1. Background

2. Release and promotion

3. Critical reception

4. Track listing

5. Personnel
    Production 

6. Charts

7. References

59:15 (deluxe edition)

Traces is the third solo studio album by American singer and songwriter Steve Perry. It was released on October 5, 2018, through Fantasy Records.^[1] It was his first solo album in 24 years, following 1994's For the Love of Strange Medicine.

It is Perry's first solo top 10 Billboard album.^[2]

Background

After leaving Journey in the late 1990s, Perry withdrew from the music industry for "many reasons, but mainly my love for music had suddenly left me."^[3] His passion was reignited after he lost his girlfriend Kellie Nash to cancer in December 2012, and he began recording Traces in May 2015.^[4][3]

Release and promotion

The first single from the album, No Erasin{{'}}, was released on August 14, 2018. A performance music video accompanied the release.^[5] It peaked at number 18 on the US Adult Contemporary chart, number 38 on the Hot Rock Songs chart, and number 17 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart.^[6][7][8]

Two more performance videos were released, No More Cryin' on September 4, 2018 and We're Still Here on September 20, 2018. A second video for We're Still Here, this one Perry's first 'official' music video in 25 years^[9], was released on March 22, 2019.

On September 24, 2018, Perry participated in a Facebook Live event at noon PDT. The 15-minute webcast focused on the making of the album.^[10][11]

On March 15, 2019, the expanded edition, which was previously exclusive to Target stores, was released worldwide.^[12]

Critical reception

Andrew McNeice of Melodicrock.com rated the album a 92/100, calling it, "a very fine record", and that it is "Immaculately produced and constructed, with equally impressive musical performances by the band" and "soulful harmonies" by Perry.^[13]

CrypticRock.com gave the album 5/5 stars and called it, "All in all, Traces is a near flawless return for Steve Perry."^[14]

Getreadytorock.me.uk gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars and said, "We never thought we'd get another full album from Steve Perry, thankfully we have in Traces, which is a master class in AOR and soulful edged pop."^[15]

Track listing

Personnel

• Steve Perry – vocals (1–15), background vocals (1–14), bass (1–2, 4–6, 10, 13), guitar (1, 14), orchestra (4), orchestrations (2, 5, 7, 13), programming (2–3, 8–9, 13, 14), strings (1, 3, 6, 12), synths (9, 12, 14), all instruments on "Blue Jays Fly"
• Dallas Kruse – electric piano (9), Hammond organ (4, 8, 9), piano (3, 5), strings (1), synths (1, 5, 10, 12), vibraphone (12)
• Thom Flowers – guitar (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
• Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13)
• Devin Hoffman – bass (1, 2, 4, 6, 14), guitar (13, 14)
• Tommy King – Hammond organ (1, 7, 12), piano (1, 7, 12)
• Paula Hochhalter – cello (2, 5, 7, 11)
• Steve Richards – cello (2, 3, 5, 7)
• David Campbell – orchestrations (2, 5, 7)
• Michele Richards – violin (2, 5, 7)
• Charlie Bisharat – violin (2, 5, 7)
• Andrew Duckles – viola (2, 5, 7)
• Suzie Katayama – cello (2, 5, 7)
• Sara Parkins – violin (2, 5, 7)
• Luke Maurer – viola (2, 5, 7)
• Roger Joseph Manning Jr. – synths (1, 3)
• Brian West – guitar (2), drums (2)
• Steve Ferrone – drums (12, 14)
• Pino Palladino – bass (8, 9)
• Teag Reaves – horns (5, 7)
• Josh Freese – drums (1, 6)
• Nathan East – bass (3, 12)
• Dylan Hart – horns (5, 7)
• The Steve Perry Philharmonic Orchestra (4)
• Katie Hampton – background vocals (12)
• Aubrey Logan – background vocals (12)
• Sherree Brown – background vocals (2)
• Booker T. Jones – Hammond organ (4)
• Kellie Nash – Love and Laughter (13)
• Lynn Mabry – background vocals (2)
• Chuck Berghofer – rhythm bass (11)
• The Patrick Willams Orchestra (11)
• Kyle Moorman – programming (6)
• Michael Sanford – guitar (14)
• Dan Greco – percussion (11)
• Douglas Tornquist – tuba (7)
• Randy Goodrum – piano (3)
• Tim Eckert – arco bass (11)
• Ralph Morrison – violin (11)
• Harry Shirinian – viola (11)
• Scott Hosfeld – viola (11)
• David Spreng – guitar (1)
• Rodney Wirtz – viola (11)
• Travis Carlton – bass (7)
• Alisha Bauer – cello (11)
• Tom Ranier – piano (11)
• Al Schmitt – strings (11)
• Matt Cooker – cello (11)
• Ray Tischer – viola (11)
• Tim Pierce – guitar (12)
• Jeff Babko – piano (10)
• Dan Wilson – guitar (4)
• Tina Soule – cello (11)
• John 5 – guitar (6)

Production

• Produced by Steve Perry
• Co-produced by Thom Flowers
• Recorded and mixed by Thom Flowers and Steve Perry
• Recorded at Love Box, Capitol Studios, and East West
• Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering, Portland, ME
• Cover artwork by Jeff Wack
• Cover design and concept by Steve Perry and Jeff Wack
• Photos by Emma Holley, Myriam Santos, Steve Perry, and Thom Flowers

Charts

References

• Fernando Argenta
• Fernando Baez
• Fernando Baeza Melendez
• Fernando Baeza Meléndez
• Fernando balderas sanchez
• Fernando Balderas Sanchez
• Fernando Balderas Sánchez
• Fernando balderas sánchez
• Fernando (Barcelona Metro)
• Fernando Barrientos
• Fernando Barron
• Fernando Barros Bezerra Júnior
• Fernando Bastos de Avila
• Fernando Batiste
• Fernando Batul
• Fernando Belaunzaran
• Fernando Belaunzarán
• Fernando Bello
• Fernando Beltran, Jr.
• Fernando Beltrán Jr
• Fernando Bengoetxea Altuna
• Fernando Berguido
• Fernando berguido
• Fernando Bermudez
• Fernando Bermudez de Cea