Journey “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’” charted

Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’ Journey

Writer(s): Steve Perry (see lyrics here) First Charted: July 14, 1979 Peak: 16 US, 15 CB, 12 HR, 6 RR, 4 CL, 12 CN, 2 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 1.0 radio, 31.12 video, 37.34 streaming

About the Song: After three albums with more progressive leanings, Journey veered more toward mainstream rock with their 1978 album, Infinity. The band owed much of their new-found audience to the arrival of new frontman, Steve Perry. “Wheel in the Sky,” “Anytime,” and “Lights” were all minor hits at the time – none reached the top 40 of the Billboard pop charts – but have since become staples at classic-rock radio. It propelled the album to #21 and triple platinum status, the first of six consecutive Journey studio albums to achieve multi-platinum status. That certainly raised the bar for next album, 1979’s Evolution, but Journey stepped up to the challenge. The lead single, “Just the Same Way,” and third single, “Too Late,” had similar success to the singles from Infinity in that they charted on Billboard’s Hot 100, but failed to reach the top 40. The middle single, however, was the big step forward. “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’” was the second single from the album and not only gave Journey its first taste of the top 40, but the top 20. The song was written solely by Steve Perry, although the band’s future hits were typically co-writes between him and/or guitarist Neal Schon and future keyboardist Jonathan Cain. This is “a gut-wrenching tale of love-gone-wrong, with the desperate opening lines, ‘You make me weep, I wanna die,’ and an extended fade of ‘na na’s as there are no more words to describe the pain.” SF “Perry didn’t make this stuff up…this was a true story. He watched through the window as his girlfriend at the time got out of a Corvette and gave the driver a long, loving kiss goodbye. He calls this song ‘love justice.’” SF Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Journey SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 7/8/2022.

Journey’s Evolution released

First posted 10/12/2008; updated 10/17/2020.

Evolution Journey

Released: March 23, 1979 Peak: 20 US, 100 UK, 37 CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): 3.0 US, -- UK, 4.0 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock

Tracks: Song Title (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Majestic Too Late (12/22/79, 70 US, 39 CL) Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’ (7/21/79, 16 US, 4 CL, 12 CN, sales: ½ million) City of the Angels (17 CL) When You’re Alone (It Ain’t Easy) Sweet and Simple Lovin’ You Is Easy Just the Same Way (4/7/79, 58 US, 10 CL, 80 CN) Do You Recall Daydream Lady Luck Total Running Time: 37:10 The Players: Steve Perry (vocals) Neal Schon (guitar, backing vocals) Gregg Rolie (keyboards, backing vocals) Ross Valory (bass, backing vocals) Steve Smith (drums)

Rating: 3.529 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings) Awards:

About the Album: “With the platinum triumph of Infinity still ringing in their ears like coins in a slot machine, Journey was now committed to completing their transformation from jazz fusion/prog rock mavens into arena rock superstars with their fifth album, 1979’s Evolution. This transition (also clearly illustrated by the futuristic insect gracing each album cover henceforth) would not come without its growing pains.” FR While “producer Roy Thomas Baker, whose previous clients Queen are echoed in the knowingly titled pomp-rock fanfare Majestic,” CRM “was back for a second go-round, original drummer Aynsley Dunbar would be the first casualty of the band’s new direction. Thankfully, former Ronnie Montrose skin-beater Steve Smith soon brought his college-trained jazz fusion background to the table, and the band was ready to get back to work.” FR “If Infinity had defined a new songwriting formula for the act, Evolution only served to develop it and streamlined it further, clearly qualifying as their strongest effort to date and endearing the band to millions of FM rock listeners in the process. With commercial rock hits like Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’…, Too Late…, and the powerful Just the Same Way,” FR which “featured original lead vocalist Gregg Rolie,” JM “leading the way to radio dominance, Journey had never sounded stronger or more determined.” FR As for “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’,” the band’s first top 20 single, “Steve Perry’s pain was Journey’s gain…[The song] was written after the singer saw his girlfriend kissing another guy. Perry described the song as ‘love justice’, but it was the sweetest kind of revenge; with its slinky blues groove and a killer ‘na-na-na’ coda, the song became a genuine rock standard.” CRM “With Steve Perry’s tenor pipes now clearly driving the band’s engine, and guitarist Neal Schon beginning to relish in his guitar-hero persona, Journey could seemingly do no wrong. Evolution quickly became the band's biggest-selling album (moving over 800,000 units in less than three months)” FR and “their highest charting album to date.” JM “Perry and co. soon embarked on yet another mammoth tour, which set many an attendance record, and set the stage for even greater triumph with 1980’s Departure.” FR

Resources and Related Links: Journey’s DMDB Encyclopedia entry CRM ClassicRockMagazine.com FR John Franck & Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide JM JourneyMusic.com