Captured

Journey

Columbia Records, 1981

http://www.journeymusic.com

REVIEW BY: Eric E5S16

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 06/25/1999

Journey's 1981 release, Captured, captures the band's live performances from their 1980 Infinity tour. Recorded around the world, from the United States, West Germany, and Japan, this live album does a fine job in recording the band's popular songs and other tunes that Journey fans may not have heard regularly on their radios.

Some of the blending of two songs together works fine here. Like "Just The Same Way/Line Of Fire" and "Lights/Stay Awhile". Most live albums feature the most common songs, and the ones you're not familiar with do have their moments, but the more famous tunes are the ones that stand out on this album. Unfortunately, as in the case of "Lights" and "Feeling That Way," the live versions are a little bit faster than the studio versions. This may be unsuitable for some, but this is a live album, and many bands experiment with their famous tunes in a different way, whenever possible. Like at the end of "Anytime," they changed pace of the beat of the song, giving it a different mood, and quite frankly, it's a nice change of pace.

"Do You Recall," originally from Evolution, is a fine tune. Another one, "Dixie Highway," a song unheard from any previous Journey album, is ok. Originally from Departure, "Walk Like A Lady" is bluesy, as Steve Perry asks the audience, "Do you want some blues?" This tune is a great one, as it features the organ and great guitar works from a band that originally was formed from the group Santana, long before Steve Perry joined the band and redefined Journey's Santana sound into a successful pop rock band.my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

At the end of this tune, it seems that the guitarist is doing his best solo, Eddie Van Halen style, and it blends into the next song, "La Do Da," which was originally from their Infinity album. This live version showcases the instrumental side of the band, and of course, if you've been to any concert, the drummer gets to struts his stuff, in performing a (Lord knows how long of a) drum solo.

The last three live songs are classic Journey tunes: "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'," "Wheel In The Sky" (which again, is a little faster than the studio version) and "Any Way You Want It". The last two songs has the audience participating in some parts of the songs. I'm quite certain that Steve Perry pointed his mike to the crowd for their cue each time.

Captured is a fine rock live album. One fine moment is when Steve Perry talks to the audience, and points to each microphone on stage and tells the crowd that they are being part of a live album. Being in that audience has to be a great feeling. As they listen to that song or more, obviously they'll remember them, and say, "Hey, I was there!" I've never seen Journey in concert, but the people I've talked to that did, said that they put on one helluva show.

A surprise was found in reading the liner notes:

"This album is dedicated to the memory of Bon Scott, a friend from the highway."

Bon Scott was the original lead singer of AC/DC, who had recently died of a drinking binge. As these two bands are unfamiliar in sound, it was amazing to know that a pop rock band such as Journey, was dedicating their album to a hard-rocking metal/blues band, such as AC/DC. Anything is possible in rock: There are many bands who are dedicated to other musical influences; those being different in musical style and texture.

As much as I have heard, there are many rock fans who do not like Journey. When they originally formed in 1973, the band consisted of members from Santana, (Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie), continuing with the Santana sound. They released three albums, mostly consisting of hard-rock and instrumentals. In 1977, Steve Perry joined, replacing vocalist Robert Fleischman, who had joined the band in 1976.

When Perry merged on the scene, his vocals and sound of the band took a 180 degree turn, throwing off many previous Santana/Journey fans. Many felt that Perry sounded too much like a female, and their new sound was wimpy, as they became popular as a pop rock band. But in reality, Journey is loved by more fans who enjoy them more than the ones who don't. Journey is a great band; their pop status became more famous than Santana's. Again, there's that famous quote: Either you like 'em, or you don't.

Rating: B-

User Rating: B+


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© 1999 Eric E5S16 and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of Columbia Records, and is used for informational purposes only.