Trial By Fire

Track Listings

1. Message of Love

2. One More

3. When You Love a Woman

4. If He Should Break Your Heart

5. Forever in Blue

6. Castles Burning

7. Don't Be Down on Me Baby

8. Still She Cries

9. Colors of the Spirit

10. When I Think of You

11. Easy to Fall

12. Can't Tame the Lion

13. It's Just the Rain

14. Trial by Fire

15. Baby I'm A Leavin' You [Hidden Track]

Tracks:

Message Of Love
One More
When You Love A Woman
If He Should Break Your Heart
Forever In Blue
Castles Burning
Don't Be Down On Me Baby
Still She Cries
Colors Of The Spirit
When I Think Of You
Easy To Fall
Can't Tame The Lion
It's Just The Rain
Trial By Fire
Baby I'm A Leavin' You
I Can See It In Your Eyes

Customer Reviews:

Uneven and Inconsistent.......2007-06-12

Depending on your perspective, Journey's 1996 album Trial by Fire is either a triumphant swan song for the Steve Perry era of Journey, or a lackluster album from a band capable of so much better. I always counted myself among the latter group, but when I ran across the reissued version of Trial by Fire I decided to give it another shot.

The album certainly starts strongly enough, with the rocking Message of Love and the dramatic One More, but then comes the single When You Love a Woman, a saccharine sweet ballad Michael Bolton might have thought twice before recording. I know it was a fairly big hit for the band, but I have no idea why. Next is If He Should Break Your Heart. It's another ballad, but a very strong one. The rest of the album continues down the same path. There are songs like Can't Tame the Lion and the title track that can only be described as vintage Journey, but they are mixed with mediocre rockers like Castles Burning and ballads like Colors of the Spirit that sound like Disney soundtrack rejects. Top it off with what is the band's worst album cover artwork since Next, and you're left with an album that is inconsistent at best, and hardly worth the 10-year wait.

All of this leaves the impression that Trial by Fire is a very uneven album. When it's good, it's really good. But when it's bad, well you get the idea. Had they trimmed trimmed this thing down to 10-11 songs, it would be a 4-star album. As is though, 3 stars is the best I can give it. Their follow-up album (2001's Arrival) had the same problem, though it was a much stronger album overall.

The 2006 reissue of Trial by Fire features digitally remastered sound, a bonus track, and digipack packaging with expanded liner notes. I'm not entirely convinced that such a recent album needed remastering in the first place, but the sound quality of this reissue is quite good. The bonus track - I Can See It in Your Eyes - was previously available only on the expensive Japanese import version of Trial by Fire. It's a very upbeat number that helps erase the taste of Baby I'm a Leavin' You, so it's nice to see it added here.

Journey Grows Up............2007-06-03

"Trial by Fire" provides an eclectic collection of songs from the arena rockers based in San Francisco. While the ballad "When You Love a Woman" is a radio staple, there are alot of good songs to choose from. Some of my favorites are: "Easy to Fall"; "Still She Cries"; and the title track. Whether it was the time apart or changing musical tastes, I find this cd a more mature offering from the band. Steve Perry's vocals are still the best in the business, though it appears he has lost some range, and the band is as tight as ever. In fact, I really came to appreciate the drumming of Steve Smith the more I listened. While Steve Smith is more famous for being in Journey, he is a top-notch jazz drummer.

Different.......2007-05-18

At first I really only loved "When You Love a Woman", but then I really listened to the rest of the album, I realized how great the album really was. It is a mature album with so many great songs that have some much meaning attached to each song. You can hear it in Steve Perry's voice. I think this is one of their best albums of all time.

Journey's only studio album of the 90's.......2007-04-13

Originally released in 1996, this is Steve Perry's last album with the group despite a nearly ten year hiatus. The big hit off this album was "When You Love A Woman" which reached the Top Ten in late '96/early '97. The album as a whole breaks no new ground as it is just vintage Journey consisting of ballads and mid-tempo rock tunes. In fact, the only fast tracks here are "Message Of Love", "Can't Tame The Lion" and the bonus track "I Can See It In Your Eyes". Unlike other reissues, there are no tour dates because the tour that was to follow was put off due to an injury Perry suffered shortly after the album's release. Eventually Perry was released from the band. The booklet features photos and credits instead.

