Journey: Evolution CD Track Listing

A list by checkmate

Journey Evolution (1979)
Evolution (Reissued Digipack)\n2006 Columbia/Legacy\n\nOriginally Released April 1979\nCD Edition Released 1987 ??\nRemastered CD Edition Released October 15, 1996\nReissued Digipack CD Edition Released August 1, 2006\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Journey got major US radio airplay with "Just the Same Way," "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'," and "City of Angels." -- Donna DiChario\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: 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 ditties 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 (moving over 800,000 units in less than three months), and Perry and co. soon embarked on yet another mammoth tour, which set many an attendance record, and set the stage for even greater triumph with 1980's Departure. -- John Franck & Ed Rivadavia\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA rather average offering from a stellar band, June 30, 2006\nReviewer: David Schilter (Eastwood, NSW Australia)\nThis 1979 album from Journey came from a group which had not yet reached their peak in terms of popularity. The album was, however, still snapped up, not least because of the hit "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'", which showcased a bluesy side of the supergroup. The mid-tempo rocker "Do you Recall" is one of my faves, with a gritty sound that characterises much of Journey's work and, more generally, a lot of 70's rock. The album, in contrast to journey's 80's albums, is somewhat more guitar-oriented, evidenced by the catchy tune "Lovin' You is Easy". I can't understand why this wasn't a chart-topping hit at the time! \n\nIn short, fans of Journey's early albums will love this release. However, if you are an ardent fan of the more processed/(over)produced/radio-friendly pop-rock seen in, for example, Raised on Radio, this will appeal less you you. While the musicianship is awesome (e.g. Neal Schon's guitar solo on "Lovin' You is Easy") I really don't like Gregg Rolie's vocals. A quick listen to the song "Just the Same Way", on which Steve Perry and Rolie share vocals, quickly highlights Rolie's inadequacy and poor range (he sounds almost monotonal). If you are a pop-rock fan, I would highly recommend albums like "Trial by Fire" and "Raised on Radio", both of which feature Johnathon Cain, a great songwriter and pianist. Both these albums are, thankfully, devoid of Rolie's uninspiring vocals.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nThe last hurrah, January 10, 2006\nReviewer: Scooterjohn (California)\nNot everyone was old enough, and musically astute enough to have heard Journey's first release...back when it WAS released, but those of us that did were hooked. The next two were excellent as well...nothing else like them. \n\nThen came Infinity and the inclusion of Steve Perry. Hmmmm. Ok, nice duets, good production and pretty good songs overall. Much more mainstream, however. \n\nEvolution was even more mainstream, and suffered from less Gregg Rolie vocals. Many people do not realize the Gregg was a founding member of Santana, the lead vocalist, and a major songwriting force in that band for the first three albums, after which he left with Neal Schon to form Journey. It is significant to note that Santana did not have another hit after Rolie's departure until 1999's Supernatural, which has a different and popular guest vocalist on every track. \n\nAll Journey releases after Evolution became more pop oriented, and was subject to the fickle whims of the masses, eventually leading to their decline. The best reviews I've read here so far were posted by "Darth Kommissar", who likewise knows the origins of Journey. \n\nI would urge anyone that has an interest in hearing the true depth of this band should really purchase the first three releases as well. "Look Into The Future" from the album of the same name, is one of my all time favorite songs. \n\nBecause of the lessened influence of Gregg Rolie, I rate this a 3 of 5. \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA worthy follow-up to the classic Infinity, September 3, 2005\nReviewer: Darth Kommissar (Las Vegas, NV (USA))\nINTRODUCTION: \nJourney's first three albums were all excellent albums, but the sad fact is that none of them sold well, and hence, those musical masterpieces were forgotten by time. But then, the group recruited new lead vocalist Steve Perry, and almost instantaneously, the group's popularity shot right up the pop charts with their first Perry album, 1978's Infinity. The band