Customer Reviews

Evolution (Dig) (Spkg)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Sony botched the 1996 re-master by not preserving the original segue-way that bridged "Lovin Touchin Squeezin" and "City of The Angels". They have failed to correct this error with this newer, supposedly "re-masterd" version.

On the original vinyl release, "City Of The Angels" kicked in before the final chorus of "Lovin Touchin Squeezin" had completely faded to silence - presenting a similar effect that had been utilized for "Feelin' That Way/Anytime" on Infinity. At the time, some AOR radio stations even played these two tracks together.

As completely seperate tracks on CD, the famous ending of "Lovin Touchin Squeezin" becomes clumsy as the final tones of reverb are cut off abruptly. Ultimately, it is only a couple seconds cut off (reverb echoing to silence) - But as one of Journey's signature tunes, you'd think that they'd have taken the time to get it right and preserver the original context of the release.

The original ending of 'Lovin Touchin Squeezin" (with final seconds of reverb) can be heard on the two disc collection, Essential Journey - but of course, as the set is a collection of radio songs, it does not segue into "City Of The Angels" as it originally did (and should) on Evolution.

A minor point I know. BUT - Sony is clearly trying to honor and replicate the original release. They should take the time to check all the details to get it right. Or - why bother?

According to the liner notes (which someone scanned and posted online), this is the SAME mastering job as on the 1996 re-release. The credits even state in this 2006 issue that it was mastered by Bob Ludwig in 1996. Yes, John Kalodner said in an interview that he and Steve Perry were updating the Journey albums to 2006 audio standards, but unfortunately that was not true. The packaging is new, but if you're an audiophile looking for updated sound, you're not going to find it, so save your money. I give one star for the pure silliness in reissuing the exact same disc under the illusion it is a sonic upgrade.

I agree with Steve! This was simply a waste of time for Sony to even reissue this release without a fresh 2006 remaster! This seems to be a new thing for them to save money. First they threw out the Boston albums in Canada with "remastered" audio from a 2nd generation flat equalized source instead of the original master tapes. Now we get this!

I was really hoping Sony would have spent a little money on this Journey project and put Bob Ludwig in the studio again to give us an improved sonic upgrade 10 years later! I simply don't see the point of these reissues. The 1996 reissues/remasters are still easy to find! They were good for their time, but they simply don't meet 2006 audio standards. Another lame attempt at tricking the fans and cashing in.

Buyer beware. These new Journey releases are reissues of their 1996 remastered releases. They are NOT remastered in 2006. Rhino should be ashamed of itself for this (it's been 10 years - I would have gladly paid for a remastered version, but not for new packaging).

Although not as good as Infinity or Escape, this is a great CD. The song Daydream is an underrated gem. However, this Legacy release has previous 1996 remastering.

FYI: Here's the mastering scoop on the Journey CD's I like and own:

Infinity (not remastered for 2006 Legacy reissues, old 1996 remastering)
Evolution (not remastered for 2006 Legacy reissues, old 1996 remastering)
Departure (remastered for 2006 Legacy reissues)
Escape (not remastered for 2006 Legacy reissues, old 1996 remastering)
Frontiers (remastered for 2006 Legacy reissues)

They should have all been re-remastered.

Trust me, I am with those who say 'Don't Stop Believin', 'Faithfully', and a few other 1980's FM staples by the aforementioned band are overplayed to death, trust me, I AM SO SICK OF HEARING THOSE SONGS! and thankfully, "don't stop" and "faithfully" do not appear on evolution. But Journey's first couple of records with original founding keyboardist/co lead vocalist greg rolie are pretty good and a little more on the "rock" side, than some of the later, more famous albums they did, which suffered by being more 'pop' or 'aor' (adult-oriented-rock).neil schon's guitar work sounds like it was one of the blueprint guitar sounds during the hair metal band years in the eighties (evolution came out in the late seventies)i think journey's later work may have been marred by putting too much darn eighties style keyboards on their later records released during that era. greg's style is less intrusive & lets the skill of the other instrumentalists in the band (schon,smith,and vallory)shine as well. this album and infinity are probably the journey records i like best. the first cut 'the majestic' is awesome and very much in the style of the stuff they put out on their 1st 3 releases. just the same way is another outstanding track on here with leads alternated between perry and rolie. although, song for song, infinity is the stronger album of the two, this one has a lot of outstanding tracks and there is lots of melodic power pop guitar countered with vocal harmonies(city of the angels and too late). this is probably one of the last albums where all the musicians involved working cohesively and democratically, before journey took the full plunge into eighties pretty boy melodic pop with plenty of eighties style synth to boot.