It's been ten years since I purchased this title on cassette. Listening to it again on this remastered CD brings back personal memories. Long time fans will enjoy this album. Fans of soft rock or adult contemporary music will enjoy it too.

Great reissue!.......2006-12-19

This reissue's remastering sounds incredible (especially the bass) and it includes the amazing 'Only the Young' style b-side 'I can see it in your eyes.' The CD as a whole avoids the fast song, slow song cycle. I liked Raised on Radio and expected this to be more of the same. But the songs here reach further. Almost as if Journey had written a few of these for a movie soundtrack with the addition of a few strings, some interesting percussion, and songs that include larger themes. Steve Perry's voice is in fine form although it would've been great to have had a few more solos from Neal Schon.

Average customer rating:

Very Under-rated. A splendid album of tunes
Uneven and inconsistent
Their best work.
Bad Mix, Neal "Schines"!!
Worst Journey album of all time.

Trial By Fire
Journey
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Raised on Radio
For the Love of Strange Medicine
Arrival
Frontiers
Evolution

ASIN: B000002BGM
Release Date: 1996-10-22

Tracks:

Message of Love
One More
When You Love a Woman
If He Should Break Your Heart
Forever in Blue
Castles Burning
Don't Be Down on Me Baby
Still She Cries
Colors of the Spirit
When I Think of You
Easy to Fall
Can't Tame the Lion
It's Just the Rain
Trial by Fire
Baby I'm a Leavin' You [Hidden Track]

Customer Reviews:

Very Under-rated. A splendid album of tunes.......2007-07-01

Very Strong & well thought out music is here. Perry is again in the compositional seat and this can be felt. When he is moved by the music, it is felt to the listener. He has a dramatic way of singing all of these tunes with real conviction.

It makes no sense to downplay this effort because Steve Perry left just before the schedule of a World Tour was to occur. I can only imagine the level of performance he needed to be at to be able to sing these and past Journey tunes every night. Also, from what I gathered, he had a hip issue which needed to be taken care of. The other members were pressuring him to tour before it could be taken care of, then went on without him. Shame.

Uneven and inconsistent.......2007-06-12

Depending on your perspective, Journey's 1996 album Trial by Fire is either a triumphant swan song for the Steve Perry era of Journey, or a lackluster album from a band capable of so much better. I always counted myself among the latter group, but tried to review it objectively here.

The album certainly starts strongly enough, with the rocking Message of Love and the dramatic One More, but then comes the single When You Love a Woman, a saccharine sweet ballad Michael Bolton might have thought twice before recording. I know it was a fairly big hit for the band, but I have no idea why. Next is If He Should Break Your Heart. It's another ballad, but a very strong one. The rest of the album continues down the same path. There are songs like Can't Tame the Lion and the title track that can only be described as vintage Journey, but they are mixed with mediocre rockers like Castles Burning and ballads like Colors of the Spirit that sound like Disney soundtrack rejects. Top it off with what is the band's worst album cover artwork since Next, and you're left with an album that is inconsistent at best, and hardly worth the 10-year wait.

All of this leaves the impression that Trial by Fire is a very uneven album. When it's good, it's really good. But when it's bad, well you get the idea. Had they trimmed trimmed this thing down to 10-11 songs, it would be a 4-star album. As is though, 3 stars is the best I can give it. Their follow-up album (2001's Arrival) had the same problem, though it was a much stronger album overall.

Their best work........2007-06-07

I have to say this Journey work is so good I have bought it four times: one for me and three as presents cause I want them to know which for me is their best work. Caine's Piano is simply amazing, and the same can be said about Schon's guitar; not to mention Mr. Perry's voice, better than ever. It is a flawless album that can be heard once and again and still find something new everytime you listen to it.

Bad Mix, Neal "Schines"!! .......2007-05-07

My biggest gripe with this album is that the vocals are mixed too far in front of the music. It takes away alot of the energy. I agree with alot of previous reviewers that the lyrics get rediculously sappy at times. The one thing that keeps this CD popping back in my car player is the SUPERB guitar work by Neil Schon! I tend to agree with a lot of other online reviewers about many aspects of this CD but I would forgive the lyrics and the mix to listen to Mr. Shon's incredible performance on this CD! On that merit alone I would reccomend it. And crank it!!

