Journey Album: “Captured”

Before the days of Top Ten ballads and love songs, Journey was a stadium rock juggernaut. Selling out the largest arenas across the country and world wide, they were among the best in the business at delivering high energy rock and roll.

While most of the record industry was jumping on the disco bandwagon during the late 70's, Journey released three fantastic classic rock albums -- Infinity, Evolution and Departure. Though they didn't receive the same fanfare as some of the band's later works (Escape or Frontiers for example), or the works of their contemporaries at the time (Kansas, Boston and Genesis), these trio of records rank among the best music recorded during that era.

The aptly titled "Captured" is a fantastic encapsilation of the band at their peak -- huge crowds, excellent music, amazing talent and tons of energy. While the album clearly has the polish of studio overdubs, it's still an incredible demonstration of indiviual talent and musical harmony that existed in the band at the time.

If your are a fan of 70s classic rock, and want an excellent companion to Cheap Trick's "Live at Budakon" or Peter Framton's "Comes Alive", I highly recommend "Captured".

This is the best live collection I've ever heard. Captured is AOR at it's peak. Unlike so many bands, Journey has always been able to sound even better live than in the studio. This CD truly captures the energy and feeling of a live Journey performance. Each time I listen to Captured I catch myself turning it up more and more as each song begins. The soaring combination of the Perry/Rolie vocals and Schon's searing guitar is positively uplifting. It makes you want to turn it up and drive fast, tapping the steering wheel, belting out along to "Lovin Touchin Squeezin" and "Any Way You Want It", stopping to outstretch your arms for the "I'm standing here with my arms a mile wide..." line in "Anytime", and playing a bit of air guitar at traffic lights. This is a fun, feel-good CD, and is a must-have for all of the "children of the 80's" out there...it sounds even better than the vinyl copy you had as a kid!

If you're into live music this would be a great addition to your collection. "Captured" is a solid release by a line-up that features Gregg Rollie on organ/piano; this would be his last appearance on a Journey release - what a swan song!

Rollies playing gives Journey that rock/blues feel that is consistant with their 3 previous releases "Infinity", "Evolution", and "Departure". Neil Schon delivers on every song, definately one of the most underrated guitarist of the late 70's and 80's.

All the tracks are great and are delivered with vigor; the standouts are subject to debate, however I will give it a shot. "Just The Same Way" is one of my favoriates, Schon does a great job soloing. I particularly liked the way "Lights"/"Stay Awhile" is arranged - the harmonies and guitar work are crisp. "Feeling That Way"/"Anytime" features stellar harmonies once again; Rollie and Perry do a nice job trading off vocals. It seems to be a little smoother that the studio version.

"Walks Like A Lady" features a blistering, paint-pealing guitar solo that Carlos Santana would be proud of. "La Do Da" features Steve "Machine Gun" Smith beating drum-skins into submission. "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" is another high-light with smooth harmonies and percise guitar work.

"Wheel In The Sky", wow. I like this version a lot - great harmonies with Schon blazing in the background at the end of the track. "Any Way You Want It" rounds out the live set in fine fashion.

"The Pary's Over...." is a peak to Journey's next release "Escape".

Listening to this collection brings back a flood of memories of my high school days -- carefree, high-energy passion of the early 1980s. This album is special to me for an additional reason, since I was at one of the concerts where Journey was recording this album. The cut "Dixie Highway" was recorded at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky, a concert I attended. Listen to the crowd's wild reaction when Steve Perry says "..the Dixie Highway!" The band didn't realize that one of the longest and most important roads in Louisville is called "Dixie Highway."

Journey's first live album in 1981 just before multi-million seller ESCAPE is what live album should be. Particularly Steve Perry's voice is outstanding. He rarely drop notes even at high-notes and in some places better than studio version. There's no OPEN ARMS, SEPERATE WAYS, DON'T STOP BELIEVING today's Journey fans take it for granted in live. Yet this prowess of band is super and unrivalled. Except for some parts where LIGHTS AND STAY AWHILE mixes incoherently performance is perfect.

Verdict: Best live album I have ever encountered.

Rating: 96 out of 100

Recommeded for: Every Journay fan, 80s rock and pop fans.