Steve Perry, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and former Journey front man, has released two brand new holiday tunes. “Maybe This Year” and “This Christmas” are featured on the new deluxe edition of The Season, Perry’s first-ever holiday album, originally released in 2021.
You can hear “Maybe This Year”, an original tune written by Steve Perry and Dallas Kruse, and “This Christmas”, a soulful cover of the Donny Hathaway classic, in the players below.
“I wanted to write an original Christmas song of my own, so Dallas Kruse and I began writing what became, ‘Maybe This Year’” said Perry in a statement. “I wrote the lyrical sentiment about how the holidays can bring such joy and sadness and how for me, both these emotions give me connection to feelings of gratitude for so many years gone by, and a desire to hold on to these holiday feelings we share throughout the coming year. Along with “Maybe this Year” I have also added one of my favorite Donny Hathaway songs, “This Christmas”. I dedicate both these tracks to my friend, Lamont Dozier.”
Primarily recorded at Perry’s home studio, The Season 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 album 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. “One of the things I love most about those traditional recordings is they’re not coming at you like a rock song—they’re just sitting there quietly and inviting you in,” says Perry. “I’d never sung with that much simplicity before, and it was incredibly thrilling to bring that kind of expression to these songs.”
Steve’s stirring interpretations of these holiday staples capture their timelessness, while simultaneously putting his own personal spin on each track. “Music has always been something that rescues me in difficult times,” says Perry. “I hope when people hear this record, they’re teleported in the same way I was when I recorded all these songs—I hope it brings them back to those golden moments with their loved ones and gives them that feeling of joy and connection and comfort that we all need so much.”
Backstage Access:
Herbie Herbert and the Incredible Story of Journey
Steve Perry – Maybe This Year
Steve Perry – This Christmas
The Season Track Listing
1. Maybe This Year
2. This Christmas
3. The Christmas Song
4. I’ll Be Home for Christmas
5. Auld Lang Syne
6. Winter Wonderland
7. What Are you Doing New Year’s Eve
8. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
9. Silver Bells
10. clHave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
