Journey: Escape - 1981

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When this was released, new wave, post punk, two tone and new romantic were all the rage, yet somehow, AOR albums like this always sold well and found an audience. In a way it was a few years ahead of its time in its classic "arena rock" as it was called then. It was, unsurprisingly, huge in the USA and is one of the best-selling rock albums of all time. 

Don't Stop Believin' is my old punk's guilty pleasure and, you know what, I don't give a damn, it's bloomin' marvellous - the piano intro, that Neal Schon "diddly-diddly-diddly" guitar bit that gets louder and louder at 0.55 seconds onwards, then the power chords and, of course, Steve Perry's classic soft-rock vocal. Love it. Sorry. It is a genuine rock anthem. "Some will win, some will lose, some are born to sing the blues...." is one of the great rock lyrics of all time. Now get that air guitar out, man. Everyone becomes a rock star for a few minutes while this is on. Even me. 

Stone In Love is almost as good, with a wonderful riffy opening and another killer vocal from Perry. More air guitar opportunities and hairbrush singing opportunities abound here. Who's Crying Now is also instantly recognisable by its keyboard melody and laid-back AOR chorus and ambience in general. It again is a classic of its genre. 

After three such corkers to open with, could the quality continue? Probably not quite, although the gloriously riffy rock of Keep On Runnin' does pretty well. It reminds me a bit of Queen's material around the time of The Miracle album. There is something effortlessly brilliant about the material on this album. It is what it is and it does it so well. 

It must be time to slow things down and Still They Ride is classic big rock ballad fare with Steve Perry owning the song. Get those lighters out and wave them in the air (or is it mobile phones these days? Of course it is!). End of side one.

Go on - give us some riffs to open side two. Comin' right up, sir. 

Escape is pure, catchy rock - power chords, pounding drums, clunking, rollicking piano. Great stuff indeed. Lay It Down rocks out too, are you expecting anything else by now? Man, those choruses are so huge. Perry's voice is just made for this material too. 

Dead Or Alive is a bit more of a rock 'n' roller, with some groovy, rhythmic drums and a breakneck beat. It reminds me of Queen's track Sheer Heart Attack. The grandiose Mother, Father is this side's ballad, or so you think, because the plaintive, also Queen-esque Open Arms closes proceedings in similar style. I have to say, though, that I prefer the unadulterated rockers to the power ballads. 

This really was Journey's finest half-hour, there is not a duff track on this album. Of its type, it's fantastic.  

Secondary, 4 of 16

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