Worst Journey album of all time........2007-04-19

This album was one of the worst Journey albums ever. The songs heavily lean towards sappy soft rock with terrible lyrics. I personally loved Open Arms, Faithfully, and most of Journey's Greatest Hits but this album is definitely NOT up to par. Perhaps it has a lot to do with Perry's voice no longer being a smooth golden sounding tenor. Instead it's unbearably raspy and sounds like he's straining for every note. Too bad he didn't classically train his voice to preserve his sound. Or maybe it was the drugs n' alcohol that did him in. Whatever the case, his voice is very rough and unpleasant sounding on this album.

1. Message of Love - nice new-wave instrumental intro but lyrics sucked "I walk alone in the dark without you ... in the shadows of love" Terrible song, the catchy hook was horrid as well - "Baby can you hear my message of love" Could not get into this song at all.

2. One More - there's a trend to the songs on this album, the intros are deceiving, the songs start off with a nice beat but once Perry sings the first few banal lyrics, you're instantly turned off.

3. When You Love a Woman - the only decent sounding song on this album. This Grammy-nominated tune has nice hooks and Perry's raspy voice is somewhat pleasant to listen to. Lyrically, it's nothing special to write home about it other than your cheesy love song.

4. If He Should Break Your Heart - Again a nice soft rock start but then the chorus title is repeated so many times turns it into an unbearably lame tune.

5. Forever in Blue - This song sucked from the beginning intro. As soon as I heard Perry sing "When she walked into the room" I thought oh god, not another lame love song. Recycling their lyric "two hearts" doesn't save this song from the rubbish bin.

6. Castles Burning - Absolutely the worst song on the album. Perry sounding like Tina Turner with a painfully sounding strained voice. This song tries to be a rocker but ends up as pitiful noisy nonsense.

7. Don't Be Down on Me Baby - A failed attempt for a R&B song. Again the lyrics were terrible.

8. Still She Cries - Lovely guitar intro and nice "We were good" chorus. But the rest of lyrics didn't help the song stand out at all.

9. Colors of the Spirit - An unremarkable song that is quickly forgotten.

10. When I Think of You - By the 10th song on the album, I'm feeling like enough of the sappy love songs. Yet again, Journey or maybe Perry himself fails to make a memorable impact. Lukewarm lyrics and vocals.

11. Easy to Fall - Another false start with a bluesy start but the song disintegrates into yet another bland love song.

12. Can't Tame the Lion - Finally, a bit of a beat to wake me up from my coma after suffering through 11 tracks of soft rock. Sadly, the incredibly stupid lyrics - can't tame the lion just ruins whatever momentum the song started.

13. It's Just the Rain - I'm happy by this song, not because it's a wonderful song, but because it's nearing the end album and I no longer have to suffer through it to write this review. This song fails yet again due to horrid lyrics and a nondescript melody.

14. Trial by Fire - For a title song this song is not memorable at all. At this point, I don't feel like I can go on listening to this slow-moving tripe. So many talents in the band were wasted by poor songwriting and not a single hit song.

15. Baby I'm a Leavin' You - Finally, I've reached the end of the album. It's nice to hear Journey try out a reggae beat on their songs but UB40 they definitely are not. Perry's vocals and lyrics somehow destroy whatever pleasant sound this song could have been.

I'm glad I bought this CD cheaply as a used item otherwise I would have been mad if I paid full price for such an atrocious album.

Average customer rating:

Fret burning frenzy
Yngwie Live....
I enjoy this album so much! - and I hope you will, too. :-)
Incredible Live Performance. ***** 5 STAR RATING.
Excelente album, a pesar de tener sido grabado hace años

Live in Leningrad: Trial by Fire
Yngwie Malmsteen
Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Double Live
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ASIN: B000001FR3
Release Date: 1989-10-12

Tracks:

Liar
Queen In Love
Deja Vu
Far Beyond The Sun
Heaven Tonight
Dreaming (Tell Me)
You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget
Guitar Solo (Trilogy Ste Op.5/Spasebo Blues)
Crystal Ball
Black Star
Spanish Castle Magic (LP Version)

Customer Reviews:

Fret burning frenzy.......2006-08-16

Yngwie cuts loose on his first live album. Perfectly capturing the talented band at his disposal as well as the man himselfs guitar skills this is a good buy for the Yngwie fan - as is the live video of the same tour. A quick perusal of the set list shows that this material is heavily drawn from the Trilogy and Odyssey records with the instrumental staples of Black Star and Far Beyond the Sun thrown in from the debut.

