Customer Reviews

Departure

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This third album of Journey's with Steve Perry at the helm continues the mastery of classic melodic rock that the band is famed for. This would be the last album before Greg Rolie is replaced by Jonathan Cain on keyboards, so it is the last we get to hear of certain classic rock influences. For sure, this is a rocking album but with a definite moodiness to it in spots.

"Any Way You Want It" kicks off the album with a bang. With no instrumental intro, Steve Perry starts belting out one of Journey's most famous rockers. Then comes the light, catchy "Walk Like a Lady", a bluesy number that nicely offsets the opening rocker. "Someday Soon" is melodic rock bliss, and it includes some of the last of the great vocals we get to hear from Greg Rolie. Following is a very uniquely moody tune in "People and Places". I don't know what it is about that song, but with the way the different members each sing a word one after the other combined with the haunting (in spots) sound of the keyboard, this one still can send shivers up my spine. Very unique track.

Then after more fine melodies on "Precious Time", a few definite rockers kick in. "Where Were You" has an amazingly melodic chorus, "I'm Cryin'" contains some of the most amazingly emotive Perry vocals ever, and "Line Of Fire" absolutely smokes. From there the tempo and mood slows up with the short but very nice title track instrumental, which leads into the very pretty, pleasant "Good Morning Girl". "Stay Awhile" further continues the pretty slowdown in tempo, before "Homemade Love" ends the album by again rocking the house.

I could rave at length about every one of these tracks and how listening to them makes me feel. As much as I love the more popular Journey albums that are to follow this one, there is something about that classic sound that is special. This effort was the third straight winning effort with Steve Perry at the vocal helm in three years for the band at the time. Once again, the band struck gold in the classic and melodic rock arena.

Even though I enjoy "Infinity" and "Evolution" better than "Departure," I still love this album dearly. Journey once again exhibits their unique classic rock flavor that fans love so much. They showed the world that they would keep "journeying" on into the 80's, and they kicked off the new decade with more fun, jamming tunes to satisfy one's thirst for classic rock perfection. "Departure," which came out in 1980, provides a unique variety of work from talented muscians, Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory, and Steve Smith. The album is kicked off with their hard-rockin' hit, "Anyway You Want It," and afterward comes a bluesy shuffle in "Walks Like A Lady." The third song, my favorite on the album, is "Someday Soon." The harmonizing of Perry and Rolie on the song is magnificant, and Schon does such a great job on guitar; virtually flawless as usual. I like the vocal arrangement in the song as well. Both Perry and Rolie exhange being in the vocal spotlight, which makes the song even better. "People And Places" shows a great, rare, vocal performance from Schon. Of all of Journey's songs, that one is one of the most unique ones I've ever heard. Perry, Schon, and maybe Rolie, all sing out words one at a time, in an echoing kind of way, and then later, the song takes rockin' action with Smith's drums, and Schon's guitar. Rolie's Keyboards are so flawless, freeflowing, and somewhat mellow and dreamy at times. Rolie does a great job. "Precious Time," "Where Were You," "Line Of Fire," more of a fast-paced, kickin' song, and "Homemade Love" are perfect works of pure, feel-good, get-down-and-jam, songs. Gregg Rolie adds a neat twist to "Precious Time" with his harmonica, and the band sets off a gun-shot sound on "Line Of Fire." Steve Perry sings on each song with so much heartfelt power and energy like there's no tomorrow. "I'm Cryin'" and "Homemade Love" are two other songs that pour out heartfelt power and energy to us as well. Perry sings like his heart is being ripped to shreads while Schon screeches melodic chords on his guitar on the slower moving, bluesy-rockin' "I'm Cryin," and Perry puts forth such intensity on "Homemade Love." One of my other favorite songs, "Stay Awhile," is a smooth flowing song with a very catchy beat, and heartfelt, soulful lyrics from Perry. Perry pulls on our heart strings with the lyrics on "Good Morning Girl," one of the more mellower songs on the album. The title song, "Departure," is an interesting instrumental that doesn't last long at all, but it kind of has a way of making one's mind wonder. It's a mellower, softer little number. Schon does an excellent job. I kind of wanted a little more from the song, though. Overall, "Departure" a fabulous Journey album and is definitely worth a listen. It is a classic piece of Journey perfection. Don't pass it up!

This is a stellar Journey album featuring Perry's voice at his most flawless. This was the vocal peak of his career...with a range that would make an opera singer jealous. Im Cryin' is an amazing showcase for his voice. Good Morning Girl is a wonderfully intimate song. With only a solo guitar backing him up, his sweet voice soars. Dont miss out on this Gem.

If you want a great journey album, this is it. Every song is great, and the best thing is, most of them did not make it onto their greatest hits cd. This may sound like a bad thing, but we all know how greatest hits work; they take a few hits from each album so as to promote all of their albums. But this album is all hits. So if you want a great journey album that aren't the same old songs you are used to (though those never get old), this is the one to buy!

