Showing posts with label Journey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Journey. Show all posts

Thursday, 15 December 2022

Journey - Time3 (1992) [3CD Box]

posted by record facts 

With the box set can be heard the progression of the band from the early days with heavy influences from Gregg Rolie (1972-1980), Aynsley Dunbar (1973-1978), and Neal Schon (1972–present), to the changes the band made with the addition of Steve Perry (1978–1997) and Jonathan Cain (1981-present), to the differences of the band after 1983, including Schon’s jazz influences and the album Raised on Radio.

The box also features several unreleased Journey songs, alternate versions or even demos such as “Velvet Curtain”, the very early (incomplete) version of “Feeling That Way” before Perry rebuilt the whole song structure.

Very few box sets satisfy the way that Journey’s Time3 satisfies.  When it was released in 1992, Journey wasn’t even a functioning entity anymore.  Sony’s box set still represents the kind of care and attention to detail that makes for an extraordinary listen.  It is arranged (mostly) chronologically with ample rare and unreleased material.  What is most remarkable is how great this rare and unreleased material is.  Aerosmith did a similar looking box set in 1992 as well (Pandora’s Box), but their set isn’t as steady a listen as Time3 is.  Time3‘s ample wealth of worthwhile rarities rank it easily as the superior set.

From start to bitter 80’s breakup, every Journey member from 1975 to 1986 is included.  George Tickner, Aynsley Dunbar, Robert Fleischman, Randy Jackson, Mike Baird and anybody else you may not have known were in Journey are represented in this box.  There are ample liner notes and photos explaining the roots and branches.  (Humorously the notes claim the early Journey instrumental “Nickel & Dime” may have been the prototype that Rush ripped off for “Tom Sawyer”.)  Valuable early rarities include the unreleased jazz rock number “Cookie Duster” and an excellent vocal track called “For You” recorded  with Robert Fleischman singing.  Fleischman might be best known as the original singer for Vinnie Vincent’s Invasion a decade later, but in Journey he turned in a pretty powerful pop rock song.  This was just before Steve Perry joined the band as its first full-time lead singer.  Keyboardist Gregg Rolie took care of the vocals before Perry joined, in addition to performing several smoking organ solos included herein.

There is a distinct change between the early progressive jam rock tracks and “For You”.  When they hired on a lead singer, it was with the intention to get a big break, and Steve Perry was the final ingredient.  With Perry they recorded brilliant classics such as “Patiently”, “Anytime” and the unforgettable “Wheel in the Sky”, which unfortunately is only included here as a live version.  Indeed, the Journey box set’s only weakness is a substitution of (non-rare) live versions for studio originals.  “Lights” is another such substitution.

Just as the band were making this prog-to-pop transition, drummer Aynsley Dunbar left.  His style was more progressive and frankly too highbrow for the direction Journey were going.  He was replaced by another total pro, the feel-oriented Steve Smith, a jazzbo at heart who can play R&B like nobody’s business.  “Too Late” from 1979’s Evolution is a perfect example of what he did to the Journey sound, as things simplified.

With Smith behind the kit, the hits kept pouring in.  “Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’” (also included live), “Any Way You Want It”, “Line of Fire” and many more burned up speakers across America.  The band very quickly went from “point A” to “point B”, but also with several exceptional looks backward.  Some of these lesser known gems include “Little Girl” from a rare Journey soundtrack album called Dream, After Dream done for the Japanese market.  There is also the live “Dixie Highway” from Captured that shows off some serious instrumental chops.  A rare highlight is the soulful and unreleased cover of “Good Times”, with full-on horn section, from 1978.  It’s one of the songs that make it worth buying a box set like this.

