Ranking All 81 Steve Perry Journey Songs

Journey had by no means gotten larger than No. 85 on the Billboard album chart when new frontman Steve Perry walked within the door in 1977.

They went on to promote an astonishing 9 million albums within the U.S. alone earlier than Jonathan Cain joined in 1980, and Journey one way or the other acquired even greater. Their subsequent 4 albums have been all Top 5 smashes, they usually have been all platinum or multi-platinum. Perry’s first document with Cain offered greater than 10 million copies.

Journey had additionally by no means had a charting single earlier than Perry arrived. By the time he break up with the group within the late ’90s, they’d racked up 16 Top 25 singles – together with seven Top 10 smashes. “Open Arms” remained at No. 2 for an astonishing six weeks. “When You Love a Woman” was nominated for a Grammy. “Don’t Stop Believin'” grew to become a timeless traditional.

READ MORE: Why Journey Stopped Making Videos

Which one was greatest? Our rating of all 81 Steve Perry Journey songs counts them down, leaving out instrumentals (since these have been showcases for Neal Schon) in addition to early-era Journey duets with Gregg Rolie or Schon the place Perry wasn’t the main focus.

Steve Perry modified the band eternally, setting them on a course to superstardom that Schon, Rolie after which Cain bolstered and enriched. As such, these rankings could differ barely from lists dedicated to Journey’s bigger catalog. For instance, a few of their ballads creep up larger – just because they continue to be quintessential examples of Perry’s genius.
No. 81. “Back Talk”
From: Frontiers (1983)

Drummer Steve Smith earned a songwriting co-credit on “Back Talk,” and it is easy to see why as this Side 2 skip loudly rumbles alongside. There have been a lot better songs left on the slicing room ground.
No. 80. “Can Do”
From: Infinity (1978)

Actually, cannot.
No. 79. “Baby I’m a Leavin’ You”
From: Trial By Fire (1996)

If you have been questioning what Journey would sound like as a reggae band.
No. 78. “I’m Cryin'”
From: Departure (1980)

Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon do their greatest to prop up this draggy, frankly mawkish music, including sharp gurgles of organ and knifing riffs. But it is no use.
No. 77. “Positive Touch”
From: Raised on Radio (1986)

Journey had all the time made music in a room collectively – till this album. Instead, preliminary demos for Raised on Radio have been constructed with a click on observe, which Perry then requested Steve Smith to imitate. He succeeded all too properly on this boringly metronomic music, earlier than splitting with the group in frustration.
No. 76. “La Do Da”
From: Infinity (1978)

Perry’s preliminary collaborations with Schon have been a revelation. So most of the group’s foundational songs emerged from these preliminary writing periods. And then there was this.

No. 75. “Liberty”
From: Time3 (1992)

If you have been questioning what Journey would sound like as a rustic band.
No. 74. “Troubled Child”
From: Frontiers (1983)

They had “Only the Young.” They had “Only Solutions.” They even had “Ask the Lonely.” Instead, for some cause, they selected this as a substitute.
No. 73. “Lady Luck”
From: Evolution (1979)

Journey is not the one act with a music known as “Lady Luck,” becoming a member of Rod Stewart, Deep Purple and David Lee Roth. Come to consider it, none of these are actually any good both.
No. 72. “Happy to Give”
From: Raised on Radio (1986)

Cain’s preliminary thought had the texture of a soundtrack, recalling too-atmospheric Vangelis, and “Happy to Give” by no means recovered. It’s actually not Perry’s fault. He tried slicing the vocal so many instances that Cain began calling it Perry’s “pet song.”
No. 71. “La Raza Del Sol”
From: B-side of “Still They Ride” (1981)

Always in contact with the frequent man, Cain grew to become impressed by the plight of migrant farm employees in California. But his new bandmates have been nonetheless in ’70s jam-band mode, surrounding all of it with a meandering music mattress that felt like a leftover from the pre-Perry days.

