# For the Love of Strange Medicine

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| Allmusic | |
For the Love of Strange Medicine is the second solo studio album by American singer and songwriter Steve Perry, released on July 13, 1994 through Columbia Records. The album came after a lengthy eight-year hiatus following the breakup of his band Journey. The first single from the album, "You Better Wait", received radio airplay, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and peaking at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified gold by the RIAA in September 1994 and was followed by a tour from 1994–95.
The song "Young Hearts Forever" was written by Perry as a tribute to his late friend, Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott, who died in 1986.

## Background

Journey released their ninth studio album Raised on Radio in 1986, which was Perry's seventh album as lead singer. The band subsequently went on a hiatus in 1987. After the split, Perry "didn't feel the passion" for writing and recording music, but eventually began writing songs for the album with musicians Lincoln Brewster, Paul Taylor, and Moyes Lucas.

## Track listing
### Notes (2006 re-release)

* "If You Need Me, Call Me" is a 1994 re-recording of a song of Perry's pre-Journey band, Alien Project.
* "One More Time" is an unreleased out take from 1994.
* "Can't Stop" and "Friends of Mine" are previously unreleased tracks from the 1988 unreleased Against the Wall album.

## Personnel

* Steve Perry – vocals, backing vocals
* Paul Taylor – keyboards (1–8, 10), backing vocals (1), synthesizers (11)
* Tim Miner – keyboards (9), acoustic piano (9, 11), bass (9, 11), backing vocals (9, 11)
* Lincoln Brewster – guitars (1–8, 10), backing vocals (1)
* Michael Landau – guitars (11)
* Larry Kimpel – bass (1, 2, 4, 10)
* Mike Porcaro – bass (2, 3, 5–7)
* Moyes Lucas – drums (1–8, 10, 11), backing vocals (1, 7)
* Jeremy Lubbock – string arrangements and string conductor (3)
* James "Jimbo" Barton – string arrangements (3)
* Phil Brown – string arrangements (3), bass (8)
* Larry Dalton – string arrangements and conductor (9)
* Dallas Symphony Orchestra – strings (9)
* Alexander Brown – backing vocals (4, 10)
* Carmen Carter – backing vocals (4, 10)
* Jean McClain – backing vocals (4, 10)

### Production

* Randy Jackson – A&R direction
* James "Jimbo" Barton – producer (1–8, 10), engineer (1–8, 10)
* Steve Perry – producer (5, 6, 9, 11)
* Tim Miner – producer (9, 11)
* Niko Bolas – mixing (1, 2, 6)
* David Reitzas – string recording (3)
* Craig Burbidge – mixing (3–5, 7–11), engineer (11)
* Tim Kimsey – engineer (9)
* Frank Salazar – engineer (9)
* Bill Cooper – second engineer
* Devin Foutz – second engineer
* Manny Marroquin – second engineer
* Kyle Ross – second engineer
* Rail Rogut – second engineer
* Ulrich Wild – second engineer
* Brian Lee – digital editing
* Bob Ludwig – mastering
* Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine) – editing and mastering location
* Phil Brown – production assistant (1–4, 7, 8, 10)
* Diarmuid Quinn – product manager
* Dave Coleman – art direction
* Reisig & Taylor – photography
* Bob Cavallo and Scott Welch with Third Rail Management – management

## Charts

| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 63 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 91 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 23 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) | 44 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 64 |
| US Billboard 200 | 15 |

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000$^^$ |
| $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||