Rolie left after Dream, After Dream and did not appear on the one new Journey song on Captured:  “The Party’s Over (Hopelessly in Love)”.  This brilliant pop rocker pointed the way towards the next era of Journey.  From The Babys came new keyboardist (and sometimes guitarist and singer) Jonathan Cain.  Cain forever brought Journey into the 1980’s, with modern keyboard accompaniment and serious writing abilities.  He has since become an indisposable member of the band, as important as founding guitarist Neal Schon himself.  Jon Cain’s first was the Escape album, which has sold nine million copies to date.  Not a bad little debut.  With “Don’t Stop Believin’” , “Stone in Love” and the smash ballad “Open Arms”, Journey ascended to the top of the mountain.  These tracks are all included as their studio originals.

There are a number of notable and great rarities from this period included in Time3.  “Natural Thing” was the soul-laden B-side to “Don’t Stop Believin’”, but feast your ears upon “La Raza Del Sol”, which snuck out as the progressive flipside of “Still They Ride”.  This blazingly recalls the arrangements of the early years with an unusually contemoplative lyric.  Check out Schon’s flamenco guitar solo.  There is the understated and brilliant rocker “Only Solutions”, from the 1982 Tron soundtrack.  These are valuable songs, that any Journey fan should enjoy completely.  Moving forward, “All That Really Matters” is a synthy demo with Jon Cain on lead vocals.  It doesn’t sound like Journey, but Cain fans will find it interesting.  Two more soundtrack songs are indispensable:  “Only the Young” from Vision Quest, and “Ask the Lonely” from Two of a Kind (both 1983).  Each song was significant enough to include on 1988’s Greatest Hits, so fans are well acquainted with both.  It’s incredible to think that Journey had songs of this quality to give to soundtracks.

Towards the end, as bands often do, Journey began falling apart.  Steve Perry had a hit solo debut Street Talk (1984) and he returned to Journey more confident, imposing a soul/R&B direction upon the band.  Steve Smith and founding bassist Ross Valory were out.  Randy Jackson and Mike Baird were in.  Raised on Radio took forever to record and underwhelmed fans upon reception.  A live version of “I’ll Be Alright Without You” with the new members indicates that Journey had sanded off the rough edges.

Even at the end, there were still interesting happenings.  The liner notes reveal that even as the band was ending, they were winning awards.  Journey performed at the 1987 Bay Area Music Awards with a different singer — Michael Bolton.  One has to wonder where that could have gone.  The last music on this set chronologically comes in the shape of two unreleased instrumentals called “With a Tear” and “Into Your Arms”.  They were recorded in 1986 but not used for Raised on Radio, and so they were finished in 1992 by Schon and Cain for this box set.  Sadly these instrumentals are better than most of the tracks on Raised on Radio.  One is a ballad, and one is a rocker, but both are exceptional.  Journey started life with instrumentals, and so it’s fitting that Schon and Cain polished off the box set with a couple as well.

This box set was reissued a number of times, but for the money you can’t beat the original 1992 printing with the long box and large booklet.  The liner notes are ample but the rare photos may even top them.  From the earliest days there are pictures of the band with original guitarist George Tickner and drummer Prairie Prince.  Prince was invited to join permanently, but chose to join the Tubes instead, a band he found more creative.  He was replaced by Aynsley Dunbar who recorded the first LP.  Also pictured within are some truly impressive hair styles, clothes, and moustaches.

With tracks this strong from start to finish, great packaging, and such a wealth of rare material, it seems Time3 should be an easy 5/5 stars.  However, that niggling issue of live tracks (particularly “Wheel in the Sky”) replacing studio cuts is really devious.  It’s unnecessary.  It all but forces casual buyers to also own Greatest Hits for the studio versions. 

