As someone who grew up in the 70s and 80s....that is an impossible question. But if really really pressed....I would have to say Perry. But my God there are so many others (Freddy, Delp, Plant, DeYoung, etc. etc. etc.). It's like asking which child do you love most?
I agree about Steve Perry, Nobody even comes close. Yes, there are other great vocalists but nobody has Steve's incredible vocal technique; his vibrato and that gorgeous tone are in a league of thir own.
You heard it from Neil Schon's own voice that if it wasn't for Steve Perry there would have never been the journey that we knew. Because they were being canceled. But then Steve Perry comes on and the rest is gold. Or double Platinum!
Huge Journey fan…Grew up in that era and Steve really was that good. But, you have to mention Brad Delp from Boston when talking about about incredible singers in that genre.
Yea but "Best" is ALWAYS subjective. I agree that Steve is "One Of The" but I don't think there can be a "The very BEST" singer. WHY? Because Lou Gram. Because Freddy Mercury. Because Brad Delp. Because Paul McCartney. Because Brian Connolly. (Plus ALL of SWEET) Plus, Plus, Plus. Steve is undoubtedly truly ONE OF THE VERY GREATEST EVER!! But so are those others Plus a few more!! IMHO.
Steve Perry has an unmistakable voice, once you hear it you know instantly who it is. Steve is my mumber one fave rock singer, there is no other rock singer like him and never will be.
Steve Perry was the best lead singer for Journey ever. He had a powerful voice, great stage presence, and he wrote a lot of their best songs. The present lead singer doesn't have near the vocal ranger that Steve had.
I bought a Journey album before Steve Perry joined the group. I listened to 2 songs and never listened to the rest. As far as I’m concerned, Perry was the catalyst for their success!
@@bfish89ryuhayabusaagreed, when Perry joined the whole band's style adjusted and adapted. However, prior to '78 when he joined, their three pre-existing albums were still great, no doubt
I liked Journey before Steve. When Steve was introduced to the band I honestly didn't like their change but it didn't take long for me to catch on and understand Herbert's vision. I was hooked for life. Steve catapulted these guys into infinite stardom. @@bfish89ryuhayabusa
Steven Perry’s voice is one of those voices that as you said will always no matter how many times you hear a journey song that can split your head wide open…. He truly has an amazing voice not many can even compare.
@@libbylandscape3560While it's true that nobody will sound as good as Perry in his prime, the only one that sounds ALMOST as good is their on again-off again(currently on if I'm right) drummer Deen Castronovo. I've seen some clips on here that sound amazing. Unfortunately, I don't remember being able to hear him when my sister and I saw Journey in concert several years ago. I think, at that point, he was doing time for allegedly abusing a girlfriend or maybe by then ex-girlfriend. Anyway, something else that makes me think he was gone from Journey at that point was that the drumming was boring. I had never seen clips of Deen doing boring drumming.
I was in 11th grade and my girlfriend and I went to see Journey (the Escape tour) at the Omni in Atlanta. I had heard Journey on the radio and I was absolutely convinced that that voice was some kind of studio trick because nobody could actually sing like that. Well...I was wrong. I think my jaw hit the floor from the 1st song. He is an amazing and unbelievable talent. That brings me to something else, where is the talent these days? Music ended for me after early to mid 80's rock and 90's country. Thank goodness for satellite radio!
I went to the Escape tour in the 11th grade also. At the Los Angeles Forum. Loverboy opened up. My friends and I got lucky. One of my friends dad worked for the venue or promotions. Anyway, he got us 'just added' seats in the orchestra section. Roughly 20 rows back. I could have s**t myself. We paid $25 a ticket. I would go on to see them 3 more times all with SP. But that Escape Tour had to be my favorite.
Steve Perry’s voice just takes your breath away. 🌟How can that sound come out of a person?? 🤔I still think he is the best singer of all time. Next is Freddie Mercury !!🌟 🤩🤩🤩🤩
My late husband turned me onto Journey. They were the sound track of the 80's. My two daughters grew up on Journey music. To me, Steve Perry is and always will be part of Journey. He made that group very rich. STEVE is a Legend in my eyes.
I have always loved Steve Perry as lead singer of Journey. Niel Schon and Johnathan Cain are legendary musicians. Wheel in the Sky is a great early track by the band.
A two-fer today! Iconic sound of Steve Parry, this is a song I would always stop and listen to the rest of it when scrolling through the radio stations. And crank up the sound.
Ahhhh to grow up in the late 70s early 80s listing to absolute amazing songs being played by incredible bands. And then there was Journey with Neil Schon and Steve Perry. They were in a league of their own, a “bottled lighting storm”. Cheers to these musicians who help create and sustain Journey. Thank you for the wonderful memories.
I'd have to go with Steve Perry and Brad Delp for best pure rock singer, but Robert Plant and Steve Walsh are not far behind. I loved when Steve and Gregg sang together, as those early albums with Steve and Gregg are pure magic. So many great songs... So Many!!! Great video!!
I’m with you with Steve being an absolute brilliant singer. I’ve always had him as the best of all time. Paul Rodgers seems to be the favorite with most votes. But how can you deny Steve Perrys incredible range! Just the best.
The best part of that album was Feeling That Way/Anytime. Gregg and Steve trading lead vocals, plus Neil's otherworldly guitar solos. Incredible stuff.
The live Journey concert in Houston 1981 is up there with some of the best concert audio and footage ever. Listening to Neal, Steve and Jonathan absolutely shred Who's Crying Now is a next-level experience.
I saw that tour when they opened up for the Rolling Stones in Philadelphia. Sorry that I didn't pay more attention. At least Journey didn't get fruit thrown at them like Foreigner did in 1978.
I wish I could have seen them live back then. My granddaughters and I have worn out 2 of the Journey, Live in Houston DVDs. It truly was/is an awesome concert!
Your description of the moment Steve Perry's vocals came in on "Feelin' That Way" is dead on! I remember being in a room full of people when that song came on the PA, and when Steve's voice came over the speakers to sing that line, everybody stopped what they were doing and just looked up into the air with an astonished look on their faces. Magical bewilderment.
