Great Rock Albums of 1979: Journey- Evolution
It has been said and I won’t debate it, that the hit single from this album, “Lovin’ , Touchin’, Squeezin’” is one of the soppiest love songs of all time. Maybe so, but trust me on this, back in late 1979 and early 80, if you wanted to get a girl out on the dance floor on a couples skate, then this was the song that would do it. Yes, this song was big with a lot of females at the time, my then disco loving little sister included. (She saw the error of her ways about a year later.) Saying that, it wasn’t a bad song and I did like it. The correction I would have made to it was when the song was fading out at the end with the “Na na na na na’s,” I would have increased the volume of the lead guitar that was playing in the background.
As I always said, one song does not an album make. There are a lot of good tracks on here as I remembered when I refamiliarised myself with it the other night. It took me back to the memories of my old friend from New Jersey who played the track “City of the Angels” half to death. That is also a very good song and shows that the “Evolution” album is not a one track wonder. The songs after “City of the Angels” are some good blues based hard rock tunes with some good all around musicianship, especially the guitar talents of Schon, to go with the unique vocals of Steve Perry.
Track Listing:
1. Majestic
2. Too Late
3. Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’
4. City of the Angels
5. When You’re Alone (It ain’t easy)
6. Sweet and Simple
7. Lovin’ You is Easy
8. Just the Same Way
9. Do You Recall
10. Daydream
11. Lady Luck
Journey
Steve Perry- lead vocals
Neil Schon- guitars, vocals
Greg Rollie- keyboards, vocals
Steve Smith- drums, vocals
Ross Valory- bass, vocals
Some would say that this was the last good rock album before Journey would make the descent into sounding commercial. I’m not sure about that one but it will be interesting to see as we continue the journey through time. In the mean time, enjoy this great classic album from a class rock band.
Next post: Little River Band- First Under the Wire
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January 8, 2013 at 1:37 am
Love this album…so many great songs! “Just The Same Way” is my personal favourite.
January 8, 2013 at 1:45 pm
Thanks and that is a good song. I think my one friend influenced my favourite on this album a bit too much
January 8, 2013 at 12:40 pm
I’m not really familiar with this one. I have it but I tend to always go for Infinity, Escape and Raised on Radio. All great albums! Does Gregg Rolie still sing on this one? It always baffled me that a band with Steve Perry in it would hand someone else the mic…
January 8, 2013 at 12:43 pm
Yes Rollie sings a bit on this one.
He was their original singer though, so I guess when Perry came on board, he didn’t want to just stop singing. I like the songs they do as duets. I’ve always been a sucker for a band with two singers.
January 8, 2013 at 1:46 pm
There is much more room for diversity with 2 singers, I have always thought
January 8, 2013 at 1:47 pm
I think so too. That’s why I love bands like Kiss, the Beatles and Sloan — all four members sing.
January 8, 2013 at 2:16 pm
All good points! I especially loved Deep Purple with Coverdale and Hughes for that reason. I just could never get into Greg’s voice that much though so his involvement weakens those albums for me, personally. All I matter of taste I suppose but I preferred Perry having the mic to himself in this case.
January 8, 2013 at 2:30 pm
Perry probably prefers that as well
Have you heard the Journey album where all five guys sing? It’s one of the later ones with Steve Augeri.
Let’s just say I didn’t need to hear Ross Vallory sing lead.
January 8, 2013 at 2:34 pm
Haha poor Ross. No I’ve not heard that one. I had heard that the drummer has a great voice especially. Never heard any of the albums after Trial By Fire. Steve Augeri was the guy that got into all that bother about the live miming didn’t he?
I’ve not heard those first 3 you mentioned either. I always thought they were instrumental for some reason… like big Jazz Odysseys! Shows what I know!
January 8, 2013 at 2:38 pm
Generations was the name of the album. And yes Augeri lost his voice, supposedly. The drummer is a great singer, he has an awesome voice, but he’s also an alleged woman-beater, so screw him if true!
January 8, 2013 at 2:39 pm
Oh yeah, I remember that one coming out. Didn’t know that about the drummer! Was it three albums they did before Perry or not that many?
January 8, 2013 at 2:40 pm
Three albums before Perry. I have one of them. It’s very jam band, jazz rock, Santana-esque at times, with the odd Rollie vocal.
January 8, 2013 at 2:46 pm
Sounds interesting… a few of them did play for Santana beforehand didn’t they? I know Rolie did certainly.
January 8, 2013 at 2:48 pm
Yup, and Schon too! That’s where they initially hooked up.
I loved Schon’s 70′s afro. Incredible!
January 8, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Hahaha I’d totally forgot about Schon’s awesome afro!
January 8, 2013 at 3:00 pm
Maybe there’s a blog post in that. Great afros of the past. Schon’s my #1, ?uestlove’s is awesome, there were so many good ones
January 8, 2013 at 3:03 pm
Who’s that? Afros of Rock would be a great post!
January 8, 2013 at 3:03 pm
?uestlove is the drummer from the Roots. Awesome ‘fro, very talented drummer too. It’s rap music with actual instruments.
January 8, 2013 at 3:08 pm
Wow. I thought that was some crazy typo!
January 8, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Nope! The ? stands for a Q but that’s how he spells it.
January 8, 2013 at 8:33 pm
Wow, I’ve never had such in depth conversation on a post before. I have to agree with the Neil Schon for Afros of rock. Other bands I like with more than one singer are Jefferson Starship, .38 Special and Styx. I’m sure others will come to me too.
January 8, 2013 at 8:35 pm
STYX! Yes! Good call on that one. Chuck Panozzo had a kill ‘fro if I remember correctly!
January 8, 2013 at 8:57 pm
I’ve just remembered there was a guy on the back cover of the 1st Boston album that had a killer afro! Can’t remember his name though. Think it might have been Sib someone.
January 8, 2013 at 8:59 pm
Sib Hashian! Way to brainstorm.
January 9, 2013 at 8:59 pm
Well spotted on both Styx and Boston. I just remembered another fro from one of the other bands I threw out. David Freiberg of Jefferson Starship had a decent fro as well.
January 9, 2013 at 9:13 pm
Decent. I think we can easily come up with a top 5!
January 8, 2013 at 1:45 pm
Yes, I’m fairly sure it’s the last track he sings on