Heading Journey lead Steve Perry straight into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (and also to one episode of the Songs Of My Life here on Flyctory.com). On 5th November 2021, the rock artist is heading towards a very different genre of songs: Christmas albums. His release is called The Season. Here are my thoughts.
Steve Perry – About The Artist
Stephen Ray Perry was born on 22nd January 1949 in Hanford, a town South of Fresno, California. He worked in some rock bands (the most successful one has been named Alien Project), before he joined Journey in 1977. He officially left the band in 1998 stating that he never really felt he was part of the band. His debut album as a solo artist is already dated as of 1984, when he released Street Talk, a two time platinum album in the USA. Some ten years later, For the Love of Strange Medicine still had a golden record. It took Perry 24 years to come back with a solo album: Traces made it to the sixth spot in the US album charts in 2018. There was an alternative version of the album in 2020, so that The Season is Perry’s fifth album overall.
Steve Perry – The Season – Track by Track
The eight song album lasts 25 minutes.
1. The Christmas Song
The first tunes of the album are some piano notes. Perry’s interpretation of The Christmas Song is rather slow, very soulful. For me, it would be too demanding to be song in my Christmas Day playlist.
2. I’ll Be Home For Christmas
The style of his 2021 way of performing I’ll Be Home For Christmas is quite in line with the first song: very focused, just the piano and some basic sounds added to it on the instrumental side. To me, this way of looking at the song does not really work out well to me.
3. Auld Lang Syne
Though I struggled at least slightly with the first two songs – Steve Perry’s style of doing Christmas songs feels to be a really nice fit to this Christmas song. The choir is adding some more Christmas vibe.
4. Winter Wonderland
Undoubtedly, this way of musically looking at Winter Wonderland might feel strange at first sight – but the more I listen to this song, the more I feel that it is actually quite cool. Not my favorite version of this song – but not bad at all.
5. What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve
In this fifth song, Steve Perry is even giving a touch of jazz to What Are You Doing New Years Eve. I am sure that this style is leading to friends of the track.
6. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
A bit more energy, a nice vibe – and a lot of soul and gospel feeling (also due to the backing choir). Again, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town in the Steve Perry Christmas universe – but it definitely spreads some special magic. My favorite song of the album.
7. Silver Bells
Honestly, Silver Bells was the only song of the album of which I did not know other versions. Steve Perry’s version is a very nice and melodic one. Nice listen.
8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
A short finale: Steve Perry’s way of performing Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas is less than two minutes. Not a bad one, though.
Steve Perry – The Season – Spotify
Here is The Season on Spotify:
Steve Perry – The Season – My View
There is no doubt that the musical and vocal quality of this album is not bad at all. However, I feel that this style of songs at most suits to some of the tracks – and to Christmas at all. Strong matter of taste – but I cannot assign a too high rating here.
Music Legends on Flyctory.com
Who belongs to the music legends? Here on Flyctory.com, it’s only me who decides on this:
Christmas Media Reviews
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