In 1988 as a 13 year old for about a year the only time in my life I did this I would fall asleep listening to a tape, and I alternated between Mozart's 40th and 41st and Journey's greatest hits. Good listening! To this day, every song on that compilation album rocks my heart! Mozart ain't bad, either, lol!
I love the tone colors of many 80s vocalists. The voices of George Michael and Simon LeBon resonate with a beautiful sens of innocence. However, Steve Perry rings to the heavens with his voice in such a way that I call him the Vortex of Innocence!
Obviously Escape and Frontiers are HUGE albums, but... start to finish I still think Infinity is Journey's best effort. Each song just gets more magical with another listen. Perry's absolutely soaring vocals are huge part of that magic. Great video!
Nope, most people I know HATE Journey, myself included. Only old women play Journey on the Jukebox here. Perry's first album with Journey was okay, but after that, ewww!.
@@Anaris10 Very young, or just stupid? They were an incredibly popular band in the 70s and 80s, though never one that I paid much attention to. But Perry was always a top notch singer, no doubt.
NOTHING AT ALL AGAINST JOURNEY OR PERRY - BUT MY ALL TIME FAVORITE WAS DALTREY -- WHEN HIS GRAVELLY VOICE WAS ON KEY HE WAS SIMPLY THE SOUL OF ROCK N ROLL - MAYBE NOT THE GREATEST RANGE OR ANY OF THAT OTHER STUFF -- BUT MY FAVORITE -- SAW HIM SING DONT LET GO THE COAT LIVE IN DALLAS & I STILL REMEMBER IT ALL THESE YEARS (DECADES) LATER
@@jimnagel5611 That was a whole different generation...most of the people that heard Journey weren't even born to hear Daltrey or at least were very young...
Steve Perry gets my vote. Journey was a favorite band of mine in the 70s and 80s. Still have their CDs which motivsted me when I exercised and ran in the 90s and early 2000s.
The Infinity, Evolution and Departure are a trilogy of awesomeness. Definitely desert island albums there. The dual vocals with Steve Perry and Gregg Rollie are as good as it gets. Journey continued to make killer music after Gregg left the band. To me it wasn't the same, with only Steve singing lead.
I almost think of it as a Journey's version of the David Lee Roth era of Van Halen. Once Jonathan Cain arrived, it was similar to Sammy Hagar with VH... Just a different iteration of a great band
Perry/Rolie combo are my favorite songs from Journey. Rolie’s lower voice just meshes with Perry’s so well and the group harmonies when he was in the band were phenomenal. The combo of both of them on “Just the Same Way”, “Anytime”, “Feeling That Way” just fantastic.
😊 I also agree with Infinity, Departure & Evolution being 3 of Journey's Best. I'll admit it when my sister & I saw Journey with Def Leppard a few years ago, I was blown away when Journey performed " La Do Da" with Arnel, Great concert 😁✌️
As much as I love both Robert Plant and Jon Anderson, I gotta go with Steve. What he did on the Rolie duets/albums is untouchable. The Cain years were also sublime. Perry is the heavy weight champ.
Steve Perry's vocals and Neal Schon's guitar are the most potent one-two punch in rock history. They intertwined their talents to weave some of the most incredible melodies ever heard on stage.
I saw Journey in 1980-they magically rose up out of the stage. It was absolutely unforgettable. I fell in love with music all over again after the dreary disco years -I thought music was over. But Journey turned it around!!
I couldn't agree more. There's a reason Steve Perry's nickname is The Voice. He is the greatest vocalist in music history. And my personal favorite singer too. 🙌🏻✊🏻☝🏻
I agree, @ProfessorofRock, that "Feeling That way", was the pivotal turning point for the vocals of Journey. I remember hearing that song for the very first time (playing the first side of the LP at my friend's house after school after the Christmas break in 1978). The song starts with Gregg Rolie sort of lumbering through the drudgery of the song. We ironically hear "opened my eyes to a new kind of way", then his last line "Am I just your fool?" Then BAM, the crystal clear, soaring "When the summer's gone"! Mr. Perry took over! Wow, talk about your "out with the old and in with the new" sound! Journey -- and might I say Rock & Roll -- were never the same since! Plus some other incredible greats on the back side: "Winds of March" and "Opened the Door". Just amazing songs -- even 45 years later.
Thank goodness Herbie suggested that Steve Perry join Journey, and thank goodness they agreed, even if reluctantly. The result was one of, if not the greatest band of their era. A match made in rock and roll heaven! Say what you will about Steve as a person, the man could sing! And the songs they cranked out together! I never get tired of listening to Journey songs during that era.
As a child of the 70s-80s, for me personally, Journey was THE band that I listened to for all entire adolescence!! I listened to their cassette tapes on repeat as I rode my four wheeler and the lawn mower cutting grass on our 10 acres of lawn
so many great songs in the Journey catalog. I have to say that for "Feeling That Way", it's because it moves from Greg Rollie to Steve Perry that makes it just leap out of the speakers. It's still my favourite Journey song. Hope you do a spot on that one, one day!
The (very)last time I bought CDs, it was for a road trip and I was laughing inside as I brought Metallica and ABBA to the checkout. I already had Journey's greatest in the car.@@erictrenbeath9680
I cannot be the only one who misses these two vocalists TOGETHER.?. I recognize Steve’s brilliance but Gregg just had something as well. I really loved his voice. Steve is the king. Don’t get it twisted. Still…
Steve Perry and Rollie were OK together, Perry is a Counter Tenor (F#2 - A5) High Tenor Altino with a Tone between Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin 4 Octaves, 5 Notes. Rollie sounded like every other singer out there in a rock band singing with Perry. Herbie Herbert wanted something Flashy, Unique and someone who would standout and it helped Perry was easy on the eyes to women everywhere. Rollie being in the band longer than Perry expected the Frontman position Herbert realized he wasn't it and when he found Perry told them this is your frontman. Herbert's decision never set well with Rollie and after a short period sharing the vocals with Perry, Rollie left.
@@mariacampos8234 that’s your opinion that they were “ok”, which is fine Many would disagree 3 or 4 albums together isn’t a short time in a lot of peoples view either. Gregg one of 25 inducted twice in the rock and roll HOF
@@g.t.richardson6311 - it's fact Rollie expected the Frontman position and when he didn't get it, tried being second fiddle for a while and then decided he had enough and left. The information regarding Perry's voice is FACT go look it up! Gregg got in twice as part of a group not as a SOLO ARTIST and yes neither did Steve Perry, but he has the superior voice. Sorry, truth and fact bother you...
