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Rating: After the change in style with "Infinity" and "Evolution", it is with "Departure" that Journey enters the '80s, a period that will eternally consecrate them in the AOR scene and see them become one of the most famous and appreciated bands in the USA.
After the historic drummer Anysley Dunbar had already left the band before the previous "Evolution", this "Departure" presents for the last time Gregg Rolie on keyboards, who will leave after the tour of this album, suggesting to the band who will be his successor, Jonathan Cain, who will help deliver the group to legend by playing the notes of songs like "Don't Stop Believin'", "Open Arms", and "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)".
The album continues the path started with "Infinity" and "Evolution", and still remains tied to the hard-leaning rock of previous works, even though the production is more polished, and the songs seem to follow precise and more carefully studied patterns, with less room for improvisation; elements that will anticipate the more mainstream and pop turn of "Escape" and especially "Frontiers" and "Raised On Radio". Furthermore, the splendid vocal interplay between Gregg Rolie and Steve Perry, which had delivered unforgettable gems like "Feeling That Way" and "Anytime" (from "Infinity") or "Just The Same Way" (from "Evolution"), is almost entirely set aside.
The album opens with one of the most successful episodes of the record, "Any Way You Want It", a compelling song with a winning chorus, which, along with "Lights" and "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'", was one of the singles that contributed most to Journey's success, before the consecration of "Escape"; and there are other tracks more linked to hard rock, which take us directly back to the atmospheres of "Infinity": from the more anonymous "Where Were You", to the explosive "Line Of Fire" and "Homemade Love", with Neal Schon in the limelight, embellishing them with pyrotechnic solos worthy of his skill; while bluesy reminiscences are still noticeable in "Walks Like A Lady". Dreamy refrains and airy melodies instead characterize "Someday Soon", "Precious Time" and the beautiful "People And Places", a longer and more elaborated song, which is also one of the brightest episodes of the album, thanks to its wonderful time changes that leave the song halfway between relaxed and dreamy moments and more intense and rock riffs. There's even a double intro, the instrumental and psychedelic title track and the brief and sweet "Good Morning Girl", which slips away carrying one of Steve Perry's most intense vocal performances, paving the way and leaving space for the album's most beautiful song, "Stay Awhile", a deep and romantic ballad, yet able to avoid being overly slow or clichéd, where Steve Perry reaches great heights, and Gregg Rolie bids farewell to the band by painting the sweet piano notes of this unforgettable song, with a last verse truly tear-jerking.
With "Departure" Journey makes a general rehearsal before the great successes that await them in just a few years, but not before giving fans the splendid live testimony of "Captured" recorded during the tour of this album, which shows the face of the band I have loved and carry in my heart the most. Then will come the triptych of "Escape" (1981), "Frontiers" (1983), and "Raised On Radio" (1986), which will forever stamp the name of a group that knew how to write pearls capable of making America dream in those years into the history of rock made in the USA, thanks to their immense class and especially to one of the most beautiful voices in rock, that of Steve Perry, too bad he no longer plays with them today.
Don't Stop Believin'
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Walks Like a Lady (03:16)
She walks like a lady,
with her tender charms
She moves like a lady
When I'm in her arms
She loves like a lady,
lovin' all night long
She cries like a baby
when she's done something wrong
I told you once, yes, I told you twice
but you never listen to my advice
I catch you walkin' with that boy again
I'm gonna set you free.
Oh, I'm gonna set you free.
Loves like a lady,
So soft and slow
She feels like a lady,
Ooo, I can't let go
She smiles like a lady,
Smilin' all night long,
But cries like a baby
when she's done something wrong
I told you once, yes, I told you twice
but you never listen to my advice
I catch you walkin' with that boy again
I'm gonna set you free.
Oh, I'm gonna set you free.
Ooh, yeah
(Walks like a lady)
Oh, but she cries like a little girl
(Walks like a lady)
Yes, but she cries like a little girl
(Walks like a lady)
walks like a lady
cries like a little girl
03 Someday Soon (03:32)
Someday soon, someday soon.
Seasons were made for the change.
You will be there.
