Search - Journey :: Raised on Radio

Good Journey but not neccessarily great.

Ron Williams | Lewiston, Id | 10/17/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I remember well when this CD first came out. I was one of those who was anxious to see what could possibly follow up frontiers. First of all lets start with the obvious. Steve Perry, well what can one say? His vocal range on this is as amazing as it was back in his beginnings with Journey. The CD is full of songs that are just a little too cutsy for me. Now having said that, we are comparing Journey through different time frames here. And as some other reviewers have eluded to, this album represented a time of transition for them. Right after its release Steve Smith left the band, Ross Valory left, so you could see an obvious hole being created. For all of you who are devout Journey fans, of course you should have this CD, after all its about owning the history of our band right? But for someone looking to find out what all the rage was about Journey, this probably isnt the place to start. I would start with either escape, or greatest hits. Then my obvious choice would be Frontiers. From there venture whereever your taste takes you. I recommend this CD but not above the others I've mentioned. Thanks for reading."

'Raised on Radio' is radio-ready

Sal Nudo | Champaign, Illinois | 11/01/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Though Journey was going through its share of internal strife by the mid 1980s, lead singer Steve Perry managed to assemble some good musicians and a solid collection of songs to make this album happen. Truly, there's something about a good Journey song that is timeless. And though "Raised on Radio" suffers a tad from the stilted production gloss that quickly dated so many otherwise good albums from the 1980s, it still manages to deliver. Guitarist Neal Schon dutifully provides the squealing guitar solos, Jonathan Cain helps Perry with the romantically inclined lyrics and provides the cloying keyboard work, and whatever drummer happens to be on the job mostly stays light years away from any adventurous fills.



The good songs on "Raised on Radio" are REALLY good. Mid-tempo tunes like "Girl Can't Help It" and "I'll Be Alright Without You" feature great vocal harmonics and choruses that qualify as classic Journey. And with some new and added musicians on board, such as bass guitarist Randy Jackson of "American Idol" fame (who also contributes excellent background vocals), there is even a touch of soul on tracks like "Positive Touch" and "Once You Love Somebody." Meanwhile, the album's best song is probably also the top farewell swan song ever written. "Be Good to Yourself" pulls no punches in terms of its message: Steve Perry wanted out of the music biz by 1986. And though he did reform with Journey later on for another album, I always kind of respected Perry's desire to quit on his own terms, during what was, possibly, Journey's apex in terms of commercial popularity.



Other worthy tracks are the beautiful and heartfelt "Happy to Give," the lone rocker "Raised on Radio" and "It Could Have Been You." Interestingly, "Why Can't This Night Go On Forever" contains elements of what made the earlier Journey hit "Faithfully" so endearing, though it lacks the mesmerizing hooks of the latter song. What's undisputable is that Perry's voice is truly majestic, and on "Raised on Radio," it often carries what would otherwise be several pedestrian songs."

My favorite Journey album

T. F. Aranzamendi | 08/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was never a big Journey fan until this album came out. I love to listen to this cd when I drive. Even mom's need to rock out sometimes. I can turn up the volume and sing along. The songs are a good mix and I like them all. Definitely feel good music. You don't have to be a hard core Journey fan to enjoy this music. Great 80's music."