Journey’s Escape hit #1

Escape Journey

Released: July 17, 1981 Peak: 11 US, 32 UK, 6 CN, -- AU, 110 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 9.0 US, -- UK, 12.10 world (includes US and UK), 34.93 EAS Genre: classic rock

Tracks: Click on a song titled for more details. Don’t Stop Believin’ [4:11] Stone in Love [4:26] Who’s Crying Now [5:01] Keep on Runnin’ [3:40] Still They Ride [3:50] Escape [5:17] Lay It Down [4:13] Dead or Alive [3:21] Mother, Father [5:29] Open Arms [3:23] Total Running Time: 42:46 Also from This Era: Little Girl [5:47] Natural Thing [3:43] La Raza del Sol [3:26] Only Solutions [3:39] The Players: Steve Perry (vocals) Neal Schon (guitar, backing vocals) Jonathan Cain (keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals) Ross Valory (bass, backing vocals) Steve Smith (drums)

Rating: 4.365 out of 5.00 (average of 22 ratings) Quotable: Journey’s “definitive statement” – Classic Rock Magazine Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Journey to the Top Journey formed in San Francisco in 1973. They released “three modestly successful jazz-rock albums” TB before singer Steve Perry joined the band. “His smooth vocal delivery and the group’s arrival at a more concise, hard-rock sound immediately reaped dividends, with Infinity (1978) selling a million copies in the U.S.A. alone.” TB Escape, the group’s fourth album with Perry, “was a groundbreaking album” AM flinging the band “steadfastly into the AOR arena” AM and making “them stadium-filling superstars.” CR The album is marked by songs that “are more rock-flavored, with more hooks and a harder cadence compared to their former sound.” AM A More Polished Sound The album was produced by Kevin Elson and Mike “Clay” Stone and recorded in Berkeley, California, at Fantasy Studios. It had “a more polished commercial sound than its predecessors.” TB Part of the group’s new direction could be attributed to Jonathan Cain, who came on board as the keyboardist after the departure of founding member Gregg Rolie. He co-wrote every song on the album and his “blatant keyboards” AM combined with “Neal Schon’s grand yet palatable guitar playing” AM and “the passionate, wide-ranged vocals of Steve Perry, who is the true lifeblood of this album, and this band.” AM Why It Succeeded “There is a certain electricity that circulates through…the album.” AM The “heartfelt songwriting and sturdy musicianship” AM has “a way of rekindling the innocence of youthful romance and the rebelliousness of growing up.” AM The accessibility of the songs led to three top-10 singles as well as a top 20 hit with “Still They Ride” and an album rock favorite in “Stone in Love.” The album soared to the top of the charts and sold more than 12 million in sales worldwide. “Escape became Journey’s “definitive statement.” CR A Pinnacle of Arena Rock The year of its release could be marked as the pinnacle of arena rock. REO Speedwagon, Styx, Foreigner, and Journey had all been around since at least the mid-‘70s and amassed huge followings, but peaked that year with the only #1 albums of their careers. All four groups were savaged by critics. Their power ballads were mocked and their proclivity toward radio-friendly rock wasn’t taken seriously. The Revival of “Don’t Stop Believin’” Journey may have had the last laugh, though. More than two decades after Don’t Stop Believin’ first hit the charts, it had a surprising resurgence when it was used in the finale of television’s The Sopranos. Then it also served as the springboard for Glee, giving that television franchise a #4 hit. The song, an evocative tale of “‘streetlight people, living just to find emotion’, became an American classic.” CR “The whisper of Perry’s ardor is crept up to with Schon’s searing electric guitar work, making for a perfect rock song.” AM Thanks to its revival, it has become the biggest hit in Journey’s catalog. Columbia House Escape played an important role in my burgeoning obsession with music when I acquired that album and five others after signing up for the Columbia House Record and Tape Club with my friend Nic. Read more here. I’d just started my own weekly chart in September 1982 and this influx of “new” music (all the releases were actually from 1981) stormed onto the chart and into my own personal music history. The Songs Here’s a breakdown of each of the individual songs.

