Unfortunately, Steve Augeri never had a chance replacing Jou

[tater1977]

Unfortunately, Steve Augeri never had a chance replacing Journey’s Steve Perry

April 4, 2015
by Nick DeRiso
http://somethingelsereviews.com/2015/04 ... eve-perry/

Poor Steve Augeri. It really didn’t matter, in the end, what he did with Journey. Take “Higher Place,” a stand-out moment from his first album as Journey’s replacement for the similarly named, similar voiced, even similarly maned Steve Perry.

After an intriguingly episodic opening statement, Steve Augeri enters with a vocal that bridges the two eras — it certainly sounds enough like Perry to carry Journey to the well-constructed verse — before this Neal Schon/Jack Blades composition finds its own voice within a chorus that’s pleasantly free of imitative ticks. A finely attenuated return to the verse then gives the song a taut sense of expectation, almost a proggy feel.

In this way, “Higher Place” references the group’s previous successes, but ultimately uses them as a foundation for something new. The ghosts of Journey’s past remained, however, as Arrival (released this week back in 2001) nevertheless became the band’s first album to fail to go gold since the pre-Perry Next.

It seems, for fans of this band at its radio-ready zenith, there simply can be no Journey without Steve Perry. Yet the truth of the matter is, it was started without him — and it’s continued on the same way since his departure in 1998.

In fact, Perry has been gone far longer than he ever was actually in Journey, a stint that began in 1977. Of course, the two decades that followed Perry’s arrival would see the group sell roughly one gazillion records, permanently lodging his presence in most music fans’ minds eye when they think of Journey.

Does it matter that “We Will Meet Again” from elsewhere on Arrival meets, and maybe exceeds, much of their classic-era output? Listen as an inventively layered rhythm by Deen Castronovo (who had replaced Steve Smith at the drums) gives this track a unique character among Journey’s typically anthemic catalog. That sets the stage for a moment of controlled fury from Augeri — who, as with every post-Perry Journey singer, is often asked to elevate more than enunciate. Along the way, he turns a lonesome lyric into one of impressive determination.

Even better is this: “We Will Meet Again,” co-written by Journey stalwart Neal Schon, Augeri and Alabama-based songwriter Kim Tribble, builds toward a sweeping vista reminiscent of Journey’s Roy Thomas Baker-helmed sides like “Winds of March” and “Opened the Door,” a welcome development indeed. And like those two 1978-era tracks, “We Will Meet Again” serves as an emotionally resonant side-closing moment.

Ultimately, it didn’t matter. Journey left Columbia, its label home since ’75, after the follow up to Arrival. Steve Augeri, it seemed, could never shake his predecessor — despite the fact that Perry, despite some more recent stirrings, remains prematurely retired from music.

By 2006, Steve Augeri was gone too, succeeded by Jeff Scott Soto (2006-07) and then current singer Arnel Pineda, a partnership that seems to have finally got the group back on track with fans — and, most certainly, with the Billboard charts.

Along the way, Steve Augeri and the early successes of Arrival have been all but forgotten. Yet this album, in particular on songs like “Higher Place” and “We Will Meet Again,” showed the places Journey could still go, even without Perry.

[The_Noble_Cause]

No argument from me that "Higher Place"is critically under-appreciated. I am pretty sure that the band left Sony after "Arrival" and not after Red 13 or Generations, as this writer states. Also, while "WWMA" is a good song, the comparisons to "Winds of March" or "Opened the Door" are a bit much. Just imo...

[annie89509]

I’m with TNC. Higher Place ranks up there with their best. But, to pick out another SA-song as being just as good (if not better) than any put out in the SP-era is a little much. Makes me wonder if this writer was a special fan of the SA-era.

[leftovertu]

i'm sure i'm in the minority, but i loved what augeri brought to the table. i clearly remember attending the "vacation's over" tour, and was impressed from the moment the guy hit the stage. i personally rank arrival pretty highly, certainly better than anything they've done since. i appreciate what arnel has done to keep journey going, but to me the band hasn't been the same since augeri's departure. again, just my opinion.

[jrnyman28]

I like his article and the writer's enthusiasm. And I can agree with most of what he wrote. But it seems odd to write it now. How about 5 years ago? (Nice that he included JSS. Always impressed when he's included.)

