esc4p3

ESC4P3 was the record which made take off Journey. And it was a change, not only of style but quality. Adding Jon Cain to the Perry-Schon duet, the brightness of the songs reached perfection the people finally loved them.
To my opinion Journey ballads, amongst Foreigner's are the best i've ever listened.
But not only they were able to do mid paced songs, beautiful ballads but hard and heavy rockers.
And solos, like the one in Who's crying now?... nice and impressive.
Don't stop believin', Open Arms, Still they ride, Mother Father, and a bit lower Stone in Love.

10/10 classic timeless

Journey Greatest Hits

I couldn't help but buying this one, because of the price... All Journey's best. Not a weak song.
Here it is the full track list.
You do not know Journey? Go and buy this one. You'll love it, and then I'll bet you'll get more Journey records.

1. "Only the Young" (from Frontiers)
   
2. "Don't Stop Believing" (from Escape)
   
3. "Wheel in the Sky" (from Infinity)
   
4. "Faithfully" (from Frontiers)
   
5. "I'll Be Alright Without You" (from Raised on Radio)
   
6. "Any Way You Want It" (from Departure)
   
7. "Ask the Lonely" (from Frontiers)
   
8. "Who's Crying Now" (from Escape)
   
9. "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" (from Frontiers)
   
10. "Lights" (from Infinity)
    
11. "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" (from Evolution)
    
12. "Open Arms" (from Escape)
    
13. "Girl Can't Help It" (from Raised on Radio)
    
14. "Send Her My Love" (from Frontiers)
    
15. "Be Good to Yourself" (from Raised on Radio)

10/10 Nice compilation, though Time3 is the best

Raised on Radio

This one has been forgotten, but it is A1 quality to me. Why can't this night go on forever, Eyes of a woman, Happy to give, Suzanne, I'll be alright without you, It could have been you, Once you love somebody...
I heard it was really quick to do, and it was mellower than frontiers or escape, but to me, as big as these 2.

Lost in twilight, the memories
Precious moments, you and me
Weve been old friends, all through the years
Picture postcards, sharing tears
Whats in our hearts, there's never time, to say
Need you tonight, lover dont fade away
I've seen your city lights
As I walk away
Why cant this night...go on forever



Really fantastic.

10/10 brilliant

Journey, The Ballade

This is only for die hard fans. A japanese ballad compilation.
I would not recommend this record for any other person who is not: collecting rare items or loves journey at his most.
This compilation can be done in-your-house

However, I can't deny it is nice, very nice and very precious collection item.

Open arms, faithfully, why cant this night go on forever, send her my love, who's crying now, pantienly, the eyes of a woman... all from Perry period, but without the Trial by fire last record.

And Journey will continue making heart feeling songs as long as Cain/Schon team is up and running :-)

9/10 nice to have

Revelation

And here we have a new journey vocalist. Arnel Pineda. It may seem you are hearing Steve Perry, it is unbelievable.
It is a record that made me forget 'generations'. I do not have anything personal against JSS, but honestly, the ones who love classical journey period can see clearly that voice didn't suit ...
New classics: where did i lose your love, after all these years and maybe what i needed.
These are the 3 songs for what is worth buying the record. My version is the nicest package, not only has the bonus CD with classics re-recorded, but the Live DVD (region 1 :-( ) with Las Vegas Concert... so it is well worth, and a steal price :-D ...

Somebody to explain me why in US, 11,88$ (2cd+dvd) and in europe 18€ (2cd) only ... :-(

Although for me it will not reach Trial by fire or Arrival, it is a nice recover from Generations.

9/10 great to have. Nice compilation.

back to the innocence

this is a mellow record. a great one. signed by one of the best aor composers.
so you can expect the melodies with an intimate touch. not as intimate as for a lifetime. i would better say personal more than intimate. i mean, they are not as majestic as in journey, but more personal.
i bought it long time ago, maybe 10 years ago. and i have to recognize it is long since i do not hear it, but this does not mean i do not like it.
best songs: something sacred, full circle, distant shores and little river

no great pretensions, but great music

8/10 nice to have

bare bones

a soft record ... with a jazz smile
i just listened to it a couple of times
not exactly the style i was wishing for, but the music was good, just not slightly different: big difference

i prefer jonathan into the big aor world, in which, his tunes shine brilliantly and majestic, with feelin'

7/10 a different point of view. nice to have

Time3

This one was my first 3cd box. And I had it ordered. And I found it not very expensive, and when i opened my eyes were shining :-D
All Journey's history in a 56 pages booklet and 3 great cds. I have to say that the first period (pre-Perry) was unknown to me. The fusion-rock style was not my cup of tea, but i found some songs really brilliant. A little story from each song was available, and these are the things fans love :-)
Of a lifetime was the tune that i found it shone above the rest. but the rest were not bad.
Talking about the second period (pre-cain). The band seemed to reach popularity, but not massive. There are interesting songs as patienly, little girl, wheel in the sky, too late and lights. Most of them are not great songs but good. The Captured record was a disappointment when i wanted to see how the band was live. I prefer the studio, but also the songs were not great great.
And then we come to the third period in which Jonathan Cain joins the band. A string of awesome songs made Journey shine as they never had to. Esc4p3, Frontiers and Raised on radio are the trilogy that made them unstoppable. Don't stop believin, who's cryin' now, open arms, still they ride, mother father, separate ways, send her my love, faithfully, after the fall, the eyes of a woman, why can't this night go on forever, happy to give, be good to yourself... These are not great, all are awesome!! :-)
Also added ask the lonely, only the young, only solutions, la raza del sol, a couple of instrumentals and a live rendition of i'll be alright without you.

