Journey - prog related?

They're first albums can prove that they are - although they never stoped using prog elements. Comments?

Yes, Journey is related to Prog, but not seen by some as closely enough related for Prog Related, or shall I say unsuitable?  Controversial for sure.  I know that their first album is considered Prog by many, but it being a seminal AOR band, and an exapmle of Arena Rock, it's frowned upon.  Sure there are examples of AOR and Arena Rock bands in the archives, but each one on a case by case basis.  I haven't heard the debut album, but it is said that just having one Prog album is enough for inclusion in a Prog category.

Incidentally, this poll will be moved since Prog polls is intended "Prog" bands in the archives. 

Incidentally, check out these topics: Journey poll
Boston/Journey
JOURNEY, yes Journey!
JOURNEY debut, what???
Kansas/Journey Oddity

Prog related to my knowledge, but there are worries that it may set a precedent (or did bands like Styx already do that?)


Edited by Logan - December 21 2007 at 17:58

Logan, there are always a lot of worries because the band addition policy on Prog Archives is not really consequent and quite open for discussions which means that one proghead is delighted about Talk Talk and JM Jarre while the other begs for Jimi Hendrix or The Stranglers and only an objective Prog Archives Inquisition can judge about that! About Journey, in the line-up without Steve Perry they have made a few albums that are way more interesting in terms of progressive ideas than the ones of bands that are already added to Prog Archives, if you like I will give you at least 10 bands for example... !

Erik, posted the above before seeing your post. Yes, indeed.  Personally, I'd be happy with both Jarre and Jimi Hendrix in the archives, and though I may not know Journey that well, I think I could think of a number of examples of bands that are not only very questionably Prog, but are not progressive.

Prog really is in the ear of the behearer to quite an extent (beyond certain widely accepted bands that were part of the Progressive Rock movement).  I expect with Journey that this is one of those bands where many people have formed fairly unshakable opinions about what they are and where they fit; whereas, like many bands, they played different styles of music/ traversed different genres.

Above average rock band doesn't not equal prog. A lot of bands seem to be getting away with that.

Why don't we just add every big rock band from the '70s, and be done with it.

Journey are as prog related as any prog related band gets  ... very high caliber musicianship ... with lots of the tripe thats been added Journey may just restore some credibility to whats prog related


Edited by Yorkie X - December 21 2007 at 23:19

Technically speaking, every single rock or even pop band are in some way related to prog.

I would go so far as to say EVERY band ever is in a very distant way related.

bhikkhu wrote: Why don't we just add every big rock band from the '70s, and be done with it.

Well Atavachron, about early Journey, it's a matter of taste and opinion: lots of posters show their appreciation for early Journey and notice sufficient progressive elements for an addition but the Heavy Prog team doesn't, if I was in the Heavy Prog or Prog Related team with some positive posters, early Journey would have been on Prog Archives very soon, it's that simple how it works here on Prog Archives.

And I know many progheads who prefer early Journey here on Prog Archives rather than The Beatles.

Edited by erik neuteboom - December 22 2007 at 07:43