I guess it all depends on your view of live albums - they rarely convert the non believer but for Yngwie fans this is probably essential. Both Malmsteen and Joe Lynn Turner sound great in their respective roles and the tunes form a pretty strong set. Of course this isn't the whole gig, Yngwie at the time bemoaning his record companys decision to only release a single disc, rather than a double.

There are no massive overdubs on this release, the crowd noise is at acceptable volumes and lastly Yngwie should be congratulated for going to the effort of touring what was still the USSR back then. A whole bunch of bureaucratic obstacles were overcome to get the tour happening and being given permission to record and film in Leningrad at the time can't of been easy. Apparently the tour ended up playing to over 250,000 people all up.

A great buy for fans, a strong live set played with passion.

Yngwie Live...........2005-06-06

The Live in Brazil '98 is many times better.

And by the way the big Yng was there 6 weeks before Bon Jovi.

I enjoy this album so much! - and I hope you will, too. :-).......2004-02-29

It's the Eighties, so be prepared to have fun listening to some excessive axework in this great live record. Yngwie plays here with the intensity you expect from a guitar hero of his magnitude, up to burning his guitar out. His performance is passionate and brilliant, even when he missed out some notes here and there - but I love that: he didn't hide his errors in order to retain the actual "taste" of the live show, and I think that's a very honest attitude.

The guy unarguably is one of the greatest guitar players of all times - yes, he is; in spite of any critic, any rumor (or fact) about his ego, any repetitive playing or anything else. :-) This album demonstrates how good he actually is, as Yngwie proudly shows all his abilities off, from the purely neoclassic shredding in "Black Star" and "Trilogy Suite", to the explicit quotes to Paganini, Bach, Beethoven and the likes all the way along, to the frantic riffing in any of his own songs with vocals, to the bluesly soloing in the Hendrix's song "Spanish Castle Magic" and in "Spacebo Blues" - at whose end he also amuses the crowd with some great feedback and guitar effects.

Furthermore, the choice of sung pieces is great. This CD contains many of the best vocal tracks of Yngwie's early solo career - mainly from "Trilogy" and "Odyssey". Joe Lynn Turner's mellow vocals seamlessly fit into Yngwie's style, yet doing far better than Mark Boals when singing those songs from the "Trilogy" album. The production honors his voice, and that's fair to his amazing performance.

Lynn is a great songwriter too. "Odyssey" (the studio album to whose tour this gig belongs to) includes a bunch of amazing material. That material is showcased in "Trial by fire" in a clean manner. I still think that the Yngwie/Lynn combination was a killer one from the songwriting point of view - just tell me: do you *really* believe that those cheesy and ridiculous love lyrics are specially worst than those others lyrics about warriors, dragons, knights, swords and kings? C'mon! :-)

By the way, going back to Joe Lynn Turner, I'd want to point out some few things about him in this review. This vocalist has been widely criticized because he aims commercialism too much, because he's mellow, because he's not aggressive enough, because he doesn't like wailing, etc. Maybe all that is true, but he has one of the greatest, cleanest, most perfectly tuned and most melodic voices ever heard in the rock genre. He also has a superb tone and a truly wide vocal range - listen carefully to his interpretation of "Liar". Isn't it GREAT? In addition, he is a master of dynamics - the enormous load of feeling that he delivers in "Dreaming" says it all! And he doesn't miss a single note in this album! This album witnesses that he can perform live as a genuine vocal god. Honestly, I believe he deserves much more recognizance for the flawlessly job he does here and in every band where he has performed (including Rainbow and Deep Purple).

Back to "Trial by Fire", this album contains an excellent choice of Yngwie Malsmteen's "hits" (if so can be said) and astonishing guitar pyrotechnics complemented with vocals of the highest quality. I strongly recommend this CD even for Yngwie newbies. Hard rockers will appreciate it too. So, go for it NOW, put it into your CD player, fasten your seatbelts and enjoy! The trip will pay off, I guarantee you that.