No. 70. “Mother, Father”
From: Escape (1981)

Another music with its coronary heart in the precise place, “Mother, Father” gave Neal Schon yet one more likelihood to work along with his gifted dad. The outcomes have been stitched along with concepts from each Perry and Schon, nevertheless, and have become slightly disjointed alongside the way in which.
No. 69. “Colors of the Spirit”
From: Trial By Fire (1996)

This appeared prefer it was going to be extra intriguing. They start (and finish) with a obscure world-music really feel, however return to anticipated ’80s-era Journey-isms in between.
No. 68. “Homemade Love”
From: Departure (1980)

They’d lastly cracked the code for pop chart success with “Any Way You Want It,” however Journey was nonetheless down for just a few musical excesses of outdated. The worst half was inserting the sludgy, clumsily salacious “Homemade Love” on the finish of this album. Departure all of the sudden appeared to be wanting backward as a substitute of forward.
No. 67. “One More”
From: Trial by Fire (1996)

The first in various Trial by Fire songs that made overt religion references. That grew to become an underlying theme on the album, sparked when Perry arrived on the periods carrying a Bible.
No. 66. “Dixie Highway”
From: Captured (1981)

“Dixie Highway” appears like what it was: a throwaway observe written on Journey’s tour bus whereas touring the eponymous interstate into Detroit. It was maybe fascinating sufficient to be tried out reside, however not fascinating sufficient to make it onto a studio album.

No. 65. “It’s Just the Rain”
From: Trial By Fire (1996)

Perry achieves a candy sense of reverie, his most favored place, however the environment owe an excessive amount of to slightly boring solo forays into clean jazz by Cain and Schon.
No. 64. “Keep On Runnin'”
From: Escape (1981)

A pedestrian rocker, (*81*) is the one detect Side One of Journey’s greatest promoting LP.
No. 63. “Trial by Fire”
From Trial by Fire (1996)

This made direct reference to verses in 2 Corinthians, underscoring once more how Cain’s long-dormant songwriting partnership with Perry was reborn by means of a shared curiosity in scripture. Cain’s solo profession returned to this theme as he started delving into faith-based songs with 2016’s What God Wants to Hear.
No. 62. “Still She Cries”
From: Trial by Fire (1996)

See “It’s Just the Rain.”
No. 61. “Dead or Alive”
From: Escape (1981)

The second of two throwback-style songs on Escape that search to approximate Journey’s extra rugged, fusion-leaning ’70s-era, and the lesser of the pair. That “Dead or Alive” got here instantly after the too-similar “Lay It Down” additionally did not do the music any favors.

No. 60. “City of the Angels”
From: Evolution (1979)

“Lights,” discovered afterward this listing of Steve Perry Journey songs, was initially about Los Angeles, earlier than Perry shifted its locale to his new dwelling base in San Francisco. He later returned to the concept of paying tribute to L.A., with a lot poorer outcomes.
No. 59. “I Can See It in Your Eyes”
From: Trial by Fire (1996)

The apparent purpose of getting the early-’80s lineup again collectively was to recreate the sound of that period – they usually did that right here. Unfortunately, it was the sound of their throwaway stuff on Side Two of Frontiers.
No. 58. “Can’t Tame the Lion”
From: Trial by Fire (1996)

See “I Can See It in Your Eyes.”
No. 57. “Escape”
From: Escape (1981)

Cain and Perry are credited as co-composers, however the title observe from Escape nonetheless seems like the primary of what grew to become a collection of not-always-successful makes an attempt by Neal Schon to stability Journey’s new knack for balladry with ballsier rock songs. It actually served that goal in later-era live shows.
No. 56. “Winds of March”
From: Infinity (1978)

Credited to a crowd together with Matt and his son Neal Schon, Robert Fleischman, Gregg Rolie and Steve Perry, “Winds of March” truly appears like a gathering of two minds: Perry, who deftly croons his means by means of the primary two minutes, and his new bandmates – who completely tear by means of the remaining three.

