Customer Reviews

Dream After Dream

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
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This album isn't very well known and wasn't readily available in the US- until the 1990's. I originally had it on a half speed mastered vinyl record that cost me almost $100 and took me several weeks to get from Japan back in 1985. I got it on CD as soon as it was available in that format.

It was well worth the hassle and expense! Those who are familiar with Neal Schon's solo work will especially appreciate this recording. It was originally a soundtrack for a Japanese movie, and composed and recorded in a little over a month in Japan. Neal Schon's father arranged the orchestral elements which are flawless.

The only vocal tracks on this album are "Destiny," "Sandcastles" and "Little Girl." Steve Perry is breathtaking in all three of these songs,(the clarity and range he had in those days- 1979- was intense) but the instrumentals are just as enjoyable. None of the tracks sound like Journey as portrayed by the songs that got airplay, ("Little Girl" is probably the closest to a "traditional" Journey song) is but the entire album is intense, broad and more like classical music than what you'd expect from a rock and roll band.

In my opinion this is absolutely the most awesome project Journey has done, and ironically the least well known. This is definitely worth every cent, and it will definitely blow you away.

I stumbled across the LP "Dream After Dream" in 1980-something, and was perplexed. I bought it and gave it a spin, and fell in love with this work. It is not your typical pop album, but is lush with different musical textures... precise and ambient guitar... thoughtful piano... tempered orchestration... and various tastes of culture. Overall, this is a softer, mellower work of these performers, with occasional outburts of pure energy unique to this record. I belive only the first and last track feature vocals, with "Little Girl" having the most mainstream appeal. Unfortunately, this work does not make the discography of Journey on their official website, but it MUST make its way into the collection of even the most casual Journey fan. Well worth $25 or more.

I first heard this in 1984 on a vinyl Original Master, and instantly fell in love with it. ....Not only is this my favorite Journey album, but one of my top 5 favorites of all time. This has it all, Steve's incredibly haunting voice, beautiful classical scores, and incredible introspective guitar instrumentals will make you wonder at how much more Journey might have been had they continued in this direction (not to belittle how huge they were, and still are). The fact of the matter is this was the soundtrack to a Japanese movie. If you are a Journey fan, and have never heard this release, trust me; it is an absolute must have. This is one album the world was cheated out of, but the fact that it is still out there means that you might just get to see what all this fuss is about after all.

I originally paid $30 for the CD when it first became available and it was worth every penny. Unlike their mass-produced offerings, which are still quite excellent, this recording showcases the individual member's considerable musical talents. Neal Schon's playing rivals any of the work found on his solo records. Ross Valory contributes a piano piece backed by a string quartet. He also rearranged "Conversations" on the first record into "The Rape" with a broad range of orchestration. Steve Smith's drums own "Sandcastles". And Steve Perry shows off his full range on "Destiny".

I hesitate to call this a Rock record. The vast majority of it sounds like New Age or Contemporary Jazz. Still, open-minded Journey fans who like a broad range of musical styles will find little not to like on this outstanding album.

Recorded at the end of the Evolution World Tour, during the pre-productions sessions for Departure, in the early 1980, Dream After Dream is a really great effort, with smooth melodies, strings and horns, arranged and conducted by Neal's father, the late Matthew Schon, and it really shows Journey in a new and refreshing direction. Steve sings his best and the performances of Neal and Smitty totally blew me away. A must for all Journey-crazed fans, Dream after Dream is a rare but a state of the art piece of collection. Here you will experience energy, relaxing moods, melancholy (Snow Theme, written by bassist Ross Valory is a great tune), so it is an album that inevitably it invites to be heard over and over and over!

If you never buy any "obscure" rock album you have to get this one. Not for the timid, it will BLOW YOUR MIND and then some. For the hardcore Journey fan and anyone who really likes orchestral rock.

