Street Talk
Street Talk is Steve Perry's first solo studio album, released in April 1984.
Street Talk | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 1984 | |||
Recorded | Record One, Los Angeles, California. | |||
Genre | AOR, pop rock | |||
Length | 39:20 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Steve Perry, Bruce Botnick | |||
Steve Perry chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
The Village Voice | C[4] |
Street Talk contains Perry's biggest hit as a solo artist, "Oh Sherrie", written for his then-girlfriend Sherrie Swafford.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7]
Street Talk is certified as 2x Platinum (2,000,000) in sales by the RIAA.[8]
Track listing
- "Oh Sherrie" (Bill Cuomo, Randy Goodrum, Craig Krampf, Perry) – 3:48
- "I Believe" (Goodrum, Duane Hitchings, Krampf, Perry) – 4:12
- "Go Away" (Cuomo, Goodrum, Perry) – 4:05
- "Foolish Heart" (Goodrum, Perry) – 3:39
- "It's Only Love" (Goodrum, Perry) – 3:47
- "She's Mine" (Goodrum, Perry) – 4:26
- "You Should Be Happy" (Goodrum, Perry) – 3:20
- "Running Alone" (John Bettis, Hitchings, Krampf, Perry) – 4:05
- "Captured by the Moment" (Cuomo, Goodrum, Perry) – 3:47
- "Strung Out" (Krampf, Perry, Billy Steele) – 3:51
- "My My My" (Perry, Krampf, Richard Michaels Haddad, Steve DeLacey) – 2:24 *
- "Harmony" (Perry) – 3:58 *
- "Makes No Difference" (Perry, Krampf, Haddad, DeLacey) – 4:53 *
- "Don't Tell Me Why You're Leaving" (Perry, Danny Kortchmar, Krampf) – 3:13 *
- "If Only for the Moment, Girl" (Perry, Goodrum) – 4:09 *
- Tracks 11 - 15 are bonus tracks on the 2006 CD reissue
- Tracks 11 - 13 are Alien Project demo recordings
- Track 14 is the b-side to Oh Sherrie
- Track 15 is second track from the USA for Africa album "We Are the World" 1985
Personnel
- Steve Perry – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10)
- Bill Cuomo – synthesizers (1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9), acoustic piano (2), synth bells (2), keyboards (3, 6), synth solo (3)
- Randy Goodrum – Rhodes (1-6, 9), drum programming (4)
- Duane Hitchings – synthesizers (8)
- Steve Goldstein – keyboards (10)
- Sterling Smith – keyboards (10)
- Michael Landau – guitar (1-5, 7), guitar solo (6, 9)
- Waddy Wachtel – guitar solo (1), rhythm guitar solo (5)
- Craig Hull – guitar (8, 10)
- Billy Steele – guitar (10)
- Bob Glaub – bass guitar (1-7, 9)
- Chuck Domanico – string bass (3)
- Kevin McCormick – bass guitar (8)
- Bryan Garofalo – bass guitar (10)
- Larrie Londin – drums (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9), percussion (1, 2, 3, 7)
- Craig Krampf – drums (8, 10)
- Robert Greenridge – steel drums (5)
- Steve Douglas – saxophone solo (2), tenor saxophone (6)
Production
- Steve Perry – producer, cover concept
- Bruce Botnick – executive producer
- 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
References
- Allmusic review
- Larkin, Colin (2006). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 494. ISBN 0195313739.
- DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly, eds. (1992). The Rolling Stone Album Guide (3rd ed.). Random House. p. 541. ISBN 0679737294.
- Christgau, Robert (May 28, 1985). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
- Steve Perry talks about the recording of "Oh Sherrie" and Street Talk singles.
- Steve Perry discusses the Alien Project story and Street Talk.
- Platania, Mike (30 September 2019). "Back in the spotlight: Retired rock photographer adds some shine to Short Pump side gig". Richmond BizSense. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
- "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Archived from the original on 2008-09-02. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
- "Street Talk" (Liner Notes); Steve Perry CD, Columbia Records 1984.