Don’t Stop Believin’ Journey

Writer(s): Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon (see lyrics here) Released: single (10/19/1981), Escape (1981), Greatest Hits Live (live, recoded 1981-83, released 1998), Greatest Hits (compilation, 1988), Time3 (box set, 1992), The Essential (compilation, 2001) B-side: “Natural Thing” First Charted: 8/15/1981 Peak: 9 BB, 8 CB, 8 GR, 9 HR, 9 RR, 8 AR, 6 UK, 9 CN, 83 AU, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 18.0 US, 1.40 UK, 19.40 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 1.0 radio, 613.67 video, 2590.87 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: Journey was at their peak with 1981’s Escape, their sole #1 album. The lead-off single, “Who’s Crying Now,” went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the power ballad “Open Arms” was a #2 hit. It was “Don’t Stop Believin’,” however, which became the biggest hit of Journey’s career. Chartwise, it only peaked at #9, but it demonstrated a longevity no one could have imagined. In 2003, the song was used – and even discussed – in a scene from the movie Monster, for which Charlize Theron won an Oscar. That sparked requests for the song in other movies and TV shows. In 2007, the song was used in the memorable final scene of the last episode of The Sopranos. It showed up again in the musical Rock of Ages, which ran on Broadway from 2009-2015. Perhaps most significant, however, was the song’s use in the TV show Glee in 2009. The Glee Cast landed an overwhelming 200+ chart hits on the Billboard Hot 100, but “Don’t Stop Believin’” was the first and the most successful, reaching #4 and selling a million copies. Journey’s version was propelled to millions more in sales, making it the best-selling digital track of the 20th century. WK The song is marked by Steve “Perry’s stern yet romantic vocals” A2 and “cutting guitar work from Neil Schon.” A2 It was “more than just an escalating guitar rock song;” A2 it became “an anthem for the young who wanted to feel free and unrestricted.” A2 One of the song’s unique features is that it doesn’t have a repeated chorus. The title isn’t sung until almost three and a half minutes into the song after verses. SF The inspiration for the title came from keyboardist Jonathan Cain’s father. When Cain was struggling to make it, he asked his father if he should give up on his dream. Dad told him, “Don’t stop believin’.” SF

Stone in Love Journey

Writer(s): Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain Released: single (UK, 10/29/1982), Escape (1981), Greatest Hits Live (live, recoded 1981-83, released 1998), Time3 (box set, 1992), The Essential (compilation, 2001), Greatest Hits 2 (compilation, 2011) B-side: “Only Solutions” First Charted: 8/1/1981 Peak: 6 CL, 13 AR, 16 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 1.0 US Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 89.30 streaming About the Song: This was released in Europe as the fifth single from Escape. It failed to reach the UK charts, but did find success more than a year earlier on the album rock chart in the United States.

Who’s Crying Now Journey

Writer(s): Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry (see lyrics here) Released: 7/9/1981 (single), Escape (1981), Greatest Hits Live (live, recoded 1981-83, released 1998), Greatest Hits (compilation, 1988), Time3 (box set, 1992), The Essential (compilation, 2001) B-side: “Mother, Father” Peak: 4 BB, 3 CB, 14 GR, 3 HR, 11 RR, 14 AC, 4 AR, 46 UK, 3 CN, 65 AU, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 2.0 US Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 2.0 radio, 43.00 video, 120.44 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: Journey began in 1973 as an offshoot of Santana. In just five years they evolved from a more progressive-rock-leaning band to a staple at album rock, thanks to hits such as “Lights,” “Wheel in the Sky,” “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’,” and “Any Way You Want It.” The latter two gave the band their first sniffs at the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the latter propelled Journey to the top 10 of the album chart with Departure. Even though their star was clearly on the rise, the success of their 1981 album Escape pushed the group into unexpected blockbuster category. “Who’s Crying Now,” the lead single from the album, gave Journey a #4 hit and it was followed by two more top-10 hits with “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Open Arms.” Billboard magazine called “Who’s Crying Now” “one of Journey’s strongest and classiest records” and “one of the most appealing love songs” of 1981. WK The song showcases Steve Perry’s “passionate, wide-ranged vocals” AM and “vocal riffs highly reminiscent of Sam Cooke.” WK The song explores “the ups and downs of a relationship.” AM Steve Perry wrote the chorus while driving from Bakersfield to San Francisco. He headed to keyboardist Jonathan Cain’s house and hummed the song to him. Cain then helped with the piano part SF and verses. WK Cain, who was previously a member of the Babys, had just become a member of Journey in 1980, replacing Gregg Rolie on keyboards.

