Infinity (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Infinity
Type = studio
Artist = Journey


Released = Start date|1978|1|20
Recorded = His Master's Wheels Studio, San Francisco, and Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles, California, Oct-Dec 1977
Genre = Rock
Length = 36:30
Label = Columbia
Producer = Roy Thomas Baker
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:oi7zefukhgf1 link]
Last album = "Next"
(1977)
This album = "Infinity"
(1978)
Next album = "Evolution"
(1979)
Misc = Singles
Name = Infinity
Type = studio
Single 1 = Wheel in the Sky
Single 1 date = 1978
Single 2 = Feeling That Way / Anytime
Single 2 date = 1978
Single 3 = Lights
Single 3 date = 1978
Single 4 =
Single 4 date =
Journey's fourth album, "Infinity", was released in May 1978 on the Columbia Records label.

Looking for a stronger lead vocalist, Journey briefly enlisted front man Robert Fleischman and even recorded one track, "For You", which would later appear on the Time³ collection, and Fleischman's solo album, "Perfect Stranger". Fleischman was soon replaced by Steve Perry. With "Feeling That Way", Perry would share the vocals with former singer of the band and keyboardist Gregg Rolie.

Perry and Neal Schon penned their first song together, "Patiently", which would appear on the new studio album. Other popular singles include "Lights" and "Wheel in the Sky", the latter written by temporary front man Fleischman.

Journey's manager, Herbie Herbert, enlisted producer Roy Thomas Baker to engineer "Infinity". This 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, would become trademarks of Journey's sound. Baker 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 sixteen to twenty, and is notable on the songs "Feeling that Way" and "Anytime," which are often played consecutively on radio stations.

The addition of Perry solidified their more mainstream sound and helped Journey attain their highest chart success to date. "Infinity" also marked the last appearance of drummer Aynsley Dunbar as a member of the band - he was fired for he was unhappy with the musical change and didn't get along with Perry and after being fired he joined Jefferson Starship.

Track listing

# "Lights" (Steve Perry, Neal Schon) – 3:10
# "Feeling that Way" (Aynsley Dunbar, Perry, Gregg Rolie) – 3:27
# "Anytime" (Robert Fleischman, Rolie, Schon, R. Silver, Ross Valory) – 3:28
# "Lă Do Dā" (Perry, Schon) – 2:58
# "Patiently" (Perry, Schon) – 3:20
# "Wheel in the Sky" (Fleischman, Schon, Valory) – 4:12
# "Somethin' to Hide" (Perry, Schon) – 3:26
# "Winds of March" (N. Schon, M. Schon, Fleischman, Perry, Rolie) – 5:04
# "Can Do" (Perry, Valory) – 2:39
# "Opened the Door" (Perry, Rolie, Schon) – 4:34

Personnel

*Steve Perry – co-lead vocals
*Neal Schon – guitar (acoustic and electric), vocals, producer
*Gregg Rolie – keyboards, co-lead vocals, producer
*Ross Valory – bass, vocals, producer
*Aynsley Dunbar – drums and percussion, producer

Chart performance