No. 55. “Line of Fire”
From: Departure (1980)

A perfunctory rocker greatest remembered for a slightly on-the-nose sound impact at roughly the two:10 mark that Perry cribbed from Junior Walker’s chart-topping 1965 R&B hit “Shotgun.”
No. 54. “Precious Time”
From: Departure (1980)

Rolie provides a muscular harp squall, however not a lot else stands out.
No. 53. “Lay It Down”
From: Escape (1981)

One of two songs from Escape that would have seamlessly match right into a Rolie-era album. Steve Smith approximates co-founding drummer Aynsley Dunbar’s thudding, heavy-rock strategy whereas Schon swirls into the stratosphere.
No. 52. “Chain Reaction”
From: Frontiers (1983)

Schon finds a fusible groove, then joins Perry for a gutty vocal interaction. But “Chain Reaction” finally ends up getting misplaced someplace alongside the way in which.
No. 51. “Once You Love Somebody”
From: Raised on Radio (1986)

They tried for a bluesy really feel on a music echoing the connection troubles that each Perry and Cain have been then experiencing, however there’s merely not sufficient grit to this.

No. 50. “Natural Thing”
From: B-side of “Don’t Stop Believin'” (1981)

Your common traditional rock radio-loving fan won’t peg Steve Perry as a died-in-the-wool R&B man who can completely pull off this generally very un-Journey type. Tell them to start out right here.
No. 49. “Easy to Fall”
From: Trial by Fire (1996)

Presented of their traditional arena-ballad type, however with out a lot to distinguish it from different, higher, extra common iterations, “Easy to Fall” is the sound of Journey attempting to sound like Journey. There’s numerous that on Trial by Fire – and on each LP that adopted it.
No. 48. “Rubicon”
From: Frontiers (1983)

This music drove a seemingly everlasting wedge within the band. Schon was reportedly enjoying “Rubicon” when Perry came visiting and turned down his amplifiers. “They want to hear the voice,” Schon remembered Perry saying. Perry and Schon put out solely two extra albums collectively, and it took them 13 years to do it.
No. 47. “When I Think of You”
From: Trial by Fire (1996)

“When I Think of You” appeared on Journey’s Perry-curated Greatest Hits 2 not due to its chart historical past, however due to what it meant to him. Perry wrote this little-known deep minimize after his late mom appeared, blissful and wholesome, in a very vivid dream. He informed Cain he needed to jot down create a music across the dream, they usually completed the touching “When I Think of You” collectively.
No. 46. “Frontiers”
From: Frontiers (1983)

The second-best music on this album’s deflating flip facet. Singing in a clipped, coolly indifferent tone, Perry affords an ideal put-down for warmongers: “War is for fools; crisis is cool.”

No. 45. “It Could Have Been You”
From: Raised on Radio (1986)

Schon’s riffy contributions work in good counterpoint to Perry’s inherent poignancy, underscoring why this partnership meshed so simply – and so properly.
No. 44. “Sweet and Simple”
From: Evolution (1979)

Perry introduced this dream-like music with him, having written it years earlier than whereas searching over Lake Tahoe. Journey accomplished it with a rapidly ascending remaining phase that matched now-patented multi-tracked vocals with Schon’s typical pyro.
No. 43. “Where Were You”
From: Departure (1980)

There’s a cause Journey opened their live shows with “Where Were You” for thus lengthy. They have been simply coming off a gap gig with AC/DC at this level, and clearly the headliner’s knack for outsized, riffy rockers rubbed off.
No. 42. “Castles Burning”
From: Trial by Fire (1996)

A badly wanted rocker on an album that too typically performed all the way down to their ballad- and mid-tempo-loving fan base.
No. 41. “Little Girl”
From: Dream After Dream (1981)

Dream After Dream, the final Journey album to function contributions from Gregg Rolie, is not actually a part of the band’s catalog because it’s in any other case crammed with incidental music for a now-forgotten overseas movie. Mostly, they dig again into the prog and fusion that outlined their earliest period – apart from “Little Girl,” the place Perry is showcased. This too-often-overlooked music later grew to become recognized — if it was recognized in any respect — merely as a B-side to the “Open Arms” single.

