Lights (Journey song)

Last updated
"Lights"
Single by Journey
from the album Infinity
B-side "Opened the Door"
ReleasedJune 16, 1978 (UK) [1]
August 1978 (US) [2]
Recorded1977
Genre Soft rock [3]
Length3:09
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Steve Perry, Neal Schon
Producer(s) Roy Thomas Baker
Journey singles chronology
"Feeling That Way / Anytime"
(1978)		"Lights"
(1978)		"Just the Same Way"
(1979)
Music video
"Lights" on YouTube

"Lights" is a song recorded by American rock band Journey and written by Steve Perry and Neal Schon, released in 1978.

Contents

Background and writing

The song is about Journey's city of origin, San Francisco, although it was actually written in and originally intended to be about Los Angeles. It was one of Steve Perry's first Journey songs, and was recorded soon after joining the band. In an interview, Perry said, "I had the song written in Los Angeles almost completely except for the bridge and it was written about Los Angeles. It was 'when the lights go down in the city and the sun shines on LA.' I didn't like the way it sounded at the time. And so I just had it sitting back in the corner. Then life changed my plans once again, and I was now facing joining Journey. I love San Francisco, the bay, and the whole thing. 'The bay' fit so nice, 'When the lights go down in the city and the sun shines on the bay.' It was one of those early-morning-going-across-the-bridge things, when the sun was coming up and the lights were going down. It was perfect." [4]

Released as a single in 1978, it was originally only a minor hit, reaching number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 at the time. [5] It has, however, become more popular over the years and is now one of Journey's most popular and easily recognizable songs and is often played in Classic Hits/Oldies radio stations. It is frequently played at San Francisco Giants baseball games (including versions led by Perry himself at Game 2 of the 2010 World Series, [6] Games 1 [7] and 2 [8] of the 2012 World Series, and Games 4 and 5 of the 2014 World Series [9] ) and the cross-bay Oakland Athletics after-game fireworks starts. The song is now usually played at Levi's Stadium when the NFL San Francisco 49ers win a home game. It is sometimes used in promos for the Golden State Warriors. The song was also played right before the start of game 4 of the 1989 World Series on ABC.

Journey released a live version of the song in 1993 for the Time³ box set. This recording reached #30 on the Adult Contemporary chart. [10]

The song was the last to be played during the Top 40 era of KFRC 610, a legendary San Francisco station, before the flip to a nostalgia/adult standards format in 1986. [11]

KIII of Corpus Christi, Texas used this song during their sign offs in the late 1980s.

Reception

Cash Box praised the "searching guitar work" and "excellent lead and backing vocals." [12] Record World said that it "has an easy '50s rock beat and an outstanding lead vocal" and that "the sweet high harmony hook is compelling." [13]

Personnel

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [14] 2× Platinum2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Infinity</i> (Journey album) 1978 studio album by Journey

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.

<i>Escape</i> (Journey album) 1981 studio album by Journey

Escape is the seventh studio album by American rock band Journey, released on July 20, 1981, by Columbia Records. It topped the US Billboard 200 chart and featured four hit Billboard Hot 100 singles – "Don't Stop Believin'", "Who's Crying Now", "Still They Ride" and "Open Arms" – plus rock radio staple "Stone in Love". In July 2021, it was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA) for at least ten million sales in the US, making it the band's most successful studio album and second most successful album overall behind Greatest Hits. Escape was the fifth-highest selling album of 1981, just behind Bella Donna from Stevie Nicks.

<i>Raised on Radio</i> 1986 studio album by Journey

Raised on Radio is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Journey, released in April 1986 on the Columbia Records label. It is the first album not to feature founding bassist Ross Valory, who was replaced initially by session bassist Bob Glaub and then by Randy Jackson. Drummer Steve Smith contributed to a few tracks, but was replaced during the recording by session drummer Larrie Londin and then Mike Baird for the subsequent tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Journey (band)</span> American rock band

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Perry</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1949)

Stephen Ray Perry is an American singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer and frontman of the rock band Journey during their most successful years from 1977 to 1987, and again from 1995 to 1998. He wrote/co-wrote several Journey hit songs. Perry had a successful solo career between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s, made sporadic appearances in the 2000s, and returned to music full-time in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregg Rolie</span> American musician (b. 1947)

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.

<i>Time<sup>3</sup></i> 1992 box set by Journey

Time3 is a 1992 three-CD compilation box set by the American rock band Journey. The tracks are arranged chronologically and include both studio and live tracks. A booklet documenting the band's history and song details is included.

