Has anyone really listened to Ross Valory's bass work on the first 3 Journey albums (pre-Perry era)? Journey (1975) Look Into The Future (1976) and Next (1977) available on CD, amazing rock/prog/fusiony stuff! I think Ross is so highly underrated, what a shame. Even his later work w/ Journey is great. I've been a fan of Ross since 1978. Are there any other Ross fans out there? Ross fans unite!
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Love for Ross Valory (Journey) underrated
- Thread starter 80'sRocker
- Start date
Sorry for the glare over Neal Schon. I used see Journey BP (before Perry) as much as I could in the 1970's. First show I saw was their debut at Winterland, SF on New Years Eve 1973, when they were on the same bill with Santana and Herbie Hancock. The cheapest I saw Journey was two dollars on Winterland's 2 dollar Tuesday night shows!
When they opened for bands like Robin Trower, Montrose, they blew every headliner away with the exception of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, but that's understandable.
Ross had everything to do with me wanting a P bass. His bass tone and playing were so tight with Anysley Dunbar's bass drum.
I love their first 3 albums BP and still listen to this stuff when I'm riding somewhere.
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When they opened for bands like Robin Trower, Montrose, they blew every headliner away with the exception of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, but that's understandable.
Ross had everything to do with me wanting a P bass. His bass tone and playing were so tight with Anysley Dunbar's bass drum.
I love their first 3 albums BP and still listen to this stuff when I'm riding somewhere.
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Awesome Jim Dep! The cooler thing is that my 15 tear old totally digs this stuff too! Like father like son. I would have loved to see an early show, my 1st show was 1978
I think just about all the members of Journey are somewhat underappreciated. I am not sure of another band that has had a string of drummers that could equal what they have had.
Neal Schon is a great guitarist. John Caine is a really good player. Then there is Ross. I think he is a really good player, and I think he fit the band perfectly. Now, there was Raised on Radio when they brought in Randy Jackson, who is also a really grooving guy. Both great but different players.
Neal Schon is a great guitarist. John Caine is a really good player. Then there is Ross. I think he is a really good player, and I think he fit the band perfectly. Now, there was Raised on Radio when they brought in Randy Jackson, who is also a really grooving guy. Both great but different players.
i saw one of their earlier winterland shows. they were sandwiched between the tubes and mahavishnu (74?). i think ross was playing a natural finished jazz at the time, with a pick. very clean paying. he and ansley (who at the time was a 'guest' performer with them) were a great match.
I hope you don't mind me sharing a story about meeting Ross for a couple seconds when I was a teenager.
Back in the mid 70's when I was 18, the guitar player in my band named Steve was taking some classes at Foothill Jr College in Los Altos, California with Gregg Rollie's girlfriend, Maureen.
Steve played a '63 Gibson Firebird he found at a pawn shop and was trying to sell it to buy a Les Paul. Through Maureen, he learned that Neal Schon collected older Gibsons and asked her to see if he might be interested in buying his. A few days later she tells Steve that Neal was interested in looking at it, but he'd have to take it up to San Francisco where they were rehearsing. She gives him the directions to S.I.R. studios and tells him what day to show up and what to say at the door to get in. Wanting some company for the ride, Steve asks me and the other guys in the band if we wanted to go. Being hard core Journey fans, this was a dream come true.
On the big day, I remember us going up Highway 101 and reminding ourselves not to act like teenybopper idiot groupies.
We arrived, pushed the buzzer and some big guy opens the door and sticks his head out. After Steve gave him the spiel, he tells us to wait outside. We were nervous as hell wondering what was going to happen next. None of us cared if Steve sold his guitar to Neal, we just wanted to get inside meet our rock heroes.
We waited in the cold for about 15 minutes until the gate keeper showed up again (any time of year San Fransisco can feel like the coldest freaking place on earth). He tells Steve to come in with his guitar but we had to wait outside. After feeling totally dejected for another 10 minutes, Steve opens the door acting all nervous and tells us to come in, but "don't say a word and be cool."
We go strutting in to where the equipment was set up, and there's Neal playing Steve's guitar. Without thinking I said loudly " Sh**t Steve, how come it doesn't sound that good when you're playing it!" I got a few blank stares from people I didn't recognize and felt like a real jerk (shudder).
