JOURNEY

How thrilled I was in 1975 to read that Gregg Rolie and Neil Schonn had founded a new band, with drummer Aynsley Dunbar (ex-Zappa), wow, two ex-Santana members and one ex-Zappa, high expectations, wasn't that a supergroup?! Well, for me Journey their eponymous debut album is still their best effort, on this highly acclaimed record the band sounds as an exciting, very progressive blend of several styles, from rock and blues to jazzrock. Their trademark is the combination of the heavy guitar work by Neal Schonn (biting and howling with frequent use of the wah-wah pedal), the often furious drumming by Aynsley Dunbar and the very distinctive vocals with that melancholical undertone by Gregg Rolie. Especially in tracks like Of A Lifetime (great build-up and grand finale), the alternating intrumental Topaz (from swinging Fender Rhodes piano to biting wah-wah guitar) and the final track Mystery Mountain (great interplay between organ, guitar and drums). The other four tracks are worth a listening session too: In The Morning Day delivers halfway a spectacular break with echo-effects, swirling Hammond and blistering guitar, the intrumental Kohoutek has an ominous atmosphere, a strong build-up and a sensational Minimoog solo and In My Lonely Feeling/Conversations contains lush Hammond organ, a dynamic rhythm-section and biting, wah-wah drenched guitar. This is the typical early Journey sound and it inpired me to go to Pinkpop in 1978 (and two years later to The Hague) to witness my beloved Journey. I was pleased with the live performance but ..... Journey with singer Steve Perry (who joined the band in 1977) is another musical story ....