Journey Album: “Journey”

Without breaking down the album by song or with too much intricacy, let me just say that after over 30 years of listening to rock n roll, the first Journey album remains near the top of my list of all time favorites. I've always loved great lead guitar and good jams. The first three albums put out by Journey, prior to Steve Perry joining the band, have got to be some of the greatest guitar playing and overall jamming you will ever hear on a rock record. The music is built around the jam. While more than half of the songs include vocals, almost every song ends in a jam. And while this may sound repetitive and simplistic, the music is all creative and top notch. For those who enjoy classic guitar jam songs like Free Bird or Green Grass and High Tides, you will also enjoy early Journey albums, especially the first Journey (1975). I feel that Neal Schon, while recognized as a well established guitarist from his work with later Journey albums, is just out of his mind on the first three pre Steve Perry albums. While technically a brilliant guitarist, what really sets Neal Schon apart is the mellodic creativity in his solos. His leads often are structured in a step by step manner, building to a climactic finale. For just a taste, I recommend listening to the opening song, Of a Lifetime. Incredible stuff. I must add, that while I consider the first album titled Journey to be my favorite of the initial three albums, I do consider the guitar work on the song Look Into the Future, off their second album, to be the absolute pinnacle of Neal Schon's guitar playing.

When ever I hear some Journey on the *classic* rock stations, they always play the Steve Perry version. I do like Steve Perry, however when I thing of Journey, I think of their first LP. Every track is great, hearing tracks like Topaz and others take me back 25 years. The music is still as cutting and fresh now as it was then. This is a must have for anyone who appriciates Rock/Jazz fusion at it's best. The LP came out about the same time as Jeff Beck came out with Wired and Blow by Blow. LP's such as these define the state of music of the mid-seventies. And a very fine state it was in.

When I was still learning about Journey, I never knew there was any music from the band prior to Steve Perry until I bought the Journey "Time 3" box set. In it, I found pieces of early Journey when Gregg Rolie was the lead singer and I was instantly captivated. I knew I had to check Journey's roots out, and "Journey" is one of the first CD's I ever owned. My dad bought it for me when I got my first CD player.

Journey's self-titled debut is an amazing album. It is a perfect example of classic fusion rock craftsmanship, and is delivered with a unique variety of twists and sounds. Neal Schon's guitar is so energizing and full of power. He is truely magnificant, bringing forth an intense, screeching, melodic down-pour of solid rock perfection through his strings to vibrate through your ears and echo throughout your body. Then you have the relentless, thunderous drums of Aynsley Dunbar, thick with jamming effects that work flawlessly with Schon's guitar to throw you a rock 'n roll hammering punch like none other. Dunbar never ceases to make you want to bang your head. Gregg Rolie's vocals are magnificant, intense, and soulful. He is one of the best keyboardists around, and his catchy melodies gel so well with Schon's guitar, Dunbar's drums, and of course, the powerful bass of Ross Valory, and the spectacular rhythm guitaring of George Tickner.

The album begins with one of my all-time favorite early Journey songs, "Of A Lifetime." Check out the sizzling and smoking guitar work from Schon, and the jamming drum thumps from Dunbar. Within this feel-good song comes Rolie's soft, free-flowing lyrics. Ross Valory's thick, loud bass will give your ears a ride. This is definitely a party-like song, in which true fusion rock talent is shown. They were definitely having a good time with this one.

"In The Morning Day" has always been one of my favorites, because I love the melodic chords from guitarist Schon and keyboardist Gregg Rolie. Like with "Of A Lifetime," the song starts out smooth and flowing with Gregg's soft lyrics, before an eruption of guitars, keyboards, and drums.

"Khoutek" is an instrumental jammer. The main melody repeats over and over behind Neal Schon's screeching guitar and Gregg Rolie's swirling keyboards. Schon and Rolie seem to be taking turns showing off their talent and feeding off one another in the song which makes it very unique. Schon, Rolie, Valory, Tickner and Dunbar are fantastic here, even though it's not one of my favorite songs.

"To Play Some Music" probably has the most lyrics of all the songs. Rolie is a pretty good singer, and it's just a fun rock song simply about enjoying playing music and bringing joy to people in the process.

"Topaz" is another instrumental jammer and one of my very favorites. Again, the song starts very quiet with some soft Neal Schon chords and Rolie keyboard notes. Then Dunbar eases in with the drumming until the song gets quicker and quicker and then erupts in a groovy rock masterpiece of catchy guitar hooks and chords and drum beats. This song perks me up every time I listen to it.

Journey tones it down a bit with "In My Lonely Feeling (Conversations)." It is probably my least favorite song on the album. It has kind of a ho-hum , blue kind of feel to it. But at the end, the song starts jamming again. Rolie does a nice job with vocals. In virtually every album I hear, there is one song that I can't find a lot to say about. This one is one of them.

The album finishes with my favorite on the album, "Mystery Mountain." It is a rocking, free-flowing song that gives you a laid-back feel. I love Rolie's keyboards in this song, and Valory's bass really adds to the overall atmosphere of this piece. Of course Schon does his usual flawless guitar work. Rolie provides some atmospheric lyrics as well.

"Journey" is a complete, classic rock-jamming package that started the "Journey" of Journey. While the style is far from the kind of music they performed in the late 70's and through the 80's with Steve Perry, as well as the current style with Steve Augeri, it is still an album that is a must for all die-hard rock fans. This is pure rock that will give you a fine dose of ear-candy. These are definitve examples of Journey's best early work!! Don't pass this album up!!

This first effort from Journey is a fascinating look at a different type of prog rock. They don't use british classical touches at all, its more latin/jazz/hard rock. This is a very interesting workout for all of the instruments; singing is optional. Not that Rolie had a bad voice. This is when the musicians just played, before they were replaced by more radio friendly types.

I bought the cassette tape of this album years ago, and admittedly was taken aback initially by it; but listening to it now, I am really blown away by it. Picture if you will Rush Meets Pink Floyd: somewhat cosmic lyrics with fantastic instrumental interplay. Listening to organist Gregg Rolie singing, you have to wonder, "Hey, no offense to Steve Perry, but why did they replace this guy?" He had (at least on this debut album) a fantastic voice; and of course his playing on the organ, piano, and synthesizer are a delight as well. Then again, there's the super percussion work of drummer Aynsley Dunbar, and the great unsung hero of the bass guitar Ross Valory. But the most amazing instrumentalist of the original quintet (yes, there was a fifth member, rhythm guitarist George Tickner, who also co-wrote much of Journey's early works; but you can't really get an idea of how good a guitarist the guy was, unfortunately) is without a doubt lead guitarist Neal Schon. You have GOT to hear this album to know what I mean! Yeah, you heard the guy blaze on a lot of Journey and Bad English songs; but he just kicks tail throughout this recording! And, best of all, these five guys played TOGETHER - Schon was egged on in his playing by the interplay of the other guys, and the results are just fantastic. In particular, I recommend "Of A Lifetime," "In My Lonely Feeling," and "Mystery Mountain."