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6 Degrees Entertainment

Title - The Journey Remaster Series
Artist - Journey

Sure, Steve Perry is the singer. Sure Captured is a live album and the production on it is good ... except for one thing. The entire album is a jumble of songs recorded at different locations, so it isn't the World Wide Live/Frampton Comes Alive disc for Journey fans. This is the one thing that bothered me, even though I think it is a great album, I don't like a fade in/out for each song. Keep in mind, this album is OLD - over 25 years old. It was also done at the beginning of the arena rock era. They were still figuring out what to do and how to do it. Journey - the music, song choices, the whole journey sound - in fact, this album is very good. It is hard to find anything wrong with it. Journey is one of those bands that helped make the 80s memorable, and this album is worth getting for the following reasons - overall, it is very good, the band is (still) popular, and the songs are ones you remember from the era if you grew up in it, and if you grew up later, you will hear a lot of the songs that others talk about so fondly.

This was Journey's first album after Steve Perry's debut solo album. For sure, this effort sounds a lot more like Steve's "Street Talk" album than Journey's previous hard-rocking "Frontiers". Clearly at this stage, Steve was taking more control of the band. Now I certainly love a lot of the songs on this album. "Girl Can't Help It" is a gorgeous, spine-tingling track; but the fact that such a pop-based track led off the album was surely a sign of things to come. "Suzanne" is an underrated track that was a top 20 hit but never got notice once it fell off the charts. "Be Good To Yourself" is one of the only rockers on the album--a very catchy track that was the biggest hit off the album. The title track I give credit to for being unique and another rare rocker here. I also can't help but love the album's last track, the beautiful ballad "Why Can't This Night Go On Forever". This should have been a bigger hit. "I'll Be Alright Without You" was another decent hit.

Journey had it all together on this album. Journey were at the creative peak when they created the top notch music on Frontiers. Perry's lead vocals never sounded better, singing in a deeper tone than their previous recordings. Neal Schon's guitar playing is mind blowing on several tracks; especially on 'Edge of the Blade' which is my favorite track. 'Send Her My Love' and 'Faithfully' are two of the best rock ballads I've ever heard. Jon Cain's keyboards stand out throughout each song and never sounded better. What a tremendous follow up album to Escape.

Journey's first release of new material in ten years, 1996's "Trial By Fire," was a wonderful album to listen to. The vocal stylings of Steve Perry still sound like they used to, albeit more sincere as he gets older, and the band can play like there's no tomorrow. Guitarist Neal Schon continues to play a large role in the music, and he is perhaps one of the greastest guitarists in mainstream rock, up there with the likes of Carlos Santana and Eddie Van Halen. The first single, "When You Love A Woman," is a beautiful song, complemented by vocal harmonies, Schon's amazing playing, and a 15+ piece orchestra, and Perry's singing after all these years is breathtaking. "Castles Burning" is a guitar-driven record that is full of power and darkness, and is one of my personal favourites. Another great ballad is "Don't Be Down On Me Baby," which is a bit softer than "When You Love A Woman," but you are sure to enjoy it if you liked the latter. The title track is a slow song that rounds out the CD, and makes you hope that the band releases many more albums together.

www.LegacyRecordings.com





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