I've just read all the nonsense in this thread about how Journey is such a great band and it has nothing to do with Steve Perry. Oh no, everyone rushed out to get the first few albums which are totally unlistenable. It needed Steve Perry and I think it's just ridiculous to say he gave it nothing more than the voice. He transformed a second-rate jazz act into the template for stadium rock-and that's also why Journey are universally reviled. Has anyone heard the song by Half Man Half Biscuit ( a British comedy punk band) it has the immortal line "I've only got six months to live , it could be worse I could be a member of Journey").
We all love them for the reasons most people hate them-great production, over-blown sentimental lyrics, every emotional punch delivered and cynically added just to make it hit the right spot. No wonder they are seen as the enemy by all things trendy and alternative. As for this debate about how wondeful Jonathan Cain or Neal Schon's solo ablums are ????? If you love that instrumental doddling so much what the hell do you see in Journey?
For the Love of Strange Medicine is quite glorious and who cares about the lyrics of 'You'd Better Wiat'-just hear the harmonies and that joyous swoop as Steve Perry tells us he is back.
What is with this speculation on who wrote what bit of what song? 'Send Her My Love' is the perfect ballad and I don't care if Jonathan did most of it or Steve just added a couple of lines, who cares?
Listen to the introduction of the bootleg version of 'Whose Cryin Now? and hear how they collaborated but that was probably just a couple of words or a line.
I saw Steve Augeri last summer and he was excellent but he just couldn't cope with 'Escape' and even 'Separate Ways' was beyond him on the 'Take care my love, miss you love' bit. Yes, he does a good job but he's not Steve Perry and the sooner you all stop making this claim that Journey is somehow as good without Steve Pery the better.
Finally how come Terry Brock never gets mentioned when the great AOR vocalists are talked of?