"Evolution" is both a second and fifth album for Journey. Greg Rolie handled all the lead vocals prior to this album but with the addition of Steve Perry, a move away from the band's more progressive rock leanings this "Infinity" marked their "first" album and, as the title implies, this is another evolutionary step away from both the previous Perry led album "Infinity" and the first three Journey albums.

The 2006 remaster is the same master as the 1996 done by Bob Ludwig that's good and bad; the glitch between "City of the Angels" and the song that preceded it (they used to lead right into each other without a break) has not been fixed here--this is a straight reissue of the album. There are also no bonus tracks (there weren't any b-sides to singles that weren't on the album that I recall so any material would be outtakes if they exist). The bottom line is that the first CD issue from 1990 is the best sounding of ALL of these on CD--there's no peak limiting applied, no compression and the album has the full dynamic range as represented on the original release on vinyl and NO indexing glitch.

Having said all of that, this isn't a bad version of the album as Ludwig DID retain most of the dynamics (which is even more important to a band like Journey where there is such a dramatic difference between the softer moments of songs and the louder parts where Neal Schon's guitar playing might come in)and the compression applied is minimal especially when compared to most remasters.

The booklet which is filled with photos (and by the way this is also available in something other than the digipakk--most of these are now in jewel cases)from the era and includes the band's tour itinery is decent. I personally would have preferred some comments from the band on the making of the album, an essay about the band at the time. As the "Behind The Music" special from a decade ago demonstrated there was a lot more behind the scenes going on in the band (Perry always feeling like an outsider to some degree; pressure on the band to head in a more commerical direction, their first new lead singer who wrote some of the material on "Infinity" and toured with Journey prior to Perry joining; Rolie losing his role as the primary lead singer and his feelings about it, etc.)than has even been hinted at and hasn't been explored to its fullest degree.

Having said that, "Evolution" is a nearly flawless album (regardless of how you feel about the big single "Lovin', Squeein', Teasin'" which Perry brought to the band)in terms of its glossy sheen, playing and rock appeal and this reisssue is only marred by the lack of attention from Sony to fix the glitch on the original album. Given how important this album was at the time (selling well over 3 million copies and pushing the band into the top 10 for the first time with a hit single as well), it has been treated with curious indifference by Sony.

I've docked this release a star for the indexing glitch that's still here (it doesn't help that Sony wasn't honest when promoting this with the other 2006 remasters implying from the copyright date that this, too, was remastered when it does plainly say it in the booklet credits)and some of the other minor issues but this is, on the whole, a truly stunning second album.

Try and find the original issue first.

Recommended.

I was completing my Journey collection and so purchased the three with Steve Perry (before Cain as I call it). I love Steve Perry's singing but the songs just aren't rock enough for me or something...just a bit too bluesy or something. I think "Infinity" is a better choice if you want to get just one of the older Journeys. "Departure" wasn't enough of a departure but is different than "Evolution" or "Infinity." "Sweet and Simple" is a really nice song and of course "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" is a classic both written by Steve Perry. I'd give it higher rating if I was judging those two songs. The songs Neal Schon wrote with Steve Perry, "Too Late," "Majestic," and "When you're Alone" are great guitar songs with great vocals. "Lovin' You Is Easy" is a good song too. I guess this album is pretty good when you break it down song by song.

Another great album and great voice. Steve Perry's written hit LTS hits the top 20. One of my favorites with songs LTS, Sweet and Simple, Something to Hide.

San Francisco's Journey had catapulted themselves into arena rock stardom with the addition of vocalist Steve Perry and the release of `Infinity' in early 1978. However this new found success and change of style did not stop the revolving personnel door as long time drummer Aynsley Dunbar left to be replaced by Steve Smith who would stay throughout Journey's reign as AOR's top dogs. The new record `Evolution' would be even more commercial than its predecessor and receive top album sales and produce one major hit single in "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'". Journey was intent on being a radio mainstay and while there was a touch of progressive rock on the LP, this was overshadowed by the pop rock conventions of "Too Late", "City of Angels", "Just the Same Way", "Lovin You Is Easy"; all great songs by the way but definitely not resembling their early jazz rock sound. Journey could still bring the hard rock but only "Lady Luck" could even come close to being in the same ball park as heavy metal and the band wanted that mainstream audience that metal in 1979 was not going to give them. Neal Schon's playing is still as creative and metallic sounding even within the most innocuous of pop confines and I think that's why hard rock fans still love Journey though they would continue to pursue a pop course into the next decade with proficient if not ultimately (for the hard rock fan) satisfying results. I do understand the gripe about this remaster as the space between "Lovin" and "City" is too long and I did own the original LP but my review is based on the overall craft not necessarily the supposed "updates" in sound quality as `Evolution' has always been my favorite Journey record. It's what I like to do...