Customer Reviews

Street Talk

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Steve Perry's first solo record, Street Talk, was an accomplishment on its own. The re-release in 1996 brought an edited version with improved sound quality. This new reissue of Street Talk sounds even better, and it comes with some extras as well.

The most obvious are the five bonus tracks. The first three of these tracks were from his days with 'Alien Project,' the band that recorded the demo tracks which earned him the lead vocalist position with Journey. The demos have been floating online via bootleg download sites for years. In an interview, Steve was asked if he knew about their existence. He said he did, and that he was waiting for the right time to release them. This is that time, and they sound incredible for having been recorded in 1977. Perry's voice is higher than usual, yet still maintains that energetic charisma that he carried in to Journey and this solo album. These tracks are a must have for any Perry die-hard. The track following the Alien Project demos is called "Don't Tell Me Why You're Leaving." This song was originally on the B-side of the single, "Oh Sherrie." It's an R&B track that sounds like Perry was having a blast recording it. The final bonus track is an extended version of "If Only For the Moment Girl" that sounds just as great as the rest of the album.

The other thing that makes this CD reissue worth getting is the booklet that comes with it. Like the Journey booklets, this one has lots of previously unreleased photos, some from Perry's own private library, as well as ads for the singles and a note from The Voice himself introducing the CD and its bonus tracks. Street Talk has never sounded better, and the extra tracks make this a must buy for any Perry fan or lover of great music. You will be hard pressed to find a voice as infectious and energetic as Steve Perry.

Steve Perry's first solo effot,1984's "Street Talk",is softer and more pop-oriented than the albums with Journey,but there's still that distinctive soulful vocal and musical quality that is pure Steve Perry-enough to produce 4 Top 40 singles-the Top 10 "Oh Sherrie",plus "Foolish Heart,"She's Mine" and "Strung Out".Other highlights include the 60s soul homage "I Believe",the ballad "Go Away",and the moving tribute to fallen 60s rock and soul icons "Captured By The Moment".The 2006 edition has excellent remastered sound(by Dave Donnelly)that is vastly superior to previous CD editions,3 interesting unreleased bonus tracks with his pre-Journey band Alein Project in the 70's("My My My My","Harmony","Makes No Difference"),the B-side to "Oh Sherrie"("Don't Tell Me Why You're Leaving")and a song from the "USA For Africa" album("If Only For The Moment,Girl).If you're a fan of Journey or 80's pop-rock,then this is right up your alley.

I had bought Street Talk when it had orignally came out in the 80's, on Album band tape. Bought it about a year ago on CD, Now again I have bought the new "remastered" version. LOVE it even MORE.... the addition of the bonus songs are great. I can't stop playing "Don't Tell Me Why Your Leaving" and "Makes No Difference" over and over again. What a refreshing change in style and these songs show his fans just what a wonderfully talented performer/artist Mr. Perry is... And "The Voice" should be a standard for what a singer/entertainer should be. Wish he would put out something BRAND NEW.... Doesn't matter what it is, as long as the "Perry Voice" is singing again.

The results speak for themselves - "Street Talk" sold more than two million copies and soared into the Billboard Top 15, while "Oh Sherrie" went Top 3 and "Foolish Heart" was a Top 20 hit. This CD is for a special breed of people who live their lives the way they want, and choose their music to fit their lives. The combination of Steve Perry's exceptional creativity and unmatched vocal capabilities are an outstanding fit! So, pour yourself a glass of wine, relax, and enjoy!

This is really a great album. Steve's voice is strong and each song is well done. Steve does some great hard rock songs as well as good ballads on this CD. Michael Landau's guitar playing is excellent;especially on Captured By The Moment which really rocks. She's Mine and Oh, Sherrie, and Captured By The Moment are unforgettable songs and really stand out from the rest.

he has a stunning voice, very soulful, and boy, can he hold a note!!
is this man the shakespeare of rock music?
as soon as this albums starts with the tinkly piano chords closely followed by violin & steve shouting "i shoulda been gone"! - you are hooked.

the pure voice quality on "go away" is like sumptuous velvet& the emotion in "foolish heart" tugs at the heart strings.

my favourite "she's mine" - purely for the big sound & steve fighting for his woman. the last 3 tracks are nostalgia, following by the painful angst of unrequited love - the final echo of "strung out" completes this album very neatly.
this is definitely in my list of all time fave albums.

ok, i am a huge steve perry fan and i think he one of (the) greatest singers of all time. if you know him just from his "journey" days, this cd will rock your socks off! great variety of songs and his vocal performance is amazing! check out "don't tell why your leaving" and you will know what i mean. too much fun! i listen to this cd every morning on my way to work...

I just listened to Steve Perry's "Street Talk," and I think it's a great Soul/Pop crossover album.

The first tune, "Oh, Sherrie," is a great rocker. I think that Journey's "Raised On Radio" album is reminiscent of this tune. It has great vocal by Steve Perry, and Michael Landeau is really good on guitar.

The second song, "I Believe," is a great soul tune. It kind of reminds me of a male version of a Supreme' tune. Sulful and upbeat!

"Go Away," is a bit slower and a lot smoother. I think there's a soft and smooth way Steve Perry croons with feeling on this, with a great, heartfelt guitar solo.

"Foolish Heart," is a really nice ballad with beautiful keyboard flourishes and smooth vocal inflections.

"It's Only Love," is a great mid-tempo rocker with a lot of screamin' soul from Steve Perry, and a rockin' guitar solo from Michael Landeau.

"She's Mine," is a nice, mid-tempo, soul tune with great vocals, but even though I like playing the sax, Steve Douglas' solo doesn't impress me.

"You Should Be Happy," is nice mid-tempo soul/rock, with good vocals from Steve Perry, but Michael's guitar work is just OK.

"Running Alone," is an OK ballad. The only thing it has going for it, is good vocal from Steve Perry.

"Captured By The Moment," is good. Steve's voice is good, and Michael has a good guitar riff going.

And last, but not least, "Strung Out," is a great rocker to finish off the album. Steve Perry's vocal inflections are great; and Michael Landeau's guitar solo is really good on this one.

It's soul/pop at its best, and it was probably the best time for Steve to leave Journey and record a solo album. It's just a shame that he hasn't done more lately.

It isn't widely known, but Steve Perry was on the verge of launching a solo career years before he actually did. When he was invited to join Journey, those plans went on hold.

Finally, in 1984, Steve Perry recorded his first solo album, and turned in a respectable performance. Although the same powerful vocal presence that propelled Journey is here in abundance (especially on the 2 hit tunes "Oh Sherrie" and "Strung Out"), the other tracks deviate from the Journey genre.

"I Believe" has a Motown undercurrent and is well executed. In my opinion, it's a better effort than Michael Bolton's "Love Is a Wonderful Thing" in this regard.

The real sleeper on this album is "She's Mine". It's a powerful tune that is reminiscent of Whitesnake's "Is This Love", propelled by Craig Krampf's creative interpretation of what is otherwise a straight 4/4 rhythm.

The only weak spot on this album are the tracks toward the end, which definately have the feel of filler material. Fortunately, Perry wisely closes out the album with "Strung Out".

Overall, this is definately a worthwhile listed to one of the more powerful male vocalists to grace the airwaves.

What else could one hope for but more of Steve Perry. I have loved his voice from the first time I heard it. This CD is fullof more of what you were after... that voice. No One Can Croon like Steve. Thanks Steve for the years of beautiful. You're a legend.