Track listing

Time 1

  1. “Of a Lifetime” (Neal SchonGregg RolieGeorge Tickner)
  2. “Kohoutek” (N. Schon, Rolie)
  3. “I’m Gonna Leave You” (N. Schon, Rolie, Tickner)
  4. “Cookie Duster” (previously unreleased) (Ross Valory)
  5. “Nickel and Dime” (N. Schon, Rolie, Tickner, R. Valory)
  6. “For You” (previously unreleased, lead vocals by Robert Fleischman) (N. Schon, Rolie, Robert Fleischman)
  7. “Velvet Curtain/Feeling That Way” (previously unreleased) (Steve Perry, Rolie, Aynsley Dunbar)
  8. “Anytime” (N. Schon, Rolie, Fleischman, R. Valory, Roger Silver)
  9. “Patiently” (Perry, N. Schon)
  10. Good Times” (previously unreleased) (Sam Cooke)
  11. “Majestic” (Perry, N. Schon)
  12. “Too Late” (Perry, N. Schon)
  13. “Sweet and Simple” (Perry)
  14. “Just the Same Way” (N. Schon, Rolie, R. Valory)
  15. “Little Girl” (from the Dream, After Dream soundtrack) (Perry, N. Schon, Rolie)
  16. Any Way You Want It” (Perry, N. Schon)
  17. “Someday Soon” (Perry, N. Schon, Rolie)
  18. “Good Morning Girl” (Perry, N. Schon)

Time 2

  1. “Where Were You” (Perry, N. Schon)
  2. “Line of Fire” (Perry, N. Schon)
  3. “Homemade Love” (Perry, N. Schon, Steve Smith)
  4. “Natural Thing” (B-side of Don’t Stop Believin’) (Perry, R. Valory)
  5. Lights” (live) (Perry, N. Schon)
  6. “Stay Awhile” (live) (Perry, N. Schon)
  7. “Walks Like a Lady” (live) (Perry)
  8. Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’” (live) (Perry)
  9. “Dixie Highway” (live) (Perry, N. Schon)
  10. Wheel in the Sky” (live) (N. Schon, Fleishman, Diane Valory)
  11. “The Party’s Over (Hopelessly in Love)” (Perry)
  12. Don’t Stop Believin’” (Perry, N. Schon, Jonathan Cain)
  13. Stone in Love” (Perry, N. Schon, Cain)
  14. “Keep on Runnin'” (Perry, N. Schon, Cain)
  15. Who’s Crying Now” (Perry, Cain)
  16. “Still They Ride” (Perry, N. Schon, Cain)
  17. Open Arms” (Perry, Cain)
  18. “Mother, Father” (Perry, N. Schon, Cain, Matthew Schon)

Time 3

  1. “La Raza Del Sol” (B-side of “Still They Ride”, previously unreleased – alternate version) (Perry, Cain)
  2. “Only Solutions” (from the film Tron) (Perry, N. Schon, Cain)
  3. “Liberty” (previously unreleased) (Perry, N. Schon, Cain)
  4. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” (Perry, Cain)
  5. Send Her My Love” (Perry, Cain)
  6. Faithfully” (Cain)
  7. After the Fall” (Perry, Cain)
  8. “All That Really Matters” (previously unreleased, lead vocals by Jonathan Cain) (N. Schon, Cain)
  9. “The Eyes of a Woman” (Perry, N. Schon, Cain)
  10. “Why Can’t This Night Go on Forever” (Perry, Cain)
  11. “Once You Love Somebody” (Perry, N. Schon, Cain)
  12. “Happy to Give” (Perry, Cain)
  13. Be Good to Yourself” (Perry, N. Schon, Cain)
  14. Only the Young” (from the film Vision Quest) (Perry, N. Schon, Cain)
  15. “Ask the Lonely” (from the film Two of a Kind) (Perry, Cain)
  16. “With a Tear” (instrumental; previously unreleased) (Perry, N. Schon, Cain)
  17. “Into Your Arms” (instrumental; previously unreleased) (Perry, N. Schon, Cain)
  18. Girl Can’t Help It” (previously unreleased – live video mix) (Perry, N. Schon, Cain)
  19. I’ll Be Alright Without You” (previously unreleased – live video mix) (Perry, N. Schon, Cain)


Line-up / Musicians

Neal Schon – guitars
Steve Smith – drums
Steve Perry – vocals
Ross Valory – bass
Greg Rolie – keyboards
Jonathan Cain – keyboards
Aynsley Dunbar – drums
George Tickner – guitars

Companies, etc.

