Journeys first three albums may be some of the MOST underrated in rock history. Just my own personal opinion. I think they blended pop, jazz fusion and prog rock super well❤️
Those first 3 albums were 4 great players at their best. The arrival of Perry was a complete departure. A great move for them but it started the issues that would halt their career.
@@survivorxjourneyfan1189 Survivor and Journey were my first fave bands, therefore you have impeccable taste as do I. Listen again to Journey's first LP. Of a Lifetime, Mystery Mountain, to Play some Music - the entire LP is fantastic. Maybe try listening to it in the dark with headphones on. Five incredible musicians, and the best drumming you'll ever hear from Aynsley Dunbar.
Yes, Infinity. Not too many metalheads and hard rockers who don’t like Journey. They made radio tolerable, and a joy when played. The ladies, oh my goodness...
Ive been listening to music and going to concerts crystal palace garden party , the oval , Reading knebworth since i was 14 years old (in the uk) all types of music and then i lost touch somewhere in the late eighties so this channel is re introducing me (at last) to the music that passed me by ..this channel is worth its weight in gold ..thanks pete ..love the work you are doing
Top 3 Live Albums of All Time (Born 1973) 3): UFO- Strangers In The Night 2): Thin Lizzy- Live And Dangerous 1): Journey - Captured An absoltely Live Album Tour De Force!
0): Iron Maiden - Rock in Rio -1): Kiss - Alive! -2): Deep Purple - Made in Japan -3): Scorpions - Tokyo Tapes -4): Iron Maiden - Live After Death .... :P
I just want to thank you for your Europe video. I had no idea those guys were still around. After watching your Europe video I searched RUclips for some of their more recent music and what I heard knocked my socks off. . . . I was so impressed that I have now ordered two of their more recent albums on Amazon
Great video, Pete. The Gregg Rolie / Steve Perry shared vocals on the Infinity / Evolution / Departure as just superb. I feel there was a drop-off when Cain came into the band, and we lost those harmonies. Those albums - Escape / Frontiers / Raised on Radio - are very poppy, and Gregg's presence is missed.....
Brent Uptain Excellent point. I never followed them too hard, but the Rollie/Perry songs were on the radio when I was young, and those have a place in my heart.
but you got to remember Greg was burned out he didn't want to tour anyone to start a family and he literally walked away from music for years just like Bob Seger did to raise a family.
@@truckerkevthepaidtourist I've heard more recently that Gregg felt he was going to be replaced. I have heard of Steve Perry saying something along the lines of they've taken this sound as far as it'll go.
@@Geerladenlad no check out the interviews from the last couple of years since he joined Ringo Starr's All Stars with Steve lukather and more. read some of those great interviews from about three to four years with Greg. he tells all about what happened with Charlie there were no hard feelings it was all alcohol-related he was burning out.
YES YES YES Thank You So Much Pete been waiting for you to rank these Journey albums AND on Neal Schon’s BIRTHDAY He’s 66 TODAY February 27th...Jonathan Cain was 70 yesterday 😎😀👍👈
Yeah Eclipse. I agree with you. Very exciting album. You have to hear it!!! - But my absolutly favourite Journey album is Captured. I know it's a live tune, but it blows me away, everytime I hear it. Such a strong live performance. And I say it in Pete's words: Both voices of Greg Rollie & Steve Perry are amazing for this music.
Awesome video Pete, I really enjoyed this one. I'm so glad you gave props to the early stuff ...1st 4 albums will always be my favorites. . Love that you mentioned Of a lifetime and Topaz. And of course Winds of March, the solo in that just kills. Huge fan of the early instrumental stuff, Conversations, Nickel and Dime, Kohutek , OMG!
My #1 Favourite Journey Album is Evolution from 1979! The 1st Journey CD I bought! My cousin bought it brand new on 8-Track Tape Cartridge! After my cousin played it for me, I was hooked! All Songs on it Rocks and Kicks Ass! An Excellent Album from the beginning right through to the end! Very Cool Album with the Guitar Riffs of Neal Schon, Keyboards, Bass, Drums, and the Vocals of Steve Perry and Gregg Rollie! 🤘👍😎
Pete: I love your lists. I totally agree most of the time. Journey is my favorite bamd of all. And Infinity is my favorite album. Evolution and Departure too. And the first 3. Like you outlined, the period with Gregg Rolie was the best one. Ps: Winds of march is one of my favorite song too. You have a great taste. 😀😀😀
Took me awhile to be able to draw a comparison but I've finally figured it out. Your ranking vids hit me the same way Behind The Music used to-they make me care about bands I really don't/didn't pay attention to previously. Thanks for all you do man!
Infinity is my favorites, as well. While I recognize how good the first three albums are, I just can’t get into them as much as the Perry/Rolle era of the band. I also wonder what would have happened had the band further explored the Jeff Scott Soto direction.....
I truly appreciate how open minded you are. You're a hard rock/metal afficanado, yet you have so much love for Journey. If people only knew what a stellar body of work they created beyond their radio staples. What a jammin' band, just stocked with virtuoso musicians. I'll be sure to give Pineda's work a closer listen. I confess, I tuned out after Trial By Fire. I shouldn't have.
I bought INFINITY in 78 winter time. The cover made me buy it. Dropped the needle on Side 1....been mesmerized ever since. Hadn't heard not one note by them til then. Frontiers to me is the pinnacle album to my heart. Evolution's DAYDREAM is by far my fave Journey song of ALL TIME! Good job Sir! Very cool ranking video. thank you. Looking forward to THE BABYS' ranking! Fly by my window!!
Arnel Pineda debut was in my country almost 12 years ago in Viña del mar (The festival is schedueld in the last week of february)...I was jaw dropped by his vocal skills. And the band carries on and on Great video man! Great podium!!!!!
Wow I reeeeaaaallllyyyy enjoyed your breakdown. Had such a good time listening. Thanks and keep up the good work. Your music passion flies out of the screen!
FANTASTIC List! LOVE the rankings here. Such an underrated band...much more than just "pop"...especially the early stuff. So wish their newer stuff would get more attention! So agree about Rolie and Perry's vocals...just a perfect pair!