[Monker]

I don't think it was the albums but the nonstop tour that did Augeri in. They should have never done the anniversary tour and maybe recorded an anniversary album instead...all they would have had to do was make Red 13 a full album with proper recording and production, which Generations lacked, IMO.

I still feel that JSS was a radical departure from the "legacy sound" and Arnel's time is too much trying to imitate that sound. The Augeri years were a happy medium...and I was much happier with that than anything since.

[slucero]

What killed Augeri was Augeri..

when he knew his voice was ailing he should have stopped singing... but Journey had contractual obligations... and he made the choice to soldier on..

[FamilyMan]

What killed Augeri was Augeri..

when he knew his voice was ailing he should have stopped singing... but Journey had contractual obligations... and he made the choice to soldier on..

I don't think we can assume we know what kind of pressure Augeri was feeling. I don't think "choice" is the word I'd use. If he'd told them he had to stop singing, my assumption is they would have fired him - replaced him - and moved on. In which case, he'd have lost the gig anyway.

I'm in agreement about "Higher Place." Underrated. First time I heard it, I thought "Sounds just like Escape. Journey's back."

[slucero]

What killed Augeri was Augeri..

when he knew his voice was ailing he should have stopped singing... but Journey had contractual obligations... and he made the choice to soldier on..

I don't think we can assume we know what kind of pressure Augeri was feeling. I don't think "choice" is the word I'd use. If he'd told them he had to stop singing, my assumption is they would have fired him - replaced him - and moved on. In which case, he'd have lost the gig anyway.

Choice is the perfect word.

If you had a dick infection and the doctor told you you had to abstain from bashing the dolphin and sinkin' the pink... or you'd likely damage your pleasure member permanently... you make a choice.

Augi has already said when he had a throat infection, and was getting treatment, the other option was rest. The only logical conclusion was that he "chose" to continue.

[Monker]

What killed Augeri was Augeri..

when he knew his voice was ailing he should have stopped singing... but Journey had contractual obligations... and he made the choice to soldier on..

I don't think we can assume we know what kind of pressure Augeri was feeling. I don't think "choice" is the word I'd use. If he'd told them he had to stop singing, my assumption is they would have fired him - replaced him - and moved on. In which case, he'd have lost the gig anyway.

Choice is the perfect word.

If you had a dick infection and the doctor told you you had to abstain from bashing the dolphin and sinkin' the pink... or you'd likely damage your pleasure member permanently... you make a choice.

Augi has already said when he had a throat infection, and was getting treatment, the other option was rest. The only logical conclusion was that he "chose" to continue.

and, the band and management "chose" to force the issue by scheduling more tours while Augeri was having issues. To blame all of this on Augeri is simply wrong. They are ALL to blame.

Take away the vocal issues, and it was still a stupid decision. They could have completed and released a proper anniversary album and toured behind it as an anniversary tour. it would have been bigger and better, and made a lot more sense then what they did going from VO, to Arrival, to Detour, to the anniversary tour...with hardly any break for recording at all after Arrival.

They all would have been better off...but they are greedy assholes who couldn't pass up the quick cash. They do not think long term and the benefits of going slow and steady.

[slucero]

and, the band and management "chose" to force the issue by scheduling more tours while Augeri was having issues. To blame all of this on Augeri is simply wrong. They are ALL to blame.

Take away the vocal issues, and it was still a stupid decision. They could have completed and released a proper anniversary album and toured behind it as an anniversary tour. it would have been bigger and better, and made a lot more sense then what they did going from VO, to Arrival, to Detour, to the anniversary tour...with hardly any break for recording at all after Arrival.

They all would have been better off...but they are greedy assholes who couldn't pass up the quick cash. They do not think long term and the benefits of going slow and steady.

I wasn't laying all the blame on Augi... just that he made a choice of his own free will.

All he had to do was say "I'm toast".... after all it isn't like the guy he replaced set a precedent or anything....

[JeremyP]

When you're contractually obligated, you can't just "choose to stop" without major legal repercussions visited upon yourself and the team of people with whom you work.

It's especially difficult when you're waving your hands going, "I may need some attention, here" and the rest of the organization is screaming, "GO! GO! GO!" in your ear.

[ebake02]

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the Trial By Fire debacle leave them in a shit load of debt and the relentless touring was the only way to crawl out of the hole?