Keep on Runnin’ Journey

Writer(s): Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain Released: Escape (1981), Time3 (box set, 1992) Peak: 34 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 4.53 streaming

Still They Ride Journey

Writer(s): Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain Released: single (May 1982), Escape (1981), Greatest Hits Live (live, recoded 1981-83, released 1998), Time3 (box set, 1992), The Essential (compilation, 2001), Greatest Hits 2 (compilation, 2011) B-side: “La Raza del Sol” Peak: 19 BB, 25 CB, 18 GR, 18 RR, 37 AC, 20 CL, 47 AR, 5 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 14.52 streaming About the Song: “Still They Ride” was the fourth single released from Journey’s multi-platinum, #1 album Escape. While the first three singles reached the top 10, “Ride” stalled just inside the top 20.

Escape Journey

Writer(s): Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain Released: Escape (1981), Greatest Hits Live (live, recoded 1981-83, released 1998), The Essential (compilation, 2001), Greatest Hits 2 (compilation, 2011) Peak: 25 CL, 33 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 7.33 streaming

Lay It Down Journey

Writer(s): Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain Released: Escape (1981) Peak: 39 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 2.62 streaming

Dead or Alive Journey

Writer(s): Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain Released: Escape (1981) Peak: 39 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 2.36 streaming

Mother, Father Journey

Writer(s): Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Matt Schon Released: B-side of “Who’s Crying Now” (7/9/1981), Escape (1981), Time3 (box set, 1992), The Essential (compilation, 2001) Peak: 15 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 6.02 streaming

Open Arms Journey

Writer(s): Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain (see lyrics here) Released: single (1/8/1982), Escape (1981), Greatest Hits Live (live, recoded 1981-83, released 1998), Greatest Hits (compilation, 1988), Time3 (box set, 1992), The Essential (compilation, 2001) B-side: “Little Girl” Peak: 2 BB, 11 CB, 16 GR, 11 HR, 17 RR, 7 AC, 35 AR, 2 CN, 43 AU, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 4.0 US Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 3.0 radio, 71.60 video, 307.16 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: Journey’s keyboardist, Jonathan Cain, wrote the melody for “Open Arms” when he was with The Babys. John Waite, that group’s lead singer, considered the song “too syrupy” and passed on it. SF Cain tried again when he was in Journey, showing it to singer Steve Perry. He was sold, but the rest of the band wasn’t so sure about a ballad. Perry and Cain ended up writing a song about a couple drifting apart and finding each other again when they realize how much they love each other. “Open Arms” was the third single from Journey’s chart-topping Escape album following “Don’t Stop Believin’” (#9) and “Who’s Crying Now” (#4). It not only bested them both but became the band’s biggest hit ever. It held on to the runner-up spot for six weeks, held out from the top by two huge #1 songs – J. Geils Band’s “Centerfold” (6 weeks) and Joan Jett & the Blackheart’s “I Love Rock and Roll” (7 weeks). Songfacts.com said the song “pioneered the entire concept of the power ballad” while Perry said, “Now everybody’s got to have one.” SF All Music.com’s Mike DeGagne’s echoed that idea saying the song “broke down the flood gates and paved the way for…the power ballad.” A2 However, “Open Arms” was definitely not the first power ballad. In the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, a genre known as “arena rock” emerged, led by groups like Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, and Foreigner. Each garnered wide rock and pop audiences and landed #1 albums. All four had their biggest hits with power ballads – but the other three groups did so before Journey. Styx topped the charts with “Babe” in 1979 and REO Speedwagon pulled of the same feat with 1980’s “Keep on Loving You.” Foreigner arguably pulled off the biggest hit of the four groups with 1981’s “Waiting for a Girl Like You.” While it didn’t hit #1, it held the #2 spot for 10 weeks. In 1984, they hit the top with “I Want to Know What Love Is.” While “Open Arms” wasn’t the first power ballad as claimed, it is “one of rock’s most beautiful ballads,” AM according to DeGagne. He said the song “gleams with an honesty and feel only Steve Perry could muster” AM as it puts his “voice on a pedestal for all to hear.” A1 “The accompanying piano riffs that floated and then wisped away the song’s delicate lyrics had a lot to do with the song’s prosperity as well.” A1 The song has been covered by Boyz II Men, Celine Dion, Barry Manilow, and Mariah Carey, who reached #4 with the song in the UK in 1996.

