Journey Albums Ranked

Journey is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1973, composed of former members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between 1978 and 1987 when Steve Perry was the lead vocalist. During that period, the band released a series of hit songs, including “Don’t Stop Believin'” (1981), which in 2009 became the top-selling track in iTunes history among songs not released in the 21st century.  Its parent studio album, Escape, the band’s seventh and most successful, reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and yielded another of their most popular singles, “Open Arms”. Its 1983 follow-up album, Frontiers, was almost as successful in the United States, reaching No. 2 and spawning several successful singles; it broadened the band’s appeal in the United Kingdom, where it reached No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart. Journey enjoyed a successful reunion in the mid-1990s and later regrouped with a series of lead singers including Arnel Pineda as a lead since December 2007.
According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Journey has sold 48 million albums in the U.S., making them the 25th best-selling band. Their worldwide sales have reached nearly 100 million records globally, making them one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time. A 2005 USA Today opinion poll named Journey the fifth-best U.S. rock band in history.  Their songs have become arena rock staples and are still played on rock radio stations across the world. Journey ranks No. 96 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Here are all Journey’s albums ranked.

Don’t miss out one of the world’s best-selling bands, Journey. Click below and listen to the timeless songs from one of the world’s best rock bands.

8. Journey (1975)

“Journey’s self-titled 1975 debut album stands as a watershed in the annals of jazz fusion and progressive rock. Released before the rise of the Steve Perry reign, this highly eclectic presentation mixes melodic rock (with all vocals done by keyboardist Gregg Rolie) with almost futuristic instrumental pieces; the song “To Play Some Music” starts off as a simple, almost gospel-like song but then accelerates into a rapid voyage through space and time. “Kohoutek” is a driving hard instrumental track that’s both earthbound and cosmic; think of the British superhero comic Miracleman set to music. “Mystery Mountain,” the final track on the album, is a quasi-mystical, almost Biblical telling of the Earth’s creation as depicted in the Book of Genesis. Two more instrumentals of note are “Topaz” by rhythm guitarist George Tickner (in his only recorded appearance with Journey; he quit after the album’s release) and the more subdued “Conversations” by bassist Ross Valory; both showcase more of Journey’s early knack for jazz fusion/prog-rock improvisation, which didn’t sit well with Columbia Records. The lyrics for the tracks “Of A Lifetime,” “In The Morning Day,” and “In My Lonely Feeling” (mostly written by Gregg Rolie) reflect life on the road as a perpetual touring machine; these thoughts ultimately led to Rolie’s abrupt resignation from Journey in 1980 even as Steve Perry gained gradual creative control of the band, which in 1981 was completed by Gregg’s replacement, former Babys keyboardist Jonathan Cain.”

7. Trial by Fire (1996)

“I consider Trial by Fire their best album. The songwriting displayed a depth and maturity that the band had not shown before, Easy to Fall and the title track are Ballads but they’re not about relationships rather they’re about deep spiritual matters and are testaments to the underrated songwriting skills of Steve Perry, Neal Schon, and Jonathan Cain. Also on this album Journey was able to try new things without ever forgetting who they were, something even the best bands fail to do sometimes. Songs like One More and Colors of the Spirit are not typical Journey songs but they work because they still sound like Journey songs. Even the offbeat reggae style is hidden track Baby I’m a Leavin you work out.
So in conclusion Trial by Fire is Journeys most well written and well performed album ever and it’s a shame Steve Perry didn’t stay in the band long enough to record a follow up. Not only was he a fantastic singer but he was a great songwriter and it’s no wonder people have said that the song writing hasn’t been as good since he left. Now, if you want an album that is wall to wall rockers then this probably isn’t for you but I recommend it to any Journey fan that simply appreciates truly good and worth while music.

