Few who attended a wedding or a prom in the eighties or early nineties didn’t hear at least one song from the mega-group Journey. Journey was first formed in San Francisco, California in 1973. However, the band didn’t find real success until they hired Steve Perry as their lead singer in 1977.
Recently, Columbia released several of Journey’s best-selling albums. Among them are: 1978’s Infinity, 1979’s Evolution, and 1981’s Escape — all remastered, expanded, and featuring expanded booklets.
By the time Infinity was released in May 1978, Journey had already produced three underwhelming albums and were looking for a change in direction. Perry’s soaring voice and songwriting talents proved to be just what the group needed. Together, Steve Perry and guitarist Neal Schon created a new ‘rock-ballad’ sound that would become radio staples for years to come. Infinity would give the group its first taste of real success with successful singles such as,” Lights,” “Wheel in the Sky,” and “Patiently” (the first song Perry and Schon ever wrote together). Journey performed over 170 concerts in support of Infinity and the album eventually moved past platinum status. Journey’s success was just beginning.
Like many countless other bands, the success of Infinity left Journey wanting more. In their quest for perfection, original drummer Aynsley Dunbar was out and Steve Smith was in. Evolution was definitely Journey’s best album to date. They had successfully shed the progressive rock sound of their first three unsuccessful albums and transformed themselves into an FM radio and arena friendly machine.
Evolution features the bands first top twenty hit, “Lovin,’ Touchin,’ ‘Squeezin’” and my personal favorite, “Just the Same Way.” Evolution sold 800,000 copies in less than three months and the band went out on a huge concert tour that broke several attendance records. It is clear that by the time Evolution was recorded the members of Journey were very comfortable in their positions as burgeoning rock gods. The guitar work of founder Neal Schon is overtly more fanciful and dramatic. He clearly relished his role as a bit of a guitar god.
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