Journey has been the combination of Perry, Cain & Schon songs. Quality trademark.

10/10 for journey fans. Awesome.

Frontiers

What happens when you find a record with so many outstanding songs?
These days it is soo difficult... Journey released this masterpiece in 82 or 83.
Separate ways (worlds apart) is not brilliant, is outstanding. send her my love & faithfully are 2 of the most beautiful ballads in history.
Faithfully, open arms, wh0's crying now, separate ways, don't stop believin, only the young, why can't this night go on forever, the eyes of a woman, happy to give are all perfect songs, all penned by the trio Cain-Schon-Perry. I will talk about them in time3.
After the fall is another brilliant song.
Edge of the blade is one of the most powerful songs in metal. Who said journey only wrote ballads??

This record is to listen, the songs become instantly classics in your mind. The addition of Jonathan Cain to the couple Perry-Schon made them enter into stardom. Some say that esc4p3 is the finest aor record in history. Well, this was heavier and as good as that one. Raised on radio finishes the trilogy which has to be in any discography, in my opinion.

Well, with these songs, who cares about the normal ones ...

10/10 absolutely brilliant. classic timeless songs.

Beyond the Thunder

I do not agree with Jonathan Cain that this record is a solo from Neal Schon. I surely know that Neal is able to compose really nice melodies, but Journey began to write amazing songs with the trio Steve-Jonathan-Neal. So any team from these 3 people deserves my attention at least. For me it is clearly a project Cain-Schon.

Instrumental from 95, i used to use it as a wake up record, i should have heard big moon hundreds of times ...
Big moon as boulevard of dreams are the main pearls of the record. They are absolutely fantastic.
Send me an angel, zanzibar, deep forest ... all nice songs, to relax
the record is delivered by higher octave, so it is kind of 'new age' ... Well i do not mind it is classified this way, the music talks, and you can't get enough to enjoy in a peaceful status..

Nice package too.

10/10 really fantastic

For a lifetime

Jonathan Cain has been one of my favourite songwriter ever. His name is for me always synonymous of precious melodies and great songs. This can be seen in Esc4p3,Frontiers, Raised on radio, Trial by fire, Arrival Journey discography, Bad english Bad english & Backslash and in Neal Schon's Beyond the thunder.
No matter which record you pick, you will find a high number of songs you will like instantly, instrumentals, ballads -kiss me softly, open arms, faithfully, when i think of you- and rockers -separate ways, message of love, edge of the blade, remember me, ghost in your heart, possession- ...

This record is somewhat interesting since all are songs, piano songs mostly, with orchestration inspired from wedings friends'. So I would say this is a romantic record, in which there is also the instrumental version of the beautiful Open arms.
All songs included here are a feast for your sense, but I particularly like song of calabria, blue nocturne, for a lifetime and china moon...

You can't go wrong with this one for a memorable evening ;-)

10/10 ... perfect for intimate nights

Arrival

Arrival came in the same package than actual size. Brought by a friend from far away japan. A strange thing which i still can not understand. It was released in japan first, and 6 months later in the rest of the world. Please , someone explain it to me...
napster was rising out, internet filesharing was begining ...
There are people who wear a badge in their eyes, and they
do not want to see ... that fans are expecting a record????
why? why? why!!
Anyway, let's go to the music, the important thing here ;-)
Higher place, all the way, to be alive again, signs of life, the incredibles loved by you & kiss me softly. I am killed by the last ballad, it is so exquisite, such powerful ...
People complained ... too many ballads!! ... again ... who cares!!! as long as the music is goooddd.
I only care about good songs, this blog is to write about the records i proudly own, mostly they are aor/hard rock/ heavy metal/nwobhm ... and they have all one thing in common, they are full of good songs, music that make you feel something inside of you, where your soul can fly and feel freedom ...
Maybe i am an idealist ... Well, my problem, my world ... I love to be like i am, i wouldn't mind to change some things ;-) but i love how i think, and i will not like whatever just because other people listen to it ... Sorry, this is my freedom (again)

9/10 very good record. Nice to have.

Trial by Fire

This is an old one. The last one that Steve Perry did with Journey. I remember when i bought it, ('96) i just waited until i could buy the japanese version for the bonus track. Again to have a more valued record :)

Message of love sounded as separate ways. With strings, one more , and then the single when you love a woman... nice, but i prefer still she cries, with an absolute delicious slow piano solo, when i think of you, just the rain and the title track, trial by fire ...
an absolute masterpiece, very very underrated


Although arrival was a very good record, i think this one was far superior, though the other one was the real trial by fire

The single i bought, i did it because it was a steal, so cheap ... :-)
and because it had don't stop believin', open arms and who's crying now, apart from the title track. if prices are like this i would not mind buying everything :-D ... but sadly aren't :-(


10/10 indispensable. Perfectly polished. Aor at its best.