| Infinity | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cover art byAlton Kelley andStanley Mouse | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 30, 1978 (1978-01-30)[1] | |||
| Recorded | October–December 1977 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Rock,hard rock | |||
| Length | 36:28 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Roy Thomas Baker | |||
| Journey chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Infinity | ||||
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Infinity is the fourth studio album by Americanrock bandJourney, released in January 1978 byColumbia Records. It was the band's first album with vocalistSteve Perry and the last to feature drummerAynsley Dunbar.
Looking for a stronger lead vocalist, Journey briefly enlistedRobert Fleischman and even recorded a few tracks with him, one of which, "For You", later appeared on theTime3 compilation album and Fleischman's solo albumPerfect Stranger. Fleischman was soon replaced by Steve Perry, due to musical and management differences. Fleischman would later resurface as the first singer of theglam metal bandVinnie Vincent Invasion.
In "Feeling That Way", Perry dueted with keyboardistGregg Rolie, who sings lead vocals on "Anytime".
"Patiently" was the first song Perry andNeal 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 producerRoy Thomas Baker to produceInfinity. Baker produced a layered sound approach, similar to his work withQueen, as demonstrated on tracks such as "Winds of March" (with help from engineerGeoff Workman). 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 as presented on the album.
The addition of Perry gave the band a more mainstream sound, and helped Journey attain their highest chart success to date.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 8/10[5] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [6] |
Cash Box said of the single "Anytime" that it is a "dynamic, irresistible effort that features exuberant, multi-tracked harmonies and potent lead guitar."[7]Record World said of "Anytime" that "Thea capella opening and high harmonies are guaranteed to catch the listener within seconds."[8]The Globe and Mail deemed the album "one of the most unjustifiably ignored gems of 1978."[9]
In John Franck'sAllMusic review, he wrote that the album, "effectively cemented their rep as one of America's most beloved (and sometimes hated) commercial rock/pop bands." The changes to the band and its music allowed "each bandmember to play to his strength: Perry's soaring, whale of a voice, Schon's scorching fret work, and Gregg Rolie's subtle keyboard arrangements."[4]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lights" | Steve Perry,Neal Schon | 3:11 |
| 2. | "Feeling That Way" | Perry,Gregg Rolie,Aynsley Dunbar | 3:28 |
| 3. | "Anytime" | Rolie, Roger Silver,Robert Fleischman, Schon,Ross Valory | 3:28 |
| 4. | "Lă Do Dā" | Perry, Schon | 3:01 |
| 5. | "Patiently" | Perry, Schon | 3:21 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wheel in the Sky" | Schon, Fleischman, Diane Valory | 4:12 |
| 2. | "Somethin' to Hide" | Perry, Schon | 3:27 |
| 3. | "Winds of March" | Matt Schon, Schon, Fleischman, Rolie, Perry | 5:04 |
| 4. | "Can Do" | Perry, R. Valory | 2:39 |
| 5. | "Opened the Door" | Perry, Rolie, Schon | 4:37 |
Journey
Production
| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[10] | 22 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[11] | 37 |
| USBillboard 200[12] | 21 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[13] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[14] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Studio albums | |
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| Soundtrack albums | |
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| Live albums | |
| Compilation albums | |
| Singles |
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| Videos | |
| Documentaries | |
| Tours | |
| Video games | |
| Related articles | |