Infinity was an amazing album. I wore out many a needle on that record back in the day. Wheel in the Sky is undeniably a great song along with Lights. But my absolute favorite Journey song of all time is Feeling That Way and Anytime (which everyone knows must always to be played together or else there will be a rip in the space-time continuum).
I saw Journey in concert in 1975, was not impressed. Forward to when Lights was released, wow wow wow! The addition of Steve Perry & his voice completely changed the band. I've been a big fan ever since!
Journey and Led Zeppelin are my lifelong, all-time favorite bands. I've collected tons of live shows, studio outtakes, etc, etc from Journey through the decades and they were the perfect band for my teenage soul when I first heard them in 1981. Of course I started going backwards to 1978 (and later 1975 would their studio albums in 1973 with their unreleased live shows) with Infinity soon following my discovery of them at the age of 14. And I've never thought twice about them being one of my two favorites and how incredible bands. I have always been so impressed by the musicians and Steve Perry on vocals and they just blew everything else away for me. They touched my soul and sang the lyrics to my life and loves throughout it. I'm about to put the 2 LP Journey Captured album on right now :-) I didn't realize Robert Fleischman was one of the writers on Winds of March either. That is one of my all-time favorite Journey songs. Especially when it's live! They haven't played it live since around 1981. And I was really lucky to be able to hear and see Neal sit down after a sound check in Austin back in 2002 and start picking at an acoustic guitar playing Winds of March. I got all excited thinking they were going to do the song that night finally. But I walked up to the stage and talked to Ross Valory after the sound check and asked him if they were playing the song that night. He was so cool! But unfortunately he said that one wasn't on the set list so I never got to hear a full band version of it at a concert. Journey has so many unbelievable songs that the common fan probably doesn't hear nowadays And they probably seldom heard them on the radio back in the day. With those early Perry albums starting with Infinity and going through, in my opinion, Departure, they had a ton of great songs that just never got a lot of radio play. I love all of their Steve Perry era albums and my favorites are the early ones up through Frontiers. But like I said, I love them all! What an incredible band. I'm definitely feeling that way... anytime (and every time) I hear classic Journey! Brian in Fort Worth 🎶
Born in 1959, it was the Beatles and the Monkees in grade school, Elton John and Santana in junior high, from then on it was one FANTASTIC band after another, you could barely keep up. I saw Journey open for Queen in '79 for $7.50. That's what it was like. KY102 had 102 cents concerts, where the T- shirt I bought cost more than the show! We had it made. Sorry you younger kids missed it. Oh yeah, we didn't have crack houses, school shootings, drive-by's or school resource officers either. Mtv actually played music videos, not "16 and pregnant". The heighth of our civilization. What happened? Ronald Reagan, Fox News, Newt Gingrich, the Moral Majority, Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, Columbine, the NRA, Aurora Colorado, Sandy Hook, Harriet Stoneman-Douglas, the pandemic, I pity you kids. You deserve what we had. General admission shows for a few bucks. Let's aim for that, instead of a Mini-14.
Wheel in the Sky was the first song I ever saw on MTV. I knew and loved Journey, but had never actually seen them before. I was hooked! Wish I'd gotten to see them with Steve Perry. He is beyond amazing. I did get to see them last year and they did not disappoint, but just not quite the same.
I didn't see them until about 10yrs ago myself. Arnel did a great job, and he may not be Steve but without him I may have never gotten to see Journey at all, and that would be a shame.
Just one of few bands I followed and play often. Great Band and Steve Perry, a power singer you'll never forget. Journey, Foreigner, Kansas, Styx, Asia, Toto, Rush, ACDC. They all Rock the World.
Journey was my first concert ever. I absolutely fell in love with Steve Perry and his vocals as an elementary kid. 6th grade my mom surprised me with concert tickets for my birthday. I studied every song and sang every note. Steve Perry will always be the guy with the golden voice. No one does it better. Love some of his more recent work as well. He just put out a song where he spliced together irresponsible that his Dad had sung at a karaoke club and sent Steve. Steve had it redone with different music and he sang along side his Dad. It's absolutely beautiful. I don't even know if Steve Perry fully understands how huge his life has been and all that he means to many, many fans and to music as a whole. Thank you for covering this. I am a little late but so happy I found your page. ❤
Great content as always Professor. Steve Perry and Journey had lots of great music. But my favorite is a hidden gem from the Midnight Special 1979. Journey and Herbie Hancock performed "Roadrunner" Steve Perry is soulful and funky and there is an incredible guitar vs keyboard "duel" between Neal Schon and Herbie Hancock. Musicians having FUN. I say a MUST SEE for Journey fans.
Fun fact or serious fact, actually: Our singer in our band stated this: "Two guys make work hard when singing their tunes: Steve Perry and Brad Delp" I agree with him totally.
Steve Perry.. His voice in his prime was really unmatched. First time i heard him sing was Don't Stop Believing and well that was it. i was sold LOL. Then i needed to hear more and well after listening to their 1981 Escape album. Is he just the best singer ever? I mean what he could do with his voice was just insane. For me he is the best singer ever though. Loved this video!
I don't know if it was intended to happen this way, but Feelin' That Way & Anytime were always on radio as a double-a side. That's the song(s) the really stuck with me with each a Neal Schon solos and indeed what an introduction to Steve Perry.
Perry is a legend, truly his songwriting, voice, and stage presence made Journey the huge success it went on to become. Shon is an incredibly talented guitarist, together they were amazing. I completely agree with you about Feelin that Way, Rollie's voice was good but nothing spectacular, then Perry comes in with that powerhouse voice and you forget everything you thought you knew about music. I am new(ish) to UA-cam but for what it's worth I really enjoy your content.