I am an 80s kid that loved that period of the band, but in my later years I’ve gone back to their 70s prog/jazzy period…and I love it a lot! Definitely more complex their later stuff, but still really quality. I think Journey Time3 is one of the best “Greatest Hits” albums ever because they include that stuff!
Great list man, one of my favorite bands. You pulled thoughts right out of my head so many times on this one starting with the Pic on the back of Trial. . . and the duet style of Rolie and Perry and the amazing post-Santana stuff. This was a great way to spend 25 mins. . . thanks!
Got a chance to see Journey open for ELP in 1977-got to hear those 1st 3 Albums live and they were incredible! Then they brought out Robert Fleishman who they were considering as a new vocalist and he sang a new song at that time which was "Wheel in the Sky" which was a song that he had co-wrote. Well i guess that didnt work out for the band so in comes Steve Perry and the rest is history
Journey is my second favorite band, love their music. They don't have a bad album, but for me Frontiers and Trial by Fire are my favorite albums. I also love the cover art for Trial by Fire.
Great ranking!!, basically i don't agree with the most of your ranking but it's your opinion so i respect that. My ranking is 14.Arrival 13.Journey 12.Next 11.Generations 10.Trial by fire 9.Look into the future 8.Eclipse 7.Departure 6.Raised on radio 5.Revelation 4.Frontiers 3.Evolution 2.Infinity 1.Esape Obviously i love all the albums,such an amazing band.
Jeff be sure to check out the RUclips video of In my lonely feeling/Conversations from Winterland in 1974. Video not too great but the sound is awesome. Neal plays it to perfection...
Loved all the albums that had Greg Rolie on it. After he left the rawness of the production went away with him. The albums with J. Cain were so heavy handed on the production. To me they sounded sterile and way too shiny and processed. Love the first six though (especially the self titled)
My first Journey song < Spaceman from Next. It started there for me on this AMAZING band. So many personal memories for me in my life listening and playing to Journey. In my opinion,- there is not a bad egg in their entire catalog. Thanks Pete for the rankings. 1.Infinity 2.Evolution 3.Escape 4.Next 5. Departure 6.Frontiers 7. Revelations 8. Eclipse 9.Raised on Radio 10.Look Into The Future 11.Journey 12.Generation 13.Arrival 14.Trial By Fire 15.Dream After Dream
Always glad to hear those pre-Steve Perry albums get some love. That debut album especially is awesome. Dude, if you ever do an episode where you go heavily into a band's history and discuss their music in depth, I could probably help you fill out a couple of hours or so about this band's history.
I Know that “Dream After Dream” is a soundtrack but some of the stuff on there is the perfect melding of pre Perry Journey and the bountiful gains that the band acquired with the addition of Perry. In some ways I can see it as a “step back” from where they currently were, but man there was interesting stuff on that record. It deserved to be included on your list. Great stuff as always.
I remember getting into Journey around the same time I was getting into prog rock and AOR in my mid 20's. At the time I was a huge hard rock and metal fan, I was coming out of a phase where I had been listening to metal non stop from age 14-24. I remember hearing "Edge of the blade" on a rock radio station here in the UK, and I was pretty blown away because I didn't know Journey rocked that hard and hadn't really paid much attention to them outside of a couple of big hits that I knew. Now I'm very much into Journey. Does anybody else have a similar story?
Grew up on hard rock/metal bands like AC/DC, Metallica, GnR. I discovered Journey and became a hardcore AOR fan, then I fell in love with other genres.
Great video the early Santana fusion is great too... Infinity and Evolution are great hard rock Picked up Infinity in 1978 music was great back then...
I just discovered this channel and what a video to start off with! I'm a HUGE Journey fan and I cant wait to delve into some of these albums that I'm not as familiar with(the newer stuff w/Arnel). I absolutely love "Of a Lifetime" and need to go back and listen to that first album again soon. My top five: 1. Infinity 2. Next 3. Escape 4. Evolution 5. Departure
I agree. I could not get into the Steve Perry version of Journey. As a promotion the record store near me gave the debut album free to certain customers. I was lucky enough to get one. I loved that first Journey album and I also saw that version live opening for ELP. I think I was one of the few who knew who they were and also knew the songs.
Great video Pete. I agree, "After All These Years" would have been a monster hit if released in the 80's. Thanks for all the work you put into compiling these lists.
Classic Rock fans in general seem to forget that Journey already released three albums before Steve Perry joined. Greg Rollie was doing the vocals back then. None of these are weak albums, but by far 'Next' is the best IMO. In fact, it has four of my all-time Journey favourites that can stand next to the best material of their later career. 'Hustler" is savage and very fast, like it's one of Hard Rock's early assists to the Metal genre in creating Speed Metal. 'Spaceman' is a smooth and beautiful Classic Rock track with strong, soothing yet somewhat melancholic sounding vocal melodies. 'I will find you' sounds dramatic and with its slow pace and its rather dark atmosphere and quite heavy sounding guitars, it even has proto-Doom tendencies. 'Nickel and a Dime' is a captivating, energetic instrumental with strong guitar riffs and stellar performances from all musicians, something to be admired both from a technical as well as aesthetic standpoint. And throughout the entire album Rollie, while not having a voice as distinct as Perry's (then again, who has?), proves to be a good vocalist.
Great video Pete as always.im a metal fan but I could put on any journey album and listen to it all the way through. Top 5 are infinity,evolution ,departure,escape, and frontiers.
Yeah he usually lists albums from the mid-eighties near the bottom of his rankings... unless it's Whitesnake. I agree with you. I'd probably rank Raised On Radio just behind Frontiers as my top two Journey albums!
