What band do you miss?

[Finch Platte]

Wouldn't I be able to tell from the label on the CD?

Nope. All three covers are completely white, and the disc is clear.

So there, smarty-pants.

[MindGoneHaywire]

I was reading recently a telling of the story of the dilemma Journey faced when the idea of having a pop-oriented lead singer pushed on them. It wasn't really what they wanted to do, but in the end they did the smart thing even though they felt on some level that they were selling out.

If they hadn't gone in that direction, they likely would've been dropped, and chances are the early records that are widely praised by prog fans would not have found anything resembling a wide audience. As it was, they, & bands like Kansas, were in the prog corner of a grouping of extremely popular acts in the late 70s & early 80s that also included Styx, Boston, REO Speedwagon, and the like. If I cared I'd go with the argument against prog fans who view them as having sold out, that since they were grouped in with those acts in the minds of a lot of fans and radio listeners, that they exposed a wide audience to their early prog records through catalog sales.

But none of this concerns me. I simply won't stand by & watch nobody being abused. It's just wrong.

[nobody]

I simply won't stand by & watch nobody being abused. It's just wrong.

Yeah, there's a long line of women already handling that job just fine.


'Course none of them listen to Journey...but still.

[GMichael]

Nope. All three covers are completely white, and the disc is clear.

So there, smarty-pants.

Oh right. I'm the smarty pants?

[Finch Platte]

'Course none of them listen to Journey...but still.

Cuz Journey is a MAN's band, dammit!

Can't you people see????

[Troy]

Not that I'm stickin' up for Finchy here . . . but . . .

The first 3 Journey albums are vastly different from the Steve Perry incarnation of the band. That they belong lumped into the group of bands like REO Speedwagon or Kansas came later. The first 3 Journey albums belong lumped with bands like Santana, Robin Trower or the first Ambrosia album.

I'd argue MGH that those first 3 albums never really found that big an audience, no, check that. They never found the right audience, because fans of the early Journey and later Journey tend to be people with vastly different tastes and expectations. Steve Parry fans bought the first 3 albums and didn't understand them and thought they sucked. See also Genesis.

Part of it also is that both Finch and I are bay area natives who grew up in the 70s when these first Journey albums were local staples, virtually unknown outside CA, so we both remember this band when they were, in fact, good.

[bobsticks]

Soundgarden: the natural evolution of the Beattles.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Well THAT'S an interesting choice sticks. I've yet to hear, in recent times, anyone who can write lyrics like Chris Cornell. His problem, I think, is that he doesn't get along well with his band mates.

Since I didn't get a reaction to my choice of "The god of Hellfire", I'll come clean here...

1. Led Zeppelin
2. The Doors
3. Cream
4. Traffic
5. The Patti Smith Group
6. Jethro Tull
7. STP
8. Alice In Chains
9. Pearl Jam
10. Limp Bizkit... Hey! Fred Durst...

[Auricauricle]

Strawbs?

[Rich-n-Texas]

Do you miss them Aa?

[BradH]

6. Jethro Tull

I feel like Tull's been missing since 1980.

I guess that goes back to what Davey was saying.

[ForeverAutumn]

Strawbs?

The Strawbs are alive and well and doing two shows here in March.

[Auricauricle]

Move the coffee table! There's a sleepin' bag on the way!

[Auricauricle]

Do you miss them Aa?

Yer makin' fun o' me....

[ForeverAutumn]

Move the coffee table! There's a sleepin' bag on the way!

Cool. We could use a new sleeping bag.

[Rich-n-Texas]

I feel like Tull's been missing since 1980.

The years that included Anderson, Martin Barre, Jeffrey Hammond, Clive Bunker and John Evan were my favorite Jethro Tull years (I do have their first three releases as well). I went to the Warchild concert in '74 or '75 (forget which year but I still have the ticket stub at home), at the Spectrum in Philly, and man you could cut the maryjane smoke with a knife! I don't think I've ever seen a performer since with a stage presence like Ian Anderson's during that concert. Just outstanding.

[Finch Platte]

Not that I'm stickin' up for Finchy here . . . but . . .

The first 3 Journey albums are vastly different from the Steve Perry incarnation of the band. That they belong lumped into the group of bands like REO Speedwagon or Kansas came later. The first 3 Journey albums belong lumped with bands like Santana, Robin Trower or the first Ambrosia album.

I'd argue MGH that those first 3 albums never really found that big an audience, no, check that. They never found the right audience, because fans of the early Journey and later Journey tend to be people with vastly different tastes and expectations. Steve Parry fans bought the first 3 albums and didn't understand them and thought they sucked. See also Genesis.

Part of it also is that both Finch and I are bay area natives who grew up in the 70s when these first Journey albums were local staples, virtually unknown outside CA, so we both remember this band when they were, in fact, good.

As usual, you've said it much better than I.

It's funny, when you look Journey up on AllMusic, the first 3 discs get 2 stars each, and then when Perry joins, they get 4 stars for Infinity and even 4.5 stars for Evolution!

They played Stockton wayyyyy back when, and when the concert was over, we drove around to the back of the Civic Auditorium in hopes we'd see some of the group. All we saw was Ansley, getting into his Porche for the drive back to the Bay Area. We shouted something, and he waved. Woohoo!

Sorry, but I dig the times changes in the songs on the first 3 discs that were all but snuffed when Perry joined.

fp

[BradH]

Sorry, but I dig the times changes in the songs on the first 3 discs that were all but snuffed when Perry joined.

I should probably check those out because I really like Steve Smith.

[BradH]

The years that included Anderson, Martin Barre, Jeffrey Hammond, Clive Bunker and John Evan were my favorite Jethro Tull years...

I'll bet your thinking of Barrimore Barlow on drums because Aqualung was Bunker's last apperance and Hammond's first. Yeah, that was my favorite lineup too by far. What's cool is those were old friends of Anderson's from Blackpool. He was replacing members until he had his core gang back by '72. That's why they were so damn artistic and adventurous. They weren't just session musicians hired by Anderson so they all had freer reign.

I ditched class and got Anderson's autograph one time. Watched him trash disco to a reporter, then he bought a cassette of U.K.'s Danger Money.

Good times.

[Troy]

I should probably check those out because I really like Steve Smith.

Steve Smith came later, it was Aynsley Dunbar on those 3 discs.

[Finch Platte]

Steve Smith came later, it was Aynsley Dunbar on those 3 discs.

Yeah, but Smith's pretty badass, and his drums usually sound phenomenal.

[BradH]

Yeah, but Smith's pretty badass, and his drums usually sound phenomenal.

Speaking of that, I've been wondering lately how many professional drummers actually know how to tune their drums instead of relying on a tech to do it for them. Obviously I'm not talking about the likes of Bozzio or Colaiuta here.

[nobody]

Bozzio?

[bobsticks]

Terry not Dale...she tunes other things.