Infinity is Journey's fourth studio album, released 1978 on Columbia. It was the band's first album with vocalist Steve Perry, as well as the last to feature drummer Aynsley Dunbar.
Perry came from a band called Alien Project and replaced vocalist Robert Fleischman, who was the band's vocalist between the Next and Infinity albums. Fleischman probably wanted to keep the Journey gig, but his style and musical direction clashed with the band's and Perry was snuck in midway through a tour to replace him. To avoid alarming Fleischman about what they were up to, Perry was initially introduced to Fleischman as a roadie's Portuguese cousin. During a sound check in Long Beach, he performed a song with the band while Fleischman was away from the stage, and the stage, so to speak, was set.
Fleischman would later become the first singer of the Vinnie Vincent's Invasion. Vincent had just been turfed by Kiss.
Right off the bat Perry teamed with guitarist Neal Schon to write Patiently, a pretty little ballad that appears on this album. Perry wrote the lyrics, which expresses the sadness of being on the road and away from loved ones. The song became a popular single, along with Lights and Wheel in the Sky, the latter co-written by Fleischman.
Roy Thomas Baker produced Infinity, using a layered sound approach similar to what he was doing with Queen. He stacked harmonies on top of each other, something that would become a Journey trademark, by having each vocalist sing each harmony part in unison. This had the effect of making three or four voices sound like more, and is perhaps most notable on Feeling that Way and Anytime, which are presented back-to-back on the record and were often played like that in concert.
But I've always had a problem with the sound of this record. Even on a decent system like mine it sounds as if the music is being filtered through a basket of laundry. It's woolly and compressed sounding. I have the same problem listening to the five Queen records Thomas Baker was involved with (well, Jazz isn't terrible sounding) so maybe it's him that I'm hearing. I've tried listening to the CD, the remastered CD and other vinyl pressings of this record (I had the half-speed master for a while) but it made no real difference and the record sounds as though my speakers are wrapped in several layers of winter socks. I'd love to see Journey return to the studio to remix and remaster this record in a way that removes all that sonic lint from it, which I think would sound leaps and bounds beyond what we have here.
Journey has had - still has - a bit of a revolving door on its employees' entrance. At the time Infinity was being put together the band consisted of vocalist and keyboardist Gregg Rolie, guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Ross Valory and drummer Aynsley Dunbar. Prior to the recording of this LP the band was told by their record company that they had to deliver a hit this time - or else! Their three previous albums had been artistically ambitious but commercially disappointing - and the record company now wanted to start seeing a return on their investment.
Manager Herbie Herbert felt part of the problem was the lack of a dedicated singer. Rolie was trapped behind his keyboard and was therefore limited in his ability to deliver as a front man-singer. He certainly couldn't unleash the kind of stage presence a true front man could, so the band started auditioning singers and that's how Fleischman ended up in the position. He recorded some demos before being replaced by Steve Perry, who the band thought was more suitable and allowed Journey to more-or-less rebirth themselves as a hit making machine that would begin spewing hook-laden hit singles beginning with this record.
Given Journey's success with Steve Perry, its interesting to note that he was not the unanimous choice as the band's new singer. But when he helped write the song Lights with Schon, he seemed to win over the rest of the band, who could sense the possibilities (and probably also the accompanying monetary reward). The song was chosen as Infinity’s opening track and today remains one of Journey's best-loved songs.
There is reason to not stop believing that Perry, with his extraordinary vocal ability, was largely responsible for rescuing Journey from the pro-rock scrap heap, and while this album marks their beginning as one of rock's most commercially successful acts - and while the songwriting is wonderful and the performances exceptional - I wish it sounded better than it does.
Infinity is Journey's fourth studio album, released 1978 on Columbia. It was the band's first album with vocalist Steve Perry, as well as the last to feature drummer Aynsley Dunbar.
Perry came from a band called Alien Project and replaced vocalist Robert Fleischman, who was the band's vocalist between the Next and Infinity albums. Fleischman probably wanted to keep the Journey gig, but his style and musical direction clashed with the band's and Perry was snuck in midway through a tour to replace him. To avoid alarming Fleischman about what they were up to, Perry was initially introduced to Fleischman as a roadie's Portuguese cousin. During a sound check in Long Beach, he performed a song with the band while Fleischman was away from the stage, and the stage, so to speak, was set.
Fleischman would later become the first singer of the Vinnie Vincent's Invasion. Vincent had just been turfed by Kiss.
Right off the bat Perry teamed with guitarist Neal Schon to write Patiently, a pretty little ballad that appears on this album. Perry wrote the lyrics, which expresses the sadness of being on the road and away from loved ones. The song became a popular single, along with Lights and Wheel in the Sky, the latter co-written by Fleischman.
Roy Thomas Baker produced Infinity, using a layered sound approach similar to what he was doing with Queen. He stacked harmonies on top of each other, something that would become a Journey trademark, by having each vocalist sing each harmony part in unison. This had the effect of making three or four voices sound like more, and is perhaps most notable on Feeling that Way and Anytime, which are presented back-to-back on the record and were often played like that in concert.
But I've always had a problem with the sound of this record. Even on a decent system like mine it sounds as if the music is being filtered through a basket of laundry. It's woolly and compressed sounding. I have the same problem listening to the five Queen records Thomas Baker was involved with (well, Jazz isn't terrible sounding) so maybe it's him that I'm hearing. I've tried listening to the CD, the remastered CD and other vinyl pressings of this record (I had the half-speed master for a while) but it made no real difference and the record sounds as though my speakers are wrapped in several layers of winter socks. I'd love to see Journey return to the studio to remix and remaster this record in a way that removes all that sonic lint from it, which I think would sound leaps and bounds beyond what we have here.
