Tag: Neal Schon

Journey – “Only The Young” – 7″ Single

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In my quest for 80’s Rock Singles with Picture Sleeves, I found this one from the rock band Journey. It was for the song “Only the Young” which was featured on the soundtrack to the movie, ‘Vision Quest’. The single was released on January 8, 1985 and went all the way to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the Mainstream Rock Chart. The B-Side, which isn’t listed on the cover, is for Sammy Hagar’s song “I’ll Fall in Love Again” which was also on the ‘Vision Quest’ soundtrack.

The song was originally intended for Journey’s album ‘Frontiers’, but was pulled at the last minute and replaced with “Back Talk” and “Troubled Child”. However, the song didn’t go unused as it was sold to the band Scandal who recorded it for their 1984 album ‘Warrior’. Of course, Journey would still use it for the soundtrack, obviously.

There is a touching story that surrounds the song. Journey received a request from the Make-A-Wish Foundation back in 1983 as a 16 year old boy named Kenny Sykaluk was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. His wish was to meet the band. The band flew out to visit him in the hospital where they showered him with gifts including a signed 49ers Football helmet from the team and a signed Journey Platinum award from the band. They also brought along a walkman that contained the Journey version of “Only the Young”. Kenny was the first person outside the band to hear the song. The event moved the band so much that Steve Perry broke down the second he stepped outside Kenny’s hospital room and had to be taken somewhere privately to regain his composure.

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My Sunday Song – “I’m Not That Way” by Journey

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For My Sunday Song #396, we are now on to Mike Ladano’s sixth pick and this time around it is a ballad from Journey called “I’m Not That Way”. The song is on the 2000 album ‘Arrival’ and sees singer Steve Augeri on lead vocals. Of course you still have Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain two friends that will be friends forever…cough, cough. As well as Ross Valory and Deen Castronovo two other regulars of the band. This song was written by Schon, Cain, Augeri and Kim Tribble

The song seems to be about a guy who loves awoman and that woman was with another man. But they broke up and her heart is broken. He so wants to move in and tell her he loves her and he won’t do the things her old boyfriend did as he’s not that way. But he feels it might be too soon as she is still reeling as he holds her in his arms and she is still crying over the love she just loss. Yeah, dude…probably too soon. You will be a rebound and not the deep, true love you are wanting from her. Be patient…but not too patient as she might rebound with somebody else. Just my two cents.

The song is a ballad as Journey does do those well. A slow tempo, some soft guitar picking by Neal. Augeri’s vocals are as soft and tender as Neal’s playing. You can hear Ross’ bass line lay down a smooth groove. The song though for me, doesn’t pick up enough in the chorus for me to really get connected to it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good song as it is, but I don’t know if it is enough to have kept it on the album.

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Journey – “Suzanne” (1986) – 7″ Single

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Journey’s ninth studio albums was 1986’s ‘Raised on Radio’ and the second single off the album was “Suzanne” which was written by members Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain. The song went to #17 on the U.S. Charts and was one of three Top 20 hits from the album. An album that would reach #4 and sell over 2 million albums going double platinum. The band at the time was really only Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon as Ross Valory was out and during recording, so was Steve Smith which is why you only see 3 guys on the cover of the single.

The song came out in June 1986 and from an album that had 5 total singles. The song was about this guys ex-girlfriend who went on to become very famous and he can’t get her out of his head. Every time he sees here on TV, in the movies or hears her on the radio, he is tormented and can’t stand it. Steve Perry was asked if there was someone real the song was about, he basically said didn’t give a straight answer and said real or not, the girl in the song itself is real.

The version I have of the single is a 7″ Vinyl single and it is a promo as can be seen on the label with the words “Demonstration Not For Sale”. As a result, it is the same song on both sides so no new B-Side here. In the old days, the song would be Stereo on one side and Mono on the other, but by 1986, all stations were basically Stereo so no need for a Mono side.

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June 2023 Purchases – Vinyl, CDs & More…

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Welcome to another monthly round-up of what we obtained here at 2 Loud 2 Old Music. It was another big month, but not quite like last month. The month started off with another Buy 5 Get 5 deal and ended with a trip to Los Angeles so it was a fun month here at the site.

First up was the 2nd & Charles Buy 5 Get 5 Free on Used CDs, so of course, I took advantage of that deal. Not a bad haul I must say…

And of course, we did get some new releases this month including Extreme, Neal Schon and my personal favorite, The Defiants!! I went the cheaper route of CDs for these mainly because Neal’s isn’t on vinyl and The Defiants isn’t available until September (pre-ordered).

