Journey from Infinity to Greatest Hits

Journey continues its reign at the top of a short list of second generation San Francisco rock bands whose music has truly stood the test of time. They've sold over 43 million records in the U.S. alone.

Columbia/Legacy Records is re-releasing the Journey catalog on CD and DVD, with bonus tracks, B-sides, soundtrack and live material. Available August first from Sony Entertainment, here's a breakdown of the new packages.

With the introduction of Steve Perry’s distinctive lead vocals, Journey took a giant step on their fourth album. "Infinity" released in 1978, produced by Roy Thomas Baker, featured their first three mid-chart singles, “Wheel In the Sky,” “Anytime,” and “Lights” b/w “Somethin’ To Hide,” along with the concert favorite, “Patiently.” The LP spent nearly two and a half years on the Billboard chart and was RIAA triple-platinum.

"Wheel In The Sky" @ Windows Media : Real Player : Quicktime

As touring demands accelerated, jazz trained drummer Steve Smith joined in late 1978 (replacing Aynsley Dunbar, who joined Jefferson Starship.) The next album, "Evolution" (released in 1979 and again produced by Baker,) contained “Just the Same Way” and Journey’s first major Top 20 hit single, “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’.” Again, this LP spent almost two years on the chart but took only five years to reach the RIAA’s three million sales mark.

The "Departure" album was co-produced in 1980 by Baker’s assistant Geoff Workman and Journey’s sound engineer Kevin Elson. In addition to “Good Morning Girl/Stay Awhile,” the album contained the new Journey anthem “Any Way You Want It.” The tune earned them their first Top Ten album, which has also gone on to triple-platinum over the years. This new expanded edition adds two bonus tracks: “Natural Thing” (B-side of “Don’t Stop Believin,") and “Little Girl” (from the original motion picture soundtrack of Dream After Dream, an obscure foreign film whose entire score was performed by Journey.)

"Any Way You Want It" @ Windows Media : Real Player : Quicktime

Their seventh studio album, "Escape" was co-produced by former engineer Mike Stone (known for his studio work with Queen, Kiss, America and others) and Elson. The LP was released the first week of August 1981, coinciding with MTV’s historic sign-on of 12:01 a.m., on August first. It was pumped up by the summer take-off single, the Top Five “Who’s Crying Now,” which earned the band a prestigious spot opening for the Rolling Stones at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia on September 12th. The same date that "Escape" hit number one, the band’s first and only appearance at the top of the Billboard pop charts. This new expanded edition also has multiple bonus tracks.

"Don't Stop Believin" @ Windows Media : Real Player : Quicktime

Fourteen years into Journey’s career, Columbia released the band's Greatest Hits album in 1988. It initially reached number ten on the Billboard 200 Albums chart, where it stayed for 21 months, and has sold fourteen times platinum. This new expanded edition adds one bonus track, “When You Love A Woman."

It was in 1996, when the classic Journey lineup of guitarist Neal Schon, singer Steve Perry, keyboardist Jonathan Cain, bassist Ross Valory, and drummer Steve Smith reconvened for the first time in ten years to record "Trial By Fire." Their 10th studio album was also the long-awaited follow-up to 1986’s Raised On Radio. To celebrate the new release in 1996, Columbia/Legacy issued newly digitally remastered CDs of "Captured" (Journey’s first double-LP and first live album, 1981,) and the studio albums "Frontiers" (1983) and of course "Raised On Radio" (1986.)

In 2001, the 2-CD Essential Journey was released, with over 130 minutes of chart hits and signature album tracks (from 1978 to ’96). This was followed in 2003 by Journey Greatest Hits DVD (1978-1997,) 18 tracks that spanned from 1978’s “Wheel In the Sky” to 1997’s “When You Love a Woman” (from "Trial By Fire.") In 2005, "Live In Houston 1981: The Escape Tour" arrived on DVD. It's one of the first MTV concerts ever broadcast and has been certifield plantinum by the RIAA.

Journey’s self-titled debut album was issued in April, 1975. It was followed by "Look Into the Future" (January 1976) and "Next" (February 1977,) their first LP to break inside the Top 100.

Official Journey Website


Related Tags: Music, Rock and Roll, Classic Rock, Journey, Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Ross Valory, Steve Smith, CybersMusic