Incredible Live Performance. ***** 5 STAR RATING........2003-04-21

What you'll find about Yngwie J. Malmsteen is, that what he says is true: when he gets in front of a sold out crowd, watch out! His playing is more intensified live than in the studio, if you can belive that. The shining moment on this live set is, of course, the guitar solo, with the trilogy suite in there. By the time you get to the end of his solo and hear what sounds like Satan dishing out some massive melodic feedback, you just shake your head and wonder how he does it. Incredible live performance of his earlier stuff here. Don't let this one get by you. And you'll definitely give it up for the cover of Jimi Hendrix's, Spanish Castle Magic: killer job on that cover. 5 STAR MALMSTEEN RATING FROM SCRAGGY'S TOMB OF POWER METAL, USA.

Excelente album, a pesar de tener sido grabado hace años.......2003-03-08

Me imagino que originalmente salió en LP de 12" pero yo lo llegué
a conocer ya en CD. Por ser una grabación al aire libre se pierde un poco de fuerza. Es un buen trabajo si se considera que fue grabado en Leningrado, territorio de la exURSS.

Average customer rating:

Japanese Import

Trial By Fire
Journey
Manufacturer: Sony Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Raised on Radio
Evolution
Frontiers
Infinity
Departure

ASIN: B000I6BLL8
Release Date: 2006-12-18

Tracks:

Message of Love
One More
When You Love a Woman
If He Should Break Your Heart
Forever in Blue
Castles Burning
Don't Be Down on Me Baby
Still She Cries
Colors of the Spirit
When I Think of You
Easy to Fall
Can't Tame the Lion
It's Just the Rain
Trial by Fire
Baby I'm a Leavin' You [Hidden Track]

Album Description

Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. 2006.

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork. 2006 USA Remastered Edition.

Customer Reviews:

Japanese Import.......2007-06-12

Depending on your perspective, Journey's 1996 album Trial by Fire is either a triumphant swan song for the Steve Perry era of Journey, or a lackluster album from a band capable of so much better. I always counted myself among the latter group, but when I ran across the reissued version of Trial by Fire I decided to give it another shot.

The album certainly starts strongly enough, with the rocking Message of Love and the dramatic One More, but then comes the single When You Love a Woman, a saccharine sweet ballad Michael Bolton might have thought twice before recording. I know it was a fairly big hit for the band, but I have no idea why. Next is If He Should Break Your Heart. It's another ballad, but a very strong one. The rest of the album continues down the same path. There are songs like Can't Tame the Lion and the title track that can only be described as vintage Journey, but they are mixed with mediocre rockers like Castles Burning and ballads like Colors of the Spirit that sound like Disney soundtrack rejects. Top it off with what is the band's worst album cover artwork since Next, and you're left with an album that is inconsistent at best, and hardly worth the 10-year wait.

All of this leaves the impression that Trial by Fire is a very uneven album. When it's good, it's really good. But when it's bad, well you get the idea. Had they trimmed trimmed this thing down to 10-11 songs, it would be a 4-star album. As is though, 3 stars is the best I can give it. Their follow-up album (2001's Arrival) had the same problem, though it was a much stronger album overall.

NOTE: This pricey Japanese import version has been made obsolete by the 2006 reissue of Trial by Fire, which features digitally remastered sound, a bonus track, and digipack packaging with expanded liner notes. I'm not entirely convinced that such a recent album needed remastering in the first place, but the sound quality of this reissue is quite good.

Average customer rating:

Trial By Fire: Greatest & Latest
Bachman Turner Overdrive
Manufacturer: Cmc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000024STP
Release Date: 2006-09-25

Tracks:

House Of The Rising Sun
Roll On Down The Highway
Trial By Fire
Hold Back The Water
Blue Collar
Gimme Your Money Please
Let It Ride
You Ain't Seen Nothing
Not Fragile
Hey You
Take It Like A Man
Nothing Comes Easy
Testify
Four Wheel Drive
A Sense Of Danger

Average customer rating:

pretty damn cool
sometimes ducks say quack quack
I hate writing reviews, but I like this record.
perfect pure hardcore punk

Ringing in the Dawn
Trial by Fire
Manufacturer: Jade Tree
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005YDID
Release Date: 2002-03-19

Tracks:

Test Pattern
To Whom It May Redeem
Steps Of St. Johns
Pilot Light
Process Of Elimination
One Last Gasp
F.O.P
Threat To The Slave Trade
Vengeance
Point An Inward Finger
Friendly Fire

Customer Reviews:

pretty damn cool.......2005-02-19

these guys are pretty rad...from Washington DC comes another hrdcore political band. These chaps sound like Strike Anywhere, Hot Water Music, Sick of it All and yeah, maybe a little Anti-Flag (as the dude said before me) I recommend this if you dig hardcore and hate BUSH. ok. cya. I say nope to dope and ugh to drugs**

sometimes ducks say quack quack.......2002-09-27

real sick debut alblum from washington dc's trial by fire. if you like kid dynamite, strike anywhere, maybe some anti-flag you'll have an ear-gasim over this record. if not. sorry for you. with their politcally charged blend of punk/hardcore, trial by fire sure to make you think, laugh, cry, and poop your pants, before you can say quack, quack.