After saying our quick and awkward "hellos" to the guys in the band, we stood in the back against a wall and got to hear Journey rehearse. Whatever they were working on, I wasn't familiar with it and still have no idea what it was. Overall, our short time inside was tense because there were some people around the studio that made it clear we were intruding on their space.
What helped break the tension was that I saw a side of Ross Valery I didn't know about. He was so freaking funny that none of us could keep from laughing, especially me, as hard as I was trying to keep quiet. He was cracking jokes, making fun and mocking some of the uptight people standing around. When there was a pause in the rehearsal, Neal gave Steve back his guitar and said, "make sure to leave your phone number, I'll think about it and get back to you." Then he looked at us and said "thanks for coming guys". It was a subtle hint that we needed to go.
When we got outside, we asked Steve what Neal thought of the guitar. Steve said " I couldn't really tell, but he did say that he doesn't like the banjo style of tuning pegs." Even though we felt less than invisible, it was a cool experience and it was well worth the trip.
Neal never did call Steve back.
Back in the mid 70's when I was 18, the guitar player in my band named Steve was taking some classes at Foothill Jr College in Los Altos, California with Gregg Rollie's girlfriend, Maureen.
Steve played a '63 Gibson Firebird he found at a pawn shop and was trying to sell it to buy a Les Paul. Through Maureen, he learned that Neal Schon collected older Gibsons and asked her to see if he might be interested in buying his. A few days later she tells Steve that Neal was interested in looking at it, but he'd have to take it up to San Francisco where they were rehearsing. She gives him the directions to S.I.R. studios and tells him what day to show up and what to say at the door to get in. Wanting some company for the ride, Steve asks me and the other guys in the band if we wanted to go. Being hard core Journey fans, this was a dream come true.
On the big day, I remember us going up Highway 101 and reminding ourselves not to act like teenybopper idiot groupies.
We arrived, pushed the buzzer and some big guy opens the door and sticks his head out. After Steve gave him the spiel, he tells us to wait outside. We were nervous as hell wondering what was going to happen next. None of us cared if Steve sold his guitar to Neal, we just wanted to get inside meet our rock heroes.
We waited in the cold for about 15 minutes until the gate keeper showed up again (any time of year San Fransisco can feel like the coldest freaking place on earth). He tells Steve to come in with his guitar but we had to wait outside. After feeling totally dejected for another 10 minutes, Steve opens the door acting all nervous and tells us to come in, but "don't say a word and be cool."
We go strutting in to where the equipment was set up, and there's Neal playing Steve's guitar. Without thinking I said loudly " Sh**t Steve, how come it doesn't sound that good when you're playing it!" I got a few blank stares from people I didn't recognize and felt like a real jerk (shudder).
After saying our quick and awkward "hellos" to the guys in the band, we stood in the back against a wall and got to hear Journey rehearse. Whatever they were working on, I wasn't familiar with it and still have no idea what it was. Overall, our short time inside was tense because there were some people around the studio that made it clear we were intruding on their space.
What helped break the tension was that I saw a side of Ross Valery I didn't know about. He was so freaking funny that none of us could keep from laughing, especially me, as hard as I was trying to keep quiet. He was cracking jokes, making fun and mocking some of the uptight people standing around. When there was a pause in the rehearsal, Neal gave Steve back his guitar and said, "make sure to leave your phone number, I'll think about it and get back to you." Then he looked at us and said "thanks for coming guys". It was a subtle hint that we needed to go.
When we got outside, we asked Steve what Neal thought of the guitar. Steve said " I couldn't really tell, but he did say that he doesn't like the banjo style of tuning pegs." Even though we felt less than invisible, it was a cool experience and it was well worth the trip.
Neal never did call Steve back.
I was at that show too. May of 1974. Ross was playing a natural finish P bass. That was one of Anysley's first gigs with them after Prairie Prince joined the Tubes. Carlos Santana came out for Mahavishu's encore and they played " A Love Supreme". I took a few pictures that night, and managed to get a close shot of Carlos from the back balcony, right above the stage.
That was a great concert.
Here's a pic from 1977. This looks like the same bass.
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Ross Valory fan here. That guy rocks!