needed an album to follow up on the success of its predecessor. What was released in 1979 was the band's fifth album, Evolution. Read on for my review of album number five. \n\nOVERVIEW: \nJourney's fifth studio album. \nRelease Date: April of 1979 \nProduced By: Roy Thomas Baker \nRecord Label: Columbia Records \nBand Members: Steve Perry on vocals, Neal Schon on guitar, Gregg Rollie on keyboards, Steve Smith on drums, and Ross Valory on bass. This was the first album to feature Steve Smith, who replaced former drummer Aynsley Dunbar. \nTrack List: Majestic, Too Late, Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin', City Of The Angels, When You're Alone (It Ain't Easy), Sweet And Simple, Lovin' You Is Easy, Just The Same Way, Do You Recall, Daydream, Lady Luck. \n\n\nREVIEW: \nJourney's absolute undisputed best period was the seventies. It was in this era that the band recorded their three underrated masterpieces with Gregg Rollie on lead vocals, as well as their first two (and probably best) albums with Steve Perry. The group's fifth album, Evolution, continues on in the sound that its predecessor Infinity used, but it takes the music in a slightly more commercial direction, although ironically, despite a shift in a more commercial direction, their previous album had more hits. Still, the album itself became the band's highest charting at the time. This was the group's first album to feature Steve Smith, who replaced former drummer Aynsley Dunbar, and Smith fits right in with the rest of the band. Roy Thomas Baker, the legendary Queen producer, returns. And his presence here is much appreciated. With him around, many of the songs actually have a slight Queen sound to them, but the album as a whole is distinctly Journey. Kicking the album off is a short instrumental sequence called Majestic. This piece is very short, but it serves its function as an introduction to the album and to the next song rather well. Despite its brevity, it shows off Neal Schon's guitar abilities rather well. Immediately following it is Too Late, a sort of early power ballad. The song sounds somewhat similar to Open Arms from the band's eighties era, but this song has much more of a power rock sound to it than that one, which is a pure ballad. This song gives you the best of both worlds, hard and soft alike. The classic Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' comes next. This was the big hit on the album and it really needs no description. Pretty much everyone knows this is a great song, and pop-rock classic. Still, I wish one of the other songs on the album would have become the big hit. Oh well, no complaints. City Of The Angels, the album's next track, is one of its finest. Once again, the band takes a melodic rock sound and a hard rock sound, and fuses them together beautifully. One of my favorite songs on the album is When You're Alone (It Ain't Easy.) This is one of the band's harder, more guitar-driven rockers, and the band could not have done a better job making a rock song. This song should have been a bigger hit than it was! And then, we have Sweet And Simple. This is another one of the band's slower-paced proto power ballads. It's an excellent song with Steve Perry's vocals, but with the instrumental stylings in the song that harken back to those of the band's first three albums, this song would have been better with Gregg Rollie singing it. Still, it's a great song. Lovin' You Is Easy is one of my other favorite songs on the album, because it's the straight-up classic hard rock and pop-rock fusion that was all but lost in the band's mid-eighties era. And it was their best Perry-era sound, too. Such a shame the band didn't do more songs like this! Yet another song that should have been a bigger hit. Just The Same Way, track number eight, is the only song on the album to feature Gregg Rollie on lead vocals. Every track the band ever did with Rollie singing is among their overall best, and this one is no exception. That guy was SO underrated, and it's a shame he left the group not long after this album. Following it up is the ninth track, Do You Recall, this is classic hard rock, with an instrumental backing style reminiscent of the Who (and it sounds like they stole the guitar riff from the Who's Baba O'Riley.) Another classic Journey tune that never got the proper credit. The band slows things down a bit for the next song, Daydream. Slow and melodic, Steve Perry's vocals are at their absolute best here. This is the way pop-rock ballads should sound, period! And we close the album out with Lady Luck. The closing track does an excellent job wrapping