No. 40. “Raised on Radio”
From: Raised on Radio (1986)

Radio holds a talismanic place in Perry’s creativeness for 2 causes. His dad owned a station and radio was a relentless presence within the youthful locations the place Perry returns, time and time once more, for inventive sustenance. If issues had gone one other means, he is mentioned he might see himself as a DJ, slightly than an enormous pop star.
No. 39. “Message of Love”
From: Trial by Fire (1996)

A continuation of the untroubled sleekness of Raised on Radio-era Journey, this might have simply handed as a Steve Perry solo observe.
No. 38. “Ask the Lonely”
From: Two of a Kind (1983)

Jonathan Cain as soon as mentioned Perry might write songs like this in his sleep. Unfortunately, this only-okay leftover is an instance of that meeting line-type strategy. That mentioned, “Ask the Lonely” continues to be higher than a lot of the stuff on the again finish of Frontiers.
No. 37. “Lovin’ You Is Easy”
From: Evolution (1979)

Starts out as one other cookie-cutter ’70s-era Journey music, then Perry will get to the ear-worm title lyric and every thing modifications.
No. 36. “When You Love a Woman”
From: Trial by Fire (1996)

Featuring a saccharine sentiment with a too-sweet string part to match, that is Journey balladry at its limpest. Still, “When You Love a Woman” grew to become a gold-selling No. 12 smash. Because, Steve Perry.

No. 35. “Don’t Be Down on Me Baby”
From: Trial by Fire (1996)

Again, no one aches like Steve Perry.
No. 34. “Why Can’t This Night Go on Forever”
From: Raised on Radio (1986)

Written in tribute to their followers, “Why Can’t This Night Go on Forever” moved previous its fairly overt “Open Arms” / “Faithfully”-style ambitions on the power of performances by Schon and Perry.
No. 33. “Patiently”
From: Infinity (1978)

Schon memorably gave Perry a trip dwelling after sitting in with Azteca in San Francisco, however had no thought his passenger was a singer. Five years later, Perry lastly acquired the possibility to make an impression. He stopped by Schon’s resort the day after a Journey present in Denver, they usually wrote this music.
No. 32. “The Eyes of a Woman”
From: Raised on Radio (1986)

Steve Smith solely appeared on three Raised on Radio tracks, however that does not imply he did not have an simple impression. His anticipatory rhythm builds a sensible pressure on the underrated “The Eyes of a Woman,” as Schon’s echoing chords encompass the vocal. Perry has known as this considered one of his favourite Journey songs, and that may be as a result of “The Eyes of a Woman” is likely one of the only a few right here that absolutely recollects their Escape / Frontiers sound.
No. 31. “Suzanne”
From: Raised on Radio (1986)

If Steve Perry sounds a little bit overwhelmed on the second single from this album, there is a cause for that. This No. 17 hit was written as a fantasy encounter with an precise crush. Perry by no means revealed who she was, apart from to name her a “film star who also had a vocal artist career.”
No. 30. “Somethin’ to Hide”
From: Infinity (1978)

Journey’s first try at an influence ballad was devastatingly efficient, although it arrived years earlier than “Open Arms.” Perry’s remaining cry is just astonishing.

No. 29. “Edge of the Blade”
From: Frontiers (1983)

Disappointments loom however, boy, does Side Two of Frontiers get off to a roaring begin.

No. 28. “Be Good to Yourself”
From: Raised on Radio (1986)

A throwback rocker, “Be Good to Yourself” had little in frequent with the sleeker, extra adult-contemporary really feel discovered elsewhere on Raised on Radio. It did not make for essentially the most consultant lead single both, however supervisor Herbie Herbertsmartly prevailed. Journey returned to the Top 10.

No. 27. “If He Should Break Your Heart”
From: Trial by Fire (1996)

One of the all time meldings of Solo Steve (verses) and Journey Steve (the remainder).

No. 26. “Girl Can’t Help It”
From: Raised on Radio (1986)

Perry primarily took management of Journey within the run-up to this album, switching out band members for sidemen with whom he’d labored earlier than then serving because the challenge’s de facto producer. That led them to some music remedies that moved properly away from something Journey had completed earlier than, or since. “Girl Can’t Help It,” considered one of three Top 40 singles from Raised on Radio, was the exception. This was traditional Journey, spit-shined up for a brand new period.