Credits

Notes
Released: December 1, 1992
Recorded: May 1976 – August 1985
Genre: Progressive rock, hard rock
Length: 73:39 (Disc 1)
76:31 (Disc 2)
78:21 (Disc 3)

Label – Columbia/Sony

Tuesday, 19 April 2022

Journey - Evolution (1979)

posted by record facts

Evolution is the fifth studio album by American rock band Journey. Released in April 5, 1979 on Columbia Records, it is their first album to feature drummer Steve Smith.It was the band's most successful album at that time, charting at No. 20 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It has sold three million copies in the US. 
They retained Roy Thomas Baker (best known for his work with Queen) as producer, but drummer Aynsley Dunbar was replaced with Smith, formerly with Ronnie Montrose's band.
Evolution features their first top 20 hit, "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'", which was inspired by the classic Sam Cooke top 20 hit "Nothin' Can Change This Love" and reached No. 16 in the US. 
"Just the Same Way" featured original lead vocalist Gregg Rolie along with Steve Perry

With the platinum triumph of Infinity still ringing in their ears like coins in a slot machine, Journey was now committed to completing their transformation from jazz fusion/prog rock mavens into arena rock superstars with their fifth album, 1979's Evolution
This transition (also clearly illustrated by the futuristic insect gracing each album cover henceforth) would not come without its growing pains, however, and while producer Roy Thomas Baker was back for a second go-round, original drummer Aynsley Dunbar would be the first casualty of the band's new direction. 
Thankfully, former Ronnie Montrose skin-beater Steve Smith soon brought his college-trained jazz fusion background to the table, and the band was ready to get back to work. 
If Infinity had defined a new songwriting formula for the act, Evolution only served to develop it and streamlined it further, clearly qualifying as their strongest effort to date and endearing the band to millions of FM rock listeners in the process. 
With commercial rock hits like "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" (their first single to crack the Top 20), "Too Late" (which reached number 70), and the powerful "Just the Same Way" (which peaked at number 58) leading the way to radio dominance, Journey had never sounded stronger or more determined. 
And with Steve Perry's tenor pipes now clearly driving the band's engine, and guitarist Neal Schon beginning to relish in his guitar-hero persona, Journey could seemingly do no wrong. Evolution quickly became the band's biggest-selling album, and Perry and co. soon embarked on yet another mammoth tour.


Track listing

1.  Majestic (Instrumental) - 1:16 
2.  Too Late - 2:58 
3.  Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' - 3:55 
4.  City of the Angels - 3:12 
5.  When You're Alone (It Ain't Easy) - 3:10 
6.  Sweet and Simple - 4:13 
7.  Lovin' You Is Easy - 3:38 
8.  Just the Same Way - 3:18 
9.  Do You Recall - 3:13 
10.  Daydream - 4:42 
11.  Lady Luck - 3:35 


Journey

Production
  • Roy Thomas Baker – producer, mixing
  • Geoff Workman – engineer
  • George Tutko – second engineer
  • Greg Schafer – production manager
  • Larry Noggle, Jim Welch – package design
  • Alton Kelley, Stanley Mouse – cover art
  • Sam Emerson – back cover photography, liner photography
  • Hiro Ito – liner photography
  • Pat Morrow – liner notes
  • Herbie Herbert – management

Notes
Released:  5 April 1979 
Recorded:  October – November 1978 Studio Cherokee, Los Angeles 
Genre:  Arena rock
Length:  37:10 

Label - Columbia

Thursday, 18 June 2020

Journey - Revelation (2CD) (2008)

Revelation is the thirteenth studio album by American rock band Journey, and their first with lead singer Arnel Pineda.
It features 11 new songs ("Faith in the Heartland" was previously recorded with Steve Augeri), 11 re-recorded greatest hits (all featuring Pineda) and a DVD (North American version only) featuring the current lineup's March 8, 2008 concert in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Three singles penned by Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain were released to radio: the distinctively Journey-sounding "Never Walk Away," "Where Did I Lose Your Love," and the power ballad "After All These Years."