<i>Trial by Fire</i> (Journey album) 1996 studio album by Journey

Trial by Fire is the tenth studio album by American rock band Journey. Released on October 22, 1996, the album marked the reunion of the classic 1981–1985 lineup, which had not recorded together since 1983's Frontiers. Trial by Fire was produced by Kevin Shirley, who continues to produce the band's albums. It is the first album to feature bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith since Frontiers and the last to feature Smith and vocalist Steve Perry.

<i>Arrival</i> (Journey album) 2000 studio album by Journey

Arrival is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band Journey, released on April 3, 2001. A version with one substituted song was released in Japan in 2000. The album was the band's first full-length studio album with new lead vocalist Steve Augeri, who replaced popular frontman Steve Perry, and with Deen Castronovo, who replaced Steve Smith as the band's drummer.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Open Arms (Journey song)</span> 1982 single by Journey

"Open Arms" is a song by American rock band Journey. It was released as a single from the Heavy Metal soundtrack and their 1981 album, Escape. Co-written by band members Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain, the song is a power ballad whose lyrics attempt to renew a drifting relationship. It is one of the band's most recognizable radio hits and their biggest US Billboard Hot 100 hit, reaching number two in February 1982 and holding that position for six weeks. It also reached number two in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Stop Believin'</span> 1981 single by Journey

"Don't Stop Believin'" is a song by American rock band Journey. It was released in October 1981 as the second single from the group's seventh studio album, Escape (1981), released through Columbia Records. "Don't Stop Believin'" shares writing credits between the band's vocalist Steve Perry, guitarist Neal Schon, and keyboardist Jonathan Cain. A mid-tempo rock anthem and power ballad, "Don't Stop Believin'" is known for its iconic opening piano riff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Any Way You Want It</span> 1980 single by Journey

"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.

<i>The Essential Journey</i> 2001 greatest hits album by Journey

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who's Crying Now</span> 1981 single by Journey

"Who's Crying Now" is a song by the American rock band Journey. It was written by Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry. It was released in 1981 as the first single from Escape and reached No. 4 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Mainstream Rock Tracks charts. The song charted at No. 46 in the UK Singles Chart, and was the band's highest charting single in the UK until "Don't Stop Believin'" incurred a resurgence in UK popularity in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">After the Fall (song)</span> 1983 single by Journey

"After the Fall" is a song by the American rock band Journey. Written by Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry, it was the third single released from their 1983 album Frontiers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only the Young (Journey song)</span> 1985 single by Journey

"Only the Young" is a song written by Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry and Neal Schon of the band Journey. Previously intended for Journey's 1983 album Frontiers, it was pulled from the album within days of recording in favor of songs "Back Talk" and "Troubled Child". It was then sold to the band Scandal, who released it in 1984 on their album Warrior, as the first commercially released version of the song. Journey's version was included on the soundtrack to the 1985 film Vision Quest, and was also released as a single which reached the top 10 of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go All the Way (song)</span> 1972 single by Raspberries

"Go All the Way" is a song written by Eric Carmen of American rock group the Raspberries, from their 1972 self-titled debut album. Released as a single in July 1972, the song reached the Top 5 on three principal US charts: number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 4 on Cashbox, and number 3 on Record World. The single sold more than 1.3 million copies, earning the band their only certified Gold Record. It was their second single release and their biggest US hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheel in the Sky</span> 1978 single by Journey

"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.

References

  1. ↑ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 46.
  2. ↑ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 445. ISBN   9780862415419.
  3. ↑ "AM Gold: The Best Seventies Soft-Rock Gems". Rolling Stone . June 11, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Steve Perry "Off The Record" w/Joe Benson, December 2000". Steveperryfanclub.homestead.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  5. ↑ "Lights by Journey Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  6. ↑ "43,000+ Giants Fans singing Journey's "Lights" with Steve Perry in the audience. Someone on Yahoo..." McCovey Chronicles. 2010-10-29. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  7. ↑ "SF Giants 8th Inning Sing-A-Long 2012 World Series Game 1". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  8. ↑ "Tigers vs. Giants | 10/25/12". Sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com. 2016-01-20. Archived from the original on October 30, 2012. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  9. ↑ Rohan, Tim (2014-10-26). "With Giants in Series, One Rock Song Goes On and On and On and On". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  10. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 126.
  11. ↑ "Bay Area Radio Museum and Hall of Fame | San Francisco". Sfradiomuseum.com. 1939-03-14. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  12. ↑ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 5, 1978. p. 18. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  13. ↑ "Record World Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. August 12, 1978. p. 24. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  14. ↑ "American single certifications – Journey – Lights". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved January 26, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.