"Street Talk" is Steve Perry's first solo studio album, released on April 5, 1984.
Street Talk contains Perry's biggest hit as a solo artist, "Oh Sherrie", written for his then-girlfriend Sherrie Swafford.
The song hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Billboard's Rock chart, and the accompanying music video (also featuring Swafford) was a hit on MTV.
Other singles included "Foolish Heart" (peaked at #18), "She's Mine" (peaked at #21), and "Strung Out" (peaked at #40).
There were a number of nods to Perry's pre-Journey band Alien Project on this album—in fact, that band was originally going to be called Street Talk.
In the liner notes, Perry dedicates the album to Richard Michaels (the bassist for Alien Project). Also, drummer Craig Krampf was a member of Alien Project later in the 1970s.
In addition to launching Perry's solo career, the cover photo for Street Talk served as a career launchpad for music photographer John Scarpati, who met Perry during the album's recording sessions at a studio in Sherman Oaks.
Even with Journey's power ballad formula draping every runny lyric and mawkish keyboard stretch, Perry was able to make the album sound relatively steadfast and sincere all the while.
"Oh Sherrie" deserves it's chart placing, accentuating Perry's vocal power, especially throughout the explosive chorus. Both "Foolish Heart" and "She's Mine" aren't as strong, but they do provide the same type of romantically florid appeal that made "Open Arms" and "Faithfully" hits for Journey, minus the sturdiness of his former band.
"I Believe" is pulled along by a catchy melody and highlighted by Steve Douglas' sax playing, but songs like "Strung Out" and "Running Alone" begin to drown in sugary currents of insipid fluff.
Steve Perry does a respectable job in producing the album though, and the overall package comes off rather clean and bright. Street Talk proves that Perry's song writing and vocal prowess is worthy of its acclaim, but the musicianship that accompanies him throughout the album is noticeably weaker than what he is used to.
Tracklist
1. Oh Sherrie (Bill Cuomo, Randy Goodrum, Craig Krampf) - 3:48
2. I Believe (Goodrum, Duane Hitchings, Krampf) - 4:12
3. Go Away (Cuomo, Goodrum) - 4:05
4. Foolish Heart (Goodrum) - 3:39
5. It's Only Lov (Goodrum) - 3:47
6. She's Mine (Goodrum) - 4:26
7. You Should Be Happy (Goodrum) - 3:20
8. Running Alone (John Bettis, Hitchings, Krampf) - 4:05
9. Captured by the Moment (Cuomo, Goodrum) - 3:47
10. Strung Out (Krampf, Billy Steele) - 3:51
Personnel
- Steve Perry – vocals, backing vocals (1–3, 5, 7, 9, 10)
- Bill Cuomo – synthesizers (1, 4, 5, 7–9), acoustic piano (2), synth bells (2), keyboards (3, 6), synth solo (3)
- Randy Goodrum – Rhodes (1–6, 9), drum programming (4), acoustic piano (15)
- Duane Hitchings – synthesizers (8)
- Steve Goldstein – keyboards (10)
- Sterling Smith – keyboards (10)
- Michael Landau – guitars (1–5, 7, 15), guitar solo (6, 9)
- Waddy Wachtel – guitar solo (1), rhythm guitar solo (5)
- Craig Hull – guitars (8, 10)
- Billy Steele – guitars (10)
- Bob Glaub – bass guitar (1–7, 9, 15)
- Chuck Domanico – string bass (3)
- Kevin McCormick – bass guitar (8)
- Bryan Garofalo – bass guitar (10)
- Larrie Londin – drums (1–3, 5–7, 9), percussion (1–3, 7)
- Craig Krampf – drums (8, 10)
- John Robinson – drums (15)
- Robert Greenidge – steelpan (5)
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion (15)
- Steve Douglas – saxophone solo (2), tenor saxophone (6)
- Joel Peskin – saxophone (15)
Production
- Bruce Botnick – executive producer
- Steve Perry – producer, cover concept
- Niko Bolas – recording, mixing
- Richard Bosworth – recording assistant, additional engineer
- Denny Densmore – recording assistant (10)
- Mike Reese – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California)
- Jim Welch – art direction
- John Scarpati – cover photography
- Herbie Herbert – personal management
Companies, etc.
- Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Sony Music Entertainment
- Copyright © – Rock Candy Records Ltd.
- Licensed From – Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
- Remastered At – Close To The Edge
Credits
- Remastered By – Jon Astley
Notes
Released: Nov 29, 2024
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Series: Collector's Edition Remastered & Reloaded
Genre: Arena Rock, AOR,
Playtime: 39:09
Label: Rock Candy
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