I think as a younger kid when Journey was big, I kind of took them for granted. I liked many of their songs and they were radio anthems for 70s and 80s rock for sure. I always remember hearing them at the local roller rink. All the guys knew to hide in the bathroom if faithfully came on because the girls would be hunting for slow dance partners. Lol what times. Now as an adult and lifetime student of music, I am in complete awe of how good these guys are musically. Steve Perry's voice is soul melting for sure and the entire band was on point. Watch "who's cryin now" live from houston in like '81' and they will astonish you. A seriously talented band with timeless songs. Cheers!
There’s only one Steve Perry. His unique and amazing voice is a gift from God. The fact is there will be no Journey without Steve Perry😊 Let’s “give to Cesar what belongs to Caesar”.
So, it’s 1978, I’m 16 years old and a mutual friend of my older brother and I says play Journey for me. My brother drops the needle on the first cut on side 2 of Infinity and my jaw just dropped, been a huge fan ever since.
Great song. It came out at a time when several songs kind of carried that kind of "mystical" sound like: Crystal Ball by Styx, Crazy On You by Heart, Ridin' The Storm Out by REO, and several others that kind of define this period. It was the beginning of a great run for Journey as well. Great interview and video POR. Thanks much. 👍✌️🙏
Evolution was my introduction to Journey thanks to my brother, and because of it Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' is my favorite Journey song of all time. Would love to see a retrospective on that one.
I've been a Journey fan since 1977. I've been a little disturbed with Schonns direction and for that matter...his impatience. I would have waited for Perry to get his surgery and heal. Some guitarists are a dime a dozen but a true, one of a kind vocalist is... A rarity.
When other great vocalists in Rock history call Steve Perry "The Voice" that is all that needs to be said. Freddy Mercury was asked how does it feel to be the world's greatest singer; Freddy said "I wouldn't know ask Steve Perry" ,does anymore need to be said
I love this album 🎉 Wheel in The Sky was my ring tone when ring tones were cool. 😂 Steve Perry has an amazing gift. His voice just just draws you into all the emotions of the songs he sang. His talent and Neil's genius of the guitar made a beautiful work of art. I just love Steve Perry. ❤️ Will always love his voice. ❤
I was 9 yrs old when I first heard Lights. And then Wheel In The Sky and Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'. However, it was Lights that caught my attention as a young girl. Every time, I heard Lights, I would sit in front of my brother's speaker and just soak up that Voice!!! I kept thinking, who is this??? It wasn't until 1980 when I was introduced to Journey!! And I've been a fan since!! However, it's Classic Journey for me!!!
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Poll: Who your pick for the greatest pure rock singer of all time?
John Waite
Jennifer Rush
Steve Perry
Joe Elliot
James Dean Bradfield The Manic Street Preachers
Gordon Lightfoot
James Taylor
Michael McDonald
No question - Steve Perry.
Steve most definitely, no auto tune and he is The Voice!! Next for me would be Layne
As someone who grew up in the 70s and 80s....that is an impossible question. But if really really pressed....I would have to say Perry. But my God there are so many others (Freddy, Delp, Plant, DeYoung, etc. etc. etc.).
It's like asking which child do you love most?
There is a reason why they call Steve Perry “The Voice” It’s because no one else has that depth of voice.
I agree about Steve Perry, Nobody even comes close. Yes, there are other great vocalists but nobody has Steve's incredible vocal technique; his vibrato and that gorgeous tone are in a league of thir own.
You heard it from Neil Schon's own voice that if it wasn't for Steve Perry there would have never been the journey that we knew. Because they were being canceled. But then Steve Perry comes on and the rest is gold. Or double Platinum!
Hanford CA. Dirty valley.
Walsh from KANSAS is no slouch.
Huge Journey fan…Grew up in that era and Steve really was that good. But, you have to mention Brad Delp from Boston when talking about about incredible singers in that genre.
Steve Perry. There will never be another like him.
Steve Perry is the best lead singer of all time. His talent, originality, range, effortless pitch, puts him in a league all his own.
Neal schon would just be another fabulous guitarist that hundreds knew about. Adding Steve to the group is what put journey into the stratosphere.
Steve Perry has the best male voice in rock, period!
Peter Cetera might disagree.
I agree Steve Perry has the best voice in rock period ! The Voice . Peter Cetera love his voice but he’s no Steve Perry ! My opinion!
Yea but "Best" is ALWAYS subjective. I agree that Steve is "One Of The" but I don't think there can be a "The very BEST" singer. WHY? Because Lou Gram. Because Freddy Mercury. Because Brad Delp. Because Paul McCartney. Because Brian Connolly. (Plus ALL of SWEET) Plus, Plus, Plus. Steve is undoubtedly truly ONE OF THE VERY GREATEST EVER!! But so are those others Plus a few more!! IMHO.
Steve Perry has an unmistakable voice, once you hear it you know instantly who it is. Steve is my mumber one fave rock singer, there is no other rock singer like him and never will be.
For me, Steve Perry was Journey. That man could sing the phone book and I would listen.
Steve Perry was the best lead singer for Journey ever. He had a powerful voice, great stage presence, and he wrote a lot of their best songs. The present lead singer doesn't have near the vocal ranger that Steve had.
I bought a Journey album before Steve Perry joined the group. I listened to 2 songs and never listened to the rest. As far as I’m concerned, Perry was the catalyst for their success!
Keep listening. Those first 3 albums are amazing!
@@bfish89ryuhayabusaagreed, when Perry joined the whole band's style adjusted and adapted. However, prior to '78 when he joined, their three pre-existing albums were still great, no doubt
I liked Journey before Steve. When Steve was introduced to the band I honestly didn't like their change but it didn't take long for me to catch on and understand Herbert's vision. I was hooked for life. Steve catapulted these guys into infinite stardom. @@bfish89ryuhayabusa
I agree with you ! Didn’t much care for them till Perry was the singer
@@bfish89ryuhayabusaYou're right. Those three albums have some awesome playing. Look Into The Future is one of the best Journey songs ever.
Steve Perry gives you immediate shivers when he starts to sing!
Steven Perry’s voice is one of those voices that as you said will always no matter how many times you hear a journey song that can split your head wide open…. He truly has an amazing voice not many can even compare.
Absolutely. His voice is incomparable.
@@libbylandscape3560 Rik Emmett.
