Infinity (1978)
1. Lights
2. Feeling That Way
3. Anytime
4. La Do Da
5. Patiently
6. Wheel in the Sky
7. Somethin' to Hide
8. Winds of March
9. Can Do
10.Opened the Door
With Infinity, Journey underwent a metamorphosis so abrupt and so complete that even the most generous of fans might be forgiven for asking if this was, in fact, the same band. The jazz-fusion outfit responsible for the first three albums had disappeared almost entirely, replaced by a new beast — glossier, louder, and unmistakably aimed at the mainstream. If the transformation felt dramatic, that’s because it was, and not entirely by choice. Faced with flagging sales and the looming threat of being dropped, management decided salvation lay in the form of a frontman with wider appeal. Enter Steve Perry.
At first, the remaining quartet reportedly balked at the idea. Their instrumental virtuosity, once their proudest badge, was being traded for melody and mass appeal. But resistance was short-lived. The moment Neal Schon and Perry began writing together, any lingering doubts evaporated. Perry didn’t just sing — he elevated. He made the songs soar. The skeptics (and there weren’t many) cried foul, but the payoff was immediate and enormous. One casualty remained: drummer Aynsley Dunbar, unimpressed with the new direction, would soon depart. No great loss — the band was already airborne.
Listening now, it’s easy to forget that this record marked the beginning of what would become one of the definitive sounds of American arena rock. Yes, Perry’s voice is everywhere — commanding, crystalline, inescapable — but what is more interesting is how thoroughly the rest of the band embraced the change. For the first time, they were writing for a singer, and the results are often stunning. The harmonies are lush and immaculately arranged. Even Gregg Rolie, the band’s original vocalist, is given a few lead turns — and, in a twist no one saw coming, sounds better than ever.
A good portion of the credit must go to producer Roy Thomas Baker (already a veteran of Queen and The Cars), who crafted a sound that was both massive and meticulous. Tracks like La Do Da and Feeling That Way carry an unrelenting muscularity, while the ballads — Lights and the criminally underrated Patiently — show a band newly capable of nuance.
It’s tempting to view Infinity as a kind of debut — not technically, of course, but spiritually. The earlier records, though interesting, now feel like sketches in search of a finished idea. This was the moment the band found itself. Whether or not they would ever top it remains a matter of taste, but one thing is clear: this is where Journey became Journey.
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