Neal Schon released this rather cool CD ‘Late Nite’ during 1989, a CD which has a treasured spot in my collection.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Neal Schon
ALBUM: Late Nite
LABEL: CBS
SERIAL: CK 45106
YEAR: 1989
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Neal Schon – vocals, guitars * Bob Marlette, Jonathan Cain – keyboards * Randy Jackson – bass * Omar Hakim, Steve Smith, Deen Castronovo – drums
Pastiche, Mark Spiro, Sheryl Crow, Randy Jackson, Margaret Taylor, Lynn MARBRY – backing vocals
TRACK LISTING: 01 Le Dome * 02 Late Nite * 03 Softly * 04 The Theme * 05 I’ll Be Waiting * 06 I’ll Cover You * 07 Rain’s Comin’ Down * 08 Smoke Of The Revolution * 09 Inner Circles * 10 Steps * 11 Blackened Bacon
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
The immediate years following Journey‘s ‘Raised On Radio’ album saw their members go off in different directions. Steve Perry went AWOL, while Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon went into the studio, playing with the likes of Jimmy Barnes, while Schon also played on the Witness opus.
He also released this rather cool CD ‘Late Nite’ during 1989, a CD which has a treasured spot in my collection. I think the combination of Schon and studio hound Bob Marlette on ‘Late Nite’ is an inspired piece of genius.
The fiery playing of Schon tempered with Marlette’s soothing melodies lend this to being a mature listen for those who like late nite grooves and classy atmospheric melodic rock. When you combine Kevin Elson at the mixing desk with Bob Marlette‘s production, the result has surely got to be stellar.. and it is..
The Songs
Soaring guitars abound on the instrumental title track ‘Late Nite’, with a hook/theme that just stays in your head.. so melodic. It rolls into a beautiful piece called ‘Softly’.. again the chorus and solos defy description. It’ll melt ya!
The piece de resistance without doubt is the 9min 41s brilliance of ‘The Theme’.. this has Bob Marlette written all over it. For those who have heard his trademark sound on the Burns Sisters ‘Endangered Species’ album, then you are reminded once again of his melodic intent.
The track is probably the definitive AOR instrumental of all time, containing a series of separate passages, then ending on one hell of a melodic cresendo. Talk about being taken over the edge! Another in a similar vein is the inspirational instrumental ‘Steps’.. though a few steps down in terms of intensity.
Conversely, ‘I’ll Be Waiting’ is a soulful effort, smooth like a mocha coffee, and definitely a contender for late nite listening. In contrast ‘I’ll Cover You’ has a brash Mark Spiro feel about it.. though strangely enough, the co-write is with Marlette and Glen Burtnick! Go figure.
As we speak of Spiro, he turns up as the co-writer on ‘Smoke Of The Revolution’.. this one features the vocal warbles of one Sheryl Crow. The wierdest track on offer is the last one. ‘Blackened Bacon’. It appears Neal has spent the weekend with some relatives down country in either the Ozarks or the Bayous of Louisiana! Get ma drift?
In Summary
Later that year, the formative stages of the supergroup Bad English would emerge – with Schon hooking up with Cain, and ex Babys members John Waite and Ricky Philips to wreak havoc on the melodic rock populace.
Fans of Bob Marlette‘s work (i.e China Sky, Burns Sisters etc), would do well to snap this up. Journey fans will probably already have it. Good on ya!
Neal Schon on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