"Dream After Dream" is not one of my favorite Journey albums, but it is still a pretty enjoyable album to listen to in many ways. I learned about "Dream After Dream" after listening to the song, "Little Girl" off the "Time Cubed" 3-CD set of Journey. This is mostly an instrumental album with more of a progressive rock flavor that kind of drags on sometimes, but some of the songs have some lyrics, although not much. Journey has a different sound on this album than on their previous albums, so if you're looking for the hard-rocking, melodic hits from this band, you won't really get that on this album. But this album is not to be ignored. The album provides you with dreamy, smooth sounds that take you away into a whole new "journey" experience. One reviewer mentioned Steve Perry's "haunting voice." I would have to totally agree. Perry's voice is indeed somewhat haunting and smooth. As always, Perry has a way of getting to your heart with his uncanny soulful, but intense lyrics. He sings right from the heart every time. "Little Girl" is a true example of this. This is my favorite song off "Dream After Dream" and is by far the most "Journey classic rock-like" song on the album. Neal Schon's guitar is absolutely out of this world in this song. His screeching, intense chords are like no other, and I love the way Perry and Rolie harmonize the words in the song. It's just a great song. I only wish the band would play it live some time. Other songs to enjoy are "Destiny," "Moon Theme," and "When The Love Has Gone." "A Few Coins" is not a bad song either. "Destiny" features a great vocal performance by Perry, some terrific, thundering beats from drummer, Steve Smith, and of course, Schon's power-charged guitar, which is also a soft strumming in the beginning. "Moon Theme" features soft, haunting chords from Schon, and "When The Love Has Gone," is mainly a Schon solo number, where he displays his unique talent. Some songs are more melencholy like "The Rape," and "Snow Theme." Above all, "Dream After Dream" is a very different album from Journey, even though it has some shreads of their classic, arena, radio rock included. They do a fabulous job performing in this somewhat new direction. No matter what style Journey presents, they are never a disappointment. This album is one to not be underestimated. Journey has much better albums, but "Dream After Dream" shows us just how great the band's talent is. Pick this album up!

This is not the Steve Perry/Journey you all know and love. It is a beautiful, mostly instrumental album that will blow you away! Very different sounds, great harmonies, and will add a new dimension to your view of the band's many talents. Very few people are aware of this album, but all I have introduced it to have been amazed and impressed with this different "sound."

I was fortunate to come across this cassette in a bargain bin (remember those?) back in the late 80's. Being extremely captivated with Journey at the time, I picked it up for about four dollars. After listening to the entire album, I would have gladly paid much more.

As 'Destiny' begins, one begins to wonder if this is even a Journey album at all; light electric guitar with touches of violins and atmospheric keyboards. When the song moves forward, you begin to hear how talented and versatile this band actually was, as the song builds and explodes with force, ending only as it began. From then on, this album only improves, focusing mainly on orchestration and passion-filled, beautiful instrumentals.

Steve Perry's voice remains sharp, clear, and focused on reaching the saddened side of us all. Listen to 'Little Girl' and 'Sandcastles' to understand why his voice continues to amaze people yet today. Neil Schon's guitar playing is full of changing moods and seems determined to get you to feel all things a classical music piece can bring: joy at one moment and despair at the next.

If you're expecting hints of 'Escape' or 'Frontiers', that is probably all you will get. But after listening to the loss and sorrow expressed in 'When the Love has Gone', you will wonder why these guys never made another movie soundtrack.

A true Journey fan will not be disappointed, and the CD price from Amazon is well worth the investment.

This album is a bit of a deviation from the classic commercial rock Journey fans are used to! It features smooth Angelic high notes hit by the amazing Steve Perry. Nothing new about that, but in this moving piece of music he actually soars to even greater hights. Neil Schon, Journey guitarist, plays a beautiful guitar solo capable of producing goose bumps on the most jaded of listeners, myself included. Flowing strings and tasty compositions make this album a must have for ANY Journey fan.