@@libbylandscape3560While it's true that nobody will sound as good as Perry in his prime, the only one that sounds ALMOST as good is their on again-off again(currently on if I'm right) drummer Deen Castronovo. I've seen some clips on here that sound amazing. Unfortunately, I don't remember being able to hear him when my sister and I saw Journey in concert several years ago. I think, at that point, he was doing time for allegedly abusing a girlfriend or maybe by then ex-girlfriend. Anyway, something else that makes me think he was gone from Journey at that point was that the drumming was boring. I had never seen clips of Deen doing boring drumming.
Operatic. That's the word that comes to mind whenever I listen to Steve Perry. Not a whole lot of rock singers qualify for that title.
I was in 11th grade and my girlfriend and I went to see Journey (the Escape tour) at the Omni in Atlanta. I had heard Journey on the radio and I was absolutely convinced that that voice was some kind of studio trick because nobody could actually sing like that. Well...I was wrong. I think my jaw hit the floor from the 1st song. He is an amazing and unbelievable talent. That brings me to something else, where is the talent these days? Music ended for me after early to mid 80's rock and 90's country. Thank goodness for satellite radio!
Amen! I agree with you 100%!!!
I was at that show! It was amazing to be sure.
I went to the Escape tour in the 11th grade also. At the Los Angeles Forum. Loverboy opened up. My friends and I got lucky. One of my friends dad worked for the venue or promotions. Anyway, he got us 'just added' seats in the orchestra section. Roughly 20 rows back. I could have s**t myself. We paid $25 a ticket. I would go on to see them 3 more times all with SP. But that Escape Tour had to be my favorite.
Steve Perry’s voice just takes your breath away. 🌟How can that sound come out of a person?? 🤔I still think he is the best singer of all time.
Next is Freddie Mercury !!🌟
🤩🤩🤩🤩
I was gonna say the same thing: its Perry and Mercury. Both had the other-worldly voices. And each was a superior performer on stage.
My late husband turned me onto Journey. They were the sound track of the 80's. My two daughters grew up on Journey music. To me, Steve Perry is and always will be part of Journey. He made that group very rich. STEVE is a Legend in my eyes.
I still get goosebumps listening to Steve Perry classics ❤❤❤
Journey is one of the most iconic bands in history. They were a huge influence on me and other musicians. What a legacy.
For sure!
I was surprised they never had a #1 single. They had 6 top 10 hits, and half of those are ballads!
@@screwyootube1 That is amazing. They should have had several.
Time and numbers have proven Journey fell far short of Queen.
Lots of musicians wished they stopped being a band because it just wasn’t fair to everyone else.
"His voice cracks my soul" - well said Professor! Steve Perry's voice is electrifying.
Steve Perry had a set of pipes that no one could touch! The perfect voice for that era of rock! All other bands tried to copy but never could
Steve Perry is my all time favorite rock voice. I loved the stories in this episode!
I have always loved Steve Perry as lead singer of Journey. Niel Schon and Johnathan Cain are legendary musicians. Wheel in the Sky is a great early track by the band.
A two-fer today! Iconic sound of Steve Parry, this is a song I would always stop and listen to the rest of it when scrolling through the radio stations. And crank up the sound.
For sure!
Ahhhh to grow up in the late 70s early 80s listing to absolute amazing songs being played by incredible bands. And then there was Journey with Neil Schon and Steve Perry. They were in a league of their own, a “bottled lighting storm”. Cheers to these musicians who help create and sustain Journey. Thank you for the wonderful memories.
Steve and Neal - bottled lightening storm - love it and so true.
It was amazing, and we all took it for granted.
Born in 1960….best muscle cars, stereo….classic rock will never fade away …68-78-my kids still love it too❤❤❤
Steve referred to the lofty heights his voice could soar to as "Calling small animals to the back door." 😂
Journey is nothing without Steve. Period. You can't beat that incredible voice.
And Grand Funk Railroad is nothing without Mark Farner who also has a great voice.
TOTALLY AGREE! Steve Perry and Neal Schon: the most magical musical partnership in rock history. Truly remarkable.
I'd have to go with Steve Perry and Brad Delp for best pure rock singer, but Robert Plant and Steve Walsh are not far behind. I loved when Steve and Gregg sang together, as those early albums with Steve and Gregg are pure magic. So many great songs... So Many!!! Great video!!
Never knew he was ever a rookie… but had no doubt from “all other groups were screwed” who it was. The man’s vocals slay.
There has never been and never will be any singer more amazing then STEVE PERRY! I still listen to him every day.
I’m with you with Steve being an absolute brilliant singer. I’ve always had him as the best of all time. Paul Rodgers seems to be the favorite with most votes. But how can you deny Steve Perrys incredible range! Just the best.
Steve Perry has a once in a lifetime range of singing voice. It is and always will be at the top of my favorite artists.
"Infinity" is an amazing album. Steve's harmonies with Gregg Rolie are amazing.
Couldn’t agree more!
The best part of that album was Feeling That Way/Anytime. Gregg and Steve trading lead vocals, plus Neil's otherworldly guitar solos. Incredible stuff.
Anytime and Feeling that Way....❤❤
Something amazing about Greg and Steve together .but he left and Cain came in and ,that worked out pretty well to say the least
I actually have been into Evolution as of late. I have the CD in my truck and had forgotten what a great album that was.
The live Journey concert in Houston 1981 is up there with some of the best concert audio and footage ever. Listening to Neal, Steve and Jonathan absolutely shred Who's Crying Now is a next-level experience.
I saw that tour when they opened up for the Rolling Stones in Philadelphia. Sorry that I didn't pay more attention. At least Journey didn't get fruit thrown at them like Foreigner did in 1978.
I was there for that concert.
I wish I could have seen them live back then. My granddaughters and I have worn out 2 of the Journey, Live in Houston DVDs. It truly was/is an awesome concert!
That last couple of minutes of Who's Crying Now is maybe Neal's best song solo of all.
Agree 100%
Your description of the moment Steve Perry's vocals came in on "Feelin' That Way" is dead on!
I remember being in a room full of people when that song came on the PA, and when Steve's voice came over the speakers to sing that line, everybody stopped what they were doing and just looked up into the air with an astonished look on their faces. Magical bewilderment.
I tell my daughters and wife all the time… that transition turned the world into journey fans! It’s one of my favorites songs
Yes, that happened to me as well.
