IN THE BEGINNIG

They may have become fabulously successful with the addition of vocalist Steve Perry and the subsequent soft-rock themed albums 'Infinity', 'Evolution', 'Departure' and 'Escape' - all of which, bar 'Evolution', nevertheless proved fine if somewhat limited albums - yet it was Journey's first three albums that showcased just what a talented and capable progressive rock outfit they once were. Of course, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Journey started out as a much more experimental outfit than their reputation latterly suggests, as the original five-man line-up was a kind of super-group, the members collective musical experience boasting major stints with the likes of Santana, Frank Zappa, The Tubes and near-mythical San Francisco psych-rockers Frumious Bandersnatch. A Bay area act themselves, Journey's story started during the early-seventies when manager Herbie Herbert combined ex-Santana members Gregg Rolie(keyboards, vocals) and Neal Schon(guitar) with British drummer Aynsley Dunbar(formerly a member of Zappa's Mothers Of Inventions), rhythm guitarist George Tickner and bassist Ross Valory. Initially formed as a backing band for visiting acts, Journey proved seriously adept live performers, which in turn led to a deal with Columbia Records. With Rolie handling the majority of the vocals, Journey's first three albums showcased strong fusion and prog-rock elements fastened onto a slick and powerful hard-rock sound, though the occasional organ-laced ballad was also prevalent. First album 'Journey' would be the only effort to feature Tickner and went on to sell around 100,000 copies. It featured some truly excellent tracks, such as the memorable Led Zeppelin-styled opener 'Of A Lifetime', the jazzy 'Topaz' and the anthemic fan-favourite 'Mystery Mountain', though the albums sleeve must surely go down as one of the least attractive pieces of album artwork of the era. Second album 'Look Into The Future' saw the now four-strong group producing a slightly more streamlined approach with the fusion elements somewhat toned down, yet the album still featured some powerful moments, especially in the shape of the eight-minute title-track, described in some quarters as the group's very own 'Stairway To Heaven'. Finally, third album 'Next' is undoubtedly the poppiest yet the progressive elements are still very much in tact. Lead single 'Spaceman' hinted at what was to come a year-or-so later, yet contains that raw, 1970s rock vibe that coloured their early phase. This compilation, which nicely sums up Journey's initial burst of highly underrated activity, shows just what a creative and tight-knit unit they once were, and happily includes such outstanding nuggets as 'Of A Lifetime', 'Topaz', 'Look Into The Future' and 'Spaceman'. Fans of 1970s rock should find much here to their liking then, whilst those with a penchant for the likes of Kansas, Starcastle and Styx are also urged to investigate. An impressive round-up of a long-forgotten period of one of the world's most successful rock acts, this release is proof that there is so much more to Journey than chart-bothering ballads and simplistic pop-rock.

STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2012