Street Talk is Steve Perry 's first solo studio album, released in April 1984.
Street Talk contains Perry's biggest hit as a solo artist, "Oh Sherrie ", written for his then-girlfriend Sherrie Swafford.[ 5] The song hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Billboard's Rock chart, and the accompanying music video (also featuring Swafford) was a hit on MTV . Other singles included "Foolish Heart " (peaked at #18), "She's Mine" (peaked at #21), and "Strung Out" (peaked at #40).
There were a number of nods to Perry's pre-Journey band Alien Project on this album—in fact, that band was originally going to be called Street Talk.[ 6] In the liner notes , Perry dedicates the album to Richard Michaels (the bassist for Alien Project). Also, drummer Craig Krampf was a member of Alien Project later in the 1970s.
In addition to launching Perry's solo career, the cover photo for Street Talk served as a career launchpad for music photographer John Scarpati , who met Perry during the album's recording sessions at a studio in Sherman Oaks.[ 7]
Street Talk is certified as 2× Platinum (2,000,000) in sales by the RIAA .[ 8]
Side one Title Writer(s) 1. "Oh Sherrie " Bill Cuomo, Randy Goodrum , Craig Krampf , Perry 3:48 2. "I Believe" Goodrum, Duane Hitchings, Krampf, Perry 4:12 3. "Go Away" Cuomo, Goodrum, Perry 4:05 4. "Foolish Heart " Goodrum, Perry 3:39 5. "It's Only Love" Goodrum, Perry 3:47
Side two Title Writer(s) 1. "She's Mine" Goodrum, Perry 4:26 2. "You Should Be Happy" Goodrum, Perry 3:20 3. "Running Alone" John Bettis, Hitchings, Krampf, Perry 4:05 4. "Captured by the Moment" Cuomo, Goodrum, Perry 3:47 5. "Strung Out" Krampf, Perry, Billy Steele 3:51
2006 CD reissue bonus tracks Title Writer(s) 11. "My My My" ('Alien Project' demo) Perry, Krampf, Richard Michaels Haddad, Steve DeLacey 2:24 12. "Harmony" ('Alien Project' demo) Perry 3:58 13. "Makes No Difference" ('Alien Project' demo) Perry, Krampf, Haddad, DeLacey 4:53 14. "Don't Tell Me Why You're Leaving" (B-side to Oh Sherrie ) Perry, Danny Kortchmar , Krampf 3:13 15. "If Only for the Moment, Girl" (Originally released on We Are the World (1985)) Perry, Goodrum 4:09
Steve Perry – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10)
Bill Cuomo – synthesizers (1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9), acoustic piano and synth bells (2), keyboards (3, 6), synth solo (3)
Randy Goodrum – Rhodes (1-6, 9), drum programming (4), piano (15)
Duane Hitchings – synthesizers (8)
Steve Goldstein – keyboards (10)
Sterling Smith – keyboards (10)
Michael Landau – guitars (1-5, 7, 15), guitar solo (6, 9)
Waddy Wachtel – guitar solo (1), rhythm guitar solo (5)
Craig Hull – guitars (8, 10)
Billy Steele – guitars (10)
Bob Glaub – bass guitar (1-7, 9, 15)
Chuck Domanico – string bass (3)
Kevin McCormick – bass guitar (8)
Bryan Garofalo – bass guitar (10)
Larrie Londin – drums (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9), percussion (1, 2, 3, 7)
Craig Krampf – drums (8, 10)
John Robinson – drums (15)
Robert Greenidge – steel piano (5)
Paulinho da Costa – percussion (15)
Steve Douglas – saxophone solo (2), tenor saxophone (6)
Joel Peskin – saxophone (15)
Bruce Botnick – executive producer
Steve Perry – producer, cover concept
Niko Bolas – recording, mixing
Richard Bosworth – recording assistant, additional engineer
Denny Densmore – recording assistant (10)
Mike Reese – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California)
Jim Welch – art direction
John Scarpati – cover photography
Herbie Herbert – personal management
^ Allmusic review
^ Larkin, Colin (2006). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press . p. 494. ISBN 0195313739 .
^ DeCurtis, Anthony ; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly, eds. (1992). The Rolling Stone Album Guide (3rd ed.). Random House . p. 541. ISBN 0679737294 .
^ Christgau, Robert (May 28, 1985). "Christgau's Consumer Guide" . The Village Voice . New York. Retrieved April 20, 2016 .
^ Steve Perry talks about the recording of "Oh Sherrie" and Street Talk singles.
^ Steve Perry discusses the Alien Project story and Street Talk .
^ Platania, Mike (30 September 2019). "Back in the spotlight: Retired rock photographer adds some shine to Short Pump side gig" . Richmond BizSense. Retrieved 30 September 2019 .
^ "Recording Industry Association of America" . RIAA. Archived from the original on 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2012-03-10 .
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 232. ISBN 0-646-11917-6 .
^ "Steve Perry - Chart History - Billboard 200" . billboard . billboard.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018 .
"Street Talk" (Liner Notes); Steve Perry CD, Columbia Records 1984.