Album Discussion---"Departure"

[mikemarrs]

this is the album the band started the 80's off with and it includes the smash 'any way you want it' which was also included in the caddyshack movie giving the band its first real exposure up to that point.the previous album had its first top twenty single but this album called departure did include some new ways of doing things such as the songs precious time,walks like a lady,etc. so it was a bit different from the last two they did with perry installed.this was also the last studio album with gregg rollie as well.this would mark drummer steve smith's second effort with the band.my favorites are people and places,stay awhile and precious time......

this was also the first journey album to hit the top ten.


what are your thoughts on this one.....

[artist4perry]

Great songs...simpler but beautiful. I feel their writing skills soared when Cain joined though. But still loved Rollie and Perry's vocal duets. They had a great blend.

[bluejeangirl76]

Now we're talking my language. Departure... *dreamy sigh*

As it happens, I was just appreciating the hell out of this album earlier today when "Any Way You Want It" was on the radio and I was flying up the highway, window down, sun shining and radio cranked.

I've always said that this particular material was so much better live, though.

[mikemarrs]

i'm cryin' -thats the one song i hear the least about on the whole album.

line of fire-always liked this one especially the live version.

homemade love-never one of my favorites but an ok album closer.

precious time-one of my favorites on the album.did they ever do this one live?

people and places-my favorite tune on this one.

stay awhile-always liked this one a lot.

[Jana]

Now we're talking my language. Departure... *dreamy sigh*

As it happens, I was just appreciating the hell out of this album earlier today when "Any Way You Want It" was on the radio and I was flying up the highway, window down, sun shining and radio cranked.

I've always said that this particular material was so much better live, though.

I have been listening to this a lot in the last three weeks b/c I've been on the road, and I love Departure blasting in the car. I think it's fantastic. They are very simple lyrics, true, but this is where Perry shines on songs like I'm Cryin', Stay Awhile, Precious Time, and Neal's playing is pure pleasure on Departure. Love the harmonica. I enoy the Rolie era. The band on People and Places rocks and Neal sounds great in a duet with Steve.

[Rockindeano]

[quote="mikemarrs"].this was also the last studio album with gregg rollie as well./quote]

No it wasn't.

Dream after Dream was the last studio album with Rolie.

[mikemarrs]

the dream after dream with rollie did they do that in japan?

keep forgetting about that one in the discography.

[KDOUBLEU]

My daughters favorite Journey song is Anyway you Want It. She used to sing it at the top of her lungs when she was little. Now she understands the meaning to the words. Its still her favorite. I used to hope she didnt ask to sing it in Church.

[Jana]

I bought the remastered CD b/c it had the bonus tracks. Natural Thing and Little Girl really bring this album up another notch for me with the addition of those two songs.

[mikemarrs]

I bought the remastered CD b/c it had the bonus tracks. Natural Thing and Little Girl really bring this album up another notch for me with the addition of those two songs.

with those two tracks now included it makes departure a much stronger album.i'd also pick natural thing as my favorite too.i think thats probably the best non-album cut they ever did besides only the young.they had some pretty strong tunes that were outtakes.

[hoagiepete]

Now your talkin with this thread!

This album, one of my top three favorites, came out during my Sr year of high school. Lot of shit happenin at that stage of your life. I assume I'm not unique, but what I was going through at the time had a lot to do with the music I listened to. I was breaking up with my first love after three years about this time at the same time finishing high school. Hadn't felt pain like that before.

Here's my quick 2 cents:

Any Way You Want It - Never liked it (until Caddyshack). First hint of Journey going commercial.

Walks Like A Lady - Got to have a little blues. Better on Captured. I sure miss Rolie's Hammond.

Someday Soon - Reference - break up shit. Drags a little. Some good vocal gymnastics by Perry.

People and Places - One of my all time favorites. It killed on Departure Tour. Each singing the intro, lights off except for spots lighting up on each member as he sang his little part..Do do you you .... See and hear it like yesterday. It's a slow...similar to Someday Soon.

Precious Time - Frickin rocks. Please play it live this tour. One of Schon's finer moments. Sounds best cranked all the way up.

Where Were You - Again break up shit. Great live song. "I wanna know what the hells goin on..." f'n A " ... cause your sister's lookin real good to me..." well..she was a little young at the time, but was one you wanted to put in the closet for a couple years...sure enough...turned out to be a babe.

I'm Cryin - Another break up reference. Didn't care for it much back in the day but actually enjoy it now. A lot of emotion in this one. Just haven't felt the emotion from them since.

Line Of Fire - Another great rocker. Best live. Bye bye bye suzi! Yup more breakup shit

Departure /Good Morning Girl/Stay Awhile - Always thought of these as one song. Was a DJ back in college and played these. Most had never heard it but became a staple at every dance.

Homemade Love - Average song. Just a touch of inuendo!

[Gideon]

Not a fan of Departure, personally. The songwriting took a major nosedive on this album. Some standouts include "I'm Cryin'" for Perry's vocal acrobatics, "Line of Fire" for Schon fretwork, "Precious Time" for more Schon fretwork, and "Any Way You Want It" for Perry and Schon goodness.

"Homemade Love" is right up there with "Baby I'm A Leavin' You" and "Butterfly" as one of the worst Journey songs ever recorded.