I really like Trial by Fire. There’s a lot of slow burn affect songs that sounds better the more you listen to them. And I felt like the band and production were taking more chances
i totally agree,........too long????no such thing,....you get an album every 5 /10 years....60 minute album is fine...and who the hell is Neal "SHONE"????............"SHONE"??....even Neal pronounces his last name of Schon....as "SHAWN"..........and Steve AW-GARY????......AW-JERRY....oh geez
My list is pretty much the same Infinity and the debut (love the proggy- jazz..topaz is my favorite track)..evolution, departure, escape, frontiers are all interchangeable....i also love the song "only the young", which may be on a greatest hits or compilation, but I have none of those.....always loved the album covers too
saw journey in central park around the time of 'look into the future'...it was a daytime gig and it was cool, although i've never been a big journey fan...however having said that, i think their current lead singer does a fantastic job and you did a tremendous job describing each and every album...very well done my friend...peace always...rocky
Spot on! Journey is one of those bands you’ll love even much more as you revisit each album. Some of the most amazing vocal performances by Steve Perry are on songs most people have never heard.
For me Trial By Fire is their best album. Very good melodies , songs after songs. And i just think Steve Perry voice never sounded better , fuller and richer. I have all their albums and I mostly listen to Trial By Fire.
Thank you for getting me into Journey. Before I saw this video and tested the waters, I thought they were just straight up hair metal. How wrong I was.
Hey Pete here is my top ten Journey Albums; 1. Infinity 2.First album 3.Frontiers 4.Escape 5.Look into the Future 6.Evolution 7.Departure 8.Eclipse 9.Next 10.Raised on Radio As usual hard to rate all of their albums but especially loved those first 3 albums. Thanks for Journey Pete. 4.
Frontiers and Escape are my favorites. The best Journey songs for me are Faithfully, Edge of the blade, Only the young, Be good to yourself, Wheel in the sky and Stone in love.
Favorite Journey songs In the Morning Day, Topaz, Kohoutek, To Play Some Music, Karma, Spaceman, Nickel and Dime, City of The Angels, Do You Recall, Just The Same Way, Feeling that way/Anytime,Too Late, Stone In Love,Mother,Father,Rubicon,Back Talk I love quite a few of the newer material but don't know the titles as well as older Journey songs burned in my mind
Last to first: Trial by Fire, Generations, Arrival, Revelation, Eclipse, Look into The Future,Next, S/T ,Raised on Radio, Departure, Frontiers, Evolution, Escape, Infinity. So many great memories listening to Journey. Thank you for doing this.
Pete, very timely list today as it is Neal Schon's birthday when this was posted. Your bottom of the list would match mine. I probably would have put "Raised on Radio" at the bottom and my main reason was that Steve Perry had fired the rhythm section of Valory and Smith for the recording of the album and Steve Smith is one of my all-time favorite drummers. "Trial by Fire" starts off strong and then fizzles from all the songs. The "Revelation" album as Arnel's debut is such a great album. As a 80's teenager, the "Escape" and "Frontiers" albums are very special to me. I love how you placed "Infinity" as your #1. When I saw that it was Neal Schon's birthday today, I decided to listen to some Journey music and I went to "Infinity" first mostly because of "Feeling that Way" and into "Anytime" Great video. Thanks Pete.
I really enjoyed this one Pete. Excellent analysis and presentation of a great band. You have a very interesting list here. I prefer Augeri to Pineda for some odd reason though. Very cool!
That's the problem with radio; they play the same old song to many time until you're sick of them, which results in you not wanting to have anything to do with said band. That's was my problem with Journey. I only own one Journey album and that's your #1 Steve: Infinity. Thankfully, RUclips has come to the rescue, allowing me to check out their catalog. Their new stuff I'm not much into. The older stuff; yes. Hopefully, Infinity will not remain an orphan for much longer. Thanks Pete. Great vlog.
Although our rankings differ, an excellent overview of the band's material. I would have also included "Dream after Dream", a rare but notable soundtrack album, released just prior to Escape. It's by far one of the best Journey albums!
Really great job I'm so happy to hear you say all of this about Journey because they are way more then people give them credit for and that's why they're in the Hall of Fame and not because of Don't Stop Believing song. What is a shame is that they were not chosen this year for the rock and roll songwriters Hall of Fame. They were nominated and did not get inducted and I was really shocked. Oh but that's right we're not supposed to talk about the Hall of Fame. LOL sorry about that.
I'm one of those that only knows the Perry years. They were roller rink music when I was a teen so I didn't pursue further. That said, thanks to this, I will look into the older stuff now as I've always been a "B"side type of guy. Look forward to exploring them further, it will be new to me. Thanks for the video!!
Another great vid! I agree with your ranking and was so excited to see the first 3 getting so much love. Most people overlook them because Perry wasn't there, but they are amazing. One album that I would love included but couldn't be because it's an EP is Red 13. Also, for those that haven't picked up Revelation there is a live DVD included that has an amazing version of Mother Father with Deen singing.
'Infinity' is one of those albums that I always need to listen to in its entirety. Such a great LP and it was my first time hearing them via Columbia House Record Club back in the 1970's, so, it's a personal favorite.
Totally agree with your top 10 Pete although I'd tweak the order a bit. First three albums amazing music. Such great songwriters in the late 70s early 80s and the Arnel albums underrated. Departure would be slightly higher simply because it contains the wonderful Precious Time. Keep up the excellent work
been a Journey fan since the 70's and I am not ashamed... Pete, you are so correct in the fact that when people say Journey sucks, it's because they have never heard the vast majority of the songs the band has...
Interesting....Raised on Radio....Schon's awesome guitar licks and solo's along with that tone...Randy Jackson brought some funk to the Band as well as Nashville Great...Elvis' Drummer Larrie Londin.....SOLID. Totally different texture to the Band....Unorthodox Journey....One of my favs.....Top 3 for me.....Another good show Pete...Rock On!
Raised on Radio is my personal favourite Journey Album I love every song on it. I think Journey really demonstrated their technical prowess on that album, the production is impeccable and still holds up to this day, where as some of the other albums show their age in terms of production quality.
Thank You. I am glad that someone besides me, thinks Infinity is Journey's best album. Start to finish, such a great album. BTW My friend is a rock fan, and not that big of a Journey fan. My friend only knew their radio hit songs. So one day, I played Infinity on my car radio. He was blown away!!! " I need to get that album. I need to get that album." That is all that he would say after he heard it. I had Infinity on Casette tape and CD. So, I gave him it on casette. He was so happy and to say he liked Infinity album, was a understatement. Thank You.
