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Evolution

 
Album Review: Evolution

  • Artist: Journey
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: 1979 04
  • Genre: Rock

Review

With the platinum triumph of Infinity still ringing in their ears like coins in a slot machine, Journey was now committed to completing their transformation from jazz fusion/prog rock mavens into arena rock superstars with their fifth album, 1979's Evolution. This transition (also clearly illustrated by the futuristic insect gracing each album cover henceforth) would not come without its growing pains, however, and while producer Roy Thomas Baker was back for a second go-round, original drummer Aynsley Dunbar would be the first casualty of the band's new direction. Thankfully, former Ronnie Montrose skin-beater Steve Smith soon brought his college-trained jazz fusion background to the table, and the band was ready to get back to work. If Infinity had defined a new songwriting formula for the act, Evolution only served to develop it and streamlined it further, clearly qualifying as their strongest effort to date and endearing the band to millions of FM rock listeners in the process. With commercial rock hits like "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" (their first single to crack the Top 20), "Too Late" (which reached number 70), and the powerful "Just the Same Way" (which peaked at number 58) leading the way to radio dominance, Journey had never sounded stronger or more determined. And with Steve Perry's tenor pipes now clearly driving the band's engine, and guitarist Neal Schon beginning to relish in his guitar-hero persona, Journey could seemingly do no wrong. Evolution quickly became the band's biggest-selling album (moving over 800,000 units in less than three months), and Perry and co. soon embarked on yet another mammoth tour, which set many an attendance record, and set the stage for even greater triumph with 1980's Departure. [Evolution was reissued in 2006, housed in a fancy digipack with an expanded booklet.] ~ John Franck & Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Majestic Steve Perry, Neal Schon Journey (1:16)
Too Late (Lyrics) Steve Perry, Neal Schon Journey (2:58)
Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' (Lyrics) Steve Perry Journey (3:54)
City of the Angels (Lyrics) Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie Journey (3:12)
When You're Alone (It Ain't Easy) Steve Perry, Neal Schon Journey (3:10)
Sweet and Simple (Lyrics) Steve Perry Journey (4:13)
Lovin' You Is Easy (Lyrics) Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Greg Errico Journey (3:37)
Just the Same Way (Lyrics) Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory Journey (3:17)
Do You Recall (Lyrics) Steve Perry, Gregg Rolie Journey (3:13)
Daydream (Lyrics) Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory Journey (4:41)
Lady Luck (Lyrics) Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Ross Valory Journey (3:35)

Credits

Journey (Main Performer), Steve Perry (Vocals), Steve Perry (Group Member), Neal Schon (Guitar), Neal Schon (Vocals), Neal Schon (Guitar (Synthesizer)), Neal Schon (Synth Guitar), Neal Schon (Roland Synthesizer), Neal Schon (Group Member), Steve Smith (Percussion), Steve Smith (Drums), Steve Smith (Group Member), Randy Bachman (Photography), Gregg Rolie (Keyboards), Gregg Rolie (Vocals), Gregg Rolie (Group Member), Roy Thomas Baker (Producer), Roy Thomas Baker (Mastering), Bob Ludwig (Remastering), George Tutko (Engineer), George Tutko (Second Engineer), Ross Valory (Bass), Ross Valory (Guitar (Bass)), Ross Valory (Vocals), Ross Valory (Moog Synthesizer), Ross Valory (Moog Bass), Ross Valory (Group Member), Jim Welch (Package Design), Geoff Workman (Engineer), Pat Morrow (Liner Notes), Paul Natkin (Photography), Hiro Ito (Photography), Sam Emerson (Photography), Sam Emerson (Back Cover), Sam Emerson (Cover Photo), Michael Putland (Photography), Brian Lee (Mastering), Brian Lee (Remastering), Jim Weleh (Design), Geoffrey Workman (Engineer), Barry Schultz (Photography), Michael N. Marks (Photography), Larry Noggle (Design), Larry Noggle (Package Design)
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Wikipedia: Evolution (Journey album)
Top
Evolution
Studio album by Journey
Released April 5, 1979
Recorded Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles, California, 1978
Genre Rock
Length 37:06
Label Columbia
Producer Roy Thomas Baker
Professional reviews
Journey chronology
Infinity
(1978)
Evolution
(1979)
In the Beginning
(1980)

Evolution is the name of Journey's fifth studio album. It was released in April 1979 on the Columbia Records label.

The album was their highest charting album to date, selling three million copies in the United States. They retained Roy Thomas Baker as producer but drummer Aynsley Dunbar was replaced with Steve Smith, formerly with Ronnie Montrose's band.

Evolution features their first top 20 hit, "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'", which shared the melody, and some of the lyrics, of Sam Cooke's "Nothing Can Change This Love". "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" reached #16 in the United States. "Just the Same Way" featured original lead vocalist Gregg Rolie along with Steve Perry. "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" appears as part of "The Big Medley" on Dream Theater's EP, A Change of Seasons, and also appears in the pilot episode of Glee.

Track listing

  1. "Majestic" (Perry/Schon) – 1:16
  2. "Too Late" (Perry/Schon) – 2:58
  3. "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" (Perry) – 3:54
  4. "City of the Angels" (Perry/Rolie/Schon) – 3:12
  5. "When You're Alone (It Ain't Easy)" (Perry/Schon) – 3:10
  6. "Sweet and Simple" (Perry) – 4:13
  7. "Lovin' You Is Easy" (Errico/Perry/Schon) – 3:37
  8. "Just the Same Way" (Rolie/Schon/Valory) – 3:17
  9. "Do You Recall" (Perry/Rolie) – 3:13
  10. "Daydream" (Perry/Rolie/Schon/Valory) – 4:41
  11. "Lady Luck" (Perry/Schon/Valory) – 3:35

Personnel

Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
1979 The Billboard 200 20

 
 

 

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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