Journey Collection: Escape/Frontiers/Infinity CD

The Collection includes 3 separate albums: ESCAPE (1981)/FRONTIERS (1983)/INFINITY (1978).
ESCAPE:
Journey: Steve Perry (vocals); Jonathan Cain (guitar, keyboards, background vocals); Neil Schon (guitar, background vocals); Ross Valory (bass, background vocals); Steve Smith (drums).
Producers: Mike Stone, Kevin Elson.
Engineer: Wally Buck.
Recorded at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California.
FRONTIERS:
Journey: Steve Perry (vocals); Neil Schon (guitar, background vocals); Jonathan Cain (keyboards); Ross Valory (bass); Steve Smith (drums).
Producers: Mike Stone, Kevin Elson.
Engineer: Mike Stone.
Recorded at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California.
INFINITY:
Journey: Steve Perry (vocals); Neal Schon (guitar); Gregg Rolie (keyboards); Ross Valory (bass); Aynsley Dunbar (drums).
Producer: Roy Thomas Baker.
Journey (Rock): Ross Valory (bass guitar); Gregg Rolie, Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon, Steve Perry , Steve Smith , Aynsley Dunbar.
Personnel: Jonathan Cain (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Neal Schon (vocals, guitar); Gregg Rolie (vocals, keyboards); Ross Valory, Steve Perry (vocals); Aynsley Dunbar (drums, percussion); Steve Smith (drums).
Audio Mixer: Roy Thomas Baker.
Audio Remasterers: George Marino; Bob Ludwig; Brian Lee.
Liner Note Author: Pat Morrow.
Recording information: Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA.
Photographers: Rande Deluca; Jim Welch.
In the summer of 1998, Sony repackaged and re-released Journey's most popular albums -- Escape, Frontiers and Infinity -- as a slip-cased box set. Since this box set features the remastered versions from 1996, it's a good bargain in one sense; if you haven't replaced your old CDs or want to acquire all of these albums at once, this is a convenient way. However, since the box offers nothing that isn't on the remastered discs, this package is of marginal interest to hardcore fans and collectors. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
The 1998 specially-priced box set ESCAPE/FRONTIERS/INFINITY contains three of Journey's best-known albums. If you're curious about the state of early-'80s rock radio, all three releases are a virtual lesson in the true meaning of "arena rock."
While the albums include some of Journey's biggest hits ("Don't Stop Believin'," "Open Arms," "Separate Ways," "Wheel in the Sky," "Faithfully," etc.), there are also plenty of strong tracks that were never issued as singles-- "Stone in Love," "Chain Reaction," etc. If you're a newcomer to Journey and want to dig deeper than its 1988 GREATEST HITS release, ESCAPE/FRONTIERS/INFINITY is highly recommended.
This three-disc set collects three of Journey's finest records -- Escape, Frontiers, and Infinity -- and puts them under one roof, complete with original artwork and packaging. This span of time in the group's career was also their most crucial, departing from the prog rock-led sensibilities and graduating into the suit that would eventually make them arena rock overlords for the rest of the late '70s and '80s. The songs on these three records also make up a significant portion of the band's greatest hits. Songs like "Don't Stop Believin'," "Faithfully," "Wheel in the Sky," and "Lights" as well as fan favorites like "Feelin That Way," "Who's Crying Now," and others. But there's also moments of filler that could be off-putting for those looking for just the hits. For casual listeners, this box may be too pricey and one of their outstanding greatest-hits compilations may be the thing to check out. But for die-hard fans just now getting around to replacing original vinyl copies, this may be a sensible purchase to undertake. ~ Rob Theakston