read, their original fans, all one hundred of them (JJ), thought they’d
become soft w/the addition of SP and many of them quit following Journey?!?
Point being, anyone who became a fan of this band after late 1977 early 1978,
to rock hard, should’ve taken their business elsewhere.

Still they should be playing a song or two live and give the music a chance ...sell it!!

I like their early SP stuff mainly for the bluesy rock. Occasionally give Generations and Arrival a spin too, but never Frontiers, RoR, TBF or the Arnel shit. I simply can't figure out when to actually play the later Journey records. You work out to generic hard rock, Tom Petty when driving, actually listen to Pink Floyd, Warren Zevon or Knopfler, get wasted to Cee Lo and chill out with your mates to Bad Company but today's Journey is neither here nor there.

Last time I played some Eclipse for my buddies, they asked 'the fuck is this gay broadway shit - and I tend to agree.

[Eric]

I have to disagree with the fact that he said none of the songs on "Revelation" were played on the radio. "After All These Years" was a top ten ac hit, and "Where Did I Lose Your Love", was a top 20 ac hit. I still hear "After All These Years" on the radio, especially satellite. He is right though, that most people are not interested in new music by classic rock bands...they want the old hits.

The only time I ever hear AATY is in the supermarket. You ask a radio station to play anything post TBF and you're ignored.

TBF on the radio? Other than BGTY even ROR isn't on the radio...and that's even rare. Journey is '78-'83 to the media. As much as that bothers me because they have a ton of great stuff before and after - it was an amazing 6 years.

[Michigan Girl]

Oh yes ...I hear WYLAW way more than BGTY, 96.5 ...kaaaayyyyyveeeekaayyyyyiiiiiiiiiiiiii

The only time I ever hear AATY is in the supermarket.

Walgreens ...pharmacy.

[jrny84]

I have to disagree with the fact that he said none of the songs on "Revelation" were played on the radio. "After All These Years" was a top ten ac hit, and "Where Did I Lose Your Love", was a top 20 ac hit. I still hear "After All These Years" on the radio, especially satellite. He is right though, that most people are not interested in new music by classic rock bands...they want the old hits.

The only time I ever hear AATY is in the supermarket. You ask a radio station to play anything post TBF and you're ignored.

TBF on the radio? Other than BGTY even ROR isn't on the radio...and that's even rare. Journey is '78-'83 to the media. As much as that bothers me because they have a ton of great stuff before and after - it was an amazing 6 years.

Yeah and thats a darn shame. In the last 3 years I have only heard "IBAWY" from ror and that was back in 2009 in Florida. Its been over ten years since I have heard anything from TBF, how sad is that? I mean grammy nominated "WYLAW" should be played on regular rotation as much as faithfully. Your exactly right in that the media sees Journey as 78-83. I do hear "OTY" on a classic hits station though periodically.

[Michigan Girl]

You guys gotta quit listening to clear channel stations...their job is to sell
advertising, not music, so playing the same 15 songs in rotation saves them money
and headache!! Still, my local 96.5 which plays hits from yesterday and today,
does not play current Journey, at all and WYLAW is a regular ...I'm w/Amanda, course
I've never asked for current Journey!!

[Gideon]

Locally, Escape and Frontiers are played the most. Three or so songs from the pre-Cain era: "Lights", "Wheel in the Sky", and "Any Way You Want It."
Heard "After All These Years" and "Never Walk Away" once or twice, as well as "Higher Place."
And every now and then, there will be "Oh Sherrie" and "Foolish Heart."