Disco de Journey: “Greatest Hits”

It's funny, I didn't like Journey when I was a pre-adolescent kid and they were having hit after hit on the radio. As I got older I needed Journey to remind me of my childhood, and the music brought back (and still brings up) fond memories. Now it seems there are many Journey-bashers and in retrospect there were many back in their hey-days. But, years after all the 80's bands have been silenced, this band, along with Styx, REO Speedwagon, Def Leppard, Toto and a few others, still sounds great. No one sounded like or sounds like Journey. Their hits collection makes it hard to buy any individual cd, but after you have their hits, I think most fans would agree that Escape and Frontiers would be the next to buy. Their 1996 cd Trial By Fire was good but not as great as Escape or Frontiers. Steve Perry's two solo cds can be summed up with HIS greatest hits cd. So, that leaves us with Journey's Greatest Hits--15 solid tracks and the fastest 65 minutes you'll listen to. Although the critics scorned Steve Perry's vocals, and non-fans scorn him too, I feel that he is truly an amazing singer--no one sounds like him. In a world where most pop singers sound alike, this is a strong asset. I never get tired of listening to Journey and maybe, in a few more years, they will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For now, their Greatest Hits is a must buy for any true music fan, it's well worth the money.

Once Steve Perry joined Journey for the "

" album, the band's course was inevitably reset. They changed direction from being a progressive rock band to an arena rock juggernaut. Perry's main contribution was a strong melodic sense coupled to his more soulful vocals. The hits started almost immediately, as "Lights" and "Wheel In The Sky" became FM Rock Radio staples.

That is what this greatest hits focuses on, the songs that became the standards by which the public remembers the band. If you were interested in the albums BEFORE "Infinity," I suggest "

," which adds material from the years when Neal Schon was still aping his jazz-Rock tenure with Santana and Gregg Rollie was doing standard rock keyboard boogie. Personally, I liked them better when Perry got on board. The sound focused and the songwriting tightened. Songs like "Separate Ways/Worlds Apart" and "Any Way You Want It" could add a jolt of adrenaline to a day of radio. When Jonathan Cain replaced Gregg Rollie on "

," Journey took on a romantic bent from Cain's songwriting. "Open Arms" came first, then "Faithfully" (on "

") solidified it. These were pop radio songs without peer, and they make Journey's "Greatest Hits" an essential document of 70's and 80's radio rock. (The updated version includes the best song from the 90's reunion "

," "When You Love A Woman.")

The other reason you might be looking at this is not because of Steve Perry's voice or Neal Schon's guitar heroics, but because of Tony and Carmella. It was Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" that echoed out of the final minutes of "The Sopranos" closing episode. It was funny that Tony passed over Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra for Journey and inspire a million parodies in the process. (Including Hilary Clinton...where the best moment is when she and President Bill Clinton are flipping through songs and Bill says "My money's on Smash Mouth...") Talk about cementing your place in pop culture...who could have asked for better?

This best of offers a pair of soundtrack rarities in "Only The Young" (from "Vision Quest") and "Ask The Lonely" (from "

"). Missing are a few crucial singles like "Suzanne," "Stone In Love" and "Walks Like A Lady." If you really want them, go for the box sets or individual CD's.

This past year, many records have been re-relased from their artwork, and the feeling of the music. That has also been the case when it comes to greatest hits records. This year, there have been greatest hits records that've been reissued from performers such as the Bee Gees, Luther Vandross, and Aerosmith. That has also been the case with Journey. Throughout their career, with and without Steve Perry, the group has still remained a guilty pleasure throughout the years. Although many people would rather hear acts like Beyonce', and other, the rock and feel still remains great, as it relevant with their greatest hits.

Journey's re-release of Journey's 1988 Greatest Hits is still a well-received and well reflected of the Corporate Rock band at their best. This is ironically the second time this record has been re-released, the first was back in 1996. The songs here still sound great and include pop gems like the rock ballad Open Arms, Only The Young, and Faithfully. The album also includes Be Good To Yourself, and their first mainstream hit with Steve as the lead Wheel In The Sky. The album also includes the add-on track When You Love A Woman, which was featured from their final record with Steve Perry, 1996's Trial By Fire.

All in all, if you've purchased an earlier version of Journey's Greatest Hits, it isn't worth purchasing this record again. But. if you haven't any of Journey's great pop gems, than this is the record for you. I still love these songs, as if they were first released years ago, and that remains a great deal of open arms to hold.

Album Cover: B

Songs: A-

Price: B+

Remastering: A-

Overall: B 1/2+

This is the ultimate hits album by what I consider the greatest band in the universe. Now if you are a true Journey fan you should also have the original albums. "Escape" and "Frontiers" are two of the best rock albums in history; "Infinity", "Evolution", and "Departure" are all fantastic classic rock albums; and even "Raised On Radio", which marked the beginning of Journey and particularly Steve Perry not rocking as hard, has some great tracks. All of these albums are represented on this collection. The big hit rockers and ballads are all here. In addition, you have the excellent inclusion of two movie soundtrack songs that were not previously on Journey releases: the top 10 "Only The Young" and the equally fantastic "Ask The Lonely". That alone makes this a must-purchase whether you have all their other albums or not. Just a fantastic summary of the premier years of one of the most enjoyable bands in rock and roll history. Sorry borish music critics: nothing "faceless" about this band--especially compared to most of the grunge and then boy bands of the '90's. This is as good as it gets--in any era.

Journey's greatest hits is a great cd.Every track is great,the only problem is that there are many great songs on the original albums as well,but this is a good pick if you are new to Journey's music.