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52 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Testimony of a Great Band., February 24, 2000
It's funny, I didn't like Journey when I was a pre-adolescent kid and they were having hit after hit on the radio. As I got older I needed Journey to remind me of my childhood, and the music brought back (and still brings up) fond memories. Now it seems there are many Journey-bashers and in retrospect there were many back in their hey-days. But, years after all the 80's bands have been silenced, this band, along with Styx, REO Speedwagon, Def Leppard, Toto and a few others, still sounds great. No one sounded like or sounds like Journey. Their hits collection makes it hard to buy any individual cd, but after you have their hits, I think most fans would agree that Escape and Frontiers would be the next to buy. Their 1996 cd Trial By Fire was good but not as great as Escape or Frontiers. Steve Perry's two solo cds can be summed up with HIS greatest hits cd. So, that leaves us with Journey's Greatest Hits--15 solid tracks and the fastest 65 minutes you'll listen to. Although the critics scorned Steve Perry's vocals, and non-fans scorn him too, I feel that he is truly an amazing singer--no one sounds like him. In a world where most pop singers sound alike, this is a strong asset. I never get tired of listening to Journey and maybe, in a few more years, they will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For now, their Greatest Hits is a must buy for any true music fan, it's well worth the money.
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51 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Be good to yourself and get this!, April 16, 2003
One of the biggest rock groups synonymous with the late 1970's and mid-1980's was Journey, led by Steve Perry and Neal Schon. The band broke up following Steve Perry's bout with cancer and Neal Schon forming Bad English. But they did leave behind songs that were mostly yearning love songs that pepper many a classic rock station today. As they played a significant part in my musical education in the 1980's, they do merit a gander. Most of the songs here are instant classics. Key: [original studio album]The rocker "Only The Young" sets the standard for Steve Perry's soaring vocals, a wistful chorus, a strong backbeat of drums, and a crash of guitars. This song, about a hopeful generation at a new dawn, is romantically optimistic: "Only the young can say/They're free to fly away/Sharing the same desires/Burnin' like wildfire." "Don't Stop Believing" [Escape] is a mid-paced rocker with a strong keyboard chords punctuating the rhythm. There's a sad but true moral here: "Some will win, some will lose/Some were born to sing the blues/Oh, the movie never ends/It goes on and on and on and on." However, there is a note of hope in the coda: "Don't stop believin'/Hold on to the feelin'." "Wheel In The Sky" [Infinity] may be a followup to the male protagonist of the previous song who took that midnight train and has found life too hard going enough to want to go back home. "Faithfully," [Frontiers] about a rocker on the road and vows to remain faithful to the dear one he has left behind because "the road ain't no place to start a family." Perry's vocal reaches the heights in the finale. The slow ballad "Lights" and heartfelt "Send Her My Love" [Frontiers] also have the same theme. "I'll Be Alright Without You," [Raised On Radio], avers that "love's an empty face...oh I've got to replace." The rowdy party rocker "Any Way You Want It," [Departure] the song Rodney Dangerfield and crew jams to on the green in Caddyshack is enough to chase out any blue funk. The rocking "Ask The Lonely" tells those who've gotten the wrong end of the love stick and despairing to do the title act. The operatic backing vocals from the band really enhance the song. I remember trying to find the yearning "One Love" on Journey's albums before I was put wise-it was called "Who's Crying Now." [Escape] One of my favourites. The piercing opening synthesizers and chugging guitars make "Separate Ways" [Frontiers] one of the hardest songs they've ever done. Another big favourite. Memorable chorus: "Someday love will find you/Break those chains that bind you/One night will remind you/How we touched/And went our separate ways" "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'"[Evolution] incorporates a bluesy sound. Then comes a heartmelting power ballad and another favourite-"Open Arms" [Escape] about a reunited love after a long separation. Mariah Carey covers this on her Daydream album, BTW. "The Girl Can't Help It"-no, not the Little Richard song or movie-is another Raised On Radio hit. The chorus sets the basic idea: "The girl can't help it, she needs more/He hasn't found what he's lookin' for/They're still standing in the rain/He can't help it, and she's just that way." Its fellow single, "Be Good To Yourself" rivals "Any Way You Want It" in sheer rockability. Which brings me to this-be good to yourself and get this collection!
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20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An ESSENTIAL CD for any 80s music fan...., November 21, 2001
This album does a great job of covering all the big songs from Journey's albums Infinity, Evolution, Departure, Escape, Frontiers, and Raised on Radio, plus a couple of excellent soundtrack cuts that have never previously been released on a Journey album. Each song features the one-of-a-kind voice of Steve Perry (the new guy is good, but not as good as Steve Perry) along with the instantly recognizable guitar of Neal Schon. Both of these guys are rock masters who belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame someday. Journey was one of the bands whose sound defined 1980s pop music. They were able to craft beautiful love songs such as Faithfully and Open Arms, along with hard-rocking tracks such as Seperate Ways and Any Way You Want It, plus power ballads like Don't Stop Belivin' and Only The Young. The best songs are the ones from the Escape, Frontiers, and Raised on Radio albums, where Steve and Neal teamed up with Journey's best keyboardist, Jonathan Cain (sorry, Rolie fans). Jonathan not only contruibuted wonderful keyboarding, he is a talented songwriter, being responsible for Faithfully, which is one of the best love songs I've ever heard. This CD is 15 tracks of Rock Gold. For most bands, 15 tracks is enough to cover their best work. But, not Journey. As great and as essential as this CD is, you also need to get their studio albums from this period to hear all their best work. Some of my personal favorites don't make it on here, especially After The Fall and Rubicon. So, once you hear the awesome sounds on this CD, I suggest you pick up their studio albums if you really want to get "the rest of the story" (sorry, Mr, Harvey).
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