True Gem From J.Y.'s Past

[Boomchild]

This is proof that J.Y. deserves to be a guest on "That Metal Show". I don't think I've ever seen him rock harder!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUKLzKeHxIU

[Liam]

I like Heavy Water better.

[gr8dane]

That's not a bad song actually.Nice drive.
The video sure is a sign of the times.They don't make them like that any more.
Or at least I don't think so.

[Archetype]

Why isn't JY playing this live with Styx?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKgv7uNDycc

[Toph]

This is proof that J.Y. deserves to be a guest on "That Metal Show". I don't think I've ever seen him rock harder!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUKLzKeHxIU

Compare that to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RQyIazpIb4

And then to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdBoP1B6ArE


Is it any wonder that these guys couldn't get along?

[gr8dane]

This is proof that J.Y. deserves to be a guest on "That Metal Show". I don't think I've ever seen him rock harder!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUKLzKeHxIU

Compare that to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RQyIazpIb4

And then to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdBoP1B6ArE


Is it any wonder that these guys couldn't get along?

Lollies.You got that right.They were/are all over the place.And still is i guess.
It wasn't meant to last Toph.But it was good as long it lasted.
Wouldn't you say?

[Boomchild]

Why isn't JY playing this live with Styx?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKgv7uNDycc

Because it's on an album that few people are even aware of exists. That and he's not singing it.

[Boomchild]

That's not a bad song actually.Nice drive.
The video sure is a sign of the times.They don't make them like that any more.
Or at least I don't think so.

What's ironic is J.Y. talks about how he is such a "hard rocker" and this song and the album it comes from is full of drum machines. It's not like this was a Styx or group effort where he had to "compromise".

[gr8dane]

That's not a bad song actually.Nice drive.
The video sure is a sign of the times.They don't make them like that any more.
Or at least I don't think so.

What's ironic is J.Y. talks about how he is such a "hard rocker" and this song and the album it comes from is full of drum machines. It's not like this was a Styx or group effort where he had to "compromise".

Ahh that pesky ole JY.The way he throws a wrench in your cog.
I wonder what he is scheming these days,that you'll be able to take apart in 10-15 years.?(besides singing Lorelie).
Drum machines or electronic drums.Weren't they all the rage in the 80ies?

[Boomchild]

That's not a bad song actually.Nice drive.
The video sure is a sign of the times.They don't make them like that any more.
Or at least I don't think so.

What's ironic is J.Y. talks about how he is such a "hard rocker" and this song and the album it comes from is full of drum machines. It's not like this was a Styx or group effort where he had to "compromise".

Ahh that pesky ole JY.The way he throws a wrench in your cog.
I wonder what he is scheming these days,that you'll be able to take apart in 10-15 years.?(besides singing Lorelie).
Drum machines or electronic drums.Weren't they all the rage in the 80ies?

No wrench and cog here. I am merely pointing out how J.Y. makes a point (to this day) of how he is a "hard rocker" but, when the deal is all his he doesn't deliver. City Slicker is a prime example. Drum machines were popular in the '80s. Mostly with Pop Rock acts, which J.Y. firmly believes he does not care for. Hard Rock acts i.e. AC\DC, weren't using them. You would think that with the money J.Y. made with Styx he could have afforded an actual drummer.

[gr8dane]

That's not a bad song actually.Nice drive.
The video sure is a sign of the times.They don't make them like that any more.
Or at least I don't think so.

What's ironic is J.Y. talks about how he is such a "hard rocker" and this song and the album it comes from is full of drum machines. It's not like this was a Styx or group effort where he had to "compromise".

Ahh that pesky ole JY.The way he throws a wrench in your cog.
I wonder what he is scheming these days,that you'll be able to take apart in 10-15 years.?(besides singing Lorelie).
Drum machines or electronic drums.Weren't they all the rage in the 80ies?

No wrench and cog here. I am merely pointing out how J.Y. makes a point (to this day) of how he is a "hard rocker" but, when the deal is all his he doesn't deliver. City Slicker is a prime example. Drum machines were popular in the '80s. Mostly with Pop Rock acts, which J.Y. firmly believes he does not care for. Hard Rock acts i.e. AC\DC, weren't using them. You would think that with the money J.Y. made with Styx he could have afforded an actual drummer.