Excellent choice Pete, Infinity is my fave album of all time.. The vocals on that album are the best I have ever heard on a rock album and the song writing is amazing.
My absolute favorite era of Journey is Infinity,Evolution and Departure. I NEVER get tired of hearing them. Then I discovered the first 3 Journey albums before Steve Perry and was blown away. No wonder it was Steve Perry’s dream to sing with this band. They were magical together. Been a MEGA fan for 40 years. I will love this band forever. The music they made together is timeless.
Departure was my first exposure to Journey, too. It was one of the few albums that my older brother had in his collection (along with Kiss, Ted Nugent and Cheap Trick) that he passed on to me. The shotgun blast sound effect in "Line of Fire" is ahead of its time! Interesting you left out Dream, After Dream which I guess is pretty obscure and wasn't really meant for the US market. I'd like to see you rank the Cheap Trick albums, and the AC/DC albums if you haven't already.
The third one Next is the one. First three are great. I love the jazz rock. If I had only known it in the past. I play a good blues guitar and that sound is what makes me happy.
Journey before Steve Perry is rock solid, with Perry is my favorite era, and post Perry is actually good. For me growing up with the Perry era is what makes the band so any of those albums!!
Yes I agree Steve Perry and Greg's voice just danced together in the Duets they did. I think evolution is my all-time favorite album by Journey. I love the way Steve Smith's drums sound on this album really thick and analog. It was the album that made me pay more attention to his drumming.
For me my #1 Journey album is a no-brainer, it was released at that magical time in my life when I started dating girls, going to dances, house party invites, this album was jam-packed with radio hits, and I believe the band was truly at their peak. I love the albums that came before and after but my memories always bring me back to Escape♥️
Speaking of Neil Schon. My first show at 16 was Robin Trower (Bridge of Sighs tour), pre-Perry Journey, and Pablo Cruise at Winterland in '75. Neil blew my mind. And still does to this day. He would step up and pump ferocity into every note and he was both lyrical and soulful. Still had the fire in Perry era Journey but the songs were very different. In fact I saw the 1st Perry Journey show at the Old Waldorf in S.F. a tiny club. Neil was burning then and Perry's knees were knocking. But not for long. Meanwhile Montrose and Gamma are tearing up S.F. with a series of free shows and Winterland was hosting the greatest rock bands of the era. It was epic. The 70's were epic. $5.50 to see Trower, Journey, and Pablo Cruise. Two hours of pushing broom.
I worked for Journey. Many albums recorded at the record plant in Sausalito , many recorded at Jonathan Cain's. Home studio. The band never spent a great deal of time in the studio.Often the band would lay down two tracks in a 8 HR session. Not much debate during studio sessions.New drum skins every morning 10am. Photo sessions were just all jump in 2 cars with Photographer and the Photographer would just pics locations and all would jump out And snap -snap done. Very professional group of friends.
Journeys first three albums may be some of the MOST underrated in rock history. Just my own personal opinion. I think they blended pop, jazz fusion and prog rock super well❤️
Next is very good
I have to agree. Next is the better of the first 3.
AGREED!!
The First 3-4 were the Best !!!
Not just underrated but unknown by many fans of the Steve Perry era...
Kohoutek is such an awesome heavy instrumental. That whole debut album is phenomenal. I'll never forget hearing it for the first time at age 14.
Their first album will always be my favorite. I've always been partial to their first incarnation and these proggy-fusion instrumentals.
Yeah, their earlier stuff was the most interesting.
I just can't get into the first three albums they're so boring to me.
You cant deny the Steve Perry Factor but I too loved the first incarnation of the band.To me really two different bands .
Those first 3 albums were 4 great players at their best. The arrival of Perry was a complete departure. A great move for them but it started the issues that would halt their career.
@@survivorxjourneyfan1189 Survivor and Journey were my first fave bands, therefore you have impeccable taste as do I. Listen again to Journey's first LP. Of a Lifetime, Mystery Mountain, to Play some Music - the entire LP is fantastic. Maybe try listening to it in the dark with headphones on. Five incredible musicians, and the best drumming you'll ever hear from Aynsley Dunbar.
Yes, Infinity. Not too many metalheads and hard rockers who don’t like Journey. They made radio tolerable, and a joy when played. The ladies, oh my goodness...
Wow, Pete ! I'm surprised with this review! Thank you for ranking Journey. I love your Journey shirt. 🎤🎸🎵🥁
Ive been listening to music and going to concerts crystal palace garden party , the oval , Reading knebworth since i was 14 years old (in the uk) all types of music and then i lost touch somewhere in the late eighties so this channel is re introducing me (at last) to the music that passed me by ..this channel is worth its weight in gold ..thanks pete ..love the work you are doing
Top 3 Live Albums of All Time (Born 1973)
3): UFO- Strangers In The Night
2): Thin Lizzy- Live And Dangerous
1): Journey - Captured
An absoltely Live Album Tour De Force!
@77Wells your thinking tour de France. It's ok. You're forgiven.
0): Iron Maiden - Rock in Rio
-1): Kiss - Alive!
-2): Deep Purple - Made in Japan
-3): Scorpions - Tokyo Tapes
-4): Iron Maiden - Live After Death
....
:P
agree 100%
I just want to thank you for your Europe video. I had no idea those guys were still around. After watching your Europe video I searched RUclips for some of their more recent music and what I heard knocked my socks off. . . . I was so impressed that I have now ordered two of their more recent albums on Amazon
Great video, Pete. The Gregg Rolie / Steve Perry shared vocals on the Infinity / Evolution / Departure as just superb. I feel there was a drop-off when Cain came into the band, and we lost those harmonies. Those albums - Escape / Frontiers / Raised on Radio - are very poppy, and Gregg's presence is missed.....
Brent Uptain Excellent point. I never followed them too hard, but the Rollie/Perry songs were on the radio when I was young, and those have a place in my heart.
but you got to remember Greg was burned out he didn't want to tour anyone to start a family and he literally walked away from music for years just like Bob Seger did to raise a family.
