Released: 1981
Tracks: Don’t Stop Believin’; Stone in Love; Who’s Crying Now; Keep on Runnin’; Still They Ride; Escape; Lay it Down; Dead or Alive; Mother, Father; Open Arms
Best track: Escape
Tracks to skip: Who’s Crying Now, Dead or Alive
Ah yes, this is where it all begins. *This* is why I love Journey. It’s all finally coming together exactly why this was a huge album. Simply, it appealed to a lot of different listeners. Escape was one of those albums that both guys and girls could love. For guys, you have the rockers like Stone in Love, Keep on Runnin’ and Escape while the girls get Who’s Crying Now, Still They Ride and of course, Open Arms. After just listening to Keep on Runnin’ (a great song) I finally noticed that Journey hadn’t rocked this hard in a while. Maybe it just seems like that. For the first time, Journey was able to have 2 guitar players and that absolutely enhanced the sound and power of songs like Stone in Love and Keep on Runnin’. New keyboardist Jonathan Cain thankfully also doubles on guitar and that brought out the Rock more than before. This album came out in 1981 and it does not sound like it’s from a 70’s band. This is almost like a totally different band. Different? Well, maybe just honed down to this perfect example of a rock band. I think Greg Rollie is a great keyboardist, but the entrance of Jonathan Cain was really what this band needed to take off. He doubles on rhythm guitar, he’s a great keyboardist and he writes some GREAT songs. His name is on every one of these songs and he brings a lot of enthusiasm to this band.
The title track is still the best thing that Journey ever did. Always great songwriters, but Escape is just the best. Of course, there are some other nice tunes on here as well: Don’t Stop Believin’, Stone in Love, Keep on Runnin’, Mother, Father, Open Arms, and so on. You know, Mother, Father is one of those songs (well, Still They Ride also) that you’d never hear on the radio but it’s still SO good. Nearly all of these songs just knock you over. NEARLY. I’ve never really liked Who’s Crying Now and I don’t understand the attraction to it. It’s dumb, and I could live without it. Of course, there’s also Dead or Alive, and even though it rocks, it’s still a silly song. I mean, it’s placed in the filler spot (middle of side 2) for a reason. I know that classic rock radio plays Don’t Stop Believin’ and Open Arms so much it makes me want to scream, but I still think they’re both great songs. I’m more tired of Open Arms, but most of the time it doesn’t bother me. Hey, it got a lot of people laid so I’m all for it.
Of the main Journey studio albums (Dream After Dream is a whole different animal) Escape is by far the best. Just like when any group hits upon the perfect combination and produces something that was popular and artistically excellent, Escape is that album for Journey. I still love this album and I’m willing to bet that won’t ever change.
Rating: 95
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