Journey has had - still has - a bit of a revolving door on its employees' entrance. At the time Infinity was being put together the band consisted of vocalist and keyboardist Gregg Rolie, guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Ross Valory and drummer Aynsley Dunbar. Prior to the recording of this LP the band was told by their record company that they had to deliver a hit this time - or else! Their three previous albums had been artistically ambitious but commercially disappointing - and the record company now wanted to start seeing a return on their investment.
Manager Herbie Herbert felt part of the problem was the lack of a dedicated singer. Rolie was trapped behind his keyboard and was therefore limited in his ability to deliver as a front man-singer. He certainly couldn't unleash the kind of stage presence a true front man could, so the band started auditioning singers and that's how Fleischman ended up in the position. He recorded some demos before being replaced by Steve Perry, who the band thought was more suitable and allowed Journey to more-or-less rebirth themselves as a hit making machine that would begin spewing hook-laden hit singles beginning with this record.
Given Journey's success with Steve Perry, its interesting to note that he was not the unanimous choice as the band's new singer. But when he helped write the song Lights with Schon, he seemed to win over the rest of the band, who could sense the possibilities (and probably also the accompanying monetary reward). The song was chosen as Infinity’s opening track and today remains one of Journey's best-loved songs.
There is reason to not stop believing that Perry, with his extraordinary vocal ability, was largely responsible for rescuing Journey from the pro-rock scrap heap, and while this album marks their beginning as one of rock's most commercially successful acts - and while the songwriting is wonderful and the performances exceptional - I wish it sounded better than it does.
BONUS TRACK
Stephen Ray Perry's journey to rock and roll sainthood more-or-less began with this record. He became known as "The Voice," a moniker originally bestowed upon him by Jon Bon Jovi.
In the early 1970s, while in his early twenties, Perry moved to Sacramento to start a band with a friend. That band, called Ice, didn't last long and Perry moved to Thousand Oaks and formed a prog-rock band, called Pieces, with Tim Bogert, who had previously worked with Jeff Beck. This band lasted longer, about a year-and-a-half, but was unable to secure a record deal and disbanded. Perry then fronted a group called Alien Project but it wasn't long before he almost gave up on a music career after Richard Michaels, the band's bassist, was killed in a car accident.
But then his mother suggested he answer a call from someone named Walter Herbert, manager of struggling band called Journey who needed a new vocalist.
Perry brought a more pop-influenced style to Journey's music, and despite some initial resistancer from a couple of band members and some fans he eventually won everyone over. The band's style changed dramatically with the addition of Perry, but they started to get radio airplay and the buzz over the first album with him fronting the band was overwhelmingly positive.
Perry would provide vocals on nine of Journey's albums, but then his mother became ill and his involvment in the band became sporadic while he spent time caring for her. The band demanded a larger commitment from Perry, whose response was to quit the band, which then fell apart.
The would reunite in 1996 to record Trial By Fire, which was a huge success. But before they could tour in suppoort of the abum Perry suffered a hip injury while hiking in Hawaii and was subsequently diagnosed with a degenerative bone condition. A hip replacement was required, but Perry was reluctant to rush into the surgery and wanted to postpone the tour. The band agreed to wait for him, but after almost two years got tired of waiting and presented Perry with an ultimatum: undergo hip replacement surgery right now so the tour could proceed, or the band would hire a replacement singer. Soon after, Perry announced he was permanently leaving Journey.
He has not performed with the band since.
Stephen Ray Perry's journey to rock and roll sainthood more-or-less began with this record. He became known as "The Voice," a moniker originally bestowed upon him by Jon Bon Jovi.
In the early 1970s, while in his early twenties, Perry moved to Sacramento to start a band with a friend. That band, called Ice, didn't last long and Perry moved to Thousand Oaks and formed a prog-rock band, called Pieces, with Tim Bogert, who had previously worked with Jeff Beck. This band lasted longer, about a year-and-a-half, but was unable to secure a record deal and disbanded. Perry then fronted a group called Alien Project but it wasn't long before he almost gave up on a music career after Richard Michaels, the band's bassist, was killed in a car accident.
But then his mother suggested he answer a call from someone named Walter Herbert, manager of struggling band called Journey who needed a new vocalist.
Perry brought a more pop-influenced style to Journey's music, and despite some initial resistancer from a couple of band members and some fans he eventually won everyone over. The band's style changed dramatically with the addition of Perry, but they started to get radio airplay and the buzz over the first album with him fronting the band was overwhelmingly positive.
Perry would provide vocals on nine of Journey's albums, but then his mother became ill and his involvment in the band became sporadic while he spent time caring for her. The band demanded a larger commitment from Perry, whose response was to quit the band, which then fell apart.
The would reunite in 1996 to record Trial By Fire, which was a huge success. But before they could tour in suppoort of the abum Perry suffered a hip injury while hiking in Hawaii and was subsequently diagnosed with a degenerative bone condition. A hip replacement was required, but Perry was reluctant to rush into the surgery and wanted to postpone the tour. The band agreed to wait for him, but after almost two years got tired of waiting and presented Perry with an ultimatum: undergo hip replacement surgery right now so the tour could proceed, or the band would hire a replacement singer. Soon after, Perry announced he was permanently leaving Journey.
He has not performed with the band since.