@@truckerkevthepaidtourist I've heard more recently that Gregg felt he was going to be replaced.
I have heard of Steve Perry saying something along the lines of they've taken this sound as far as it'll go.
@@Geerladenlad no check out the interviews from the last couple of years since he joined Ringo Starr's All Stars with Steve lukather and more. read some of those great interviews from about three to four years with Greg. he tells all about what happened with Charlie there were no hard feelings it was all alcohol-related he was burning out.
Stone in love, escape, keep on running, lay it down and dead or alive are not what I consider pop.
YES YES YES Thank You So Much Pete been waiting for you to rank these Journey albums AND on Neal Schon’s BIRTHDAY He’s 66 TODAY February 27th...Jonathan Cain was 70 yesterday 😎😀👍👈
I always loved how "Something to Hide" bleeds into "Winds of March"...what a great combination.
it's called the segue
And Patiently connects beautifully with Wheel in the Sky
You bring back great memories from high school in the late 70's! Thats The Same Way You Love Me is my all time favorite cut. Nice work bud.
@Occasional Harmonica
Ahem ...... that would be "Just the Same Way".
Yeah Eclipse. I agree with you. Very exciting album. You have to hear it!!! - But my absolutly favourite Journey album is Captured. I know it's a live tune, but it blows me away, everytime I hear it. Such a strong live performance. And I say it in Pete's words: Both voices of Greg Rollie & Steve Perry are amazing for this music.
Awesome video Pete, I really enjoyed this one. I'm so glad you gave props to the early stuff ...1st 4 albums will always be my favorites. . Love that you mentioned Of a lifetime and Topaz. And of course Winds of March, the solo in that just kills. Huge fan of the early instrumental stuff, Conversations, Nickel and Dime, Kohutek , OMG!
My #1 Favourite Journey Album is Evolution from 1979! The 1st Journey CD I bought! My cousin bought it brand new on 8-Track Tape Cartridge! After my cousin played it for me, I was hooked! All Songs on it Rocks and Kicks Ass! An Excellent Album from the beginning right through to the end! Very Cool Album with the Guitar Riffs of Neal Schon, Keyboards, Bass, Drums, and the Vocals of Steve Perry and Gregg Rollie! 🤘👍😎
Totally agree!
Thanks for the vids Pete, really enjoying reeling in the great years of great music and bands with you once or twice a week.
Pete: I love your lists. I totally agree most of the time.
Journey is my favorite bamd of all. And Infinity is my favorite album. Evolution and Departure too. And the first 3.
Like you outlined, the period with Gregg Rolie was the best one.
Ps: Winds of march is one of my favorite song too. You have a great taste. 😀😀😀
Took me awhile to be able to draw a comparison but I've finally figured it out. Your ranking vids hit me the same way Behind The Music used to-they make me care about bands I really don't/didn't pay attention to previously. Thanks for all you do man!
Infinity is my favorites, as well. While I recognize how good the first three albums are, I just can’t get into them as much as the Perry/Rolle era of the band. I also wonder what would have happened had the band further explored the Jeff Scott Soto direction.....
I truly appreciate how open minded you are. You're a hard rock/metal afficanado, yet you have so much love for Journey. If people only knew what a stellar body of work they created beyond their radio staples. What a jammin' band, just stocked with virtuoso musicians. I'll be sure to give Pineda's work a closer listen. I confess, I tuned out after Trial By Fire. I shouldn't have.
I bought INFINITY in 78 winter time. The cover made me buy it. Dropped the needle on Side 1....been mesmerized ever since. Hadn't heard not one note by them til then. Frontiers to me is the pinnacle album to my heart. Evolution's DAYDREAM is by far my fave Journey song of ALL TIME! Good job Sir! Very cool ranking video. thank you. Looking forward to THE BABYS' ranking! Fly by my window!!
Departure is my all time favorite Journey album.
'Of A Lifetime' is my favorite Journey song.
Mine too. The first song on their first album. Wow! what an opener. Mystery Mountain is also wonderful.
Topaz for me. I'm glad I'm not the only one who perfers this album.
The best Journey song is Destiny. Nine minutes of Steve Perry vocal perfection.
Arnel Pineda debut was in my country almost 12 years ago in Viña del mar (The festival is schedueld in the last week of february)...I was jaw dropped by his vocal skills. And the band carries on and on
Great video man! Great podium!!!!!
I love Journey one of my favorite bands
Journey Greatest Hits
Journey Greatest Hits 2
Journey The Essential
Wow I reeeeaaaallllyyyy enjoyed your breakdown. Had such a good time listening. Thanks and keep up the good work. Your music passion flies out of the screen!
FANTASTIC List! LOVE the rankings here. Such an underrated band...much more than just "pop"...especially the early stuff. So wish their newer stuff would get more attention! So agree about Rolie and Perry's vocals...just a perfect pair!
I am an 80s kid that loved that period of the band, but in my later years I’ve gone back to their 70s prog/jazzy period…and I love it a lot! Definitely more complex their later stuff, but still really quality. I think Journey Time3 is one of the best “Greatest Hits” albums ever because they include that stuff!
Great list man, one of my favorite bands. You pulled thoughts right out of my head so many times on this one starting with the Pic on the back of Trial. . . and the duet style of Rolie and Perry and the amazing post-Santana stuff. This was a great way to spend 25 mins. . . thanks!
Got a chance to see Journey open for ELP in 1977-got to hear those 1st 3 Albums live and they were incredible! Then they brought out Robert Fleishman who they were considering as a new vocalist and he sang a new song at that time which was "Wheel in the Sky" which was a song that he had co-wrote. Well i guess that didnt work out for the band so in comes Steve Perry and the rest is history
Journey is my second favorite band, love their music.
They don't have a bad album, but for me Frontiers and Trial by Fire are my favorite albums. I also love the cover art for Trial by Fire.
Same here but I didn't care for the first few albums to me that's not true journey.
Definitely, Trial by Fire is a masterpiece. This guy has no clue.
Almost at 25K subscribers! Way to go, Pete!
