1979 - June: Journey “Evolution”

What the Riff?!?

We've already covered a couple of Journey albums. Episode 250 profiled "Infinity," the introduction of Steve Perry to the group. And episode 26 delved into arguably the high water mark for Journey, the album "Escape." Here we take a look at the band as they are in their transition into one of the world's biggest rock bands.

The appropriately-titled album Evolution is Journey's fifth studio album. Here we find Steve Perry settling in as front man while still sharing lead vocal duties with keybaordist Gregg Rolie. They have also replaced drummer Aynsley Dunbar with Steve Smith, previously with Ronnie Montrose's band. The band is continuing to explore a more radio-friendly sound. The lineup for this band includes Perry, Rolie, and Dunbar, along with Neil Schon on guitar, and Ross Valory on bass.

At the time, "Evolution" was the band's most successful album, and it reached number 20 on the Billboard 200 chart. It also featured their first single to enter the top 20. The album was actually released in March of 1979, but was recorded in the fall of 1978. We're featuring it in January of 1979 because - well - that's where we were able to fit it in.

Brian rejoins us in todays podcast to sub for an absent Wayne, and to profile this album.

Too Late
A deeper cut written by Perry and Schon, this song was written about a friend from Steve Perry's hometown who was wrestling with addiction to drugs. It was a plea to get out of town and the surroundings that fed his addiction before it was too late to break the chains of addiction.

Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'
The biggest hit from the album is a slow rocker with a shuffle beat. It hit number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November of 1979, the group's first foray into the top 20. The song is based on a true story about a cheating woman who finds out that turnabout is fair play - and that cheating on a songwriter can result in your being memorialized in a song.

City of the Angels
While they were known as a San Francisco band, this album track pays homage to Los Angeles. It was written by Perry, Schon and Rolie. On the album, "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" immediately leads into this track, and you will occasionally hear these played together on album-oriented stations and satellite radio.

Just the Same Way
This single finds Gregg Rolie taking turns with Perry on lead vocals. It was written by Rolie, Schon, and Ross Valory, making it the only song on the album not written or co-written by Steve Perry. It is an infatuation song, with a great call-and-answer in the chorus between Rolie and Perry.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

The Pink Panther Theme by Henry Mancini
The Saturday morning cartoon show with a silent protagonist, "The Pink Panther," ended its run after 10 years.

STAFF PICKS:

Gold by John Stewart
Lynch's staff pick is a top 5 hit from John Stewart's album "Bombs Away Dream Babies," his first solo top 40 hit. Both Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks contributed to the album, and Nicks provides backing vocals on this song. The vocals describe the dark, cynical side of the recording industry.

Planet Claire by The B-52's
Rob brings us a musical interpretation of a B-rated sci-fi movie. Once the instrumental and sound-effects - with a Peter Gunn-inspired beat - give way to Fred Schneider's vocals, we find that the girl is from Planet Claire, drives a Plymouth Satellite, and "some say she's from Mars, or one of the seven stars that shine after 3:30 in the morning. Well, she isn't!"

Dance the Night Away by Van Halen
Bruce features the first US top 20 hit by Van Halen. This song is unusual because it is the only song on the "Van Halen II" album that originated in the studio rather than as a song the group had honed on tour for a long time. It also downplays Eddie Van Halen's guitar virtuosity and brings up the vocal harmonies. Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way" was an inspiration for this single.

Rock n Roll Fantasy by Bad Company
Brian's staff pick was written by Bad Co. front man Paul Rogers, and reflects the truth that Rock music is escapism, a fantasy to take you away from the stress of the everyday world for a bit. It was the lead single from the album "Desolation Angels." While not their highest charting single, it is their best selling single.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Main Theme from the motion picture "Alien"
The disturbing soundtrack was one element of what made this sci-fi horror film so creepy.

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