[Jana]

Not a fan of Departure, personally. The songwriting took a major nosedive on this album. Some standouts include "I'm Cryin'" for Perry's vocal acrobatics, "Line of Fire" for Schon fretwork, "Precious Time" for more Schon fretwork, and "Any Way You Want It" for Perry and Schon goodness.

"Homemade Love" is right up there with "Baby I'm A Leavin' You" and "Butterfly" as one of the worst Journey songs ever recorded.

But different albums I like for different reasons. I think the simplistic nature of the songs as far as lyrics works as a backdrop to Perry's amazing vocals on here with Neal and the rest of the band showing what Journey is all about.

[mikemarrs]

they need to release an official live video from this tour like they did with escape '81.

[EightyRock]

I like all the songs, except Someday Soon and People and Places. Neal sounds like he's got a cold when he sings.

[Abitaman]

DEPARTURE is keyboardists Greg Rollie's last recording with the band. And the band turns in a tighter performance than on any previous cd. The cd starts off with a bang, Any Way You Want It is a very driven song. Driven by high powerful vocals, hard riffs that drive the music home, a pounding bass line, and mixed into this is some great keys by Rollie.
The next song Walks Like A Lady changes pace to an almost R & B feel, and Ross' bass and Smith's drums bring out the best of the song, and again some good keyboard work by Rollie. And speaking of Rollie, this is probably his best work to date. But that doesn't save the next to songs, which fall flat.
Someday Soon even with the great vocal work, is a no show. And People And Places is just boring.
Thankfully the cd picks up again and Precious Time kicks it back into gear, and Where Were You slaps it into overdrive. DEPARTURE is Journeys hardest rocking cd to this point. They have gotten away from the jazz rock of the early cds. And each cd sells more and more. One of the things that has helped the band to this point is the one two combination of Schon and Perry combo, with a little Rollie thrown in. And a good example of this is I'm Crying.
I'm Crying is big, bad, loud, overexerated, and awesome!!!! The song is just Perry at his best, with rest of the band following along. Neal axe work is menacing and haunting at the same time. Best song on the cd.
In The Line Of Fire is another good fast paced rocker. This song is a ball of energy that is set to explode.
But the cd slows with the instrumental Departure, and goes into the vocal showcase Good Morning Girl, another example of why Perry is "The Voice of Rock". This is followed by the ballads Stay Awhile, which is a very nice laid back song, showing the possibility of future songs like Faithfully and Open Arms.
But the cd ends on a sour note with Homemade Love. A sort of boogie woogie song that goes nowhere.
This cd is on the level of INFINITY, but the production at times seems hollow and shallow, taking away at times from the music. But musically, this was there best to this point.

[Jana]

DEPARTURE is keyboardists Greg Rollie's last recording with the band. And the band turns in a tighter performance than on any previous cd. The cd starts off with a bang, Any Way You Want It is a very driven song. Driven by high powerful vocals, hard riffs that drive the music home, a pounding bass line, and mixed into this is some great keys by Rollie.
The next song Walks Like A Lady changes pace to an almost R & B feel, and Ross' bass and Smith's drums bring out the best of the song, and again some good keyboard work by Rollie. And speaking of Rollie, this is probably his best work to date. But that doesn't save the next to songs, which fall flat.
Someday Soon even with the great vocal work, is a no show. And People And Places is just boring.
Thankfully the cd picks up again and Precious Time kicks it back into gear, and Where Were You slaps it into overdrive. DEPARTURE is Journeys hardest rocking cd to this point. They have gotten away from the jazz rock of the early cds. And each cd sells more and more. One of the things that has helped the band to this point is the one two combination of Schon and Perry combo, with a little Rollie thrown in. And a good example of this is I'm Crying.
I'm Crying is big, bad, loud, overexerated, and awesome!!!! The song is just Perry at his best, with rest of the band following along. Neal axe work is menacing and haunting at the same time. Best song on the cd.
In The Line Of Fire is another good fast paced rocker. This song is a ball of energy that is set to explode.
But the cd slows with the instrumental Departure, and goes into the vocal showcase Good Morning Girl, another example of why Perry is "The Voice of Rock". This is followed by the ballads Stay Awhile, which is a very nice laid back song, showing the possibility of future songs like Faithfully and Open Arms.
But the cd ends on a sour note with Homemade Love. A sort of boogie woogie song that goes nowhere.
This cd is on the level of INFINITY, but the production at times seems hollow and shallow, taking away at times from the music. But musically, this was there best to this point.

I'm Cryin', a simple song that shows what is so untouchable about Perry. He took that song and made it into something no other vocalist could have.

[lights1961]

PRECIOUS TIME... heard it live in 2004... DAMN was that good...
people and Places... great... AWYWI...DAMN DAMN...
yes good morning girl/stay awhile alawys good...where were you HOT... iam crying good too....
onething... I wish insted of lights/stay awhile... that good morning girl/stay awhile was live...
FIRST TOUR FOR ME WAS 1980 and deapture tour... WOW... as I stated in other thread, people and places still soars in my head
after all those years ago..

not as good as EVOLUTION AS A WHOLE... but 5 stars still....
Rick

[knox]

My Favorite Journey Album

Good Morning Girl is my all time favorite song. Stay Awhile is just icing on the cake.

I'm Cryin - Musically and vocally amazing.

Anyway You Want It - My second fave Journey song.

Precious Time - Excellent energy - must play loudly!