Infinity | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 30, 1978 [1] | |||
Recorded | October–December 1977 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Rock, hard rock | |||
Length | 36:28 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Roy Thomas Baker | |||
Journey chronology | ||||
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Singles from Infinity | ||||
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Infinity is the fourth studio album by American rock band Journey, released in January 1978 by Columbia Records. It was the band's first album with vocalist Steve Perry and the last to feature drummer Aynsley Dunbar.
Looking for a stronger lead vocalist, Journey briefly enlisted Robert Fleischman and even recorded a few tracks with him, one of which, "For You", later appeared on the Time3 compilation album and Fleischman's solo album Perfect Stranger. Fleischman was soon replaced by Steve Perry, due to musical and management differences. Fleischman would later resurface as the first singer of the glam metal band Vinnie Vincent Invasion.
In "Feeling That Way", Perry dueted with keyboardist Gregg Rolie, who sings lead vocals on "Anytime".
"Patiently" was the first song Perry and Neal Schon wrote together. Perry wrote the lyrics, in which he expresses the sadness of being on the road and away from home, while also expressing admiration for the band's fans, and Schon wrote the music for the song. Other popular singles included "Lights" and "Wheel in the Sky". The latter was co-written with temporary frontman Fleischman.
Journey's manager, Herbie Herbert, enlisted English producer Roy Thomas Baker to produce Infinity. Baker produced a layered sound approach, similar to his work with Queen, as demonstrated on tracks such as "Winds of March" (with help from engineer Geoff Workman). In addition, Baker's method of stacked harmonies, notable on several other albums he produced, became trademarks of Journey's sound. He achieved this by having each vocalist (usually Perry and Rolie, sometimes joined by Valory and/or Schon) sing each harmony part in unison. This had the effect of making three or four voices sound like more, and is notable on the songs "Feeling that Way" and "Anytime", which are often played in tandem consecutively on radio stations as presented on the album.
The addition of Perry gave the band a more mainstream sound, and helped Journey attain their highest chart success to date.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [4] |
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 8/10 [5] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [6] |
Cash Box said of the single "Anytime" that it is a "dynamic, irresistible effort that features exuberant, multi-tracked harmonies and potent lead guitar." [7] Record World said of "Anytime" that "The a capella opening and high harmonies are guaranteed to catch the listener within seconds." [8] The Globe and Mail deemed the album "one of the most unjustifiably ignored gems of 1978." [9]
In John Franck's AllMusic review, he wrote that the album, "effectively cemented their rep as one of America's most beloved (and sometimes hated) commercial rock/pop bands." The changes to the band and its music allowed "each bandmember to play to his strength: Perry's soaring, whale of a voice, Schon's scorching fret work, and Gregg Rolie's subtle keyboard arrangements." [4]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Lights" | Steve Perry, Neal Schon | 3:11 |
2. | "Feeling That Way" | Perry, Gregg Rolie, Aynsley Dunbar | 3:28 |
3. | "Anytime" | Rolie, Roger Silver, Robert Fleischman, Schon, Ross Valory | 3:28 |
4. | "Lă Do Dā" | Perry, Schon | 3:01 |
5. | "Patiently" | Perry, Schon | 3:21 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Wheel in the Sky" | Schon, Fleischman, Diane Valory | 4:12 |
2. | "Somethin' to Hide" | Perry, Schon | 3:27 |
3. | "Winds of March" | Matt Schon, Schon, Fleischman, Rolie, Perry | 5:04 |
4. | "Can Do" | Perry, R. Valory | 2:39 |
5. | "Opened the Door" | Perry, Rolie, Schon | 4:37 |
Journey
Production
Chart (1978) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [10] | 22 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [11] | 37 |
US Billboard 200 [12] | 21 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [13] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [14] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Look into the Future is the second studio album by Journey. It was released in January 1976 by Columbia Records.
Next is the third studio album by Journey, released in February 1977. The band continued the formula from 1976's Look into the Future but this album also retains some of their jazzy progressive rock style from the first album. It is the last album to feature Gregg Rolie as the primary lead singer. "Spaceman"/"Nickel and Dime" was the single released from Next.
Evolution is the fifth studio album by American rock band Journey, released in March 1979 by Columbia Records. It is the band's first album to feature drummer Steve Smith.
Departure is the sixth studio album by American rock band Journey. It was released on February 29, 1980, by Columbia Records.
Journey is an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1973 by former members of Santana, the Steve Miller Band, and Frumious Bandersnatch. The band as of 2024 consists of guitarist/vocalist Neal Schon, keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Cain, keyboardist/vocalist Jason Derlatka, drummer/vocalist Deen Castronovo, bassist Todd Jensen, and lead vocalist Arnel Pineda.
Gregg Alan Rolie is an American keyboardist, singer and songwriter. Rolie served as lead singer of the bands Santana and Journey – both of which he co-founded. He also helmed rock group The Storm, performed in Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band until 2021, and since 2001 with his Gregg Rolie Band. Rolie is a two-time inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, having been inducted both as a member of Santana in 1998 and as a member of Journey in 2017.
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The Storm was an American supergroup rock band, formed in the Bay Area of San Francisco during the early 1990s. The band's first single, power ballad "I've Got a Lot to Learn About Love", peaked at #6 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and #26 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Robert Fleischman is an American singer and songwriter. He is known for briefly working with the rock band Journey as their lead vocalist in 1977 and occasionally thereafter as a songwriting collaborator.
"Any Way You Want It" is a song by American rock band Journey, released in February 1980 as the lead single from the band's sixth album Departure (1980). Written by lead singer Steve Perry and guitarist Neal Schon, it peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Kevin Chalfant is an American singer and a native of Streator, Illinois. He obtained a BMI award for co-writing and singing on one of the most frequently aired rock radio hits of 1992 and 1993, "I've Got a Lot to Learn About Love", by The Storm. In October 1993 he very briefly sat in for Steve Perry in Journey, singing lead at a roast for Journey's manager, Herbie Herbert, and in 2003, he toured as lead vocalist for the Alan Parsons Live Project.
The Essential Journey is a compilation of songs from the rock band Journey. Released on October 16, 2001, it is part of Sony BMG's "Essential" series of compilation albums. The album includes most of Journey's major and minor hits that have charted on Billboard Hot 100. It covers material recorded while Steve Perry was lead singer of the band, from 1978's Infinity to 1996's Trial by Fire, neglecting Journey albums recorded before and after his membership. The first disc is Greatest Hits with some minor changes: tracks are in a slightly different order, "After the Fall" replaces "Be Good to Yourself", and "When You Love a Woman" is included.
In the Beginning is the first compilation album from the rock band Journey, containing songs from the group's first three albums. The songs on this album are all taken from the period where Gregg Rolie sang lead vocals, before Steve Perry joined the band as their new lead singer in 1977.
"Lights" is a song recorded by American rock band Journey and written by Steve Perry and Neal Schon, released in 1978.
Greatest Hits 2 is a greatest hits album by American rock band Journey. The album was released on November 1, 2011 by Columbia Records.
"To Play Some Music" is the first single released by the American rock group Journey. It originally appeared as the fourth track on the band's eponymous 1975 debut album.
"Wheel in the Sky" is a song by the American rock band Journey, recorded in 1977 and included on their fourth studio album, Infinity. It was written and composed by Robert Fleischman, Neal Schon, and Diane Valory.
The Infinity Tour was a concert tour by the American rock band Journey. The tour was in support of their 1978 album Infinity which peaked at #21 on the Billboard 200.