Let me explain.
I like to dive deep into things. It's just how my brain works. How it breathes. When I get curious about something, I don’t stop at the surface. I fully immerse myself.
This past year, my immersion hobby has been bands from the '70s and '80s. Not just focusing on the hits. I'm analyzing the deep cuts, the live performances. Watching old interviews.
And it's not just the music I’m drawn to. It’s the cost of greatness. The machine these bands had to feed until it consumed them. The bands I have circled back to all have that mix of magic and pain. Fleetwood Mac. The Bee Gees (yes, seriously). The Eagles.
And now? I’m into Old Journey. Not pre-Perry -- I'll get there, I promise. I mean that sweet spot when Perry joined, and the whole sound shifted. When a tight, talented rock band started to catch on fire.
I’ve been drawn to that stretch between Infinity and Escape, where you can hear the transformation happening in real time. The band's alive, experimenting, evolving. You can feel them climbing toward something.
And in that climb, I found songs no one talks about. The ones that didn't get the air play. And finding them? It's that strange, giddy joy of realizing I haven’t heard it all. These songs were here the whole time, tucked between the hits, quietly brilliant. Just waiting for someone to notice them. And no, I'm not a fan girl. I guess you could call me an analyst with a soft spot for art that costs something.
And Steve Perry fascinates me. Not just because of that voice (though my God, that voice). But because of what it took for him to help take the band to next level.
His live performances weren't just equal to the recordings. They were better. Better! I've been listening to the bootlegs, and he never seemed to sing a song the same way twice.
He was vocal athlete chasing perfection night after night. And it cost him.
Looking back, I wish I’d seen them live. Even in ’83. Even with "Separate Ways". But I didn’t go. There was too much hype. They were too overplayed. I tuned them out and missed what was really happening.
Now I'm enjoying making up for lost time. Re-discovering a band I thought I knew.
Infinity, Evolution, Departure? They were riskier, groovier, weirder. Brilliant.
I missed this the first time. But I'm here now. With my ears and mind wide open.
