You think that when they have just released their most successful album and tour with Escape, that everything would be fine and dandy in the Journey household. Well, Steve Perry was having problems with his voice and was rumoured to have had surgery between these two records and upon his return for the recording of this album his voice was never the same as he sang in a lower register. The really high notes – that had become his trademark – were used more sparingly.
This was the bands eight studio album released in ’83 and is a worthy follow up to Escape. Even though the ballad count is up there, this was perceived at the time to be quite a heavy sounding album. Separate Ways, Chain Reaction, Edge Of The Blade, and Back Talk are all rockin’ tracks with Schon being the focus – as well as Perry’s vocals. Even though everybody thinks that Faithfully was the big single from this record, but it was the rockin’ Separate Ways that charted higher, reaching number 8.
If I’m pushed, I would say this is my favourite Journey album, although I flip flop between this and Escape. I don’t care if you like them or not, you have to admit they write great songs. With Perry they wrote many, and in Neal Schon they have one of rocks greatest players. Great band and a great album.
10/10 from The Grooveman.