Always my favorite singer of all time and my teenage years
One of my favorite bands of ALL time!! Steve is a legend!!
In 1988 as a 13 year old for about a year the only time in my life I did this I would fall asleep listening to a tape, and I alternated between Mozart's 40th and 41st and Journey's greatest hits. Good listening! To this day, every song on that compilation album rocks my heart! Mozart ain't bad, either, lol!
Love this song!
Steve Perry took Journey to another level.
Thanks for this bonus episode Professor! Happy Friday!
You're welcome!
I love the tone colors of many 80s vocalists. The voices of George Michael and Simon LeBon resonate with a beautiful sens of innocence. However, Steve Perry rings to the heavens with his voice in such a way that I call him the Vortex of Innocence!
No vocalist greater than Steve Perry. No band as great as Journey for just pure passionate lyrics & guitar perfectly integrated.
Obviously Escape and Frontiers are HUGE albums, but... start to finish I still think Infinity is Journey's best effort. Each song just gets more magical with another listen. Perry's absolutely soaring vocals are huge part of that magic. Great video!
Steve Perry has the most amazing singing voice and range. Journey was THE icon band of the 80s.
Nope, most people I know HATE Journey, myself included. Only old women play Journey on the Jukebox here. Perry's first album with Journey was okay, but after that, ewww!.
@@Anaris10 your age is showing...Yes it would be older people that enjoy Journey...DUH
@@Anaris10 Very young, or just stupid? They were an incredibly popular band in the 70s and 80s, though never one that I paid much attention to. But Perry was always a top notch singer, no doubt.
NOTHING AT ALL AGAINST JOURNEY OR PERRY - BUT MY ALL TIME FAVORITE WAS DALTREY -- WHEN HIS GRAVELLY VOICE WAS ON KEY HE WAS SIMPLY THE SOUL OF ROCK N ROLL - MAYBE NOT THE GREATEST RANGE OR ANY OF THAT OTHER STUFF -- BUT MY FAVORITE -- SAW HIM SING DONT LET GO THE COAT LIVE IN DALLAS & I STILL REMEMBER IT ALL THESE YEARS (DECADES) LATER
@@jimnagel5611 That was a whole different generation...most of the people that heard Journey weren't even born to hear Daltrey or at least were very young...
Steve Perry gets my vote. Journey was a favorite band of mine in the 70s and 80s.
Still have their CDs which motivsted me when I exercised and ran in the 90s and early 2000s.
The Infinity, Evolution and Departure are a trilogy of awesomeness. Definitely desert island albums there. The dual vocals with Steve Perry and Gregg Rollie are as good as it gets. Journey continued to make killer music after Gregg left the band. To me it wasn't the same, with only Steve singing lead.
I almost think of it as a Journey's version of the David Lee Roth era of Van Halen. Once Jonathan Cain arrived, it was similar to Sammy Hagar with VH... Just a different iteration of a great band
Perry/Rolie combo are my favorite songs from Journey. Rolie’s lower voice just meshes with Perry’s so well and the group harmonies when he was in the band were phenomenal. The combo of both of them on “Just the Same Way”, “Anytime”, “Feeling That Way” just fantastic.
I couldn't agree more. My favorite version of Journey. Loved it when Steve Perry and Greg Rollie shared lead vocals.
😊 I also agree with Infinity, Departure & Evolution being 3 of Journey's Best. I'll admit it when my sister & I saw Journey with Def Leppard a few years ago, I was blown away when Journey performed " La Do Da" with Arnel, Great concert 😁✌️
Amen! People and Places!
Journey was a very different band before Steve arrived. And what a journey he took them on! Thx for the bonus segment, Adam!
As much as I love both Robert Plant and Jon Anderson, I gotta go with Steve. What he did on the Rolie duets/albums is untouchable. The Cain years were also sublime. Perry is the heavy weight champ.
Yeah the Journey albums with both Perry and Rolie are my favorites.
@@coinraker6497 Definitely. I wish Rolie would have stayed on a few more years.
Steve Perry's vocals and Neal Schon's guitar are the most potent one-two punch in rock history. They intertwined their talents to weave some of the most incredible melodies ever heard on stage.
The collaboration of lyrics and notes that Jonathon Cain, Steve Perry, and Neal Schon created were phenomenal! Steve Perry is the GOAT vocalist! ❤
I saw Journey in 1980-they magically rose up out of the stage. It was absolutely unforgettable. I fell in love with music all over again after the dreary disco years -I thought music was over. But Journey turned it around!!
I couldn't agree more. There's a reason Steve Perry's nickname is The Voice. He is the greatest vocalist in music history. And my personal favorite singer too. 🙌🏻✊🏻☝🏻
I live in the Bay Area. I’ve seen Journey so many times at the Day on the Green concerts. They always put on a great show. I really miss those days.
I agree, @ProfessorofRock, that "Feeling That way", was the pivotal turning point for the vocals of Journey. I remember hearing that song for the very first time (playing the first side of the LP at my friend's house after school after the Christmas break in 1978). The song starts with Gregg Rolie sort of lumbering through the drudgery of the song. We ironically hear "opened my eyes to a new kind of way", then his last line "Am I just your fool?" Then BAM, the crystal clear, soaring "When the summer's gone"! Mr. Perry took over! Wow, talk about your "out with the old and in with the new" sound! Journey -- and might I say Rock & Roll -- were never the same since!
Plus some other incredible greats on the back side: "Winds of March" and "Opened the Door". Just amazing songs -- even 45 years later.
Thank goodness Herbie suggested that Steve Perry join Journey, and thank goodness they agreed, even if reluctantly. The result was one of, if not the greatest band of their era. A match made in rock and roll heaven! Say what you will about Steve as a person, the man could sing! And the songs they cranked out together! I never get tired of listening to Journey songs during that era.
As a child of the 70s-80s, for me personally, Journey was THE band that I listened to for all entire adolescence!! I listened to their cassette tapes on repeat as I rode my four wheeler and the lawn mower cutting grass on our 10 acres of lawn
so many great songs in the Journey catalog. I have to say that for "Feeling That Way", it's because it moves from Greg Rollie to Steve Perry that makes it just leap out of the speakers. It's still my favourite Journey song. Hope you do a spot on that one, one day!
