|  | | | Customer Reviews: | | | Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Charlie's place Dec 23, 2009
Nothing better then to listen to the music of one of Rock & Rolls legendary voices of all time! Steve Perry!! He has a soulful commanding voice!!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Steve Perry Produces An Upbeat Journey Experience... Nov 27, 2009
As I tried to assess which of Journey's album's included their best songs recently I came up with "Escape" and "Frontiers". With the biggest hits "Don't Stop Believing", "Open Arms" and "Faithfully" etc being on those two releases, no one can really argue with those picks. Those two releases were more-or-less melodic hard rock releases, as well, which Steve may not have always been 100% pleased with.
When Steve left the band after his attitude difficulties began to come to the forefront (his issues with the bass player, the drummer, his own personal insecurities, and his longtime girlfriend, Sherrie), he did continue to lend arguably the best vocals in rock history to some memorable hits within his solo work. His work had taken on a more jazzy, cheerful tone that lent itself to high energy pop without having the "hooks" restricted to the context of a ballad like it had been before. He was definitely the forerunner to Michael Bolton and many others during the mid 80's adding more keyboards, but still incorporating excellent guitar playing at key moments along with a jazz element...
I feel that "Raised On Radio" is likely in a tie with the "Revelation" release (with singer Arnel Pineda) as Journey's third best album of all time. With songs like "Girl Can't Help It", "I'll Be Alright Without You" and "Suzanne" (which got neglected from Journey's greatest hits collection) and several others, this album, again, has a "cheerful" tone to it, a dose of melancholy and a TON of emotion from Perry. One can sense that he is the one directing the course of the album and that passion is surely evident. This stands to be supported by the fact that he is credited as the album's main producer. To me, Perry's songwriting grew in leaps and bounds on this CD, sounding more educated in personal relationship dynamics and philosophy than previously. Case and point his storytelling on "Girl Can't Help It".
Overall from both a solo and harmonies, strictly vocal standpoint, this has to be considered Journey's best album. As far as the overall songwriting, though, it is in number three position. Journey's third best of ten or so good albums; not bad at all, I'd say! It is my personal favorite Journey CD. Check out my website jordansjournaldotnet! Thanks for reading.
1 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 What Were They Thinking?? Sep 12, 2009
Raised on Radio is a disastrous album. Apparently, Steve Perry wanted to take the band in a new direction, so he fired bassist Ross Valory, while drummer Steve Smith walked out (or might have been fired as well; I'm not certain). Ultimately, Valory and Smith were replaced with session musicians, including future American Idol judge Randy Jackson. What resulted from this "new direction" was an absolutely faceless '80s pop record that sounded nothing like Journey. The singles "I'll Be Alright Without You," "Girl Can't Help It," and "Be Good To Yourself" are mediocre, while the rest of the album is completely forgettable, by-the-numbers soft rock. "Positive Touch," with its insipid harmonies and saxophone track, sounds like a bad Hall & Oates cover. "Raised on Radio" itself is the only rocker here, but even it is mindlessly insubstantial. Journey deserves some credit for changing their sound. Unfortunately, this is a digression, not an update. Raised on Radio is one experiment that did not pay off. 2 Stars.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Not spectacular, but not awful either Aug 30, 2009
By 1985, Journey were one of the biggest bands in the world. They had been since 1981, with the release of the megahit 'Escape' (subtitle was 'E5C4P3'), which spawned one of the most downloaded songs in the history, 'Don't Stop Believin'.' The group released 'Frontiers' in 1983 and had yet another massive hit, the ballad 'Faithfully.'
Original bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith, who had been with the band since 1979, were fired, ultimately being replaced by session musicians, one of which later became superstar because of a little show called 'American Idol.' That was Randy Jackson, who plays bass guitar on this album.
With the firings of Smith and Valory, that left only a core trio of Journey. That was lead vocalist Steve Perry, guitarist Neal Schon (a former member of Santana, and a GREAT guitarist too) and keyboardist Jonathan Cain (a former member of John Waite's former group, The Babys).
'Raised on Radio' has it's moments sure, mostly when Schon steps up for a guitar solo, but it's much more commercial than most of their other releases. But, several songs on here aren't terrible, and there's one (the hit 'I'll Be Alright Without You') that really shines, mostly due to Schon's guitar licks at the beginning.
The album also includes the ballad 'Why Can't This Night Go On Forever' (which does feature Steve Smith on drums, interestingly), and the other two megahits from the album 'Girl Can't Help It' and 'Be Good To Yourself.'
But I like the two bonus tracks. 'I'll Be Alright' and 'Girl Can't Help It,' in my honest opinion, sound far better live than they do in their original album versions. If you don't own the 'Time 3' box set (which I do own), than you should get 'Raised on Radio' perhaps to hear those two live versions. They really are great. Schon's guitar sounds great, as always on these recordings.
Overall, 'Raised on Radio' isn't a terrible record. Journey were megastars by 1985, when this was released, and this was the last record the band would release until 1996, with 'Trial By Fire,' the comeback album which found the group reuniting with Ross Valory and Steve Smith again. Buy it if you are a Journey fanatic, but start with 'Greatest Hits,' 'The Essential Journey,' 'Escape,' or even an early album, like 'Look Into The Future,' from 1976.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
A Great Collection of Songs Aug 04, 2009
I love "Raised on Radio." It is without a doubt my favorite Journey record because each track is great. I put this CD on and play it from start to finish and never tire of it. Steve Perry's vocals really shine on these well crafted songs and the guitar work gives each song an edge. Perhaps it's not for people who are looking for hard rock songs, but for people looking for a full collection of well performed, melodic rock songs, it's among the best there is.
|
| |
|
![Groundhog Day (15th Anniversary Special Edition) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lYClcjegL._SL75_.jpg "Groundhog Day (15th Anniversary Special Edition) [Blu-ray]")
![Across the Universe [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51T24FuHPEL._SL75_.jpg "Across the Universe [Blu-ray]")
![Underworld Trilogy (Underworld / Underworld: Evolution / Underworld: Rise of the Lycans) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51F27VzUl%2BL._SL75_.jpg "Underworld Trilogy (Underworld / Underworld: Evolution / Underworld: Rise of the Lycans) [Blu-ray]")