I hate writing reviews, but I like this record........2002-07-25

I saw this band a month or two ago and they were really tight, tossing the crowd to and fro with blistering energetic punk/hardcore that swings, pumps a fist and generally feels good. So I picked up the CD. More of the same loud, hard and fun stuff to sing along to nod yer head. But when you open the liner notes there's a pleasant surprise; thoughtful, right-on political lyrics, kickin positivity and rebelion to the kids. Now, what'cha gonna do with it? As Prince said in '2045 Radical Man', "Fast forward 2045. What did you stand for when you were in your prime?" Kids, pick up this disc at the show, rock out, and build the new world in our hearts.
Peace in the Middle East.

perfect pure hardcore punk.......2002-03-27

this cd is an amazing example of poignant hardcore. the lyrics actually have a purpose. the musicis loud, fast, and punk!!! buy this disc!

Average customer rating:

Don't Bother
Trial - not Trail - by Fire!
Excellent new tracks
Too polished to be BTO
What took you guys so long?

Trial By Fire: Greatest & Latest

Manufacturer: Pidm
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Head On

ASIN: B00002DEMS
Release Date: 2000-07-18

Tracks:

House Of The Rising Sun
Roll On Down The Highway
Trial By Fire
Hold Back The Water
Blue Collar
Gimme Your Money Please
Let It Ride
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
Not Fragile
Hey You
Take It Like A Man
Nothin' Comes Easy
Testify
Four Wheel Drive
A Sense Of Danger

Album Description

'Best Of' collection of 15 tracks by the seventies arena rock band. Tracks include the #1 hit 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet', 'Roll On Down The Highway', 'Hey You', 'Gimme Your Money Please', 'Let It Ride' and 'Take It Like a Man'. 1999 release. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews:

Don't Bother.......2004-08-04

Death, Taxes,...and another BTO album ZZZzzzzzzzzz.
Trial By Fire?....what Trial? This is the same old sh** they've been re-releasing for the last 15 years. Save your money and buy any of the compilation cd's (there's plenty to choose from) that feature original band members Randy and Tim Bachman.
The well has run dry for Rob Bachman and the rest of the watered down BTO.

Trial - not Trail - by Fire!.......2003-11-02

BTO hasn't done much recording in recent years, so this collection from 1996 should be of interest to fans of the group. They do 5 new songs, including their version of "House of the Rising Sun", and 10 of their oldies. Most are faithful to the original versions, but it's nice to hear a few variations. "Hold Back the Water" is done acoustically on this CD, and "Blue Collar" has an extended solo by Randy Murray (you gotta see him do this one live - he has that guitar smokin'!). All of the new songs stay within the well defined BTO sound - best of the bunch IMHO are "Trial by Fire" and "Sense of Danger", spotlighting the great, gruff vocals of bassman C. F. Turner.

Excellent new tracks.......2002-06-21

While the album is dominated by older tracks, the new ones are top-notch and deserve special mention - including possibly the best recording of "House of the Rising Sun." Fred Turner is in top form, while the "Randy Bachman replacement" doing his lines on the obligatory "you've only heard these recorded twelve times now" hits does pretty well. The old hits are just different enough to be interesting, but buy this album (a) for the new songs, (b) because it's cheap, and (c) so they'll do another!