No. 25. “Only Solutions”
From: Tron (1982)

Unjustly forgotten, and barely used within the movie in any respect, the hooky “Only Solutions” would have enormously enlivened what turned out to be a letdown on Side Two of Frontiers.

No. 24. “Opened the Door”
From: Infinity (1978)

The final music on the primary album to function Perry, “Open the Door” begins like each attractive, ear-wormy love music they ever hit with just a few years later — however after Perry’s preliminary three minutes, Rolie joins in an enormous vocal bridge (“Yeah, you opened …”), and from there Schon and firm are loosened from these binding conventions. Drummer Aynsley Dunbar, on his remaining recording date with Journey, units a thunderous cadence, and Schon powers the music — and this career-turning album — to its rapidly elevating conclusion.

No. 23. “Faithfully”
From: Frontiers (1983)

Cain mentioned this No. 14 power-ballad smash, written in tribute to a fortunately married musician’s life on the highway, got here to him in a dream. He wrote it in his personal key, and that allowed Perry to discover a special vocal timbre. They completed the music with a memorable back-and-forth between Perry and Schon, additionally utterly unrehearsed.

No. 22. “When You’re Alone (It Ain’t Easy)”
From: Evolution (1979)

Perry chirps and coos his means by means of this winking tease of a music – that’s, till a couple of third of the way in which by means of, when Schon supplies an enormous second of launch.

No. 21. “Forever in Blue”
From: Trial by Fire (1996)

As with “Girl Can’t Help It,” discovered afterward our listing, “Forever in Blue” represents that uncommon second when the latter-day version places all of it collectively once more.

No. 20. “Wheel in the Sky”
From: Infinity (1978)

The ubiquitous “Wheel in the Sky” spent eight weeks on the Billboard chart, however one way or the other solely acquired to No. 57. Journey was most likely too busy touring to note: They performed greater than 170 cities in North America and Europe on an accompanying tour. For Perry, it an unvarnished thrill to see “Wheel in the Sky” inside a jukebox. (It was an indication again then that any up-and-comer had lastly made it.) He discovered the only at a pizza place he was visiting with Schon in 1978, put two quarters in, after which sat again all the way down to see the look on his bandmate’s face when their music stuffed the eating space. Schon did not get it at first. When he did, Perry remembered Schon quipping, “I love this song,” amid an uproar of laughter.

No. 19. “Walks Like a Lady”
From: Departure (1980)

An important instance of the way in which Journey songs developed within the studio. Perry introduced in a tough sketch, Schon added a blues-inspired riff, then Steve Smith picked up his brushes. All that was left to finish issues was Rolie’s greasy Hammond B3 groove, reportedly considered one of his favorites.

No. 18. “Too Late”
From: Evolution (1979)

A fragile, superbly conveyed music of encouragement, “Too Late” was geared toward a pal of Perry’s who had fallen into drug abuse.

No. 17. “Daydream”
From: Evolution (1979)

An episodic triumph, “Daydream” is outlined by dreamy, Jon Anderson-esque verses, rangy guitar riffs and forward-thinking keyboard asides – very a lot consistent with the prog-rock pretensions of the ’70s. Unfortunately for Journey, that sound had already turn out to be decidedly passe.

No. 16. “I’ll Be Alright Without You”
From: Raised on Radio (1986)

Schon, who earned a co-writing credit score with Cain and Perry, tried out a then-new guitar searching for a definite sound for this music. Best recognized for utilizing a 1963 Fender Stratocaster, Schon experimented with a graphite Roland 707 to see if he might get a special, extra even tone. It labored: “I’ll Be Alright Without You” stays Journey’s penultimate Top 20 hit, adopted by 1996’s “When You Love a Woman.” Cain, like Perry, was going by means of a breakup and known as this observe the opposite half of the feelings expressed in “Once You Love Somebody.”