Great ranking!!, basically i don't agree with the most of your ranking but it's your opinion so i respect that.
My ranking is
14.Arrival
13.Journey
12.Next
11.Generations
10.Trial by fire
9.Look into the future
8.Eclipse
7.Departure
6.Raised on radio
5.Revelation
4.Frontiers
3.Evolution
2.Infinity
1.Esape
Obviously i love all the albums,such an amazing band.
I wish you would have mentioned the "Dream, After Dream" album, which I think is musically great.
Hahahahaha thats crimes against humanity to not bring that one up. Sandcastles will forever be their best song and Destiny is also godtier.
the 1st 3 Journey LPs all the way to the top! :)
Jeff be sure to check out the RUclips video of In my lonely feeling/Conversations from Winterland in 1974. Video not too great but the sound is awesome. Neal plays it to perfection...
Totally first 3 albums to the top, no questions.
Eclipse is an insanely great album. City of hope is my favorite Journey song, ever.
Love Infinity. Saw them at Giants Stadium in 78 opening up for Nugent and Aerosmith. They were better than the headliners.
Loved all the albums that had Greg Rolie on it. After he left the rawness of the production went away with him. The albums with J. Cain were so heavy handed on the production. To me they sounded sterile and way too shiny and processed. Love the first six though (especially the self titled)
My first Journey song < Spaceman from Next. It started there for me on this AMAZING band. So many personal memories for me in my life listening and playing to Journey. In my opinion,- there is not a bad egg in their entire catalog. Thanks Pete for the rankings. 1.Infinity 2.Evolution 3.Escape 4.Next 5. Departure 6.Frontiers 7. Revelations 8. Eclipse 9.Raised on Radio 10.Look Into The Future 11.Journey 12.Generation 13.Arrival 14.Trial By Fire 15.Dream After Dream
Irish Wolf
Love “Spaceman”!
Gregg Rollie is awesome!
Always glad to hear those pre-Steve Perry albums get some love. That debut album especially is awesome.
Dude, if you ever do an episode where you go heavily into a band's history and discuss their music in depth, I could probably help you fill out a couple of hours or so about this band's history.
I Know that “Dream After Dream” is a soundtrack but some of the stuff on there is the perfect melding of pre Perry Journey and the bountiful gains that the band acquired with the addition of Perry. In some ways I can see it as a “step back” from where they currently were, but man there was interesting stuff on that record. It deserved to be included on your list.
Great stuff as always.
Destiny was a great song.
I consider it a studio album.
Infinity my favorite also. Then Escape, Departure.
I remember getting into Journey around the same time I was getting into prog rock and AOR in my mid 20's. At the time I was a huge hard rock and metal fan, I was coming out of a phase where I had been listening to metal non stop from age 14-24. I remember hearing "Edge of the blade" on a rock radio station here in the UK, and I was pretty blown away because I didn't know Journey rocked that hard and hadn't really paid much attention to them outside of a couple of big hits that I knew. Now I'm very much into Journey. Does anybody else have a similar story?
Grew up on hard rock/metal bands like AC/DC, Metallica, GnR. I discovered Journey and became a hardcore AOR fan, then I fell in love with other genres.
Great video the early Santana fusion is great too...
Infinity and Evolution are great hard rock
Picked up Infinity in 1978 music was great back then...
My favorite song from journey has to be stone in love
Yes!!!!! Love that gutiar I agree 🤘
I agree, it kicks ass!
Love your videos, as a Midwestern guy I love my" corn rock" bands... Would love to see you rank REO Speedwagon and Cheap Trick albums!
Love these videos! I love delving into an artists discography and seeing what the older generation likes to listen to outside of the classics.
My Top Five Journey albums: 1. Escape 2. Evolution 3. Look Into The Future 4. Infinity 5. Frontiers.
I just discovered this channel and what a video to start off with! I'm a HUGE Journey fan and I cant wait to delve into some of these albums that I'm not as familiar with(the newer stuff w/Arnel). I absolutely love "Of a Lifetime" and need to go back and listen to that first album again soon. My top five:
1. Infinity
2. Next
3. Escape
4. Evolution
5. Departure
I N E E D. I see what you did there.
Love the first three albums. Greg Rolie is a great singer. Once they hired Steve Perry , the band turned into top 40 arena rock. Not my style.
I was listening to their first one in my car last week. I actually do like some of the later ones too but admit it's a different animal(pop rock).
I was going to say the exact same thing. Steve Perry's voice, while good, was just suited for love songs and pop. Gregg had a rock voice!
I liked some of their stuff with Perry, but overall, they just seem very overrated generally.
I agree. I could not get into the Steve Perry version of Journey. As a promotion the record store near me gave the debut album free to certain customers. I was lucky enough to get one. I loved that first Journey album and I also saw that version live opening for ELP. I think I was one of the few who knew who they were and also knew the songs.
Infinity is good but after that besides lovin’ touchin squeezin . Kinda annoying
Great video Pete. I agree, "After All These Years" would have been a monster hit if released in the 80's. Thanks for all the work you put into compiling these lists.
Classic Rock fans in general seem to forget that Journey already released three albums before Steve Perry joined. Greg Rollie was doing the vocals back then. None of these are weak albums, but by far 'Next' is the best IMO. In fact, it has four of my all-time Journey favourites that can stand next to the best material of their later career. 'Hustler" is savage and very fast, like it's one of Hard Rock's early assists to the Metal genre in creating Speed Metal. 'Spaceman' is a smooth and beautiful Classic Rock track with strong, soothing yet somewhat melancholic sounding vocal melodies. 'I will find you' sounds dramatic and with its slow pace and its rather dark atmosphere and quite heavy sounding guitars, it even has proto-Doom tendencies. 'Nickel and a Dime' is a captivating, energetic instrumental with strong guitar riffs and stellar performances from all musicians, something to be admired both from a technical as well as aesthetic standpoint. And throughout the entire album Rollie, while not having a voice as distinct as Perry's (then again, who has?), proves to be a good vocalist.
When I found Infinity on vinyl in a second hand store I burst into tears...