Too polished to be BTO.......2002-06-11

The songs on this cd have been so slickly recorded that they retain none of the "live in the studio" gruffness of the original BTO. Most of the early BTO album songs were recorded, usually in one take, with the entire band playing in the studio together, not with each member playing to the recorded tracks of the others.This gave them a "live" quality not to be found on Trial by Fire.
The drum tracks on all but one song are way louder than the rest which makes me suspect Rob Bachman is still trying to compensate for his mediocrity. Also, the drumming is so slick as to have been done by a drum machine. No one makes any mistakes on the recordings and even Fred Turner's ad-libs sound rehearsed to death.
This type of recording can also be seen on BTO's "Street Action" album, the first without Randy Bachman at the helm. It too is polished to oblivion.
While most BTO-holics like myself will be purchase this album anyway, it will certainly not inspire a first timer to pursue the older BTO material. Fred Turner's voice is the only redeeming aspect of "Trial by Fire" and the only song on it with a glimmer of the old BTO is "Testify", which is crying out for Randy Bachman's guitar work.

What took you guys so long?.......2001-02-13

Made in EU in 1999, Serial# 5216112, Playing Time 67:43

I had to wait 14 years for this new album; their previous was called "Live!Live!Live!", released back in 1986, and re-issued in 1990 as "The All Time Greatest Hits Live".

I'm a bit partial to BTO; I've seen hundreds of concerts (yes, I saw Led Zeppelin, so I'm that old!) but my first was by a Canadian band called BTO on their 1975 "Four Wheel Drive" tour at the Montreal Forum.

This new CD features 10 re-recorded tracks from the "old" BTO days, plus 5 new tracks. Are these guys great musicians? No. But their performance is un-pretentious, and that makes up for it: they know how to write catchy straight-ahead rock! The versions are different enough to make them interesting, and faithful enough to bring back great memories. The new stuff is good as well, and the sounds make you think they haven't taken a break.

Tracks:

Message of Love
One More
When You Love a Woman [*]
If He Should Break Your Heart
Forever in Blue
Castles Burning
Don't Be Down on Me Baby
Still She Cries
Colors of the Spirit
When I Think of You
Easy to Fall [*]
Can't Tame the Lion
I Can See It in Your Eyes [*]
It's Just the Rain
Trial by Fire

Album Description

Japanese edition of the rocker's 1996 reunion album with 'I Can See It In Your Eyes' added as a bonus track. 15 tracks total, also featuring the single 'When A Man Loves A Woman'. 1996 Sony release. Color picture disc.

Customer Reviews:

Japanese Import.......2007-06-12

Depending on your perspective, Journey's 1996 album Trial by Fire is either a triumphant swan song for the Steve Perry era of Journey, or a lackluster album from a band capable of so much better. I always counted myself among the latter group, but when I ran across the reissued version of Trial by Fire I decided to give it another shot.

The album certainly starts strongly enough, with the rocking Message of Love and the dramatic One More, but then comes the single When You Love a Woman, a saccharine sweet ballad Michael Bolton might have thought twice before recording. I know it was a fairly big hit for the band, but I have no idea why. Next is If He Should Break Your Heart. It's another ballad, but a very strong one. The rest of the album continues down the same path. There are songs like Can't Tame the Lion and the title track that can only be described as vintage Journey, but they are mixed with mediocre rockers like Castles Burning and ballads like Colors of the Spirit that sound like Disney soundtrack rejects. Top it off with what is the band's worst album cover artwork since Next, and you're left with an album that is inconsistent at best, and hardly worth the 10-year wait.

All of this leaves the impression that Trial by Fire is a very uneven album. When it's good, it's really good. But when it's bad, well you get the idea. Had they trimmed trimmed this thing down to 10-11 songs, it would be a 4-star album. As is though, 3 stars is the best I can give it. Their follow-up album (2001's Arrival) had the same problem, though it was a much stronger album overall.

NOTE: This pricey Japanese import version has been made obsolete by the 2006 reissue of Trial by Fire, which features digitally remastered sound, a bonus track, and digipack packaging with expanded liner notes. I'm not entirely convinced that such a recent album needed remastering in the first place, but the sound quality of this reissue is quite good.