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Friday New Releases – May 19, 2023

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Welcome to Friday New Releases. We have just shy of 50 releases for you this week and I am sure you will find something you like. If you not you can have your money back…wait…you didn’t pay me any money…so oh well. One of my favorite bands has a new one this week. Def Leppard has a symphony release of their old hits so I’m not overly excited, but I’ll still buy it and listen to it. We also have a new Ghost E.P. of cover songs and it’s Ghost, so give me more!! There is Michael Sweet and Georgy Lynch with another Sweet & Lynch release and you have Dave Matthews Band, Neal Schon, Brandy Clark, The Used and so much more. Check them out and tell me what you want to hear. And if there is something we missed, tell us in the comments so everyone knows. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great weekend!

  • 81dxH4mFTtL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Def Leppard – Drastic Symphonies – (EMI Recording / Bludgeon Riffola / Mercury Records)
  • 81RFiPOkz6L._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Ghost – Phantomime E.P. – (Loma Vista Recordings / Concord) – Digital May 18th, Vinyl May 19th
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Journey – ‘Turn the Page: Live in Atlanta, GA’ (Bootleg)’ (2006) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)

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Journey were on a massive Stadium Tour with Def Leppard in 2006. Journey’s lead singer, Steve Augeri had struggled with throat issues and was really having a hard time vocally. The decision was made by Neal Schon to replace Steve and he needed someone he knew could handle the Journey catalog. Luckily for Neal, he had been working with Jeff Scott Soto in their supergroup Soul SirkUs and knew he was the man for the job. Neal called Jeff and there was no way Jeff could say no, it was a dream of his to sing with Journey. He had already been working with Neal, but now he could do it and sing those classic Journey songs, No way he was turning it down.

Jeff got the call and was on a plane the next day and arrived in D.C. on July 5th 2006 and luckily the band had a couple days off, but Jeff had to be ready to sing as the first show with him was on July 7th in Bristow, Virginia. And Jeff was thrown in to the deep end as he didn’t really get to talk with anyone until the day of the show and didn’t even have a setlist for the show until that day and to top that off, he didn’t even get a soundcheck or any real rehearsal with the band…damn that is insane. The only time he had with the band was on the tour bus prior to the show to discuss the set and show. Jeff, of course, survived and continued on with the band.

Jeff’s stint was supposed to be short term, but he was doing so well and the tour was extended until December. Then on December 19, 2006, Jeff was announced as the official new lead singer with the band. His reviews from the tour were glowing and all was going well. There were plans for a new album and work had begun, but by June 2007, it all fell apart rather quickly and as far as Jeff was concerned, unexpectedly. It was announced on June 12, 2007 that Jeff was no longer in the band and the band was going to take the rest of the year off. I don’t think anyone is really sure what happened, but the band eventually wound up with Arnel Pineda who is still with the band today.

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Soul SirkUS – ‘World Play’ (2004/2005) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)

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Soul SirkUS started originally as a project called PlanetUS which had Neal Schon, Deen Castronovo, Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony. They demoed a couple songs, but it ended abruptly when Sammy and Michael returned to their small side gig called Van Halen. Neal and Deen wanted to continue so they needed a singer. Then in January 2004 at the NAMM Convention in Anaheim, California. Neal had heard of Jeff Scott Soto thanks to Andrew McNiece at Melodicrock.com who was good friends with Jeff and mentioned it to Neal. At the NAMM Convention, Neal and Jeff met and jammed and the relationship between the two was born.

They pulled in the great bass player Marco Mendoza and now the band was complete. They recorded 11 songs and changed the name from PlanetUS to Soul SirkUS. The name had to have the US in the name as Neal wanted to show this as a continuation of what he started with PlanetUS. The Soul Sirkus parts each start with an S to represent Neal Schon and Jeff Scott Soto. They spent time writing together, Neal on music and Soto on lyrics, but from what I gather, it was recorded in two days!! That is impressive. The album was complete and released on December 7, 2004. The cover was black which is different than the copy I have and I still need to get that copy.

While rehearsing for a tour, Deen Castronovo was exhausted and his health was not great after the long Journey tour that he and Neal just recently finished. Deen stepped away. But no one wanted the project to end so they recruited drummer Virgil Donati most notably from the band Planet X. The band didn’t want to go on the road as a band and support an album that not every member played on so they went back in the studio and had Virgil re-do all the drum parts. This gave them time to do a couple new songs as well. They re-released the album in March 2005 and this time the cover was a bright yellow and there were now 16 songs and not just the original 11 tracks.