Gregg Rolie, one of JOURNEY's founding members and longtime keyboardist/vocalist, unfortunately left the band shortly after DEPARTURE was recorded. Now leaning towards new musical frontiers: is JOURNEY a rock and roll or a jazz fusion or an R&B band...? It's hard to define such musical expression that is JOURNEY and DEPARTURE! On pieces like WALKS LIKE A LADY and STAY AWHILE: two smooth and cool tunes laden with Schon riffs and Perry's soaring vocals; Valory lays down a mellow groove on bass and Smith drives the beat with astonishing ease. Another outstanding moment includes the hit ANY WAY YOU WANT IT. The heavy WHERE WERE YOU and LINE OF FIRE provide some guitar punch. The driving blues on I'M CRYIN' pushes the envelope of emotive expression. GOOD MORNING GIRL brightly sounds, "I sing it girl from the heart." SOMEDAY SOON and HOMEMADE LOVE lay down some musically challenging time signatures. And the majestic PEOPLE AND PLACES and PRECIOUS TIME help to round out what is a rather sleek album. So how might one exactly define such an extensive album? One need only say that it is indeed JOURNEY!

Departure is Journey's sixth full-length album. It was released in 1980 and is comprised of 12 tracks. The material is in a pop rock musical direction. The songwriting is good, the musicianship is tight, and the sound quality is nice. Steve Perry's vocals are unique and smooth. He sings exclusively on nine songs. On the pleasant "Someday Soon," with its charming harmony vocals, he performs a duet with keyboardist Gregg Rolie; this was the last studio album Rolie played on before Jonathan Cain took the helm for 1981's Escape. Perry does a duet with guitarist Neal Schon on the enjoyable "People and Places," a tune that exhibits pleasing vocal harmonies. The disc kicks off to an energetic start with "Any Way You Want It"--this cut sports a memorable, lively chorus. "Walks like a Lady" is a likeable one that is relaxing. The sprightly "Precious Time" contains harmonica work from Rolie. The gratifying, spirited "Where Were You" displays a catchy, determined refrain. Clocking in at just under a minute, the instrumental "Departure" is tranquil and atmospheric. The song lyrics are not included in the CD packaging. There is a color photo of the band, a tinted black-and-white photo of each of the guys, and a color illustration. The album cover artwork is creative and attractive. A black-and-white illustration is behind the CD tray, and a color one is on the back of the CD jewel case. The disc is 38 minutes. Departure is a solid piece of work from Journey.

THIS IS ONE AMAZING ALBUM. THE MUSIC IS POWERFUL,AND (THE VOICE) STEVE PERRY IS SIMPLY AWESOME. HE IS MY FAVORITE SINGER AND THIS ALBUM DELIVERS HIS GROUND SHAKING VOICE AS I LOVE TO HEAR IT.

I think this could be because they were in the transition between the very fusion/blues oriented Infinity and Evolution, but not quite headed in the direction of Escape and Frontiers. It was the beginning of the more polished "techno" sound they were later to acquire. I particularly enjoy the tracks "People and Places" and "Good Morning Girl," which are unique, but also vaguely reminiscent of "Dream After Dream," which had just been completed prior to the recording of Departure. A must have, and don't overlook it. There is some great rock-n-roll here.

Folks lets get this straight, some have said that some of the older Journey stuff just isnt that good. So I took my time and listened to this classic several time before giving a review. I am amazed at the precision and hard driving sound this CD has. As you progress through you find some very interesting facts that some may not know. First how many actually knew Neil Schon has a very good singing voice. You see and hear him sing melody with Jonathan and Ross but the duet with Steve Perry showed me a side of him that I really wasnt aware of. Before listening to this I hadnt heard an album version of "Where were you", or "Line of Fire". Both sound incredible, even though I really like the live concert version of both as well. And while we are discussing hits, who could not like "Anyway you want it!" an absolute hit that has stood the test of time. I listened intently to each and every song on this one because I have read some reviews that frankly didnt like the earlier offerings. But to set the record straight, Journey, specifically the Steve Perry era Journey absolutely owned the 80's. For any and all of us in our early to mid fourty's and possibly older, just one listen and you all have to admit it takes us back to a simpler, more laid back time of worrying about which girl was the hottest. Journey definately does this for me. Almost to the point of doing the old "what if I had done.....trick". So do yourself the pleasure of adding this to your Journey collection. I'm so glad I did. Thanks for reading.

Another great Journey album with the wonderful voice of Steve Perry when his voice was a pleasant sounding tenor. Some of my favorite songs were I'm Crying, People and Places, Stay Awhile. Make sure you get the expanded reissued digipak version with extra songs like Good Morning Girl, Stay Awhile, Homemade Love. I had to buy this album twice to get the correct version for my collection. I didn't give it 5 stars because I liked Frontiers and Infinity so much more. This is a great album nonetheless and an essential for any Journey collector.