You know what Jan Hammer did on this album??
I knew he was a keyboarder,but for some reason I always thought he did percussion too.
But maybe that's him doing the drum machine.

[verslibre]

This is proof that J.Y. deserves to be a guest on "That Metal Show". I don't think I've ever seen him rock harder!

JY and Tommy have been guests on TMS. http://www.vh1.com/video/that-metal-show/full-episodes/vinnie-paul-styx/1685426/playlist.jhtml

You would think that with the money J.Y. made with Styx he could have afforded an actual drummer.

You know what Jan Hammer did on this album??
I knew he was a keyboarder,but for some reason I always thought he did percussion too.
But maybe that's him doing the drum machine.

Jan plays keyboards, drums and guitar. He's a versatile mofo as well as one of the best keyboardists and arrangers ever.

[Boomchild]

That's not a bad song actually.Nice drive.
The video sure is a sign of the times.They don't make them like that any more.
Or at least I don't think so.

What's ironic is J.Y. talks about how he is such a "hard rocker" and this song and the album it comes from is full of drum machines. It's not like this was a Styx or group effort where he had to "compromise".

Ahh that pesky ole JY.The way he throws a wrench in your cog.
I wonder what he is scheming these days,that you'll be able to take apart in 10-15 years.?(besides singing Lorelie).
Drum machines or electronic drums.Weren't they all the rage in the 80ies?

No wrench and cog here. I am merely pointing out how J.Y. makes a point (to this day) of how he is a "hard rocker" but, when the deal is all his he doesn't deliver. City Slicker is a prime example. Drum machines were popular in the '80s. Mostly with Pop Rock acts, which J.Y. firmly believes he does not care for. Hard Rock acts i.e. AC\DC, weren't using them. You would think that with the money J.Y. made with Styx he could have afforded an actual drummer.

You know what Jan Hammer did on this album??
I knew he was a keyboarder,but for some reason I always thought he did percussion too.
But maybe that's him doing the drum machine.

Yes, I do know Jan Hammer played on this album. What's your point? I guess that means J.Y. had no other choice but to use Jan Hammer. J.Y. could have chosen an actual drummer for the percussion and still had Jan do the keyboard work. It's a weak point in the overall sound and does not give you the feeling of "hard rock" or edge to the music. It sounds very wimpy.

[Boomchild]

JY and Tommy have been guests on TMS. http://www.vh1.com/video/that-metal-show/full-episodes/vinnie-paul-styx/1685426/playlist.jhtml

Yes, I know that. I am making a point that J.Y. does not produce this "hard rock" sound in his solo work where he is free to do everything his way. Speaking of their appearance on TMS, it was interesting to watch the hosts try and come up with things to ask them and made it very apparent that they don't even pay attention to Styx. TS\J.Y. where out of their element.

Jan plays keyboards, drums and guitar. He's a versatile mofo as well as one of the best keyboardists and arrangers ever.

I have nothing against Jan Hammer. I have a few of his albums. My point is that it was a poor choice by J.Y. to use a drum machine no matter who is programing or "playing" it.

[gr8dane]

That's not a bad song actually.Nice drive.
The video sure is a sign of the times.They don't make them like that any more.
Or at least I don't think so.

What's ironic is J.Y. talks about how he is such a "hard rocker" and this song and the album it comes from is full of drum machines. It's not like this was a Styx or group effort where he had to "compromise".

Ahh that pesky ole JY.The way he throws a wrench in your cog.
I wonder what he is scheming these days,that you'll be able to take apart in 10-15 years.?(besides singing Lorelie).
Drum machines or electronic drums.Weren't they all the rage in the 80ies?

