The Effect, the band featuring Trevor “Trev” Lukather and Nic Collins, the sons of Steve Lukather (Toto) and Phil Collins, have released a cover of Journey’s “It Could Have Been You.” The track, which features former Journey singer Steve Perry, can be streamed below:
Perry commented:
“In 1986 the Journey ‘Raised On Radio’ record was released and in it was a song I’ve always felt was a diamond in the rough.
I’ve known Trevor Lukather since he was 9 years old and he is a very gifted musician. One day we were talking about his new band, The Effect… He surprisingly mentioned ‘It Could Have Been You’ is one of his favorite tracks from that record, I told him I felt the same. I then said, why don’t you record it? He asked if I would sing on it if they did, I said… ‘Of course my most precious!’
I must say, singing on their powerful track brought out a vocal experience in me from years ago ! So now… Releasing on May 7th on all socials and streaming is a very powerful reimagined version of, ‘It Could Have Been You’ by… The Effect. Have a listen!”
Trevor added:
“Steve and I go way back. Other than my Pop, Steve Perry has been a mentor to me. When he heard The Effect, he called me and expressed how much he really loved what we were doing. It meant the world. On that same call, I started raving about a deep cut Journey tune ‘It Could Have Been You’. The idea came up about The Effect doing our own version of it. I asked Steve if he would sing on it and he was in. Even though we were done with our album, it was just too good of an idea to pass up. Any chance to work with my dear brotha Steve is one I’ll happily take.
I built up the production with Emmett [Stang]’s lead vocal to really present to him our vision of what we had in mind. Steve came by the studio while we were tracking drums. I’ll forever bottle up his first reaction after the playback. His excitement that we could resurrect an overlooked Journey song with new life obviously connected to the pipes because Steve came in the next day and shook the house with his vocal performance. I think our neighbors thought it was the Northridge earthquake all over again.
The power of Steve’s vocals is on another level. One of a kind. That’s why he’s the GOAT.
To add to the pressure of doing it justice, not only did I want to knock it out of the park for my friend and mentor but for my father in law, Jonathan Cain, who is the co writer on this epic tune. I sent him the master when we finalized. He called me stunned and blown away. He praised the arrangement and performances and he said how SP sounded like a million bucks. To get the approval from them both was everything but we have a feeling the world will connect to our version the way we all did making it.
Thank you SP for not only for the honor, but for your belief in us and what we do. That is never taken for granted!”
Metal Anarchy 