Journey - 1975...Im impressed!

Juneau · #1 01-05-2007, 08:20 AM

Ok, so I have always been a Journey fan - I think Steve Perry has one of the greatest voices ever personally. And I always thought they had top notch musicians playing with them. Well I was reading about their first couple albums, before Perry, and decided to check out their debut album Journey from 1975. Wow...I couldnt have been more shocked. It sounds absolutely nothing like later incarnations of the band. I absolutely love it. Its very much like Traffic, or early Rush, Blind Faith all that type of stuff.

Anyhow, if you are or arent a 'pop' Journey fan, go check out this record if you dig classic rock, prog rock, fusion rock or any of the like.

On a side note, I never thought Ross Valory was anything great as a bassist - very competent with Steve Miller of course - but nothing very stand-outish. He really shines though in this record.

McHack · #2 01-05-2007, 08:51 AM

I liked Journey until they replaced Greg Rollie w/ Jonathan Cain...

Juneau · #3 01-05-2007, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua

Journey is one of my "guilty pleasures". Neal Schon is one of my fave rock guitarists...

Im with ya Josh, I dont often share Im a Journey fan hehe.

these_go211 · #4 01-05-2007, 09:38 AM

yes.....uh....i too am i closet journey fan. but oh the horrors, i actually like the escape album! *gasp*

i've heard their earlier incarnations were much much different. you've just given me another confirmation of that. i'll need to check this out. neal schon is amazing. i remember being in disbelief when i found out that "that guy in the band that plays the song "lights"" is the same guy that was in santana's orginal band. seriously, i thought my friend was kidding about that.

Juneau · #5 01-05-2007, 09:42 AM

Neil Schon (guitar) and Greg Rollie (vocals and organ) were both members of Santana's original band actually.

Check their Wikipedia entry, pretty interesting read

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journey_%28band%29

Oh and I like Escape a lot, I was just amazed to find out this started out as a COMEPLETLY different band than what it ended up being. I was glad to like the original incarnation so much

Foamy · #6 01-05-2007, 09:48 AM

Back in the day, when that was new, they used to call it "Progressive Rock". I remember having to wait until some time like late Friday or Saturday night to hear it on KSJO in San Jose.
Yeah...Look Into The Future. Wow!!!
Enjoy!

James Hart · #7 01-05-2007, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua

Journey is one of my "guilty pleasures". Neal Schon is one of my fave rock guitarists...

I just tracked down and acquired a new copy on CD of H.S.A.S.

as for Journey.... I can vividly remember listening to this on 8-track with all the other kids from my neighborhood late nights in the summer after all the folks were in bed

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7jqYplj4cCA

and forget Geddy.... this is why I wanted a Steinberger so badly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6Lz3aW1BKg

and Steve Smith is a friggin MONSTER!

lug · #8 01-05-2007, 12:25 PM

For Neal Schon fans, check out the first Neal Schon/Jan Hammer album, Untold Passion, great stuff. The second one was a bit weak, though.

MysticMichael · #9 01-05-2007, 01:34 PM

Yeah, I remember the first Journey album when it was released. In fact, I remember that entire period vividly. It was the tail end of the progressive rock era, and I was pleased to discover a new band that I thought would satisfy my progressive yearnings...

It was a disappointment to me when they soon began to go mainstream, so it took me awhile to appreciate their new direction - not that they didn't write good material and perform it with style. But just because the material itself was going in the direction of all that generic AOR & arena rock that was already becoming so overdone (i.e. Styx, Boston, etc.). At least they never came close to sounding like Foreigner...

MM

MonetBass · #10 01-05-2007, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hart

I just tracked down and acquired a new copy on CD of H.S.A.S.

OK -- SHARE! Where'd you track that down?? I've been looking for that on CD. Had it on vinyl, but have no idea where it wound up.

**Edit** Never mind, found it on Amazon! Must... buy...
BTW that album was recorded LIVE. Scary.

Quote:

and Steve Smith is a friggin MONSTER!

Agreed. No question.

And Neil Schon is one of the most melodic guitarists ever. When I was learning guitar at 16, I loved playing his lines.

All of their albums up to and including Escape are very good.

James Hart · #11 01-05-2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OKStateBass66

**Edit** Never mind, found it on Amazon! Must... buy...
BTW that album was recorded LIVE. Scary.

I've got 3 other replacements from my youth coming from a different shop via Amazon...

David & David -"Boomtown"
The Firm -self titled
The Firm -"Mean Business"

My Firm stuff is actually cassette ripped to my computer so I really have been needing to buy them on actual CD and I'd been hunting for David & David as long as HSAS.... I got lucky the other week and found both.

Those of you who are saying "Who?" remember this almost one hit wonder circa 1986 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4sd2qocxNA

The rest of the album is even better than the 'hit' IMO.

jerry · #12 01-05-2007, 08:41 PM

I have the Firm on CD, and the sound quality is not that great. Maybe they remastered them since I bought mine.

+ 1, on the old Journey. I never could understand how Perry got away with firing guys that were in the band before he was.

MonetBass · #13 01-06-2007, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hart

David & David -"Boomtown"

One of my favorite 80's tunes. Great song. Thanks for taking me down memory lane!