The Season (Steve Perry album)
{{Infobox album
| name = The Season
| type = studio
| artist = Steve Perry
| cover = Steve Perry - The Season.jpeg
| alt =
| released = November 5, 2021{{cite web |last1=Kielty |first1=Martin |title=STEVE PERRY ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY ALBUM ‘THE SEASON’ |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/steve-perry-the-season-album/ |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |access-date=10 December 2021}}
| recorded = 2021
| venue =
| studio = Lovebox Studios (Hollywood)
| genre = Christmas
| length = 25:35 (standard edition)
32:46 (deluxe edition)
52:05 (The Season 3)
| label = Fantasy (standard edition)
Dark Horse Records (The Season 3)
| producer =
- Steve Perry
- Thom Flowers
| prev_title = Traces
| prev_year = 2018
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc =
}}
The Season is a Christmas album and the fourth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Steve Perry. It was released on November 5, 2021, by Fantasy Records.
It debuted at number 6 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart.{{cite web |last1=Caufield |first1=Keith |title=Steve Perry Decks the Charts With ‘The Season’ |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/steve-perry-the-season-top-album-sales-1234999989/ |website=Billboard |access-date=10 December 2021}}
A Digital Deluxe Edition with 2 additional songs was released on October 28, 2022.{{cite web |title=Former JOURNEY Singer STEVE PERRY Releases His First-Ever Holiday Original, 'Maybe This Year' |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/former-journey-singer-steve-perry-releases-his-first-ever-holiday-original-maybe-this-year |website=Blabbermouth |access-date=28 October 2022}}
A third version, titled The Season 3, and released on Dark Horse Records on November 8, 2024, includes 6 new songs.{{cite web |title=Ex-JOURNEY Singer STEVE PERRY To Release 'The Season 3' Expanded Version Of Holiday Album |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/ex-journey-singer-steve-perry-to-release-the-season-3-expanded-version-of-holiday-album |website=Blabbermouth |access-date=7 November 2024}}
Critical reception
Louder gave the album two and a half stars, saying, "if you’re hoping to hear any trace of the rock stylings that made Perry famous, then it’s probably best skip this gooey, Buble-esque affair."{{cite web |last1=Sharp |first1=Johnny |title=Steve Perry's The Season is not a Christmas gift that keeps giving |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/steve-perrys-the-season-is-not-a-christmas-gift-that-keeps-giving |website=Louder |access-date=10 December 2021}}
RIFF Magazine said, "Does the world need a Steve Perry Christmas record? Beyond the shadow of any human doubt … no. It doesn’t."{{cite web |last1=Hicks |first1=Tony |title=Even with that golden voice, Steve Perry delivers few gifts on ‘The Season’ |url=https://riffmagazine.com/album-reviews/steve-perry-the-season/ |website=RIFF Magazine |access-date=10 December 2021}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| title1 = The Christmas Song
| writer1 =
| length1 = 3:31
| title2 = I'll Be Home for Christmas
| writer2 =
| length2 = 2:46
| title3 = Auld Lang Syne
| writer3 =
| length3 = 2:06
| title4 = Winter Wonderland
| writer4 =
| length4 = 3:19
| title5 = What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
| writer5 =
| length5 = 3:56
| title6 = Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
| writer6 =
| length6 = 3:02
| title7 = Silver Bells
| writer7 =
| length7 = 5:03
| title8 = Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
| writer8 =
| length8 = 1:55
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Deluxe Edition
| title1 = Maybe This Year
| writer1 =
| length1 =3:37
| title2 = This Christmas
| writer2 =
| length2 =3:34
| title3 = The Christmas Song
| writer3 =
| length3 = 3:31
| title4 = I'll Be Home for Christmas
| writer4 =
| length4 = 2:46
| title5 = Auld Lang Syne
| writer5 =
| length5 = 2:06
| title6 = Winter Wonderland
| writer6 =
| length6 = 3:19
| title7 = What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
| writer7 =
| length7 = 3:56
| title8 = Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
| writer8 =
| length8 = 3:02
| title9 = Silver Bells
| writer9 =
| length9 = 5:03
| title10 = Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
| writer10 =
| length10 = 1:55
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = The Season 3
| title1 = What a Wonderful World
| writer1 =
| length1 =4:01
| title2 = The Christmas Song
| writer2 =
| length2 = 3:30
| title3 = Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
| writer3 =
| length3 = 3:04
| title4 = This Christmas
| writer4 =
| length4 =3:23
| title5 = Jingle Bell Rock
| writer5 =
| length5 =3:18
| title6 = Call Me Irresponsible
| writer6 =
| length6 =3:05
| title7 = What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
| writer7 =
| length7 = 3:57
| title8 = Auld Lang Syne
| writer8 =
| length8 = 2:05
| title9 = Silver Bells
| writer9 =
| length9 = 5:03
| title10 = I'll Be Home for Christmas
| writer10 =
| length10 = 2:45
| title11 = Let It Snow
| writer11 =
| length11 =2:33
| title12 = Maybe This Year
| writer12 =
| length12 =3:37
| title13 = Winter Wonderland
| writer13 =
| length13 = 3:20
| title14 = Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
| writer14 =
| length14 =3:06
| title15 = Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
| writer15 =
| length15 = 1:55
| title16 = 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
| writer16 =
| length16 =3:23
}}
Personnel
Credits for The Season adapted from liner notes.(2021). "The Season liner notes". In The Season [CD booklet]. Fantasy.
=Musicians=
- Steve Perry – lead and backing vocals
- Dallas Kruse – piano, bass, synth, backing vocals
- Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
=Technical=
- Steve Perry – additional orchestration, mixing
- Dallas Kruse – drum programming
- Thom Flowers – engineering, mixing, co-production
- Adam Ayan – mastering
- Jeff Wack – artwork, design
Charts
| class="wikitable |
| scope="col"| Chart (2021)
!Peak |
|---|
| United States Billboard Top Holiday Albums
| style="text-align:center;"| 4 |
| United States Billboard Top Album Sales
| style="text-align:center;"| 6 |
| United States Billboard Independent Albums
| style="text-align:center;"|16 |
| United States Billboard Top Vinyl Albums
| style="text-align:center;"| 21 |
| United States Billboard 200{{cite web |title=Steve Perry |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/steve-perry/chart-history/ |website=Billboard |access-date=11 December 2021}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 80 |