I absolutely love Steve Perry and Journey has some of the best songs ever recorded. I listen to them daily along with Duran Duran and Alice In Chains
I can dig that man.
That's a diverse repertoire. Respect.
The (very)last time I bought CDs, it was for a road trip and I was laughing inside as I brought Metallica and ABBA to the checkout. I already had Journey's greatest in the car.@@erictrenbeath9680
I love this! Sounds like my playlists. Putting what moves me, no matter the genre. 😘👍👏👏👏
Alice n Chains, saw them I'm 2022 in New Mexico, still my fav band of 90s to now!
Steve Perry is THE best. Never saw him in concert, altho' I still hope I get the chance before I'm called home.May God Bless.
Perry is unmatched
I love “Feeling That Way/Anytime!” Such an underrated song!
Journey is one of the all-time great bands of the 80's.
I cannot be the only one who misses these two vocalists TOGETHER.?. I recognize Steve’s brilliance but Gregg just had something as well. I really loved his voice. Steve is the king. Don’t get it twisted. Still…
Damn straight they were the best two lead singers....OMG!
@@Tammyperry1 agree love the songs with the duets
Just the same way, do you recall, feelin that way
Steve Perry and Rollie were OK together, Perry is a Counter Tenor (F#2 - A5) High Tenor Altino with a Tone between Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin 4 Octaves, 5 Notes. Rollie sounded like every other singer out there in a rock band singing with Perry. Herbie Herbert wanted something Flashy, Unique and someone who would standout and it helped Perry was easy on the eyes to women everywhere. Rollie being in the band longer than Perry expected the Frontman position Herbert realized he wasn't it and when he found Perry told them this is your frontman. Herbert's decision never set well with Rollie and after a short period sharing the vocals with Perry, Rollie left.
@@mariacampos8234 that’s your opinion that they were “ok”, which is fine
Many would disagree
3 or 4 albums together isn’t a short time in a lot of peoples view either.
Gregg one of 25 inducted twice in the rock and roll HOF
@@g.t.richardson6311 - it's fact Rollie expected the Frontman position and when he didn't get it, tried being second fiddle for a while and then decided he had enough and left. The information regarding Perry's voice is FACT go look it up! Gregg got in twice as part of a group not as a SOLO ARTIST and yes neither did Steve Perry, but he has the superior voice. Sorry, truth and fact bother you...
Infinity was an amazing album. I wore out many a needle on that record back in the day. Wheel in the Sky is undeniably a great song along with Lights. But my absolute favorite Journey song of all time is Feeling That Way and Anytime (which everyone knows must always to be played together or else there will be a rip in the space-time continuum).
Yes, MUST be played together!
I saw Journey in concert in 1975, was not impressed. Forward to when Lights was released, wow wow wow! The addition of Steve Perry & his voice completely changed the band. I've been a big fan ever since!
You are not wrong. Steve Perry is and always will be The GOAT
Steve has the best voice and presentation ever! Greatest band. Steve made that band what it was…
Journey and Led Zeppelin are my lifelong, all-time favorite bands.
I've collected tons of live shows, studio outtakes, etc, etc from Journey through the decades and they were the perfect band for my teenage soul when I first heard them in 1981. Of course I started going backwards to 1978 (and later 1975 would their studio albums in 1973 with their unreleased live shows) with Infinity soon following my discovery of them at the age of 14. And I've never thought twice about them being one of my two favorites and how incredible bands.
I have always been so impressed by the musicians and Steve Perry on vocals and they just blew everything else away for me. They touched my soul and sang the lyrics to my life and loves throughout it.
I'm about to put the 2 LP Journey Captured album on right now :-) I didn't realize Robert Fleischman was one of the writers on Winds of March either. That is one of my all-time favorite Journey songs. Especially when it's live! They haven't played it live since around 1981. And I was really lucky to be able to hear and see Neal sit down after a sound check in Austin back in 2002 and start picking at an acoustic guitar playing Winds of March. I got all excited thinking they were going to do the song that night finally. But I walked up to the stage and talked to Ross Valory after the sound check and asked him if they were playing the song that night. He was so cool! But unfortunately he said that one wasn't on the set list so I never got to hear a full band version of it at a concert.
Journey has so many unbelievable songs that the common fan probably doesn't hear nowadays And they probably seldom heard them on the radio back in the day. With those early Perry albums starting with Infinity and going through, in my opinion, Departure, they had a ton of great songs that just never got a lot of radio play.
I love all of their Steve Perry era albums and my favorites are the early ones up through Frontiers. But like I said, I love them all! What an incredible band. I'm definitely feeling that way... anytime (and every time) I hear classic Journey!
Brian in Fort Worth 🎶
Born in 1959, it was the Beatles and the Monkees in grade school, Elton John and Santana in junior high, from then on it was one FANTASTIC band after another, you could barely keep up. I saw Journey open for Queen in '79 for $7.50. That's what it was like. KY102 had 102 cents concerts, where the T- shirt I bought cost more than the show! We had it made. Sorry you younger kids missed it. Oh yeah, we didn't have crack houses, school shootings, drive-by's or school resource officers either. Mtv actually played music videos, not "16 and pregnant". The heighth of our civilization. What happened? Ronald Reagan, Fox News, Newt Gingrich, the Moral Majority, Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, Columbine, the NRA, Aurora Colorado, Sandy Hook, Harriet Stoneman-Douglas, the pandemic, I pity you kids. You deserve what we had. General admission shows for a few bucks. Let's aim for that, instead of a Mini-14.
Wheel in the Sky was the first song I ever saw on MTV. I knew and loved Journey, but had never actually seen them before. I was hooked! Wish I'd gotten to see them with Steve Perry. He is beyond amazing. I did get to see them last year and they did not disappoint, but just not quite the same.
I saw them on June 4th, 1983 with Steve Perry at JFK Stadium. You are absolutely right. They were INCREDIBLE.
I didn't see them until about 10yrs ago myself. Arnel did a great job, and he may not be Steve but without him I may have never gotten to see Journey at all, and that would be a shame.
Steve Perry…. My favorite rock vocalist ever. Hands down! I sure do miss the lineup of Perry, Schon, Cain, Valory and Steve Smith!!!
