Untold Passion

ご存知JOURNEYの中心人物/ギタリストNEAL SCHONとMAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRAのキーボーディスト/コンポーザーJAN HAMMERによるコラボレーションによる1STデュオ・アルバム。
次作にも顔を出すALEXIS KORNERやSPENCER DAVIS GROUPで鳴らした英国ジャズ/ブルース・ベーシストCOLIN HODGKINSONのほかはほぼデュオという編成で夢のコラボを披露。もちろんメロディック・ロックとは言えず当時JOURNEYファンにはあまり響かなかったようですが、なかなかどうしてファンキーなキーボードにスリリングなインスト・パート、NEILの味のあるヴォーカル、そしてやはりSANTANA期の最初期NEILを思わせるギター、今こそ必聴の一枚です。

Before Journey became one of the top pop/rock acts of the early '80s with a string of arena rock anthems and power ballads, the group had a more detectable prog and fusion edge -- while guitarist Neal Schon's earliest work was with the very un-Journey-like Carlos Santana. So at the height of Journey's popularity, it appeared as though Schon wanted to get back to his fusion roots by uniting with keyboard wizard Jan Hammer. However, the resulting album, 1981's Untold Passion, wasn't going to be confused with Mahavishnu Orchestra anytime soon -- tracks such as "I'm Talking to You" wasn't much different from Journey's melodic rock style, while "Hooked on Love" saw Schon (who also doubled as vocalist) replicate Paul Rodgers' singing style. That said, the funky keyboard/guitar duel "The Ride" gave both Schon and Hammer a chance to show off their chops. Untold Passion seems to lean toward the more melodic rock side of things, rather than finger-spraining chops. ~ Greg Prato