Lost/Forgotten Album #80

[Jon]

Let's chalk this one up as an album you heard of but never picked up because it seemingly was available for a short while and then went to the great big bin in the sky.....

 

Let me try an piece together the history: This all started as a project with Neal Schon and Sammy Hagar, but after Van Halen called Sammy back, the project was aborted. However, since Schon had put a lot of work into the songs he decided to go ahead and from Soul SirkUS, featuring Jeff Scott Soto (vocals), Marco Mendoza (bass) and Deen Castronovo (drums).

In 2005 "World Play" was released, but only on the Soul SirkUS website. Then Deen fell ill and, under doctor's orders, bowed out of the band and was replaced by Virgil Donati. The album was remixed with Donati on drums and was released overseas with a different cover and five additional songs.

The did tour briefly in the US and Europe, but that's basically all they've done since '05. That's really a shame, since this album is pretty good and rocks harder than I though it would. And I could swear that's NOT Soto on vocals on one of the songs (try and figure out which one and who the singer is) which is, strangely, my favorite song on the album.

World Play

1. Highest Ground

2. New Position

3. Another World

4. Soul Goes On

5. Peephole

6. Periled Divide

7. Praise

8. My Sanctuary

9. Friends & Lovers

10. Coming Home

11. Close The Door

Availability: Both OOP, but selling starting around $22.

[Scott]

Interesting choice this week.  If memory serves me correct (and it usually does) Soul Sirkus had a second release that came out about the same time Journey was relieving Augeri of his lead singer role.  The reason I have this memory is because I seen one of the few shows Journey did with Jeff Scott Soto at the lead and he was really very good and well suited to make Journey more than just a tribute band of themselves (which they essentially are with Pinada at the helm).  I think it was a bad choice not promote him to full time band member and I still feel that way today.

 

From the onset of this album, you can hear what could have been!  Damn! 

 

Sme thoughts ...

• "New Position" is a killer tune!  Schon rocks heavy and plays better!  You can really hear how good he is on this one!
• Geetar work on Another World really makes the track work better, without its average
• JSS carries Soul Goes on... like the bass line but it was too monotone musicaly, nice vocal work made the song pretty good.
• Periled Divide could use some polish, but I could hear it on the Journey album JSS should have been on!
• Praise and My Sanctuary are nice in your face rock and roll tunes!  Liked both of them!
• Friends to Lovers brings the album back to its melodic rock center.  Liking this more and more!

 

Coming Home wasnt very good, but the geetar work was!  I think the vocally this album is very strong, the geetar work is really very good as expected, but I really think Schon sounds re-invogorated here, theres a freshness about his playing.  THe overall songs are pretty good too!  Sucks this is OOP ...

Note:  The forward thinking one, who shall remain unnamed, posted more of Soto's work on here one other time when the band W.E.T was given a New Music Corner voice.  Solid work this guys does...

 

Loved this post!

[Jon]

There was never a second release, but a remix of this release which has a yellow cover.

[Scott]

thats the one I remember seeing the yellow one...

[RJhog (Admin)]

JSS has a new solo album out soon!

[RJhog (Admin)]

Got to listen to the first 6 songs today.  Will catch the rest tomorrow hopefully.  I'm liking this as well.  I know of Soto, but the only album I have with him on vocals is W.E.T.  He's got a very good voice, but I had know idea he was so versatile.  I hear shades of Sammy Hagar, Doug Pinnick (spelling?) and Kip Winger.  I think track 3 reminded me a lot of Winger.  That's never bad for me.  And track two sounded like classic Journey, like it would have worked very well with Steve Perry on vocals as well.  Jon, very nice so far.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Finished this up today.  Overall, a very good post by Jon.  But now I'm gonna make him mad.  I swear it sounds like Paul Stanley is helping on the backing vocals for Friends To Lovers.  Just listen closely, especially towards the end.  That, of course, makes the song very good.

[Jon]

Arrrgh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gordon Williams]

I remember when this first came out. I was contemplating buying it, but for some reason, never did. Glad I get to hear it here!

The first track has me liking it right away. Second track rocks, and already, Schon has shown off some killer chops. He really is a vastly under-rated guitarist. I'm sure a lot of people who are fiercely into hard rock might not realize just how good Schon is...kind of like me, in my younger days. Back then, all you had to do was mention Journey, and my face probably contorted...as if I had just smelled something really bad!

But I remember beginning to appreciate Schon when I got the Hagar, Schon, Aaronson, and Shreive release. Anybody remember that?

Back to this: Liking the 3rd track, with its heavier, mid tempo pace. Major reverb or echo effect used by Schon on the lead. Track 4 is the first one that does not hold my attention. Not bad, just average. Would not skip it though, when playing this.

Track 5 did nothing for me...kind of boring. But track 6, "Periled Divide" has a nice, sing along chorus. Track 7, "Praise", draws me in right away with the opening guitar riff. Like the drums on this track, as well. Nice vocal work. This track is more in line with the first 3 tracks...good rock n roll!

Track 8, "Sanctuary" comes out hard rockin' with a nice, drivin' guitar riff. The lead is also really good. Of the final 3 tracks, track 10, "Coming Home" is the best. I agree totally with RJHog...very nice guitar work on this one. It's like a jazzy style guitar, with classical influences. I hear the Paul Stanley sound in track 9, but the song is one of the weaker tunes, in my opinion.

Overall, a good listen. I would buy this if I could find it in the $10 to $12 range.

 

[Jon]

I actually had that HSAS album on vinyl way back then. Was it really that good? Can't remember, I've seen it here and there on CD but never bothered to pick it up again, could be because it's live.

What I would REALLY like is the Jan Hammer & Neal Schon release "Here To Stay", but it's way too expensive. Had that on vinyl way back when too.

[Gordon Williams]

It was not great, but not bad. I just remember how when I first heard this, I had no idea that Neil Schon was a good rock guitar player. Because up to that point, all I had heard was the mega-hits by Journey on radio...the softer, ballady stuff, more keyboard orientated than guitar driven.

[Jon]

Yeah, me too. I'm not going to worry about buying it since it doesn't have your total stamp of approval!