My 'Journey' to becoming a fan! (Greatest Hits - Journey)

Member Name: jeffjen

Product:	Greatest Hits - Journey
Date:	12/07/09 (93 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great tracks

Disadvantages: None

Journey are a band I have grown to like more and more over the last 3 or 4 years. The only song I really knew by them was the ballad 'Open Arms' which has been covered by a few artists including Mariah Carey.
I really liked this song and downloaded another ballad by them titled 'Faithfully' which I often listened to on my pc.

I was browsing at a car boot sale a few years ago and saw a cassette of their album 'Raised On Radio' for 20p. I bought it and listened to it in my car while driving home. I liked it right away and from then on have grown to really like Journey.
I decided to buy their greatest hits album after seeing it on Ebay at a bargain price, and it has became one of my most played albums.

THE BAND :

Journey are an American rock band who formed in 1973 with former members of Santana, but they have undergone a few line-up changes since then.
Steve Perry is the band's best known vocalist. He joined the band in 1977 and the band went from strength to strength into the 80's.
Other band personnel over the years have included Steve Smith and Randy Jackson, but there has been a lot of hiring and firing of band personnel and management over the years, with some members leaving then returning.
Neal Schon was an original member of the band who left in 1987, but re-joined in 1995, and he has recently stated a new album will be released by the band next year. The band have continued to tour.

GREATEST HITS :

There are 16 tracks on this CD :-
1. Only The Young
2. Don't Stop Believin'
3. Wheel In The Sky
4. Faithfully
5. I'll Be Alright Without You
6. Any Way You Want It
7. Ask The Lonely
8. Who's Crying Now
9. Separate Ways (World's Apart)
10. Lights
11. Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'
12. Open Arms
13. Girl Can't Help It
14. Send Her My Love
15. Be Good To Yourself
16. When You Love A Woman

On first listening to this album I was amazed to realise that quite a few of the tracks were familiar to me, though I had not known who recorded them.
The album is a good blend of soft rock songs, often with a catchy unforgettable chorus, and big power ballads.
Greatest Hits was released in 1988 and has sold over 15 million copies. It is the 6th best selling greatest hits album in America.

I have quite a few favourite tracks on the album, one is 'I'll Be Alright Without You' which was taken from the 'Raised On Radio' album I mentioned earlier which I bought from a car boot sale.
It tells the story of a person's feelings after the break up of a relationship, and is a good soft rock track which you find yourself singing along to :-
"I'll be alright without you - there'll be someone else, I keep tellin myself
I'll be alright without you - oh, love's an empty face, I can't replace"

Another favourite is 'Separate Ways (World's Apart) which is quite a fast-paced catchy rock tune with a great intro that I recognised immediately.
This song enjoyed a new popularity when it was featured in the film 'Yes Man' ( those of you who have seen Yes Man may remember this was the song played when he was on the bike) as many people looked it up to find out who it was, and went out and bought it.
It was interesting to note how many people thought this track was called 'Someday Love Will Find You' when this is actually the first line of the chorus.

'Dont' Stop Believin' is another track I had heard before and liked but had no idea who it was.
Again it is a catchy rock song, which is thought of by many as the band's signature song. It was described as having one of the best opening keyboard riffs in rock, and has featured in both films (The Wedding Singer) and TV shows such as The Sopranos. It is also the most downloaded song not released in the 21st century of all time in the iTunes Music Store.

I really like the ballad 'Open Arms' which I mentioned at the beginning, and is a big power ballad. Covered by Mariah Carey amongst others, and featured in the film 'The Last American Virgin', whilst 'Faithfully' is another slow ballad about the strains of relationships whilst on the road.
It is another of my favourites, and great for when you're having a soppy moment!
"Highway run into the midnight sun
Wheels go round and round
You're on my mind
Restless hearts sleep alone tonight"

Other stand out tracks for me are 'Ask The Lonely' and 'Be Good To Yourself', which I would describe as a feel-good song.
There are no songs that I dislike on this hits compilation, and I think it is a great album to buy as an introduction to Journey. I have gone on to buy their other studio albums, but this compliation contains so many of my favourite tracks, it is the one I play the most.
All the lyrics are included with the album so you can have a good singalong too!
Even if you just know one song featured on this album and like it, I would say go and buy the album, you may find you know more tracks than you think, and become a fan like me!

Greatest Hits - Journey, is available to buy new priced at £4.98 on Amazon UK.
Label - Columbia
ASIN : B000026A54

Summary: Excellent greatest hits collection.