Trial By Fire Full of Heat.......2004-10-01

Journey's first release of new material in ten years, 1996's "Trial By Fire," is a wonderful album to listen to. The vocal stylings of Steve Perry still sound like they used to, albeit more sincere as he gets older, and the band can play like there's no tomorrow. Guitarist Neal Schon continues to play a large role in the music, and he is perhaps one of the greastest guitarists in mainstream rock, up there with the likes of Carlos Santana and Eddie Van Halen. The first single, "When You Love A Woman," is a beautiful song, complemented by vocal harmonies, Schon's amazing playing, and a 15+ piece orchestra, and Perry's singing after all these years is breathtaking. "Castles Burning" is a guitar-driven record that is full of power and darkness, and is one of my personal favourites. Another great ballad is "Don't Be Down On Me Baby," which is a bit softer than "When You Love A Woman," but you are sure to enjoy it if you liked the latter.The title track is a slow song that rounds out the CD, and makes you hope that the band releases many more albums together. *Look out for the hidden track at the end of the CD, "Baby I'm A Leavin' You," on which you will hear Journey like you've never heard them before. And if you get a hold of the Japan Bonus Track version of this CD (which I think this is), have a listen to it... it might just grow on you. Four stars and a recommendation that you at least listen to this CD even if you're not a big fan of Journey. (As a post-script, I believe that "When You Love A Woman" was nominated for a Grammy or two when it was released in '96)

And if Steve Perry or anyone in the band is reading this, I LOVE YOU GUYS! YOU ARE MY FAVE SOLOIST AND GROUP EVER!

newperryfan.......2001-10-11

I was absoulty suprised how much I enjoyed this CD. Iam not a true rock 'n roll fan so when I saw the Journey CD I almost ignored it. Perry's vocals and the band's classic sound can still give today's musical groups a good run for the money. I especially liked how they have remained true to their fan base with rock while softening their sound using a little contemporary, reggie and of course rhythm and blues. Put your hands together and pray Perry comes out of his self-imposed retirement.

Extra song on this ROCKS!!!!.......2000-08-17

The Japanese version of Trial By Fire has one more track then the U.S. release. It's called "I Can See It In Your Eyes" and it rocks! This song should have been kept on the U.S. release and replaced by another. But Over in the good ole U.S.A THE RECORDS COMPANIES FORGOT HOW TO ROCK OR ARE RUN BY CORPORATE SUCKA$$'S WHO GOT THERE A$$ES KICKED EVERYDAY BY HARD ROCK LOVERS AND THIS IS THEIR PAYBACK TO US!!! Hey whatever right????? Journey rocks and if your a die-hard having this cd with the bonus is well worth it!

Average customer rating:

Trial by Fire
Robert Lloyd Anderson
Manufacturer: Bestboy Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00009X52J
Release Date: 2003-03-31

Tracks:

Trial by Fire I
II
III
Innocence Burned I
II
III
Love Thy Neighbor I
II
III
Liquid Glass I
II
III
Tried and Chosen I
II
III
Maison du Feu I
II
III

Album Description

This dark ambient tone poem, in the style of a neo-film noir score, takes the listener on a fantastic free-fall into the composer's own demonic, cavernous realms. Modern instrumental/percussion.

TRIAL BY FIRE, the latest CD by Robert Lloyd Anderson was released in March of 2003. The album is his third in the dark, ambient style Anderson is becoming known for among fetish aficionados. This eclectic mix of exotic percussion, rich orchestral and electronic instruments adds some new flavour to the recipe that is fantasy fulfillment.

The album is a study in semi-conscious awareness. A tone poem about ambivalence to imminent and demonic captivity. The hypnotic rhythms induct the listener into a cultic hell, plunging deeper into the cavernous realms as the music progresses. Only final acceptance of fate, of erotic consequences sadistic, unprincipled behaviour will appease It.

"In Trial by Fire I merged my sexual fantasies with my nightmares about the underworld. What would that be like, to be sacrificed, burned, to be exhausted, sweating, laboring, used solely for gratuitous pleasures? Imagine the body melting to liquid, a demon's plaything under a bed of molten glass, or laid out on white hot rocks, sweating, performing with another for an unseen Master. Those devilish images never left me, the anquish and the pleasure are both apparent in this opus."

The cover art is also something of a coming out for Anderson because it features fully nude images of the artist himself. "The cover is a work of art conveying images of sacrifice and creation. It's not a collection of nude photos, rather it contributes to the sensual, fiery images in the music, things I know my audience can appreciate."

Music Review:

Music Review

Music Review

1. Message of Love
2. One More
3. When You Love a Woman
4. If He Should Break Your Heart
5. Forever in Blue
6. Castles Burning
7. Don't Be Down on Me Baby
8. Still She Cries
9. Colors of the Spirit
10. When I Think of You
11. Easy to Fall
12. Can't Tame the Lion
13. It's Just the Rain
14. Trial by Fire
15. Baby I'm A Leavin' You [Hidden Track]