Maps of Music

Raised on Radio (1986)

Where the lyrics of Raised on Radio take you, and where it was really made.

Steve Perry renamed this album from Freedom to Raised on Radio, which angered the manager and some members, and it was the band's last record for a decade.

Key places

Fantasy Studios in Berkeley (1986)

Recording site Fantasy Studios — Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California is listed among the studios where Raised on Radio was recorded. The sessions ran from October to December 1985. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

The Plant Studios, Sausalito (1986)

Recording site Record Plant — The Plant Studios is credited as a studio where Raised on Radio was recorded. The map pin is set at city level, not at the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Record Plant, Sausalito (1986)

Recording site Plant Recording (Sausalito) — Spanish-language sources name Record Plant in Sausalito, California as a studio where the album was recorded. The map pin is set at city level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Raised on Radio: ninth studio album by the American rock band Journey
• Released April 1986 on Columbia Records
• First Journey album without founding bassist Ross Valory
• Bass parts by session bassist Bob Glaub, then Randy Jackson
• Drums by session drummer Larrie Londin; Steve Smith played on a few tracks
• Produced by lead singer Steve Perry
• Last Journey record for a decade, until Trial by Fire (1996)

Background

• Released three years after Frontiers (1983)
• In 1984, Neal Schon released an album with HSAS, and Steve Perry released his debut solo album Street Talk
• Perry considered leaving Journey after Street Talk
• Perry returned after keyboardist Jonathan Cain called him about unfinished songs
• After returning, Perry took more control over the band's direction
• Bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith were fired, against the wishes of manager Herbie Herbert
• Perry said Valory and Smith were not pleased with the music the band played and were not keen on touring
• The band chose Perry as producer because he had proven his production skills on Street Talk
• Perry changed the original title Freedom to Raised on Radio
• The subsequent tour featured Schon, Perry, Cain, Jackson and drummer Mike Baird

Recording

• Sessions ran from October to December 1985 at the Record Plant in Sausalito and at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California
• Credits also list The Plant Studios as a recording studio
• Mixed at Bearsville Studios and Power Station; mastered at Masterdisk
• Bob Clearmountain mixed the album and Bob Ludwig mastered it
• Jim Gaines served as associate producer and engineer
• Steve Smith played drums on tracks 2, 10 and 11; Larrie Londin played drums on the others

Cover

• The cover was made by Prairie Prince, an early member of the band
• It was modeled after the studios and antennas of KNGS in Hanford, California, owned by Perry's parents, Ray and Mary Perry

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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

• AllMusic: William Ruhlmann said the album found the group 'reduced to a trio' yet able to recreate the accessible pop-rock sound of Escape and Frontiers
• AllMusic: Ruhlmann noted that the album did not match the massive sales of Escape but confirmed the band's music had a large audience until the end of its career
• Cash Box: said of Suzanne that its somewhat brooding verses give way to explosive choruses featuring Perry's potent singing
• Cash Box: called Why Can't This Night Go On Forever a rousing, emotional ballad that is pure Journey, with a bracing, high-wire vocal from Perry
• Billboard: said Journey's power rock style gets adapted a bit toward the techno-dance idiom on Suzanne
• Overall critical reception was mixed

Records

• Billboard 200: peak No. 4
• Three US top 20 singles: Girl Can't Help It (No. 17), I'll Be Alright Without You (No. 14), Suzanne (No. 17)
• Be Good to Yourself: top ten single, No. 9
• United States: double platinum certification

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Perry renamed the working title from Freedom to Raised on Radio, angering manager Herbie Herbert and some members
• The band used the Freedom title 36 years later for its fifteenth studio album
• Smith recorded three tracks on the album, and he and Valory still received revenue from the record and the tour
• The cover was modeled after the studios and antennas of KNGS in Hanford, California, owned by Perry's parents
• Perry later said that if he could do it over, he would have done things differently regarding the firing of Valory and Smith

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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