No. 15. “Good Morning Girl” / “Stay Awhile”
From: Departure (1980)

Inextricably linked by their successive appearances on Departure, these two songs showcased Perry’s twin presents: “Good Morning Girl” was a fragile, impossibly lovely ballad that emerged from a jam session with Schon, whereas “Stay Awhile” confirmed off his R&B chops.

No. 14. “Do You Recall”
From: Evolution (1979)

Maybe the proper mixing of Journey’s powerful early sound and Perry’s sun-flecked sense of memory. Roy Thomas Baker’s acquainted stacked vocals propel the bridge to untold heights.

No. 13. “Open Arms”
From: Escape (1981)

If you dislike energy ballads, blame Jonathan Cain. He introduced this seminal instance of the style to Journey after John Waite, the frontman in Cain’s former band the Babys, rejected an early model. Schon did not really need “Open Arms,” both. But Perry intervened, they usually turned it right into a hovering paean to renewal. Oh, and Journey’s highest-charting single ever.

No. 12. “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'”
From: ‘Evolution’ (1979)

A music with a real-life storyline, “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'” got here to life in one other Journey jam session, then went on to turn out to be their very first Top 20 hit. Rolie’s Nicky Hopkins-esque honky tonk piano rides atop a stuttering, 12/8 rhythm, constructing inexorably towards a cloud-bursting nah-nah-nah conclusion. Steve Smith has in contrast that blues shuffle to “Nothing Can Change This Love” by key Perry affect Sam Cooke. The heartbroken Perry, who’s described the writing of this music as “love justice,” once more performed the bass on the preliminary periods. The outcomes opened the pop-chart floodgates.

No. 11. “The Party’s Over (Hopelessly in Love)”
From: Captured (1981)

Journey’s transformation into glossy hitmakers is usually related to Cain’s entry into the lineup, but it surely truly began with this music. “The Party’s Over (Hopelessly in Love),” a studio music Journey tacked onto a reside document Cain grew to become a member, boasts each ingredient of the brand new sound that will outline their ’80s period. The music got here collectively as Perry ruminated on bass backstage at Cobo Hall in Detroit. He already had Schon’s guitar line in his head, so he sang it to him. The concepts from this tough demo the place accomplished with an accompanying narrative that Perry described as a “situation where a person is waiting for a phone call.” The keyboard flip got here courtesy of their pal Stevie “Keys” Roseman, a Bay Area musician who was working in an adjoining area at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley.

No. 10. “Stone in Love”
From: Escape (1981)

Schon had a tape recorder going whereas he fooled round with the guitar throughout a celebration at his home in San Rafael. Perry and Cain did the remainder.

No. 9. “After the Fall”
From: Frontiers (1983)

Perry started this music on the bass, maybe an early indication of the modifications in retailer for Journey. By the time they launched 1986’s Raised on Radio, Ross Valory had been changed by Randy Jackson, later of American Idol fame. Smith departed too, however not earlier than proving himself completely invaluable right here.

No. 8. “Only the Young”
From: Vision Quest (1985)

Another music that, had it been included, may need pushed Frontiers previous Escape as Journey’s greatest Cain-era album. Instead, “Only the Young” appeared a lot afterward this soundtrack, and by then Kenny Sykaluk – a 16-year-old fan affected by cystic fibrosis – had already died after turning into the primary particular person to listen to it. “Only the Young,” which opened each live performance on Journey’s subsequent tour, will likely be eternally related along with his courageous struggle.

No. 7. “Still They Ride”
From: Escape (1981)

Cain and Schon earned co-songwriting credit on “Still They Ride,” and Steve Smith confirmed off an completed dexterity. But the ultimate charting single from Escape, launched the next 12 months, belonged in no small half to Steve Perry. The music’s most important character, Jesse, by no means left the city of his youth, and nonetheless drives by means of its darkening streets searching for some connection. If you had discovered your self in mid-century Hanford, California, you may need seen a younger Steve Perry doing the identical factor. Of course, he’d lengthy since left, however Hanford – the place a plaque in his honor rests at Civic Park – by no means left him. Jesse, this dreamer who refuses to surrender on his youthful reverie, was Perry’s final metaphoric character.