things up, giving the listener some classic hard rock with an excellent organ-styled keyboard track backing things. Once again, underrated masterpiece. In the end, Evolution rocks. Very few of Journey's Steve Perry-era albums rival this one. \n\nEDITION NOTES: \nThis album has been remastered and reissued at least once over the years, but sadly, the remasters don't really do anything outside of remaster the sound quality. There are no expanded liner notes or bonus tracks, which are really kind of a must when it comes to remastering albums in this day and age. Hopefully they'll release deluxe editions of Journey's albums, but until then, this version will have to hold you over. \n\nOVERALL: \nOverall, Journey's fifth album is a great one, and it's good to see that by this point in time, the Steve Perry-era formation of the band was really starting to pull it together. With Perry at the helm, Journey recorded several excellent albums, but this one just might be the best of them all (although it's tough to pick a favorite with so many excellent ones to choose from.) If you're a classic rock fan, BUY THIS. You WILL NOT regret it! Final verdict? Highly recommended. Five stars.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nJourney at their best, April 16, 2005\nReviewer: Mickey (Columbus, OH)\nThis album and Infinity are two of my all time favorites. With the exception of just a couple of songs (oddly enough the two that you still hear on classic rock radio stations, Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' and City of the Angels) everything on the album just sounds unbelievable. Too Late, When You're Alone, Sweet and Simple, Lovin' you is Easy, Just the Same Way, Do You Recall, Daydream...all phenomenol. Daydream has a surreal quality, and you're in another world when you listen to it. Do You Recall is one of those rare songs that hooks you a couple seconds into the song, and it never goes wrong. Sweet and Simple is a little bluesy, and placed right in the middle of the album it really balances out the rest of the album. I even like Lady Luck, also a little bluesy with heavy keyboards, which is a departure from their other stuff (it sounds more like something you would hear on the Departure album) although it is an acquired taste. \n\nUnfortunately, 2 years after releasing their two greatest albums, Journey's sound became much more pop than rock. Along with many other great 70s bands, Journey succumbed to the early 80s MTV pop revolution. The worst thing that happened to this band was the replacement of original keyboardist Gregg Rollie with former Babys keyboardist Jonathan Cain, who wrote a lot of the 80s pop hits most people are familiar with. (I have a feeling they would have turned pop either way, but who knows?) Don't get me wrong; some of their 80s stuff was good, but it just doesn't hold a candle to the songs from Infinity or Evolution. It's such a shame that we have only two truly great Journey albums. What could have been...\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA more sweet and simple production., October 19, 1998\nReviewer: FreeWyngz@aol.com (Cleveland, Ohio)\nThis, JOURNEY's second album with producer Roy Thomas Baker, explores a more cleaner sound from their first collaborated effort, INFINITY. Highlights include: TOO LATE and LOVIN', TOUCHIN', SQUEEZIN' (their first release to break the top 20 list at #16). SWEET AND SIMPLE (which was never released as a single), was written by vocalist Steve Perry five years prior to joining JOURNEY. He wrote it while contemplating the beauty of Lake Tahoe. This piece rather sums up the album's sweet and simple production!\n\nHalf.com Details \nProducer: Roy Thomas Baker \n\nAlbum Notes\nJourney: Gregg Rolie (vocals, keyboards); Steve Perry (vocals); Neal Schon (guitar, synthesizer, background vocals); Ross Valory (bass, background vocals); Steve Smith (drums, percussion).\n\nRecorded at Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles, California.\n\nJourney was pushing closer and closer to major success by 1979, and its final release of the decade, EVOLUTION, helped a great deal. While many other rock bands of the era were flirting with disco, Journey stood its ground and recorded a fine collection of rockers and ballads. "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'," remains one of Journey's all-time great tracks, with "Just the Same" and "City of Angels" certainly not far behind.
This rock cd contains 11 tracks and runs 37min 11sec.
Freedb: 8408b50b
Buy: from Amazon.com

Categories

Latest lists

Journey: Evolution CD Track Listing

Category

Tags

cyList

Legal