Trial by Fire (Journey album)

Trial by Fire
Studio album by Journey
Released October 22, 1996
Recorded Ocean Way Recording Studios, Hollywood, California,
The Site Studio and Wildhorse Studio, Marin County, California,
Summer 1996
Genre Rock
Length 75:02
Label Columbia/Sony
Producer Kevin Shirley
Journey chronology

Raised on Radio
(1986)		 Trial by Fire
(1996)		 Arrival
(2001)
Singles from Trial by Fire
  1. "When You Love a Woman"
    Released: 1996
  2. "Message of Love"
    Released: 1996
  3. "If He Should Break Your Heart"
    Released: 1996
  4. "Can't Tame the Lion"
    Released: 1997
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

Trial by Fire is the 10th studio album by American rock band Journey. Released on October 22, 1996, the album marked the reunion of the classic 1980s lineup, which had not recorded together since 1983's Frontiers. Trial by Fire was produced by Kevin Shirley, who continues to produce the band's albums until now. The first album to feature bassist Ross Valory since "Frontiers" and the last to feature vocalist Steve Perry and drummer Steve Smith.

Trial by Fire includes the Top 20 hit and Grammy nominated single "When You Love a Woman", which reached No. 12 and No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts respectively.[2] "Message of Love", "Can't Tame the Lion" and "If He Should Break Your Heart" were released as singles and received radio airplay.

The album reflected a growing maturity with the members of Journey and could be loosely termed a concept album with many tracks reflecting a more overt spirituality in lyrical content. The title track, for example, is taken directly from Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians.[3]

Trial by Fire was Journey's last album featuring vocalist Steve Perry and the only one to not be accompanied by a supporting tour. That was due to internal disputes over a tour (originally scheduled for the summer and fall of 1997), as a result of Perry's hip injury as he prolonged getting the necessary surgery. If the band had toured, the tour wouldn't start until over a year after the album's release. Perry left the band feeling that he was being forced out over his mulling over his decision to have the necessary surgery and because of the other band members' pressure to tour sooner than later. Drummer Steve Smith also quit citing that the band without Perry didn't interest him.

On November 9, 1996, the album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200[4] and was eventually certified platinum in the United States by the RIAA.[5] The band did not receive another platinum award until Revelation in 2008.[5]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Message of Love"  Perry, Schon, Cain, John Bettis 5:34
2. "One More"  Perry, Schon, Cain 5:28
3. "When You Love a Woman"  Perry, Cain, Schon 4:07
4. "If He Should Break Your Heart"  Perry, Cain, Schon 4:23
5. "Forever in Blue"  Perry, Cain, Schon 3:35
6. "Castles Burning"  Perry, Cain, Schon 6:00
7. "Don't Be Down on Me Baby"  Perry, Schon, Cain 4:01
8. "Still She Cries"  Perry, Schon, Cain 5:04
9. "Colors of the Spirit"  Perry, Cain, Schon, Bettis 5:41
10. "When I Think of You"  Perry, Cain 4:21
11. "Easy to Fall"  Perry, Schon, Cain 5:15
12. "Can't Tame the Lion"  Perry, Cain, Schon 4:32
13. "It's Just the Rain"  Perry, Cain 5:19
14. "Trial by Fire"  Perry, Schon, Cain 4:41
15. "Baby I'm a Leavin' You" (hidden track)Perry, Cain, Schon 2:49
16. "I Can See It in Your Eyes" (Japanese-only bonus track on the original CD release, later added to the 2006 CD reissue)Perry, Schon, Cain 4:12

Personnel

Band members
Additional musicians
Production

Charts

Album
Year Chart Position
1996 Billboard 200 (USA)[4] 3
Oricon Japanese Albums Charts[6] 6
RPM100 Albums (Canada)[7] 16
Swedish Albums Chart[8] 24
German Albums Chart[9] 62
GfK Dutch Charts[10] 89

Singles
Year Title Chart Position
1996 "Message of Love" Mainstream Rock (USA)[2] 18
RPM100 Hit Tracks (Canada)[11] 36
"When You Love a Woman" Billboard Hot 100 (USA)[2] 12
Top 40 Mainstream (USA)[2] 9
Adult Contemporary (USA)[2] 1
Adult Top 40 (USA)[2] 3
RPM100 Hit Tracks (Canada)[12] 3
1997 Top 40 Adult Recurrents (USA)[2] 2
"Can't Tame the Lion" Mainstream Rock (USA)[2] 33
RPM100 Hit Tracks (Canada)[13] 86
"If He Should Break Your Heart" Adult Contemporary (USA)[2] 21
RPM100 Hit Tracks (Canada)[14] 13

Certifications

Country Organization Year Sales
USA RIAA 1996 Platinum (+ 1,000,000)[5]
Canada CRIA 1996 Gold (+ 50,000)[15]

References

  1. ↑ DeGagne, Mike. "Journey Trial by Fire review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "Trial by Fire Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  3. ↑ 1 Cor 3:13
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Trial by Fire Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Journey. Retrieved on 2013-06-30.
  6. ↑ ジャーニー - クイーンズライクのアルバム売り上げランキング (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
  7. ↑ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 64, No. 13, November 11, 1996". Library and Archives Canada. 11 November 1996. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  8. ↑ "Journey – Trial by Fire (album)". Swedishcharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  9. ↑ "Album – Journey, Trial by Fire". Charts.de (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  10. ↑ "Album – Journey, Trial by Fire". GfK Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  11. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 64, No. 18, December 16, 1996". Library and Archives Canada. 16 December 1996. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  12. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 64, No. 18, December 16, 1996". Library and Archives Canada. 16 December 1996. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  13. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 65, No. 3, March 24, 1997". Library and Archives Canada. 24 March 1997. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  14. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 65, No. 10, May 12, 1997". Library and Archives Canada. 12 May 1997. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  15. ↑ "Gold Platinum Search for Journey". Music Canada. Retrieved 2013-07-14.