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Journey
Columbia 33388
Released: May 1975
Chart Peak: #138
Weeks Charted: 9
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Journey is the third and best group to grow out of the original Santana. Unlike Azteca and Malo, it's not merely a spinoff. Keyboardist and singer Gregg Rolie and lead guitarist Neal Schon -- both formerly with Santana -- have come up with a more energetic and less contemplative music than Carlos Santana has been making lately. The rhythm section is led by Aynsley Dunbar's complex and experienced drumming, while producer Roy Halee has contributed to the group's original sound by placing Rolie's piano within the rhythm section and leaving Schon's guitar as lead instrument. His sensitive mix prevents the lackluster vocals from intruding on the band's instrumental strength. "To Play Some Music" is the album's most commercial cut, while "Topaz" breaks away from the steady rock format with some bluesy sentiment. A strong beginning.
- Cynthia Bowman, Rolling Stone, 6/5/75.
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Yet another band with prominent members, this time in the form of drummer Aynsley Dunbar and former Santana members Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie. The music is heavily leaning toward guitar a la Santana, but the group still retains its own style and could make a dent in the charts. Three of the eight tunes are fine-sounding instrumentals. Best cuts: "Of A Lifetime," "In The Morning Day," "Topaz," "Conversations," "Mystery Mountain."
- Billboard, 1975.
You know that any band that consists of two of the major focal points of the original Santana (not Carlos, of course) and all-round-good-sport-and-drummer-for-the-stars, Aynsley Dunbar, is going to get a massive push. You also know that if you took the undulating, Spanish-fly-in-heat sound Santana was hurtling about circa Abraxas and syphoned it thru Deep Purple, the whole sludge-like thing would sound utterly oppressive, overbearing, and kinda ridiculous. Well, guess what, that's what we have here! Former Santana lead-mouth organist Greg Rollie; ex-Santana co-lead guitarist Neal Schon; and the omnipresent Mr. Dunbar; hey, like that's really he-eav-vy, man! So heavy, in fact, these guys, with some help from two 'Frisco friends, bassist Ross Valory and guitarist George Tickner, sound like an overweight bull in ye proverbial china shop. Directionless fireball organ riffs, overly long songs, no discipline or intelligence anywhere, and Rollie's colorless and odorous vocals predominate. The half star is for Schon's great imitation of early Carlos Santana. This review is a warning. 1/2
- Andy McKale, Circus, 6/75.
The first of three moderate-selling jazz-rock albums given over largely to instrumentals. * *
- William Ruhlmann, The All-Music Guide to Rock, 1995.
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