6. Raised on Radio (1986)

“Looking back after 30 years, I’ve realized some things about ROR. The reason to buy this album is for Randy Jackson’s bass lines, Neal Schon’s guitar, and Steve Perry’s R&B treatment of these tunes. There are some great tunes here, but I can hear that the great session drummers had their tracks isolated, sampled, and then sequenced back into the mix. It’s really too bad that Steve Smith was fired during the production of this recording, because his tracks are perfect. To make clear: This album was mostly done in pre-production using sequencers (ask Jonathan Cain) and then these tracks were laid-down in the studio with a click track. (That’s fine. I use click tracks myself.) If you’ve bring in the drummer -after- you’ve laid-down the “rhythm section” you can’t blame him for drift if all your giving him is quarter-note clicks; you need quieter 16ths in there, too. But JC and SP probably didn’t know that. A great example of a Journey album that was done without a click track is Escape. Check out “Still the Ride and “Mother, Father” and at the end of each tune, say “…and they didn’t even use a click track…” Buy “Raised On Radio” for these tracks: “Once You Love Somebody” , “Suzanne” , and “Happy To Give” -you can thank me later.”

5. Departure (1980)

“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. 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.”

See more: The Killers Albums Ranked

4. Evolution (1979)

“Journey had found a successful formula on their previous album “Infinity” with the arrival of vocalist Steve Perry and an emphasis on shorter more commercial songs. “Evolution” could almost be considered “Infinity Part II” as it follows the same basic framework as it’s predecessor. “Evolution” blew the doors wide open for Journey selling a gazillion copies and making the band area sell out superstars. The one casualty of the band’s new direction was drummer Ansley Dunbar who quit prior to the albums recording. Jazz / Fusion great Steve Smith was brought in to occupy the drum seat and the band never missed a beat. As a whole I rank this album about the same as “Infinity”. I still really enjoy the few songs here where Perry and Rollie trade off lead vocals. This is especially effective on the track “Just The Same Way”. The big hit off the album “Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezing” is probably my least favorite track on the disc. A few underrated gems include “Daydream”, “Sweet And Simple” and the opening track “Majestic / Too Late”. Journey would go on to make better albums, but this one launched them into the Stratosphere.”

3. Frontiers (1983)

“THIS IS MY FAVORITE ALBUM OF ALL TIME. Steve Perry with Jonathan Cain writing most of the songs made the album more credible than their previous work. Faithfully is by far my favorite song of all time. I can listen to it and I just fall apart and cry because Steve Perry sings it with such feeling you can feel the passion pouring out of him. Separate Ways, Send Her My Love, After the Fall, Troubled Child, Edge of the Blade and Rubicon are all my new favorites on this album. I love the bonus tracks especially Only the Young and Ask the Lonely. Steve Perry gives new meaning to the phrase LEGEND. That’s what he is with this album and his other album either solo or with Journey. He will be remembered that way forever with future generations to come. Journey without him is just another band but with him it is legendary.”

2. Infinity (1978)

“Infinity is almost too good. By the time we get to the end of track two and we hear the ending harmony line of “Feeling that way…….. ooh, anytime that you want me………”, that’s the clear signal this is Journey’s breakthrough album, and those seven seconds represent one of the signature moments frozen in rock for all time. It’s a pronouncement that you’re listening to grade A material which takes a back seat to no one. Pretty bold stuff for a fledgling band who hadn’t yet made a dent in the rock scene into its first three albums. What’s not to like on Infinity? One of the fifty CDs to take on a deserted island with you, because you’d obviously be able to fit that many in a suitcase.”

1.Escape (1981)

“The undoubted KING of all AOR albums and with this, we knew Journey had finally arrived!! Every track is solid gold. The combination of the stylish musicianship, Schon’s clever guitar work, and the best voice in rock ensure the delivery of the superb set of songs proved a winning formula. Perry just delivers through and through and when you listen to WHO’S CRYING NOW, STILL THEY RIDE and the Fabulous OPEN ARMS it still makes my heart stop it’s that good!..The rockers such as KEEP ON RUNNING and the timeless DONT STOP BELIEVING are so well put together it shows the tightness and diversity of this team of musicians superbly well. Tracks off this are still radio played today throughout the world. It was a piece of history in the making and a monster seller for Journey…Time has proved it to be a classic that can be enjoyed by anybody, anywhere and anytime…PURE MAGIC!!”