Steve Perry - For The Love Of Strange Medicine (1994)

"For The Love Of Strange Medicine" is the second solo album by Steve Perry, released in 1994. After a lengthy 8-year hiatus following the breakup of Journey, and a shelved 1988 solo effort later titled Against the Wall, Perry returned to the spotlight with this album.
For the Love of Strange Medicine's lack of success was solid proof that a new decade had no room for Steve Perry's saccharine-induced love songs or makeup and breakup-styled gushiness, even if it was sculpted to sound more mature. "You Better Wait" was the lead single that managed a number 29 spot, mainly because Perry's voice soared throughout its entirety, proving he could still utilize his greatest asset. The rest of the album tries to blend Perry's romantic formula with pumped-up keyboard playing and manufactured rhythms, worsening any sincerity that may or may not have been there in the first place. Tracks such as "Donna Please" and "Listen to Your Heart" try hard to rekindle Perry's Journey-esque magic, but it's nowhere to be found. Instead, his lyrics fall off into thin air without making any impact, along with commonplace radio harmonies that have long since lost their '80s luster. The end of the album has Perry sounding extra thin in songs like "Missing You" and "Somewhere There's Hope," ample evidence that, in Steve Perry's case, it takes more than just a superb voice to carry an album.


Track listing

01.  You Better Wait  (Perry, Lincoln Brewster, Paul Taylor, Moyes Lucas, John Pierce, George Hawkins)  - 4:51
02.  Young Hearts Forever  (Perry, Clif Magness)  - 4:43
03.  I Am  (Perry, Taylor, Brewster)  - 4:54
04.  Stand Up (Before It's Too Late)  (Perry, Brewster, Taylor, Lucas, Larry Kimpel)  - 4:49
05.  For the Love of Strange Medicine  (Perry, Taylor, Lucas, Brewster)  - 5:52
06.  Donna Please  (Perry, Taylor, Stephen Bishop)  - 4:02
07.  Listen to Your Heart  (Perry, Taylor, Brewster, Lucas)  - 3:31
08.  Tuesday Heartache  (Perry, Magness, Taylor, Brewster, Lucas)  - 6:00
09.  Missing You  (Perry, Tim Miner)  - 3:48
10.  Somewhere There's Hope  (Perry, Taylor, Brewster, Lucas)  - 6:05
11.  Anyway (Perry)  - 4:20
12.  If You Need Me, Call Me  (Steve Perry, Craig Krampf, Richard Michaels, Steve DeLacey) (bonus track)  - 5:50
13.  One More Time  (Perry, Brewster) (bonus track)  - 3:32
14.  Can't Stop  (Perry, Randy Goodrum, Michael Landau) (bonus track)  - 4:08
15.  Friends of Mine  (Perry, J. Leo, Goodrum, Krampf) (bonus track)  - 3:30
16.  Missing You (Live in San Francisco 12/9/94)  (Perry, Miner) (bonus track)  - 4:13

Released:  1994
Genre:  Rock
Label:  Columbia/Next Plateau Entertainment
Length:  1:14:08
Producer:  James Barton, Steve Perry, Tim Miner
Mastered By:  Bob Ludwig

Personnel
Steve Perry - vocals
Lincoln Brewster - guitars, background vocals
Paul Taylor- keyboards, background vocals
Moyes Lucas - drums, background vocals
Larry Kimpel - bass
Mike Porcaro - bass
Phil Brown - bass
Jeremy Lubbock, James Barton, Phil Brown - string arrangement
Tim Miner - bass, piano, keyboards & background vocals
Larry Dalton - string arrangement & conductor
Dallas Symphony Orchestra - strings
Michael Landau - guitars
Alexander Brown, Carmen Carter, Jean McClain - backing vocals