Just one of few bands I followed and play often.
Great Band and Steve Perry, a power singer you'll never forget.
Journey, Foreigner, Kansas, Styx, Asia, Toto, Rush, ACDC.
They all Rock the World.
Steve Perry is truly in a class of his own period!
Journey was my first concert ever. I absolutely fell in love with Steve Perry and his vocals as an elementary kid. 6th grade my mom surprised me with concert tickets for my birthday. I studied every song and sang every note. Steve Perry will always be the guy with the golden voice. No one does it better. Love some of his more recent work as well. He just put out a song where he spliced together irresponsible that his Dad had sung at a karaoke club and sent Steve. Steve had it redone with different music and he sang along side his Dad. It's absolutely beautiful. I don't even know if Steve Perry fully understands how huge his life has been and all that he means to many, many fans and to music as a whole. Thank you for covering this. I am a little late but so happy I found your page. ❤
Great content as always Professor. Steve Perry and Journey had lots of great music. But my favorite is a hidden gem from the Midnight Special 1979. Journey and Herbie Hancock performed "Roadrunner" Steve Perry is soulful and funky and there is an incredible guitar vs keyboard "duel" between Neal Schon and Herbie Hancock. Musicians having FUN. I say a MUST SEE for Journey fans.
Phenomenal vocals and guitar. Plus hooks through the roof. What a band!
Fun fact or serious fact, actually: Our singer in our band stated this:
"Two guys make work hard when singing their tunes: Steve Perry and Brad Delp"
I agree with him totally.
Steve Perry.. His voice in his prime was really unmatched. First time i heard him sing was Don't Stop Believing and well that was it. i was sold LOL. Then i needed to hear more and well after listening to their 1981 Escape album. Is he just the best singer ever? I mean what he could do with his voice was just insane. For me he is the best singer ever though. Loved this video!
I don't know if it was intended to happen this way, but Feelin' That Way & Anytime were always on radio as a double-a side. That's the song(s) the really stuck with me with each a Neal Schon solos and indeed what an introduction to Steve Perry.
Perry is a legend, truly his songwriting, voice, and stage presence made Journey the huge success it went on to become. Shon is an incredibly talented guitarist, together they were amazing. I completely agree with you about Feelin that Way, Rollie's voice was good but nothing spectacular, then Perry comes in with that powerhouse voice and you forget everything you thought you knew about music. I am new(ish) to UA-cam but for what it's worth I really enjoy your content.
Steve Perry - Love hearing his voice and can listen to it for hours!
Met Steve Perry at the top of CN Tower he was absolutely amazing, totally unexpected meeting him I was visiting from UK.
Twice in the same day !!! Some one give this man a raise.
Ha ha!
Off to listen to "Feeling that way" for the bazillionth time!! You always do Journey right!!
I was never a big Journey fan when I was younger, but you certainly can’t deny their amazing musicianship…
I never knew that Steve Perry singing that high with Neal guitar (starting at 5:36). Amazing!
Steve, Neil and Journey were Giants…..they were an still are my all time favorite band…… the ultimate musicians! Long live there legacy!
I think as a younger kid when Journey was big, I kind of took them for granted. I liked many of their songs and they were radio anthems for 70s and 80s rock for sure. I always remember hearing them at the local roller rink. All the guys knew to hide in the bathroom if faithfully came on because the girls would be hunting for slow dance partners. Lol what times.
Now as an adult and lifetime student of music, I am in complete awe of how good these guys are musically. Steve Perry's voice is soul melting for sure and the entire band was on point.
Watch "who's cryin now" live from houston in like '81' and they will astonish you.
A seriously talented band with timeless songs.
Cheers!
He has an incredible range. Amazing singer.
There’s only one Steve Perry. His unique and amazing voice is a gift from God. The fact is there will be no Journey without Steve Perry😊
Let’s “give to Cesar what belongs to Caesar”.
No one out there can touch Steve Perry and what he can do to a song.
So, it’s 1978, I’m 16 years old and a mutual friend of my older brother and I says play Journey for me. My brother drops the needle on the first cut on side 2 of Infinity and my jaw just dropped, been a huge fan ever since.
"Feeling That Way" with Steve and Gregg is probably my favorite Journey song, yet least heard!
There is no better than Steve Perry.. then and now.. his voice is magical
Great song.
It came out at a time when several songs kind of carried that kind of "mystical" sound like: Crystal Ball by Styx, Crazy On You by Heart, Ridin' The Storm Out by REO, and several others that kind of define this period.
It was the beginning of a great run for Journey as well.
Great interview and video POR.
Thanks much.
👍✌️🙏
Steve Perry, so unique, just no words to accurately describe, he will always leave me gobsmacked, just so beautiful
Evolution was my introduction to Journey thanks to my brother, and because of it Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' is my favorite Journey song of all time. Would love to see a retrospective on that one.
Honestly I love Journey. They always have and will be my all time favorite band. Steve Perry the best singer ever.
I've been a Journey fan since 1977. I've been a little disturbed with Schonns direction and for that matter...his impatience. I would have waited for Perry to get his surgery and heal. Some guitarists are a dime a dozen but a true, one of a kind vocalist is... A rarity.
Journey existed before and after Steve Perry's time with the band. But they were never as magical without him.
When other great vocalists in Rock history call Steve Perry "The Voice" that is all that needs to be said. Freddy Mercury was asked how does it feel to be the world's greatest singer; Freddy said "I wouldn't know ask Steve Perry" ,does anymore need to be said
I love this album 🎉 Wheel in The Sky was my ring tone when ring tones were cool. 😂 Steve Perry has an amazing gift. His voice just just draws you into all the emotions of the songs he sang. His talent and Neil's genius of the guitar made a beautiful work of art. I just love Steve Perry. ❤️ Will always love his voice. ❤
I was 9 yrs old when I first heard Lights. And then Wheel In The Sky and Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'.
However, it was Lights that caught my attention as a young girl. Every time, I heard Lights, I would sit in front of my brother's speaker and just soak up that Voice!!! I kept thinking, who is this??? It wasn't until 1980 when I was introduced to Journey!! And I've been a fan since!! However, it's Classic Journey for me!!!