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Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Lost in the Translation’ (2004) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)

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As I had mentioned previously, 2004 was going to be a big year for Jeff Scott Soto. His introduction to Neal Schon during NAMM in January 2004, was the sign. Schon played on and co-wrote a song on his solo album, ‘Lost in the Translation’, which we are reviewing now and it led to a new band later that year and the Journey frontman shortly after that. Before we get ahed of ourselves, let us focus on the solo album first. And there is a live album to come out before Schon’s stuff as well.

‘Lost in the Translation’ is Jeff’s third solo album and what a step up from the prior two. He still had his good buddies playing on it – Howie Simon and Gary Schutt on guitar duty and Glen Sobel on drums and a guest appearance by Mr. Schon himself. It was a solid line-up, a solid album and would see Jeff head out on a full world tour that would last for 35 gigs and hit 4 continents that would run from August to November of 2004. Jeff was hitting his stride, finding his footing and the world was learning who he was. I know I did because it was this album and Talisman’s ‘Cats & Dogs’ where I discovered the greatness that is Jeff Scott Soto all thanks to Andrew McNiece at MelodicRock.com. Also, note the cover photo and under his right arm is Jeff’s autograph. This is one of the 5 albums I had him sign when I met him back in April 2022. Really Cool!!

The first track and single is “Believe in Me”. It was co-written by Jeff along with Neal Schon. I told you they began a great relationship…fruitful already. And let me tell you, it could be a Journey song. Not a ballad either, one of the rocking tracks. The opening guitar riff is cool as Schon shreds it. Jeff’s vocals are so smooth and melodic and you know what, he would sound great singing Journey songs…maybe that will happen!! (maybe real soon). You had Glen Sobel on drums and Jeff on bass and everyone sounded tight and laid down a great rhythm. A totally stellar track and very radio friendly even though no radio around here played it!

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Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Beleive In Me’ E.P. (2004) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)

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2004 turned out to be a big year for Jeff Scott Soto. While at NAMM in January of 2002, he did a jam session with none other than Neal Schon and that turned in to a great little business relationship and would see the guys team up a couple times. But before we get to the first of the two projects for them, Jeff had a new solo album to put out on Frontiers Records, who had been really great to Jeff (proof in that partnership is still going strong today). Prior to the release of the solo album, an E.P. was issued for the lead off track & single on the album.

The E.P. was called the “Believe in Me” E.P. and contained only the one studio track from the album plus the video for that song. Then we get not 1, not 2, but 4 bonus tracks that are all previously unreleased demos from various projects of Jeff’s. As a collector, how cool is that!!! We will see how cool as we go through the tracks.

The first track and single is “Believe in Me”. It was co-written by Jeff along with Neal Schon. I told you they began a great relationship…fruitful already. And let me tell you, it could be a Journey song. Not a ballad either, one of the rocking tracks. The opening guitar riff is cool as Schon shreds it. Jeff’s vocals are so smooth and melodic and you know what, he would sound great singing Journey songs…maybe that will happen!! (maybe real soon). You had Glen Sobel on drums and Jeff on bass and everyone sounded tight and laid down a great rhythm. A totally stellar track and very radio friendly even though no radio around here played it!

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My Sunday Song – “New Position” by Soul Sirkus

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For My Sunday Song #283, we are going to dissect the song “New Position” by Soul Sirkus which was a Jeff Scott Soto side project with Neal Schon (Journey), Marco Mendoza (The Dead Daisies) and Virgil Donati on drums. They had only one album called ‘World Play’ back in 2005. If you get the European edition of the release, there is a DVD with the video for the song as well. The song was technically a single, but I don’t know if it charting.

The song was written by Neal Schon and Jeff Scott Soto. It is seems to be about a woman and is full of sexual innuendos with the title alone. The singer has aching for this woman and so wants her and believes he can show her things that she may have forgotten about…hmmm…I wonder what that could be!! This isn’t rocket science lyrics, no sir. It is rock & roll baby!! Keep it simple, sexual and jamming…and they do just that.

Musically, the song opens with a machine gun barrage drum fills from Virgil showing he means business. Marco’s bass is slamming helping give us a fiery, groovetastic, good time song that will rock your ass off. Neal Schon’s guitar mastery is on full display as he lays down some killer riffs and don’t get me started on the solo. Man, he is killing it. Jeff Scott Soto is full of swagger and confidence as he delivers a stellar vocal full of harmonies and so much power. This album is a showcase of his talents and why Neal tapped him to lead Journey on tour, sadly, no album was ever done before Jeff was dismissed.

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