Journey – Greatest Hits (1988/2001) [SACD / Columbia – CS 44493]

Journey - Greatest Hits (1988/2001)

Title: Journey – Greatest Hits (1988/2001)
Genre: Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Journey’s Greatest Hits contains 16 track including the hits, “Don t Stop Believin’” and “Lights”. The Late ’70s saw Journey become one of the most successful recording and touring acts in the U.S. Evolution and Departure were instant classics,each going instantly Platinum and yielding hits like “Lovin’, Touchin’,Squeezin” and “Any Way You Want it”. The group also recorded it s classic Escape, which has sold over 9 million copies. The ’80s were dominated by Journey albums Frontiers, Raised On Radio, and today Greatest Hits is constantly in the top of catalog album charts.

Greatest Hits is an excellent, thorough 14-track collection containing all of Journey’s big hits, from 1978’s “Wheel in the Sky” to 1986’s “I’ll Be Alright Without You.” Although the songs aren’t presented in chronological order and a handful of minor hits (“Suzanne,” “Walks Like a Lady”) aren’t included, it doesn’t matter, since every essential Journey single — “Only the Young,” “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Any Way You Want It,” “Separate Ways,” “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’,” “Open Arms,” “Send Her My Love” — is here, which means that it’s all most casual fans will ever need.

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2 min read

Journey – Escape (1981) [Reissue 1999] [SACD / Columbia – CS 67722]

Journey - Escape (1981) [Reissue 1999]

Title: Journey – Escape (1981) [Reissue 1999]
Genre: Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

They hit #1 with this 1981 smash, one of the definitive ’80s rock albums. This plays like a greatest-hits collection, with Who’s Crying Now; Don’t Stop Believin’; Open Arms, and Still They Ride. Escape was a groundbreaking album for San Francisco’s Journey, charting three singles inside Billboard’s Top Ten, with “Don’t Stop Believing” reaching number nine, “Who’s Crying Now” number four, and “Open Arms” peaking at number two and holding there for six weeks. Escape flung Journey steadfastly into the AOR arena, combining Neal Schon’s grand yet palatable guitar playing with Jonathan Cain’s blatant keyboards. All this was topped off by the passionate, wide-ranged vocals of Steve Perry, who is the true lifeblood of this album, and this band. The songs on Escape are more rock-flavored, with more hooks and a harder cadence compared to their former sound. “Who’s Crying Now” spotlights the sweeping fervor of Perry’s voice, whose theme about the ups and downs of a relationship was plentiful in Journey’s repertoire. With “Don’t Stop Believing,” the whisper of Perry’s ardor is crept up to with Schon’s searing electric guitar work, making for a perfect rock song. One of rock’s most beautiful ballads, “Open Arms,” gleams with an honesty and feel only Steve Perry could muster. Outside of the singles, there is a certain electricity that circulates through the rest of the album. The songs are timeless, and as a whole, they have a way of rekindling the innocence of youthful romance and the rebelliousness of growing up, built from heartfelt songwriting and sturdy musicianship.

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2 min read