No wrench and cog here. I am merely pointing out how J.Y. makes a point (to this day) of how he is a "hard rocker" but, when the deal is all his he doesn't deliver. City Slicker is a prime example. Drum machines were popular in the '80s. Mostly with Pop Rock acts, which J.Y. firmly believes he does not care for. Hard Rock acts i.e. AC\DC, weren't using them. You would think that with the money J.Y. made with Styx he could have afforded an actual drummer.

You know what Jan Hammer did on this album??
I knew he was a keyboarder,but for some reason I always thought he did percussion too.
But maybe that's him doing the drum machine.

Yes, I do know Jan Hammer played on this album. What's your point? I guess that means J.Y. had no other choice but to use Jan Hammer. J.Y. could have chosen an actual drummer for the percussion and still had Jan do the keyboard work. It's a weak point in the overall sound and does not give you the feeling of "hard rock" or edge to the music. It sounds very wimpy.

Steady does it Boomer.
I asked 'what Jan Hammer did' on this album.?
I have never had the album in my hands, with all the information on it,if you know what I mean?

[FormerDJMike]

Jan Hammer- Miami Vice style drums, guitar, keyboard. Colin Hodgkinson - Bass. JY's brother Rick Young on bass on a track or two.

I never did warm up to the drum sound on this album and listening to it in 2013 makes it sound really dated in a "You Better Ask" kind of way. On the second album he did use an actual drummer, Willie Wilcox and John Panozzo. There are some good songs on the second one I enjoy it more than his others but RBW is the most solid. In fact when JYG toured and played the songs from City Slicker they sounded better with a real drummer.

[verslibre]

I have nothing against Jan Hammer. I have a few of his albums. My point is that it was a poor choice by J.Y. to use a drum machine no matter who is programing or "playing" it.

I didn't say you did. I was just commenting. JY likely went that route because he was going for a certain sound. It was 1985. The album is also credited as James Young with Jan Hammer, not simply James Young.

Either way, JY's not as viable a solo entity as DDY, Shaw or Gowan.

[Boomchild]

I have nothing against Jan Hammer. I have a few of his albums. My point is that it was a poor choice by J.Y. to use a drum machine no matter who is programing or "playing" it.

I didn't say you did. I was just commenting. JY likely went that route because he was going for a certain sound. It was 1985. The album is also credited as James Young with Jan Hammer, not simply James Young.

Either way, JY's not as viable a solo entity as DDY, Shaw or Gowan.

I didn't mean to make you think you said that. I wanted to be clear that I was commenting about the use of the drum machine and not Jan Hammer. I just found it odd that for an artist that states he is a "hard rocker" would use a drum machine. Even in '85 when these were popular, you didn't see other hard rock acts using them. Make no mistake, even though Jan's name is on the album this was J.Y.'s project. I think it was done that way simply for marketing reasons. Even at that time outside of Styx fans, people had no clue who James Young was.

[verslibre]

I have nothing against Jan Hammer. I have a few of his albums. My point is that it was a poor choice by J.Y. to use a drum machine no matter who is programing or "playing" it.

I didn't say you did. I was just commenting. JY likely went that route because he was going for a certain sound. It was 1985. The album is also credited as James Young with Jan Hammer, not simply James Young.

Either way, JY's not as viable a solo entity as DDY, Shaw or Gowan.

I didn't mean to make you think you said that. I wanted to be clear that I was commenting about the use of the drum machine and not Jan Hammer. I just found it odd that for an artist that states he is a "hard rocker" would use a drum machine. Even in '85 when these were popular, you didn't see other hard rock acts using them. Make no mistake, even though Jan's name is on the album this was J.Y.'s project. I think it was done that way simply for marketing reasons. Even at that time outside of Styx fans, people had no clue who James Young was.

Yeah, probably. Don't forget, Mutt Lange got away with using an honest-to-God drum machine on Pyromania. Only the cymbals were real. In the mid-'80s the Fairlight CMI, Synclavier II and other synths & samplers were hot like magma. Many rockers took advantage of post-70s electronics because of their popularity and convenience. Guys like Joe Walsh and Jeff Beck did, and unabashedly so. Sometimes a real drumkit was played but after post it sounded like a drum machine, anyway. That's how it was for a few years, regardless of how JY wants to label himself.