Journey - Essential Journey (32 tracks) +Album Reviews

Geez, they STILL didn't get it right!

birddogger5150 | Roseville, MN USA | 06/19/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You would think that they could get it right with two discs to work with this time, but "The Essential Journey" is only partially deserving of its title. True, all the big hits are included (the 15 that appeared on the original "Greatest Hits" are also here), and justice is restored to previously shunned favorites like "Stone In Love", "The Party's Over (Hopelessly In Love)", "After The Fall", "Still They Ride", "Just The Same Way" and "Escape". But there are still a bunch of greats that were left off in favor of lame "what-the-hell-is-this-one-here-for" type songs. I mean, since when are "The Eyes of A Woman", "Mother, Father", and "Something To Hide" considered essential, while high-airplay singles like "Walks Like A Lady", "Why Can't This Night Go On Forever", "Suzanne" (a Top 20 Hit!) and "City of Angels" are not? Not only that, but even though this collection rightfully includes the classic "Anytime", it does not include the song "Feeling That Way" which almost always preceeds it when heard on the radio. For Journey fans, this would be like Queen putting "We Are The Champions" on a best-of without "We Will Rock You" right before it! Same goes for "Stay Awhile" (which admittedly sounds a lot like "Lights"), which was always played right after "Good Morning Girl" on the radio. "Good Morning Girl" is here, "Stay Awhile" is not, and GMG seems lost without its companion. Don't get me wrong, I do like the songs "Something To Hide" and "The Eyes of A Woman" a lot, but I think they should've been shelved in favor of better-known fare. At any rate, this is definitely the best Journey compilation out there (better than the spotty "Time3"), but I sometimes wonder what the people in charge of song selection are thinking when they put these things together."

Still They Ride

shamanstudios | SW Florida | 11/06/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is not a bad album, but it is not all that great either. If I were a casual fan or someone new to the group then this would be the album to buy (over their single disc GREATEST HITS or TIME CUBED box set). For a few bucks more you get all the songs from GREATEST HITS plus some "Essential" tracks like: CHAIN REACTION, AFTER THE FALL, STILL THEY RIDE, STONE IN LOVE, THE PARTY'S OVER, JUST THE SAME WAY & ANYTIME.However, there are some "Essential" MIA's like: SUZANNE, WHY CAN'T THIS NIGHT GO ON FOREVEER, DIXIE HIGHWAY, WALKS LIKE A LADY, TOO LATE & FEELING THAT WAY.As always not everyone will be happy with the song selection so accept what you're getting here. ESSENTIAL JOURNEY is a much better compilation than GREATEST HITS for not much more $$$, but it is no substitute for owning all the Steve Perry Journey discs as I do. This is still the best disc available for casual fans with a lot of their better songs."

Good Collection For Radio Fans Of Journey

K. Fontenot | The Bayou State | 11/02/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Growing up in the 80's, I was always aware of Journey, but I never really took notice of them until the mid-90's, when I was in college. I never realized how many hits these guys cranked out over the years until I happened upon one of their greatest hits albums in a friend's dorm room. He had to leave for the evening and I stayed behind to play video games. I put the disc on and the memories began to flood back to me. I instantly remembered all of the songs as they played over the speakers. I was caught up in the old days, and I was loving it.

This album, "The Essential Journey," includes all of the hits from the album my friend had and many other songs that radio fans such as myself may not have been aware of. The first disc is the best in my opinion, because it includes the bulk of their hit material. The second disc is good as well because, for the most part, it introduces fans like myself to a side of Journey they weren't aware of.

This is a good compilation to pick up if you love to sing along with Steve Perry while you're cruising down the highway. Obvious hits like "Lights," "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'," and later hits like "When You Love A Woman" are all here. The power ballad of all power ballads, "Open Arms," and its closest competitor, "Faithfully," in this collection as well.

Highly recommended."

Great collection of hits from this great Bay Area band, but

Dennis F. Towle | Hayward, CA United States | 10/29/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There are a couple of key songs missing from this compilation. Most notably, Why Can't This Night Go On Forever is absent. This was a big radio and video hit for Journey in '86....so why was this gem passed up? My other gripe is that not 1 of Neal Schon's heavy guitar instrumentals(featuring Greg Rolie's lead vocals) from Journey's first 3 albums are in this 2 CD lineup....not 1! It would've been refreshing to see: Of A Lifetime or I'm Gonna Leave You on here, from the pre-Steve Perry era.
I am very pleased, however, with the inclusion of: Stone In Love, Chain Reaction, After The Fall and When You Love A Woman....4 great chart hits! I would highly recommend this double CD compilation to any Journey fan; for the more "hard core" Journey enthusiast- I think the 3 CD box set, TIME3, would be your best bet....otherwise, invest some time and money in purchasing the entire Journey catalog on CD.
Journey is truly one of the greatest bands in Rock history! I still believe that Perry is the reason for Journey's success....his voice is incomparable with other great singers in this genre of music!"

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