JOURNEY - Greatest Hits

Posted: 11/24/06

Reviewed by: Dirt

Category: Melodic Rock / Classic Rock / 80s Rock

Released: 8/1/06

Label URL: www.legacyrecordings.com

Artist URL: www.journeymusic.com

This is the third time Journey's Greatest Hits has been issued.  While I do believe this to be a remaster, the packaging does not specify that point, which is odd.  However, deep in the credits it states that the reissue has been mastered, so I'll take that to mean remastered.  This reissue, which is in digi-pak form and complete with a 12-page booklet full of photos, sounds vibrant and really does justice to one of the late 70s and 80s greatest bands.

Complete with the original fifteen tracks, plus the added bonus of "When You Love A Woman" from 1996's Trial By Fire, Greatest Hits is a fine overview of the band's most memorable work.  There isn't a weak moment on here, and each song spotlights a combination of melody, soulfulness, musicianship, and hooks galore.  And this band could deliver a rocker like "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), as well as three of the greatest ballads in arena rock history - "Open Arms," "Send Her My Love" and "Faithfully," all of which are included here.  The truth is, though, the package should have been expanded to 2-discs, as fans will certainly gripe about missing tracks like "Stone In Love," "Chain Reaction," "Still They Ride," "After The Fall," "Just The Same Way," "Feeling That Way," and "Walks Like A Lady."  The addition of two songs from movie soundtracks - "Only The Young" from Vision Quest and "Ask The Lonely" from Two Of A Kind - while quality songs and certainly a selling point, forced the elimination of at least a few of the missing tracks.

Steve Perry is one of the greatest vocalists in rock history and now is the time for him to return to Journey.  Due to some vocal problems, Steve Augieri was unable to sing with the group on their summer tour and was replaced (temporarily?) by former Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force/Takara/Axel Rudi Pell vocalist Jeff Scott Soto.  While I respect Jeff immensely, it is now time for Neil Schon and the rest of the guys to reach out to Steve Perry and do the tour that the fans want.

The Bloody Truth:  Greatest Hits is flawless and I'm rating it based on the songs that are included, not on what's missing.  Journey penned so many great tracks over the years - especially during the Escape and Frontiers era - and their legacy is forever part of rock n' roll history.  When you plug this cd in, it's impossible to not be transported back to your youth or to the days of when you held your lighter in the air (not your cell phone) at a concert.