If you haven’t been keeping track of this kind of stuff, let me begin by saying that the new Journey release “Revelation” finds the band stronger than ever with their new and fourth singer. Yes, I did say fourth, as Steve Perry left for good after the brief touring for “Trial By Fire” and was replaced by Steve Augeri. He would record two albums with the band before blowing out his voice and finding himself replaced by former Yngwie Malmsteen front man Jeff Scott Soto, who after the cited “musical differences” was replaced by newcomer Arnel Pineda. Are you still with me? Good, let’s continue along then. According to press, Arnel was found on YouTube.com singing Journey covers with his band and the voice he demonstrated having made the bands hierarchy decide that he was the perfect person for the role. The new album would be a colossal effort that was sure to impress even the most doubting of fans who wonder how the group can continue in good conscious without Perry or even Augeri. To those people I have to say when you get an earful of how Arnel sings you will be impressed enough to give the guy a chance. With “Revelation” the band has chosen to not only give you a full album of new music, but also an additional CD of re-recorded, or “re-visited” classic numbers as done by the bands roster of 2008 and a full length concert DVD that covers both worlds. Given the scope of the release I have broken it down into a few sections to make more sense of it.

CD1: “The New Album”:
I have read a lot of bulletin boards and sites that are all incensed about the band moving on without Steve Perry and to them I say “get over it” as the singer made his decision years ago and a band cannot be expected to sit waiting idly for any one member to decide what the fate of the whole band is to be. I admit that this sounds rather tough but it should be noted that I was a huge Perry fan. Moving on I had to admit that I found issue with the way Steve Augeri was dismissed and I never got to enjoy them with Soto which I would have liked the chance to do yet it was not time to review the past but instead see just how this new guy Arnel would work within the structure of one of the world’s greatest bands. To be brutally honest I can say to everyone who is wondering about it themselves that he is absolutely fantastic. His pitch, his range, and the overall inflections of his voice on the bands newest material make songs like “Never Walk Away” and “Faith In The Heartland” instantly affects you and become your newest favorites from the group. Musically this is a big sounding release and one that can be considered a true successor to the blockbuster “Frontiers” if one needed to draw a comparison. I had no problems with “Raised On Radio” but to some that was only a so-so album. Schon never ceases to amaze me with his abilities on the guitar and while I had at one time pined for Steve Smith on the drums I am sure glad that Deen Castronovo is on board because he not only rocks as a drummer but is a powerful vocalist in his own right. The album is strong in its song-writing all around and probably would have done well as a single disc release based on the aforementioned tracks and other winners like “Where Did I Lose Your Love” and “Wildest Dream”. There is am ample supply of quality rockers here as well as the touching ballad that the band perfected with their classics “Faithfully” and “Open Arms” so long ago. “After All These Years” is the track that continues the bands success in delivering such a moving number. As soon as the first CD completed, I ran it through once again and then loaded it onto my Zune Player so I could listen to it all the more while running errands or travelling to work. They could have ended it here but instead opted for the revisiting of their hits.

