Steve Perry: Raised On Radio Review

A MILLION DOLLARS WERE SPENT ON THE RECORDING OF RAISED ON RADIO - THE PRICE OF PERFECTION. JOURNEY ARE
the quintessential American melodic hard rock act and this, their final work, is surely the ultimate AOR album. The San Franciscans' two previous releases --1981's Escape and 1983's Frontiers --are both classics, but with Raised On Radio, Journey reached their zenith. In particular, the voice of Steve Perry is astounding. Critics said he sounded like a duck, but in the sphere of AOR, Perry has only two serious peers: Lou Gramm of Foreigner and Michael Bolton.
Raised On Radio is in essence Perry's album. He is

the album's producer, chief songwriter and star. Having blazed away on the harder-edged Escape and Frontiers, guitarist and founder member Neal Schon is muzzled on Raised On Radio, although he does turn on the power for 'Be Good To Yourself' and the title cut.
'Girl Can't Help It' is a stunning opening number, Perry's voice multi-tracked for the chorus and for a wonderful a cappella ending. 'Positive Touch' betrays the group's sixties soul roots, while 'Suzanne" is one of the most emotive rock songs ever recorded, Perry seemingly on his knees pleading at the finish. Surprisingly, the two ballads, 'Happy To Give' and 'Why Can't This Night Go On Forever', are not among Journey's best. 'Faithfully' remains their classic tearjerker, but Raised On Radio is the classic Journey album.