Journey- Evolution 45th anniversary- Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie

If 1978’s Infinity album finally put San Francisco band Journey on American rock radio, then the follow-up Evolution in March 1979 crossed Journey over to a mainstream radio following, as well. That would not be much of a headline had Infinity been their first or second attempt instead of Journey’s fourth, but truth be told, the first three studio albums were largely ignored, so it was a miracle that Journey, named by the Gallup Poll in the early Eighties as “America’s Favorite Group”, even got the chance.

The piano rocker “Just the Same Way” on Evolution featured both keyboardist Gregg Rolie and the new Journey frontman, singer Steve Perry, trading call-and-response vocals; an under-exposed gem “When You’re Alone It Ain’t Easy”; and the mid-tempo shuffle which forever anchored Journey in the mainstream, “Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’ ” (Steve Perry reveals the true story behind that one!). Journey co-founders Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie are joined In the Studio by singer/songwriter Steve Perry for the 45th anniversary of the triple platinum Evolution. -Redbeard