Street Talk

Street Talk is Steve Perry's first solo studio album, released on April 5, 1984.

Street Talk contains Perry's biggest hit as a solo artist, "Oh Sherrie", written for his then-girlfriend Sherrie Swafford. 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. 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.

Street Talk is certified as 2× Platinum (2,000,000) in sales by the RIAA.

Track listing

All tracks written by Steve Perry with additional writers noted

Personnel

• Steve Perry – vocals, backing vocals (1–3, 5, 7, 9, 10)
• Bill Cuomo – synthesizers (1, 4, 5, 7–9), acoustic piano (2), synth bells (2), keyboards (3, 6), synth solo (3)
• Randy Goodrum – Rhodes (1–6, 9), drum programming (4), acoustic 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 (1–3, 5–7, 9), percussion (1–3, 7)
• Craig Krampf – drums (8, 10)
• John Robinson – drums (15)
• Robert Greenidge – steelpan (5)
• Paulinho da Costa – percussion (15)
• Steve Douglas – saxophone solo (2), tenor saxophone (6)
• Joel Peskin – saxophone (15)

Production

• 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

Charts

Certifications

• "Street Talk" (Liner Notes); Steve Perry CD, Columbia Records 1984.

External links