Great video Pete as always.im a metal fan but I could put on any journey album and listen to it all the way through. Top 5 are infinity,evolution ,departure,escape, and frontiers.
Raised on radio 2nd to bottom I love that album
One of my favs as well.....
Yeah he usually lists albums from the mid-eighties near the bottom of his rankings... unless it's Whitesnake. I agree with you. I'd probably rank Raised On Radio just behind Frontiers as my top two Journey albums!
@@UToobin75 it's Petes list can rank them any way he wants.
@@truckerkevthepaidtourist Never said he shouldn't. We all have our own preferences.
My favorite too!!!!
I really like Trial by Fire. There’s a lot of slow burn affect songs that sounds better the more you listen to them. And I felt like the band and production were taking more chances
"When You Love a Woman" was one of Perry's best vocal performances, ever. IMO
I also love trial by Fire.
i totally agree,........too long????no such thing,....you get an album every 5 /10 years....60 minute album is fine...and who the hell is Neal "SHONE"????............"SHONE"??....even Neal pronounces his last name of Schon....as "SHAWN"..........and Steve AW-GARY????......AW-JERRY....oh geez
My list is pretty much the same
Infinity and the debut (love the proggy- jazz..topaz is my favorite track)..evolution, departure, escape, frontiers are all interchangeable....i also love the song "only the young", which may be on a greatest hits or compilation, but I have none of those.....always loved the album covers too
saw journey in central park around the time of 'look into the future'...it was a daytime gig and it was cool, although i've never been a big journey fan...however having said that, i think their current lead singer does a fantastic job and you did a tremendous job describing each and every album...very well done my friend...peace always...rocky
Spot on! Journey is one of those bands you’ll love even much more as you revisit each album. Some of the most amazing vocal performances by Steve Perry are on songs most people have never heard.
Frontiers has to be my favorite, and Edge Of The Blade is definitely a heavy metal song. You can't change my mind.
Troubled Child....still gives me chills!
my only problem with frontiers is that they left off only the young and ask the lonely which are better tracks than half the album.
That's why you get the expanded CD version
I agree completely. I know Journey weren't a metal band, but I would say "Frontiers" was probably the closest they got to that 80's metal sound.
NightmareSnake it’s my favourite too. I fucking love that album
Been playing Eclipse since your review. What a great album!! And criminally underrated.
For me Trial By Fire is their best album. Very good melodies , songs after songs. And i just think Steve Perry voice never sounded better , fuller and richer. I have all their albums and I mostly listen to Trial By Fire.
That Eclipse album is pretty good! Edge of the Moment is easily one of my favorite Journey songs! 🤘🤘
Mine too!
Thank you for getting me into Journey. Before I saw this video and tested the waters, I thought they were just straight up hair metal. How wrong I was.
Hey Pete here is my top ten Journey Albums;
1. Infinity
2.First album
3.Frontiers
4.Escape
5.Look into the Future
6.Evolution
7.Departure
8.Eclipse
9.Next
10.Raised on Radio
As usual hard to rate all of their albums but especially loved those first 3 albums. Thanks for Journey Pete.
4.
Frontiers and Escape are my favorites. The best Journey songs for me are Faithfully, Edge of the blade, Only the young, Be good to yourself, Wheel in the sky and Stone in love.
Oooooh can't wait to watch this another all TIME FAV BAND of mine. This to rank will take some consideration
Favorite Journey songs In the Morning Day, Topaz, Kohoutek, To Play Some Music, Karma, Spaceman, Nickel and Dime, City of The Angels, Do You Recall, Just The Same Way, Feeling that way/Anytime,Too Late, Stone In Love,Mother,Father,Rubicon,Back Talk I love quite a few of the newer material but don't know the titles as well as older Journey songs burned in my mind
Last to first: Trial by Fire, Generations, Arrival, Revelation, Eclipse, Look into The Future,Next, S/T ,Raised on Radio, Departure, Frontiers, Evolution, Escape, Infinity.
So many great memories listening to Journey. Thank you for doing this.
Revelations better than Trial by Fire? Cmon.
Pete, very timely list today as it is Neal Schon's birthday when this was posted.
Your bottom of the list would match mine. I probably would have put "Raised on Radio" at the bottom and my main reason was that Steve Perry had fired the rhythm section of Valory and Smith for the recording of the album and Steve Smith is one of my all-time favorite drummers. "Trial by Fire" starts off strong and then fizzles from all the songs. The "Revelation" album as Arnel's debut is such a great album. As a 80's teenager, the "Escape" and "Frontiers" albums are very special to me. I love how you placed "Infinity" as your #1. When I saw that it was Neal Schon's birthday today, I decided to listen to some Journey music and I went to "Infinity" first mostly because of "Feeling that Way" and into "Anytime"
Great video. Thanks Pete.
I really enjoyed this one Pete. Excellent analysis and presentation of a great band. You have a very interesting list here. I prefer Augeri to Pineda for some odd reason though. Very cool!
Agree 100%. Greg and Steve together we’re epic. What could have been in later years.
That's the problem with radio; they play the same old song to many time until you're sick of them, which results in you not wanting to have anything to do with said band. That's was my problem with Journey. I only own one Journey album and that's your #1 Steve: Infinity. Thankfully, RUclips has come to the rescue, allowing me to check out their catalog. Their new stuff I'm not much into. The older stuff; yes. Hopefully, Infinity will not remain an orphan for much longer. Thanks Pete. Great vlog.
Although our rankings differ, an excellent overview of the band's material. I would have also included "Dream after Dream", a rare but notable soundtrack album, released just prior to Escape. It's by far one of the best Journey albums!
Don't think I ever seen Pete so emotional over a band :)
Really great job I'm so happy to hear you say all of this about Journey because they are way more then people give them credit for and that's why they're in the Hall of Fame and not because of Don't Stop Believing song. What is a shame is that they were not chosen this year for the rock and roll songwriters Hall of Fame. They were nominated and did not get inducted and I was really shocked. Oh but that's right we're not supposed to talk about the Hall of Fame. LOL sorry about that.
