One of the most iconic voices in rock and roll history, Steve Perry released “The Season 3” on November 8 via Dark Horse Records. The album expands on the former JOURNEY singer’s exquisitely curated 2021 holiday album “The Season”which revealed him as an flawless interpreter of the classic Christmas songbook. “The Season 3” includes six newly recorded songs, including “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Let It Snow”as well as a moving duet with his late father, Ray Perry.
The official video for “Call Me Irresponsible”featuring Ray Perrycan be seen below. The video was designed and animated by Tolga Tarhan.
Built around a tape left to him after his estranged father’s passing, the song, originally recorded by Ray as a reflection on his shortcomings, offers poignant closure as Perry confronts generational trauma and embraces forgiveness.
Talking about singing with his father on the duet of “Call Me Irresponsible”, Steve Perry says: “My father, Ray Perrywas a singer and when I was a child he would sing to me at bedtime. I recently found a karaoke cassette of my dad singing that he sent me back in 1993 for Christmas. The one song that touched me the most was ‘Call Me Irresponsible’. His voice was lovely, but the karaoke track was not.
“Using technology, we pulled his voice off the cassette and recorded beautiful music around him. Once that was done, an unfulfilled dream of singing with my father was now possible. You see, mom and dad divorced when I was 7, and dad and I never saw much of each other after that. Singing with my father after all these years was a very emotional experience for me. His voice was just as I remembered it as a child.
“At the end of his cassette, dad says, ‘Merry Christmas, God Love Ya.’ To hear him speak again brought tears to my eyes.”
“The Season 3” marks Perry‘s first release on Dark Horse Records. He joins the highly curated home of legends on the label founded by George Harrison in 1974, alongside labelmates Joe Strummer, Yusuf / Kate Stevens, Billy Idol, Nina Simoneand more.
On signing to Dark Horse Records, Perry says: “I am so pleased to announce that I have just signed with George Harrison‘s label, Dark Horse Records. I’ve so much music in me that you have yet to be heard. To be able to work with a team of people who support and respect my creative expressions, is a dream come true.”
On “The Season 3”, Perry says, “I’ve always loved the magic in holiday songs. When I was a child, I would hear them on the radio in my grandmother’s kitchen while she was cooking. Today when I hear those songs, they take me back to so many wonderful memories.”
He continues: “The magic of music is a very emotional gift. The idea of me recording a holiday record started many years ago and now has grown into my latest collection, ‘The Season 3’. I have added six new tracks to this latest compilation, which now totals 16. I hope this record brings you precious memories too.
“All the best to you and yours this holiday season.”
“The Season 3” is co-produced by Perry and engineer Tom Flowers with an immaculately arranged and richly nuanced sound. Mainly recorded at Perry‘s home studio, “The Season” series came to life in collaboration with drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa) and Dallas Kruse (a multi-instrumentalist who also worked with Perry on his acclaimed 2018 album “Traces”). While most of “The Season 3” encompasses an understated sonic palette — piano, strings, upright bass — each track leaves an indelible impact thanks to the soulful sincerity of Perry‘s vocal work. For both artist and audience alike, “The Season 3” ultimately serves as a form of emotional time travel, a direct conduit for the kind of memories that sustain the spirit and restore a sense of joyous serenity.
“The Season 3” track listing:
01. What A Wonderful World
02. The Christmas Song
03. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
04. This Christmas
05. Jingle Bell Rock
06. Call Me Irresponsible
07. What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve
08. Auld Lang Syne
09. Silver Bells
10. I’ll Be Home For Christmas
11. Let It Snow
12. Maybe This Year
13. Winter Wonderland
14. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
15. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
16. ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas
One of the most iconic voices in rock and roll history, Perry you have captivated generations with the sheer power of his range and extraordinary warmth of his tone. One of Rolling Stone‘s “100 Greatest Singers Of All Time,” he fronted JOURNEY during the band’s massively successful era and was induced into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Perry returned to music in 2018 with the release of his Fantasy album “Traces” which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard album charts and No. 6 overall — a personal best for his solo work.
