Steve Perry - For the Love of Strange Medicine (11 tracks) +Album Reviews

The 'steely voice' keeps the Perry's Journey going.

Patrick L. Randall | Silver Spring, MD | 09/04/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The 1980's were undoubtedly characterized, in part, by the music of Journey. Rock anthems and power ballads were the mainstay of the band that turned out such memorable hits at "Separate Ways", "Don't Stop Believing", and (my favorite) "Faithfully". At the forefront of Journey's success was the man with the steely voice, Steve Perry. Few voices in music history are as perfectly crafted for the singer's chosen genre than Perry's. He could achieving the soaring range of the anthems, while also incorporating softer, more accomplished, tones into the power ballads. Internal power struggles caused Journey to break up in 1986 and each member went on their separate ways (no pun intended). Steve Perry, who had already achieved solo success with 1983's "Street Talk", took to the studio a few years later to produce his second album, "For the Love of Strange Medicine" (released in 1994).

"...Strange Medicine" has proven to be an absolute goldmine for Journey faithful captivated by Perry's voice. It provides one of those rare occassions where a listener can put the CD in and listen to it from beginning to end and not find a single track they don't like. Tributes to young love, inner strength, long journeys, and forgiveness all permeate this album. "...Strange Medicine" starts off in style with its lone radio release, "You Better Wait", a soaring cautionary anthem to a young girl starting out in life. Perry's magnificent voice, along with some spectacular guitar play, power this song to a level beyond what even Journey produced. "Young Hearts Forever" follows it with another wondrous song encouraging the embrace of young love. It simply must be experienced to understand how good this song is.

While every track is excellent, there is one more truly impressive song on this album. It is the final track, "Anyway". It is a strong, emotional song that essentially serves as Perry's lyrical apology and peace offering to his fellow bandmates for the troubles of a decade earlier. The strength of this ballad is on par with "Faithfully" and "Open Arms" from the Journey days, and is speculated to have played a part in the 1996 reunion of the band.

Sadly, Perry's medical condition due to a climbing injury made that reunion short-lived. The band has moved on with a new Perry sound alike singer and Perry, himself, has continued to do some studio work from time to time (though, no new studio album is on the horizon). Yet, with music like "For the Love of Strange Medicine" still floating around, Journey and Perry fans alike can still plug in and be reminded of the greatness of what once was."

The Greatest Male Singer's second solo album's beutifull

Bob Waskiewicz | Wintersville, Ohio United States | 08/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Steve Perry is the greatest male singer. Its ashame we don't hear from him anymore,but even if he never makes another album,Steve will be remembered forever from his records with Journey and his two solo albums.I love "For the Love of Strange Medicine." I bought this tape when I went to Florida in "94,"and never took it out of my CD Player."You Better Wait," the first single released has some of the greatest harmonies Steve is famous, then leads into the hard rocking,"Young Hearts Forever." One song I've played over and over again is "Missing you." I adore this ballad,and I'm still not tired of it.I was shocked to see that Steve has a greatest hits CD when I went into this site.I'm going to order this record today. I hope Steve gets back into the recording studio soon,either with Journey,or records another solo record .This talented singer,songwriter is Missed by all his fan's."

The one, the only Steve Perry

steveperryfan1978 | 05/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For the Love of Strange Medicine, Steve Perry's second solo release, is an undiscovered gem of an album. Dark, stirring and introspective--Steve had a lot to say with this album.There's quite a few songs about love on this album (You Better Wait, Donna Please, Tuesday Heartache, Missing You)but there's also a lot of introspective songs including the title track with it's stirring lyrics - 'Some are believers...some don't know (some are lost They're lost and alone...Some are deceivers...Their souls been sold (for the love)....For the love of strange medicine..' The term "Strange Medicine meaning the things unimportant in life that people think are important and really aren't."Stand Up (Before It's too Late" is another call to humanity--'Fear is forever, both stand apart...When love's forgotten
The tears from the start...Stand Up Before it's too Late...This is not a dream...' There's also songs onf inspiration--including the emotionally moving "Somewhere There's Hope,"--'Oo the wheels of fear...Turn truth into lies...Like a thief in the night...Hold on, through the smoke...And through the fire...No-one, can hide....Cause somewhere there's hope (somewhere there's hope)...Somebody please (somebody please)...Somewhere there's hope, waitin' there, waitin' there.."The album ends with a song to Perry's former bandmates in Journey--"Anyway." An apology, It starts with the lyrics 'Still I remember...I'd like to say I'm sorry
I'd like to make amends...I'd close my eyes and tell the truth.
Where would I begin.....' And ends with 'We believed in music...Brothers till the end...Nothing stood between us...A fire burned within....Oh how I remember....Wounded but alive...Lost in my insanity...Escaping to survive...Anyway, what was I saying....Anyway, I seem to have lost my place again...Anyway, oh how I need just to forget...But I can't do it...' It's beleived that this song helped to reunite the band members one last time for the "Trial By Fire" album.This album, despite the little promotion it recieved (the label was pushing for a Journey reunion) it still managed to go Gold. It is a rare masterpiece and it may be Steve Perry at his very best. As with any Steve Perry album the production and musicianship is flawless and it clearly showcases Steve's writing abilities outside of Journey. A great album definately worth the listen."

Best voice in rock-n-roll

M. Crockett | Germany | 08/31/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I read some reviews saying that Steve sounded better in Streetalk and For The Love of Strange Medicine. I think some people are still high for the 80's! His latest cd was a much better quality sound and had simply more heart than Streetalk. I have seen Journey in concert over 10 times since there Infinity tour and know the band history very well. It's too bad Steve's health problem (hip) had to occur so early in his life. Yes was was some discord among the group but that had been going on for years.

Anyway, Steve is my hands down my vote for best voice in rock. Yes Dennis DeYoung, Robert Plant, Rod Stewart were my other favorites, but I still think Steve has the natural raw voice that people like. I'm sure other people out there have there favorite's; that's just my opinion.

Hey Steve do us a favor; your fans want another cd. Let us hear that great voice again!!!"

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