Regarding his sense of humor mentioned by Jim Dep, Ross cracks me up with the facial expressions he makes in this video:
(Sorry for using a vid with Arnel singing.....Arnel just doesn't do it for me. IMO he is a total wannabe, and he hits some really sour notes toward the end of that vid. Nobody sings like Steve Perry!!!)
Regarding his sense of humor mentioned by Jim Dep, Ross cracks me up with the facial expressions he makes in this video:
(Sorry for using a vid with Arnel singing.....Arnel just doesn't do it for me. IMO he is a total wannabe, and he hits some really sour notes toward the end of that vid. Nobody sings like Steve Perry!!!)
What a great story Jim Dep, Ross is indeed very funny. I myself was fortunate enough to meet Journey four times between '80-83. Here is a little story: In 1978 Journey played a FREE show at SPAC in my hometown of Saratoga Springs,NY, my first true rock concert (I had seen Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers etc. at the fairs) and we were psyched! We quickly snagged front row balcony seats and were blown away by the acts (Walter Egan, the Hounds and ?, a Columbia Records promo tour), especially Journey! After the show we walked down by the backstage area and I recognized road manager Pat Morrow and said "Pat, I recognize you from the fan club photos/poster etc" and he said "come with me". We of course met all the band and were in heaven, nice guys. Then in '81 we got backstage again (@ SPAC) because our school shop teacher was backstage door security guard! We somehow met Sandy Einstein (management) who then invited us to the show in Syracuse,NY the next night. We found Sandy and he lead right us across the stage, 20 minutes before the show, with a full audience staring as, to the other side to an isle area where we could sit as it was sold out. Security tried too make us leave but Sandy reamed the guy a new * ho and said "These are our gusts, they can sit there here etc." - done deal, how cool of Sandy to do that ( I later met Sandy On A Europe/Leppard tour in the early 90's). Backstage that night was pretty wild...I can't mention those thing here! I've seen Journey about 15 times now and still a great show (but I miss Perry & Rolie). Ah the memories...I could go on & on and I still that cool Journey Fan Club (The Force) ONLY poster (it's in my myspace pictures if u wanna see it), very rare about 300 made. Journey and Ross simply rule!
Very very Cool!! I don't have myspace, but do you have a link?
I agree, Journey was a big part of my earlier days. I was just thinking to of how to find a link for the bass playing Ross did for " In my Loney Feeling / Conversations" . You earlier Journey fan bass players know what this is!
Yeh I've always loved those facial expressions! In the youtube video Ross seemed I bit out of it of ya know what I mean, too funny. Reminds me of the Ross I met in Syracuse years back
Iv'e always thought that Journey as a whole is a very underrated band! In the early version Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Ansley Dunbar and Ross Valory were all great musicians. Even when they had Steve Perry they were still a great band. Like him or not his voice was the main reason for their commercial success.
I agree. The "Look into the Future" album has been one of my favorites for many years. I really didn't like Journey too much once they started the Steve Perry/power ballad phase. There were times when I thought I would lose my mind if I had to listen to "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'" one more time
Howver, that is what made them popular. I think Ross is a very good and underrated player.That's true.
You might find this interesting. A few years ago I emailed Gregg Rolie and reminisced about the early Journey days. I shared my feelings about what the original line up meant to me, how they inspired me with their blending of styles such as combining hard edge rock with latin, blues, jazz, a little funkiness in their live shows and the soulfulness of Gregg's voice.
Here was Gregg's response:
Jim,, Thanks for all the kind words. I've heard this a lot lately
since starting the Gregg Rolie Band. I'm doing music based more on the
Latin grooves now and loving it. I have an incredible line up of
musicians......check out my website...greggrolie.com.
I recently went back and listened to the "Evolution" album and realized
that my musical background was more blues based than I thought and there
was no way it would match up with Perry's vocals.......we were on two
different planets.
MTV and radio are killing music but it will change.........it always
does.
Playing live is the only way I can enjoy this now........So I do.
Adios, Gregg
I agree. The "Look into the Future" album has been one of my favorites for many years. I really didn't like Journey too much once they started the Steve Perry/power ballad phase. There were times when I thought I would lose my mind if I had to listen to "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'" one more time
+1
The song "Anyway" from the Look into the Future album, I think is one of the best "power ballads" they ever did, and that was before Steve Perry.