CD2: “Classics Re-Recorded”:
 Only The Young, Don’t Stop Believin’, Wheel In The Sky, Faithfully, Any Way You Want It, Who’s Crying Now, Separate Ways (World’s Apart), Lights, Open Arms, Be Good To Yourself, Stone In Love.
*** Depending on your mindset or the overall level of curiosity about Arnel and how he sings might have you playing the second CD before the first to see. However, if you are one who truly started at the beginning you would have most likely listened to what I am calling “Chapter 1” of the new release first and while impressed with the music and vocals on it, probably found yourself saying “yeah this new guy is good but how will he handle the older classics that I love so much”. If this was your question then I can once again say that he would handle these numbers like the most seasoned professional and not only mesh perfectly with melodies you have known for ages, but also do the songs justice with numerous levels of true respect for their legendary status. The second CD is one that might be hard for the hesitant ones to take since the perception given by a band who re-records their songs is that they are moving on from what you know and loved but I think in this case they wanted to give you an idea of what to expect from them in concert. I liked how they chose to give you a full CD of this material as opposed to just a handful of tracks. Arnel clearly hits all the right notes as he delivers “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Separate Ways” with apparent ease and even goes way back into the bands catalog for “Lights’ and “Wheel In The Sky” (two personal favorites of my own). They would have really sold me faster had they included “Lovin, Touchin’, Squeezin’” or “Still They Ride” but in truth they couldn’t re-record every single number they had to please everyone. Despite that small reservation I was really, really impressed and will let you know that I was one of those fans who chose to play this CD first as opposed to their new songs. The re-do’s are not much different from the originals in the musical sense and all of them find Schon, Cain, Vallory and Castronovo playing at their best.


Disc 1
1. "Never Walk Away"  (Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Jeremey Hunsicker) - 4:19
2. "Like a Sunshower"  (Schon, Cain) - 4:29
3. "Change for the Better"  (Schon, Cain) - 5:52
4. "Wildest Dream"  (Schon,  Cain) - 5:02
5. "Faith in the Heartland" (original version from Generations, 2005)  (Schon, Cain, Steve Augeri) - 6:18
6. "After All These Years"  (Schon, Cain) - 4:10
7. "Where Did I Lose Your Love"  (Schon, Cain) - 5:02
8. "What I Needed"  (Schon, Cain, Arnel Pineda) - 5:28
9. "What It Takes to Win"  (Cain, Schon) - 5:23
10. "Turn Down the World Tonight"  (Cain, Schon) - 4:56
11. "The Journey (Revelation)" (Instrumental)  (Schon) - 5:25
12. "Let It Take You Back" (bonus track on the European and Mexican releases)  (Cain, Schon) - 4:59
13. "The Place in Your Heart" (bonus track on the Japanese release; original version from Generations, 2005)  (Schon, Cain) - 4:45

Disc 2 (Re-recordings featuring Arnel Pineda)
1. "Only the Young" (original version from Vision Quest soundtrack, 1985)  (Cain, Schon, Steve Perry) - 4:14
2. "Don't Stop Believin'" (original version from Escape, 1981)  (Cain, Schon, Perry) - 4:55
3. "Wheel in the Sky" (original version from Infinity, 1978)  (Schon, Diane Valory, Robert Fleischman) - 5:01
4. "Faithfully" (original version from Frontiers, 1983)  (Cain) - 4:47
5. "Any Way You Want It" (original version from Departure, 1980)  (Schon, Perry) - 3:25
6. "Who's Crying Now" (original version from Escape, 1981)  (Cain, Perry) - 5:16
7. "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" (original version from Frontiers, 1983)  (Cain, Perry) - 5:27
8. "Lights" (original version from Infinity, 1978)  (Schon, Perry) - 3:16
9. "Open Arms" (original version from Escape, 1981)  (Cain, Perry) - 3:22
10. "Be Good to Yourself" (original version from Raised on Radio, 1986)  (Schon, Cain, Perry) - 4:29
11. "Stone in Love" (original version from Escape, 1981)  (Schon, Cain, Perry) - 4:27

Journey
Production
  • Kevin Shirley – producer, mixing
  • John Neff – engineer
  • Justin Pintar – mixing assistant
  • George Marino – mastering

Notes   
Released:  June 3, 2008 
Recorded:  2008 Studio The Plant in Sausalito, California 
Genre:  Hard rock, arena rock 
Length:  (Disc 1): 66:08
              (Disc 2): 48:39 

Label - Nomota LLC (US) / Frontiers (Europe) / Universal (rest of Asia)