No. 6. “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”
From: Frontiers (1983)

The topic of lingering ridicule due to a misguided video, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” struggles to search out its true voice as we speak. But the lead single from Frontiers was a multi-week Top 10 smash in early 1983, and the proper instance of how Journey might combine in parts of R&B and blues with out sacrificing modernity. “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” got here collectively whereas they toured behind Escape and revolved round a backstage melody Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain developed on bass and keys, respectively. Such was its quick energy that the band rapidly started enjoying “Separate Ways” on stage – even earlier than Perry had utterly realized the phrases.

No. 5. “Any Way You Want It”
From: Departure (1980)

Steve Perry and Neal Schon have been in Miami for a May opening date with Thin Lizzy, after they began a rhythm-scheme train primarily based on the headliner’s distinctive musical interaction. They had been knocked out by how the guitar and vocals went backwards and forwards on entrance man Phil Lynott’s songs. So, Perry sang, “she loves to laugh,” and Schon responded with a riff. Perry sang, “she loves to sing,” and Schon responded once more. Then, “she does everything” led into one other guitar riff — identical to Thin Lizzy may need. They had the makings of “Any Way You Want It,” a single that simply missed the Top 20 after its launch in February 1980 then gained new life that summer season as a part of a Rodney Dangerfield gag within the golf parody movie Caddyshack.

No. 4. “Who’s Crying Now”
From: Escape (1981)

The preliminary single from Escape, a No. 4 hit, completely illustrates how Jonathan Cain’s new presence modified Perry’s writing type, then eternally modified Journey. The first inklings of the observe got here to Perry as he was driving as much as San Francisco on Route 99. But “Who’s Crying Now” was a music with no actual path till Cain recommended the title. They labored out a cool b-section that includes solely voice and keyboard, and their very first co-written composition was accomplished. Inspired, Perry additionally fought to maintain Schon’s prolonged guitar solo on the only.

No. 3. “Lights”
From: Infinity (1978)

Steve Perry was attempting to jot down an ode to Los Angeles however could not fairly coax “Lights” into existence. Something simply didn’t really feel proper about singing “When the lights go down in the city, and the sun shines on L.A.” So, he caught the music in his again pocket. Then a chance to affix Journey modified his life and altered the music. Perry previewed “Lights” for the others in August 1977 in San Bernardino, throughout a interval when he was on the highway with Journey however not but an official member. Perry’s new adopted hometown of San Francisco led to a vital lyrical replace: “L.A.” grew to become “the bay,” as “Lights” paved the way in which for a collaborative relationship that will take Perry and Schon to once-unimaginable heights.

No. 2. “Send Her My Love”
From: Frontiers (1983)

The title belonged to Jonathan Cain, who’d held tight to a single line that resonated with Perry as one thing mentioned when communication utterly breaks down after the tip of a relationship. Schon achieved a guitar sound that Perry later described as “huge, across-the-Grand Canyon dreamy” by using a Lexicon 480L echo unit. The rhythm, primarily based on a efficiency by Tony Williams on an outdated Miles Davis document, was uniquely Steve Smith’s. But the final of 4 Top 40 hit from this album might solely be voiced by Perry, who latched onto its theme and pushed it to a lonesome zenith.

No. 1. “Don’t Stop Believin'”
From: Escape (1981)

In one sense, this music will all the time be related to Jonathan Cain. After all, Cain had been carrying it round as a music scrap for years earlier than becoming a member of the band. His father mentioned “don’t stop believin'” again within the ’70s, throughout a down-and-out part after Cain misplaced his first document deal. He wrote the phrases down, lastly returning to them throughout periods for his first album with Journey. But Perry is the one who latched onto the concept, the one who coined the indelible phrase about “streetlight people,” the one who demanded they wait – and wait – to enter that massive refrain. He’s additionally the one who sang it into the hearts of technology after technology.

Nick DeRiso is creator of the Amazon best-selling rock band bio ‘Journey: Worlds Apart,’ accessible now in any respect main bookseller’s web sites.

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