Maps of Music

Infinity (1978)

Where the lyrics of Infinity take you, and where it was really made.

Infinity was the first Journey album with Steve Perry, and the change brought the band its highest chart success to date.

Key places

Recorded at Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles (1978)

Recording site Cherokee Studios — Infinity was recorded over two months, with part of the sessions held at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles. Producer Roy Thomas Baker oversaw the work. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at His Master's Wheels, San Francisco (1978)

Recording site His Master's Wheels — Part of Infinity was recorded at His Master's Wheels in San Francisco, the other part at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles. Both sessions fell within the same two-month span. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Infinity: fourth studio album by the American rock band Journey
• Released January 1978 by Columbia Records
• First Journey album with vocalist Steve Perry
• Last album to feature drummer Aynsley Dunbar
• Lineup of five members begins with Perry's arrival

Background

• Robert Fleischman was briefly enlisted as lead vocalist before Perry
• Fleischman recorded a few tracks, one of which, 'For You', later appeared on the Time3 compilation and his solo album Perfect Stranger
• Gregg Rolie duets with Perry on 'Feeling That Way' and sings lead on 'Anytime'
• 'Patiently' was the first song Perry and Neal Schon wrote together
• Perry wrote the lyrics of 'Patiently', which express the sadness of life on the road
• Journey's manager, Herbie Herbert, hired English producer Roy Thomas Baker to produce the album
• Baker used a layered sound similar to his work with Queen
• Baker's stacked harmonies, where each vocalist sings every harmony part in unison, became trademarks of Journey's sound
• The addition of Perry gave the band a more mainstream sound and helped Journey reach its highest chart success to date

Recording

• Infinity was recorded over two months at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles and at His Master's Wheels in San Francisco
• Roy Thomas Baker produced the album, with engineer Geoff Workman working on 'Winds of March'
• Neal Schon's father, Matt Schon, contributed to 'Winds of March'
• Ross Valory, Gregg Rolie and Steve Perry handled backing vocals and lead parts across the record

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Journey is an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1973 by former members of Santana, the Steve Miller Band, and Frumious Bandersnatch.
• The band was originally called the Golden Gate Rhythm Section, intended as a backup group for Bay Area artists, before developing a jazz fusion style.
• The name Journey was suggested by roadie John Villanueva.

Members

• Current lineup includes Neal Schon (guitars, vocals), Jonathan Cain (keyboards, guitars, vocals), Deen Castronovo (drums, vocals), Arnel Pineda (lead vocals), Jason Derlatka (keyboards, vocals), and Todd Jensen (bass, vocals).
• Steve Perry was lead vocalist from 1977 to 1987, the band's most commercially successful period.

Career

• Escape reached number one on the Billboard 200 and produced "Open Arms" and "Don't Stop Believin'".
• Frontiers reached number two in the US and number six on the UK Albums Chart.
• "Don't Stop Believin'" was certified 18-times platinum by the RIAA in 2024, the top-selling digital track in US history.
• The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
• A farewell tour, the Final Frontier Tour, began in February 2026 after Jonathan Cain announced his departure.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• The Globe and Mail deemed the album "one of the most unjustifiably ignored gems of 1978."
• Single 'Anytime' was praised for its exuberant, multi-tracked harmonies
• The album's changes let each member play to his strength, with Perry's voice, Schon's guitar work and Rolie's keyboards highlighted

Reappraisal

• John Franck, reviewing for AllMusic, wrote that the album effectively cemented the band's reputation as one of America's most beloved, and sometimes hated, commercial rock and pop bands
• Franck singled out Perry's soaring voice, Schon's scorching fretwork and Rolie's subtle keyboard arrangements

Records

• Billboard 200: peak of number 21, the band's first top 40 entry
• RIAA certified triple platinum in July 1989
• Singles: 'Wheel in the Sky' reached number 57 in the US, 'Lights' number 68, 'Anytime' number 83

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Robert Fleischman later became the first singer of the glam metal band Vinnie Vincent Invasion.
• 'Patiently' was the first song Perry and Neal Schon wrote together.
• Drummer Aynsley Dunbar left Journey after this album and joined Jefferson Starship in 1978.
• Neal Schon's father, Matt Schon, contributed to the song 'Winds of March'.
• Gregg Rolie, who had been the lead singer before Perry, shared vocal duties on 'Feeling That Way'.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

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