Infinity (Journey album)

Infinity

Cover art by Alton Kelley and Stanley Mouse
Studio album by Journey
Released January 20, 1978
Recorded October–December 1977 at His Master's Wheels Studio, San Francisco and Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre Hard rock
Length 36:28
Label Columbia
Producer Roy Thomas Baker
Journey chronology

Next
(1977)		 Infinity
(1978)		 Evolution
(1979)
Singles from Infinity
  1. "Wheel in the Sky"/"Can Do"
    Released: April 1978
  2. "Anytime"/"Lă Do Dā"
    Released: June 1978
  3. "Lights"/"Somethin' to Hide"
    Released: August 1978
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [1]

Infinity is Journey's fourth album, released in January 1978 on Columbia Records. It was the band's first album with vocalist Steve Perry and the last to feature drummer Aynsley Dunbar.

Looking for a stronger lead vocalist, Journey briefly enlisted Robert Fleischman and even recorded a few tracks with him, one of which, "For You", later appeared on the Time3 compilation album and Fleischman's solo album Perfect Stranger. Fleischman was soon replaced by Steve Perry, due to musical and management differences. Fleischman would later resurface as the first singer of the glam metal band Vinnie Vincent Invasion.

In "Feeling That Way", Perry dueted with keyboardist Gregg Rolie, who sings lead vocals on "Anytime".

"Patiently" was the first song Perry and Neal Schon wrote together. Perry wrote the lyrics, in which he expresses the sadness of being on the road and away from home, while also expressing admiration for the band's fans, and Schon wrote the music for the song. Other popular singles included "Lights" and "Wheel in the Sky". The latter was co-written with temporary frontman Fleischman.

Journey's manager, Herbie Herbert, enlisted English producer Roy Thomas Baker to engineer Infinity. Baker produced a layered sound approach, similar to his work with Queen, as demonstrated on tracks such as "Winds of March". In addition, Baker's method of stacked harmonies, notable on several other albums he produced, became trademarks of Journey's sound. He achieved this by having each vocalist (usually Perry and Rolie, sometimes joined by Valory and/or Schon) sing each harmony part in unison. This had the effect of making three or four voices sound like more, and is notable on the songs "Feeling that Way" and "Anytime", which are often played in tandem consecutively on radio stations.

The addition of Perry gave the band a more mainstream sound, and helped Journey attain their highest chart success to date.

Track listing

Side one
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Lights"  Steve Perry, Neal Schon 3:11
2. "Feeling That Way"  Aynsley Dunbar, Perry, Gregg Rolie 3:28
3. "Anytime"  Robert Fleischman, Rolie, N. Schon, Roger Silver, Ross Valory 3:28
4. "Lă Do Dā"  Perry, N. Schon 3:01
5. "Patiently"  Perry, N. Schon 3:21
Side two
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
6. "Wheel in the Sky"  Fleischman, N. Schon, Diane Valory 4:12
7. "Somethin' to Hide"  Perry, N. Schon 3:27
8. "Winds of March"  N. Schon, Matt Schon, Fleischman, Perry, Rolie 5:04
9. "Can Do"  Perry, R. Valory 2:39
10. "Opened the Door"  Perry, Rolie, N. Schon 4:37

Personnel

Band members

Production

Charts

Album
Year Chart Position
1978 Billboard 200 (USA)[2] 21
RPM100 Albums (Canada)[3] 22
Swedish Albums Chart[4] 37
2006 Oricon Japanese Albums Charts[5] 238
Singles
Year Title Chart Position
1978 "Wheel in the Sky" Billboard Hot 100[6] 57
RPM100 Hit Tracks (Canada)[7] 45
"Anytime" Billboard Hot 100[6] 83
"Lights" Billboard Hot 100[6] 68

Certifications

Country Organization Year Sales
USA RIAA 1989 3x Platinum (+3,000,000)[8]
Canada CRIA 1980 Gold (+50,000)[9]

References

  1. ↑ Franck, John. "Journey Infinity review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
  2. ↑ "Infinity Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
  3. ↑ "Top Albums/CDs – Volume 29, No. 13, June 24, 1978". Library and Archives Canada. 24 June 1978. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
  4. ↑ "Journey – Infinity (album)". Swedishcharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
  5. ↑ ジャーニー – クイーンズライクのアルバム売り上げランキング (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Infinity Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
  7. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 29, No. 9, May 27, 1978". Library and Archives Canada. 27 May 1978. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
  8. ↑ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Journey. Retrieved on 2013-06-30.
  9. ↑ "Gold Platinum Search for Journey". Music Canada. Retrieved 2012-06-30.