Source: Graphic by Jarrett Huff / Radio One
Journey is one of the greatest and most-recognizable rock bands to ever take the stage, selling millions of records during their heyday and achieving billions of streams decades after their iconic former frontman Steve Perry last sang with the band.
Journey rose from the remnants of Carlos Santana’s band in 1973. Formed by guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Gregg Rolie out of San Francisco. They were known initially for their jazz-fusion and progressive-rock sound, until Columbia Records asked for them to change their sound in 1977 to be more commercially viable. In the fall of that year, they were introduced to Perry in Chicago, and hired him in October; the rest is history.
Related: Journey Setlist: Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
Related: Ranking Every Song by Def Leppard
Related: Ranking Every Song by Mötley Crüe
While Journey has been playing and making records since 1973 through 1987, and again in 1995 through the present, this list focuses strictly on the Steve Perry era, ranking every song from Infinity through Trial By Fire from “worst to first.”
Ranking Every Song by Journey: the Steve Perry Era
1. 83. Message of Love – Trial By Fire (1996)
2. 82. Departure/Good Morning Girl – Departure (1980)
3. 81. Trial By Fire – Trial By Fire (1996)
4. 80. Colors of the Spirit – Trial By Fire (1996)
5. 79. People and Places – Departure (1980)
6. 78. Castles Burning – Trail By Fire (1996)
7. 77. Someday Soon – Departure (1980)
8. 76. One More – Trial By Fire (1996)
9. 75. Back Talk – Frontiers (1983)
10. 74. Suzanne – Raised On Radio (1986)
11. 73. Baby I’m a Leavin’ You – Trail By Fire (1996)
12. 72. Winds of March – Infinity (1978)
13. 71. Can’t Tame a Lion – Trail By Fire (1996)
14. 70. Easy to Fall – Trail By Fire (1996)
15. 69. The Eyes of a Woman – Raised On Radio (1986)
16. 68. Opened the Door – Infinity (1978)
17. 67. If He Should Break Your Heart – Trial By Fire (1996)
18. 66. It’s Just the Rain – Trail By Fire (1996)
19. 65. Can Do – Infinity (1978)
20. 64. Homemade Love – Departure (1980)
21. 63. Natural Thing – Departure (1980)
22. 62. Majestic – Evolution (1979)
23. 61. Precious Time – Departure (1980)
24. 60. I Can See It in Your Eyes
25. 59. When I Think of You – Trail By Fire (1996)
26. 58. Still She Cries – Trail By Fire (1996)
27. 57. Edge of the Blade – Frontiers (1983)
28. 56. After the Fall – Frontiers (1983)
29. 55. I’m Cryin’ – Departure (1980)
30. 54. Little Girl – Departure (1980)
31. 53. It Could Have Been You – Raised On Radio
32. 52. Forever in Blue – Trial By Fire (1996)
33. 51. Where Were You – Departure (1980)
34. 50. Stay Awhile – Departure (1980)
35. 49. Somethin’ to Hide – Infinity (1978)
36. 48. Happy to Give – Raised On Radio (1986)
37. 47. Don’t Be Down On Me Baby – Trial By Fire (1996)
38. 46. Raised on Radio – Raised On Radio (1986)
39. 45. Lay It Down – Escape (1981)
40. 44. Frontiers – Frontiers (1983)
41. 43. Patiently – Infinity (1978)
42. 42. Rubicon – Frontiers (1983)
43. 41. Once You Love Somebody – Raised On Radio (1986)
44. 40. Dead or Alive – Escape (1981)
45. 39. Do You Recall – Evolution (1979)
46. 38. La Do Da – Infinity (1978)
47. 37. Girl Can’t Help It – Raised On Radio (1986)
48. 36. Keep on Runnin’ – Escape (1981)
49. 35. Mother, Father – Escape (1981)
50. 34. Troubled Child – Frontiers (1983)
51. 33. Positive Touch – Raised On Radio (1986)
52. 32. Ask the Lonely – Two of a Kind: Soundtrack (1983)
53. 31. Chain Reaction – Frontiers (1983)
54. 30. Lovin’ You is Easy – Evolution (1979)
55. 29. Lady Luck – Evolution (1979)
56. 28. Line of Fire – Departure (1980)
57. 27. Too Late – Evolution (1979)
58. 26. I’ll Be Alright Without You – Raised On Radio (1986)
59. 25. Walks Like a Lady – Departure (1980)
60. 24. Daydream – Evolution (1979)
61. 23. Still They Ride – Escape (1981)
62. 22. Escape – Escape (1981)
63. 21. When You’re Alone (It Ain’t Easy) – Evolution (1979)
64. 20. Sweet and Simple – Evolution (1979)
65. 19. Be Good to Yourself – Raised On Radio (1986)
66. 18. Just the Same Way – Evolution (1979)
67. 17. Anytime – Infinity (1978)
68. 16. Feeling That Way – Infinity (1978)
69. 15. Send Her My Love – Frontiers (1983)
70. 14. Only the Young – Vision Quest Soundtrack (1985)
71. 13. City of the Angels – Evolution (1979)
72. 12. Why Can’t This Night Go On Forever – Raised On Radio (19860
73. 11. Who’s Crying Now – Escape (1981)
74. 10. Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’ – Evolution (1979)
75. 9. When You Love a Woman – Trial By Fire (1996)
76. 8. Stone in Love – Escape (1981)
77. 7. Open Arms – Escape (1981)
78. 6. Wheel in the Sky – Infinity (1978)
79. 5. Lights – Infinity (1978)
80. 4. Any Way You Want It – Departure (1980)
81. 3. Faithfully – Frontiers (1983)
82. 2. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) – Frontiers (1983)
83. 1. Don’t Stop Believin’
This song may be played out for some, but there’s no denying that this song will stand the test of time for decades to come for a reason; it’s Journey’s best song and one of the greatest classic rock songs ever recorded. Also figured I’d include the live version, recorded right here in Houston.