Just like the night to the day without a care.
The dark goes before the dawn.
Open up your eyes.
Someday soon
Ooo, there'll be a better day.
And someday soon,
Yes, it's not too far away.
Someday soon
Oo yeah, with open skies,
And someday soon.
All we can do is try.
The coloudest day comes around,
You will be there.
All of the feelin's you've found, without a care.
So my friends, you take a look.
Don't you look too far.
Someday soon
Oo yeah, with open skies,
And someday soon.
All we can do is try.
Someday, someday, someday soon,
someday, someday soon
Someday, someday soon
Someday soon
Someday soon
Someday soon
05 Precious Time (04:50)
I was captured by the light of a wayward smile
When she said to me,
"Move slowly son and touch the sky,
Very soon you'll see
Oo, how precious time placed it's hand on me;
Oo, how precious time, how it rescued me."
See the line of sight in side your mind,
but from where I don't know.
And the tales that are left behind,
Left for all to grow.
Oo, precious time placed it's hand on me;
Oo, precious time, how it rescued me."
Oo, how it rescued me, how it rescued me.
Oh, there's a place in time not far from here,
A place we all could see;
So if you're lookin' for a better day,
Touch the sky and see.
Oh, precious time placed it's hand on me;
Oh, precious time, how it rescued me.
Be the soldiers for your lives my friends,
Fight for all to see.
It's the only way to catch the sun;
It's the only way you'll see,
Oh how precious time placed it's hand on me,
Yeah precious time
How it rescued me, baby, baby it rescued me.
Oh, there's a place in time not far from here,
A place we all could see;
So if you're lookin' for a better day,
Touch the sky and see.
Oh, precious time placed it's hand on me;
Oh, precious time, how it rescued me.
07 I'm Cryin' (03:42)
Oo, I'm cryin', tears are fallin' down.
I'm cryin' the lonely tears of clowns.
I'm tryin' to wear a smilin' face.
It was just yesterday things then they felt okay.
Now that has all gone away.
Oo, I'm cryin' the only tears of clowns.
I'm tryin' tryin' and rain's fallin' down.
I'm cryin' and that's a lonely place.
If I could hide the pain, if I could stop the rain,
Then all my cryin' could be gone.
Oo, rain, who will stop the rain, the rain?
Oo, I'm cryin', the tears are fallin' down.
I'm tryin', the rain still beats the ground.
I'm cryin' those lonely tears of clowns.
Lonely, lonely tears,
Lonely, lonely tears
08 Line of Fire (03:05)
It was a hot and steamy night,
Then Frankie pulled his gun in sight.
He said, "Now Suzi, don't you lie.
Did Stevey, did he catch you with another guy?"
Standing in the line of fire it's gonna shoot ya.
Standing in the line of fire it's comin' to ya,
It's goin' through ya.
He told her that he had been true,
And that he'd never made her blue, no.
So don't go sayin' Stevey's a liar,
Girl, I've got my finder on a hair-trigger wire.
Standing in the line of fire it's gonna shoot ya.
Standing in the line of fire it's comin' to ya,
It's goin' through ya.
Bye, bye, bye, Suzi.
So long girl.
Those gunshots echoed through the town.
Oh Frankie threw his shotgun down.
That roof had moonlight shinin' through.
She said she'd never, never, never, make him blue, yea.
Standing in the line of fire it's gonna shoot ya.
Standing in the line of fire it's comin' to ya,
Standing in the line of fire it's gonna shoot ya.
It's goin' through ya.
Bye, bye, bye, Suzi.
So long.
11 Stay Awhile (02:48)
I'd do anything to hold you.
I'd go anywhere to touch you.
I'd do anything you want me to,
If you'll just stay with me awhile.
I'd sing any song your heart desires.
I would sing out loud of love's sweet fires.
Oo, I'd do all this and so much more.
If you'll just stay with me awhile.
Reach out your hand,
Oh, to me.
Oh, I'm fallin'
One minute more,
I'm fallin'
I'm fallin'
Oh, oh, fallin', fallin', fallin', fallin'
Won't you just stay with me awhile
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