Frontiers - Journey

I remember being bored one cold winters day in March of '83 and, plucking up the courage to face the wind and snow, decided to 'journey' to the local library in the hope of some 'escape'. The library had just started hiring out music which was a bit of a misnomer as all they usually stocked were things that you'd either never heard of or stuff that you would never dare take out in case some friend of yours happened to be standing behind you. Imagine ...
...days of yore) by the american pop/rock quintet Journey whose name I had seen written in the hallowed pages of Kerrang! on more than one occasion and had thereby been given a note of credibility.

Journey began life in 1973 as the Golden Gate Rythm Section containing the ex-Santana man Neal Schon on guitar and Ross Valory (from the ridiculously named Frumious Bandersnatch) on bass. Following numerous line-up changes they eventually found ... more

I remember being bored one cold winters day in March of '83 and, plucking up the courage to face the wind and snow, decided to 'journey' to the local library in the hope of some 'escape'. The library had just started hiring out music which was a bit of a misnomer as all they usually stocked were things that you'd either never heard of or stuff that you would never dare take out in case some friend of yours happened to be standing behind you. Imagine my surprise then when I saw a cassette (oh those days of yore) by the american pop/rock quintet Journey whose name I had seen written in the hallowed pages of Kerrang! on more than one occasion and had thereby been given a note of credibility.

Journey began life in 1973 as the Golden Gate Rythm Section containing the ex-Santana man Neal Schon on guitar and Ross Valory (from the ridiculously named Frumious Bandersnatch) on bass. Following numerous line-up changes they eventually found what would be their perfect line-up including Steve Perry, a vocalist replete with a unique (and high) voice. In 1983 Journey released the follow-up album to their hugely successful 'Escape' LP entitles 'Frontiers'. 'Escape' was a phenominal success which would eventually become a 9 times platinum seller containing three US top ten hits - 'Who's Crying Now', 'Don't Stop Believing' and 'Open Arms' (I first heard this on the 'Last American Virgin' soundtrack!) - and would be a difficult act to follow.

After releasing such a great album as 'Escape' it was always up for debate whether they could actually top that with their next release but, for me, 'Frontiers' is a far better album.

Track Listing

1 - Seperate Ways
2 - Send Her My Love
3 - Chain Reaction
4 - After the Fall
5 - Faithfully
6 - Edge of the Blade
7 - Troubled Child
8 - Back Talk
9 - Frontiers
10 - Rubicon

Bonus tracks on CD re-issue

11 - Only the Young
12 - Ask the Lonely
13 - Liberty
14 - Only Solutions

The album kicks off with what would be a number eight hit for them in 'Seperate Ways' starting with the keyboard playing of Jonathan Cain before the guitars come in and the tenor(ed?) voice of Perry. It is a great way to kick of the set which is only let down by the next track which brings you back down to Journey safe-ground with a soft ballad.

'Back Talk' which is a bit of a disjointed track and 'Troubled Child' which I think is fantastic had been inserted on the advice of the bands A&R man Michael Dilbeck in place of two tracks that can be found on the re-issued CD - 'Ask the Lonely' and 'Only the Young'. If not for these omissions the LP could arguably have been a bigger hit than it was for 'Ask the Lonely' is perhaps my favourite Journey track ever!

'Edge of the Blade' is a great song about the break-up of marriage and the dealy war of attrition fought in the courts -

'You're caught up in the power, a blue magical maze,
Now the circle is broken in a spellbinding rage,
Better see if you're holding the wrong edge of the blade.
If it's sharp, if it cuts - enjoy yourself!'

Neal Schon plays a wonderful guitar solo to play the song to its fading conclusion and perhaps ends the best track on the album.

With the song 'Frontiers' Steve Perry, as is his wont to do during many tracks but never more so than here, sings behind the beat which at first can have a very disconcerting effect. It feels like you're listening to two seperate tracks until the rythm of both seem to blend and become one. Perhaps the most interesting song on the set.

'Faithfully' closed side one on the vinyl and cassette versions of the album and is the typical radio-friendly power-ballad that Journey (and many soft rock bands) flourish on and was written by Cain. If you've heard the 'Escape' LP then think 'Open Arms Part II'.

The 'Frontiers' LP is a good introduction to the US band that found a regular place on the american airwaves and is now made all the better with the inclusion of the missing tracks replaced for the re-issue. Sadly Journey, as a band following such a fruitful period in their life, then seemed to implode and underwent many personel changes. Their current lead singer, Arnel Pineda, was recruited by Schon after seeing him on 'You Tube' singer Journey covers!

They are not your everyday rock band as you could happily play these when the grandparents were visiting without fear of jaws (soon followed by teeth) dropping and a reminder of how music was 'much better during our day!'

The CD is available on amazon.co.uk for £6.97 new or used from £2.87. Unfortunately it doesn't say whether these are the re-issued versions or not.

Also posted on Dooyoo. 

...less