Journey Distant Eyes CD

Live in Japan March 2, 1983

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Journey - Big Wheel In The Sky - New Album Release with Steve Perry live

On June 10, 2016 a new Journey Album of a live performance recorded for a live radio broadcast on August 9, 1979 was released. This was recorded during the "Evolution Tour". Originally a "Studio Jam" presentation, hosted by Robin Winter, makes for a great album. It's 73 minutes of Journey with Steve Perry and Gregg Rolie. It isn't the complete concert, it's missing three songs between "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" and "Just The Same Way".

The missing songs are "Do You Recall", "Daydream", and "When You're Alone (It Ain't Easy) which are all great songs from the "Evolution Album", but they were cut for the live "Studio Jam" special and therefore cut here as well.

Since this was recorded professionally back in 1979, it has shown up as different bootleg albums. "Evolution To Eternity" is the name of a 2 CD package released through Gypsy Eye Records. Another is called "Chi-Town Boogie" which is also a 2 CD set. Both include a Steve Perry interview which was part of the Studio Jam presentation.

The Setlist;
  1. Majestic
  2. La Do Da
  3. Next
  4. Feeling That Way
  5. Anytime
  6. Lights
  7. Lady Luck
  8. Too Late
  9. Kohoutek
  10. Winds Of March
  11. Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'
  12. Just The Same Way
  13. Lovin' You Is Easy
  14. Guitar Solo
  15. Wheel In The Sky
  16. She Makes Me Feel (Alright)
  17. Patiently
  18. Opened The Door

Liner Notes;
SUPERB LIVE BROADCAST RECORDING FROM JOURNEY AT THEIR CREATIVE PEAK Founded in 1973 by ex-members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch, Journey’s initial blend of progressive rock and jazz fusion was met tepidly by critics, and their early records were equally unsuccessful. Under pressure from Columbia Records to change their musical direction however, the band enlisted the talents of singer Steve Perry in 1977, which brought a new pop-oriented rock sound to the group making them appeal to fans of contemporaries like Foreigner and Boston. Hiring former Queen producer, Roy Thomas Baker, the band released Infinity in 1978, which provided their first platinum album and helped skyrocket the band to international fame. Thereafter, they created records in a more mainstream vein to capitalise on their newly-acquired success. By the end of 1978, Journey had already begun working on a new album with Baker. Evolution was released on 5th April 1979, and was met with such enthusiastic acclaim that its success even surpassed that of Infinity. Selling over three million copies and charting at No. 20 on the Billboard 200, the album also produced the band’s first Top 20 single, with Lovin , Touchin , Squeezin peaking at No. 16. The set presented here, recorded at Comiskey Park in Chicago on 9th August 79, featured as part of the tour in support of Evolution clearly demonstrates how far Journey had excelled in just a few short years. Featuring the aforementioned hit along with an array of favourites from their back catalogue, including Just The Same Way, Lights, and Wheel In The Sky, this live show is a prime snapshot of a band enjoying fame and beginning to reach the peak of their musical powers, while, incredibly, some of the group’s best work was still to come.

Journey's unofficial Guitar and Amps Album from 1978

In 1980 I found my very first unofficial album of Journey. It was called "Guitars and Amps" and I thought I found gold! It was recorded in August, 1978 and it has one of the first live recordings with new member, Steve Perry on vocals! (He is not listed in the liner notes)

This in area that I have kept out of until now. Bootleg albums. Journey has many and this is just one of them. This one was actually pressed to vinyl. This will also serve as my unofficial fist "Retrospective" that I do.

Front Album Cover

Rear Album Cover

Liner Notes;

Journey

Gregg Rolie vocals, keyboards, guitar

Neal Sehon guitar

Ross Valory bass

Aynsley Dunbar drums

            Formed in late 1973, Journey made their debut at San Francisco Winterland on New Year's Eve that year, followed by New Year's Day second gig before 100,000 audience at annual Sunshine Festival at Diamond Head Crater, Hawaii. Not that such sizeable gatherin~ were strange territory to at least three members of this minor-supergroup.

            Rolie and Schon were both members of San Francisco's massively successful Santana (è); indeed Rolie was co-founder of that group with guitarist Carlos Santana in 1967. He played on four platinum-selling albums and was primarily responsible for band arrangements and vocals before Carlos' moves towards jazz caused conflict of opinions.

            Schon was something of teenage guitar protege, encouraged by Carlos Santana after declining Eric Clapton's offer of gig in his Derek and Dominos group at age 16. He cut two albums with Santana band, as well as appearing on Carlos Santana and Buddy Miles live album. Before Journey, played briefly, with Graham Central Station (è).

            Drummer Aynsley Dunbar, born in Liverpool, England, has similarly illustrious credits. He first came to attention as highly accomplished drummer with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, subsequently forming own band Retaliation and later the ambitious Blue Whale, using large brass section. Arrived in America to join Mothers Of Invention (è), cutting four albums and touring extensively with same. When Flo & Eddie (è) left Mothers to gig on own, Dunbar accompanied them. Numerous session credits include work for Jeff Beck, Bonzo Dog Doo Dab Band, Lou Reed, David Bowie.

Recordings:

Journey (Columbia/CBS)

Look For The Future (Columbia/CBS)

Next (Columbia/CBS)

Nice Guys Dept:

Despite their grueling tour schedule of 178 dates in six months (that's almost One a day. folks), Journey found time to do a benefit for San Mateo'. Burrell Junior High School recently. The hard working rockers raised $6,000 towards new uniforms for the school band.

After working together for five years, drummer Aynsley Dunbar and Journey have gone separate ways because Dunbar's drumming style was more suited to jazz, than rock and roll, according to reliable sources within the band. Steve Smith, who has drummed for Jean Luc Ponty and more recently with Montrose, will replace Dunbar. The band plans to play gigs in redding on October 14, and in Santa Clara on October 22, to prepare Smith before they begin a world tour that starts New Year's Eve in Oakland. Meanwhile, they'll be working on an album that's due out by early February.

Rumors were flying that Dunbar would join The Who as a replacement for the late Keith Moon. However, sources close to that band say that only session drummers will be used, so perhaps the rumor that Dunbar is starting his own group is more likely. When asked about his plans for the future, Dunbar says that "things are up in the air" and that he's still "deciding" about what to do. As always, he says, he's available for session work, and now he'll have more time since Journey's grueling tour schedules are a thing of the past.

For more information about these sort of Journey recordings please visit the links below;

Bootradr's Blind Boot Blog

Dixie Highway