Traces (Steve Perry album)

Last updated
Traces
Steve Perry - Traces.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 5, 2018
RecordedMay 2015–2018
Studio
Genre AOR, pop rock
Length40:13 (standard edition)
59:15 (deluxe edition)
Label Fantasy
Producer Steve Perry, Thom Flowers
Steve Perry chronology
Greatest Hits + Five Unreleased
(1998)
Traces
(2018)
The Season
(2021)
Singles from Traces
  1. "No Erasin'"
    Released: August 14, 2018
  2. "No More Cryin'"
    Released: September 4, 2018
  3. "We're Still Here"
    Released: September 20, 2018
  4. "Sun Shines Gray"
    Released: July 19, 2019

Traces is the third solo studio album by the American singer and songwriter Steve Perry. It was released on October 5, 2018, by Fantasy Records. [1] It was his first solo album in 24 years, after For the Love of Strange Medicine in 1994, his first appearance on a studio album since his last appearance with Journey on their 1996 album Trial by Fire and his first release of new music since his contributions to the 1998 film Quest for Camelot .

Contents

It is Perry's first solo top 10 Billboard album, and his first top 40 album in the UK as a solo artist. [2]

Background

After leaving Journey in 1998, Perry withdrew from the music industry (apart from a handful of low-key guest appearances over the years) for "many reasons, but mainly my love for music had suddenly left me". [3] His passion was reignited after his girlfriend, Kellie Nash, died from cancer in December 2012, and he began recording Traces in May 2015. [4] [3]

Release and promotion

The first single from the album, "No Erasin'", was released on August 14, 2018, accompanied by a performance music video. [5] It peaked at number 18 on the US Adult Contemporary chart, number 38 on the Hot Rock Songs chart and number 17 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart. [6]

Two more performance videos were released, "No More Cryin'" on September 4, 2018, and "We're Still Here" on September 20, 2018. A second video for "We're Still Here", Perry's first "official" music video in 25 years, [7] was released on March 22, 2019. The song peaked at number 14 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the week of April 27, 2019.

On September 24, 2018, Perry participated in a Facebook Live event at noon PDT. The 15-minute webcast focused on the making of the album. [8]

On March 15, 2019, the expanded edition, which was previously exclusive to Target stores, was released worldwide. [9]

On July 19, 2019, a remixed version of "Sun Shines Gray" was released as the fourth single from the album. On December 4, 2020, a remixed album of songs from Traces was released. [10]

Critical reception

The album received a positive reception from critics. Andrew McNeice of Melodicrock rated the album a 92/100, calling it, "a very fine record", and that it is "Immaculately produced and constructed, with equally impressive musical performances by the band" and "soulful harmonies" by Perry. [11]

CrypticRock.com gave the album 5/5 stars and called it, "All in all, Traces is a near flawless return for Steve Perry." [12]

Get Ready to Rock Me gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars and said, "We never thought we'd get another full album from Steve Perry, thankfully we have in Traces, which is a master class in AOR and soulful edged pop." [13]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."No Erasin'"
4:07
2."We're Still Here"
  • Perry
  • Brian West
4:06
3."Most of All"4:21
4."No More Cryin'"
4:28
5."In the Rain"
  • Perry
  • Spreng
4:07
6."Sun Shines Gray" (featuring John 5)
3:55
7."You Belong to Me"
  • Perry
  • Barry Eastmond
4:05
8."Easy to Love"
  • Perry
  • Flowers
4:02
9."I Need You" (The Beatles cover)2:58
10."We Fly"
  • Perry
  • Jeff Babko
3:56
US Target deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."October in New York"
4:04
12."Angel Eyes"Perry4:19
13."Call on Me"Perry4:11
14."Could We Be Somethin' Again"Perry3:17
15."Blue Jays Fly"Perry2:58
Traces (Alternative Versions and Sketches) track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Most of All (Radio Mix)" 
2."No Erasin' (Acoustic)" 
3."I Need You (Acoustic)" 
4."No More Cryin' (Acoustic)" 
5."Most of All (Stripped)" 
6."We’re Still Here (Acoustic)" 
7."You Belong to Me (Stripped)" 
8."Sun Shines Gray (Acoustic)" 

Personnel

Production

Charts

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References

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