I'm one of those that only knows the Perry years. They were roller rink music when I was a teen so I didn't pursue further. That said, thanks to this, I will look into the older stuff now as I've always been a "B"side type of guy. Look forward to exploring them further, it will be new to me. Thanks for the video!!
Another great vid! I agree with your ranking and was so excited to see the first 3 getting so much love. Most people overlook them because Perry wasn't there, but they are amazing. One album that I would love included but couldn't be because it's an EP is Red 13. Also, for those that haven't picked up Revelation there is a live DVD included that has an amazing version of Mother Father with Deen singing.
'Infinity' is one of those albums that I always need to listen to in its entirety. Such a great LP and it was my first time hearing them via Columbia House Record Club back in the 1970's, so, it's a personal favorite.
I owe them about a million dollars or so
Totally agree with your top 10 Pete although I'd tweak the order a bit. First three albums amazing music. Such great songwriters in the late 70s early 80s and the Arnel albums underrated. Departure would be slightly higher simply because it contains the wonderful Precious Time. Keep up the excellent work
been a Journey fan since the 70's and I am not ashamed... Pete, you are so correct in the fact that when people say Journey sucks, it's because they have never heard the vast majority of the songs the band has...
Interesting....Raised on Radio....Schon's awesome guitar licks and solo's along with that tone...Randy Jackson brought some funk to the Band as well as Nashville Great...Elvis' Drummer Larrie Londin.....SOLID. Totally different texture to the Band....Unorthodox Journey....One of my favs.....Top 3 for me.....Another good show Pete...Rock On!
Raised on Radio is my personal favourite Journey Album I love every song on it. I think Journey really demonstrated their technical prowess on that album, the production is impeccable and still holds up to this day, where as some of the other albums show their age in terms of production quality.
Girl Can't Help It is such a fantastic opener and Be Good to Yourself has a lot of drive. great harmonies throughout.
My top 3 are Escape, Evolution, and Infinity. I really like Red 13 and wish you had included it.
My top 3 as well!
Thank You. I am glad that someone besides me, thinks Infinity is Journey's best album. Start to finish, such a great album. BTW My friend is a rock fan, and not that big of a Journey fan. My friend only knew their radio hit songs. So one day, I played Infinity on my car radio. He was blown away!!! " I need to get that album. I need to get that album." That is all that he would say after he heard it. I had Infinity on Casette tape and CD. So, I gave him it on casette. He was so happy and to say he liked Infinity album, was a understatement. Thank You.
Favorite album Frontiers and favorite song, since my 8th grade middle school dance Any Way You Want It!!! Fun sharing favorites with everybody!!!
Excellent choice Pete, Infinity is my fave album of all time.. The vocals on that album are the best I have ever heard on a rock album and the song writing is amazing.
One of my favorite tracks is Only Solutions from the Tron Soundtrack….too bad it wasn’t on any of their regular studio releases.
My absolute favorite era of Journey is Infinity,Evolution and Departure. I NEVER get tired of hearing them. Then I discovered the first 3 Journey albums before Steve Perry and was blown away. No wonder it was Steve Perry’s dream to sing with this band. They were magical together. Been a MEGA fan for 40 years. I will love this band forever. The music they made together is timeless.
Departure was my first exposure to Journey, too. It was one of the few albums that my older brother had in his collection (along with Kiss, Ted Nugent and Cheap Trick) that he passed on to me. The shotgun blast sound effect in "Line of Fire" is ahead of its time! Interesting you left out Dream, After Dream which I guess is pretty obscure and wasn't really meant for the US market. I'd like to see you rank the Cheap Trick albums, and the AC/DC albums if you haven't already.
The third one Next is the one. First three are great. I love the jazz rock. If I had only known it in the past. I play a good blues guitar and that sound is what makes me happy.
Journey before Steve Perry is rock solid, with Perry is my favorite era, and post Perry is actually good. For me growing up with the Perry era is what makes the band so any of those albums!!
Yes I agree Steve Perry and Greg's voice just danced together in the Duets they did. I think evolution is my all-time favorite album by Journey. I love the way Steve Smith's drums sound on this album really thick and analog. It was the album that made me pay more attention to his drumming.
For me my #1 Journey album is a no-brainer, it was released at that magical time in my life when I started dating girls, going to dances, house party invites, this album was jam-packed with radio hits, and I believe the band was truly at their peak. I love the albums that came before and after but my memories always bring me back to Escape♥️
Speaking of Neil Schon. My first show at 16 was Robin Trower (Bridge of Sighs tour), pre-Perry Journey, and Pablo Cruise at Winterland in '75. Neil blew my mind. And still does to this day. He would step up and pump ferocity into every note and he was both lyrical and soulful. Still had the fire in Perry era Journey but the songs were very different. In fact I saw the 1st Perry Journey show at the Old Waldorf in S.F. a tiny club. Neil was burning then and Perry's knees were knocking. But not for long. Meanwhile Montrose and Gamma are tearing up S.F. with a series of free shows and Winterland was hosting the greatest rock bands of the era. It was epic. The 70's were epic. $5.50 to see Trower, Journey, and Pablo Cruise. Two hours of pushing broom.
I worked for Journey.
Many albums recorded at the record plant in Sausalito , many recorded at Jonathan Cain's. Home studio. The band never spent a great deal of time in the studio.Often the band would lay down two tracks in a 8 HR session.
Not much debate during studio sessions.New drum skins every morning 10am. Photo sessions were just all jump in 2 cars with Photographer and the Photographer would just pics locations and all would jump out
And snap -snap done. Very professional group of friends.
Pete, great job on this one. Jam packed with great insight.
Frontiers was my first Journey record and in my top ten albums of all time.
15 Generations - 14 Trial by fire - 13 Dream after Dream - 12 next - 11 Revelation - 10 Journey - 9 Evolution - 8 Eclips - 7 Arrival - 6 Look into the future - 5 Raised on Radio - 4 Frontiers - 3 Departure - 2 Escape - 1 Infinity
Jake - love how you rated raised on radio and arrival highly.
Great list! Very happy to see the early Journey albums ranked near the top!