Little Girl Journey

Writer(s): Neal Schon, Steve Perry, Gregg Rolie Released: Dream After Dream (soundtrack, 1980), B-side of “Open Arms” (1/8/1982), Time3 (box set, 1992), Departure (2006 reissue), Greatest Hits 2 (compilation, 2011) Peak: 24 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.90 streaming About the Song: In late 1980, Journey released a mostly instrumental soundtrack for Dream After Dream, a Japanese romantic fantasy film directed by Kenzo Takada. It was an odd move for a group coming off the multi-platinum success of a top-ten album (Depature) released earlier that year. One of the vocal tracks on the album, “Little Girl,” feels like an overlooked single that might have been a top-40 ballad for the group. During Journey’s successful run with 1981’s Escape, the song was released as the B-side of “Open Arms,” the group’s highest charting single.

Natural Thing Journey

Writer(s): Steve Perry, Ross Valory Released: B-side of “Don’t Stop Believin’” (10/19/1981), Time3 (box set, 1992), Departure (2006 reissue) First Charted: 1/2/1993 Peak: 32 AR, 17 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.62 streaming About the Song: This song was recorded in 1979 but wasn’t released until 1981 when it was slated as the B-side of “Don’t Stop Believin’.” In 1992, it was issued to radio to promote Journey’s box set Time 3.

La Raza del Sol Journey

Writer(s): Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain Released: B-side of “Still They Ride” (May 1982), Time3 (box set, 1992), Escape (2006 reissue) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.26 streaming About the Song: The title translates to “The Race of the Sun.” Originally released as the B-side of “Still They Ride” in May 1982, the song was later added to the 2006 reissue of Escape as a bonus track.

Only Solutions Journey

Writer(s): Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain Released: Tron (soundtrack, 1982), B-side of “Stone in Love” (10/29/1982), Time3 (box set, 1992), Frontiers (2006 reissue) First Charted: 8/14/1982 Peak: 22 AR, 18 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 2.043 streaming About the Song: The 1982 soundtrack for Tron was written almost entirely by Wndy Carlos, a pioneering electronic musician best known for her album Switched-On Bach and previous soundtracks for A Clockwork Orange and The Shining. Perhaps in an attempt to generate a hit from the soundtrack, Journey were tapped to perform “Only Solutions.” The song did make a minor dent on the album rock chart and was released as the B-side of “Stone in Love,” a single released only in Europe. The song was later included as a bonus track on the 2006 reissue of Journey’s Frontiers album.

Resources/References: AM AllMusic.com review by Mike DeGagne A1 AllMusic.com review of “Open Arms” by Mike DeGagne A2 AllMusic.com review of “Don’t Stop Believin’” CRM ClassicRockMagazine.com JM JourneyMusic.com SF Songfacts page for “Open Arms” SF Songfacts page for “Don’t Stop Believin’” SF Songfacts page for “Who’s Crying Now” TB Thunder Bay (2005). Albums: The Stories Behind 50 Years of Great Recordings. Thunder Bay Press; San Diego, CA. Page 206. WK Wikipedia page for “Open Arms” WK Wikipedia page for “Don’t Stop Believin’” WK Wikipedia page for “Who’s Crying Now” Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/24/2008; last updated 10/1/2025.