
After five albums, Journey arrived in 1980 to demonstrate the greatness of the band, reaching more listeners with “Departure,” an album of tremendous execution and composition that marked the beginning of great things to come. Steve Perry (Vocals) had already become the leader of the band, and this was his third album with them. On the other hand, this would be the last studio album with Gregg Rolie (Keyboards) in Journey.
What can we hear?
A style that defines Journey as we know them today: Extremely high-level vocals, distorted guitars with riffs, elegant chords, and solos with delay, digital keyboards, and tight drumming holding the band together.
Neal Schon’s (Guitar) work is excellent, showcasing brilliance in his instrument at every moment, using silences to introduce figures or solos. The album is very “guitar-centric,” as, after Steve Perry’s vocals, Neal’s guitar shines the most. Each and every guitar solo in the album has a perfect sense, employing various techniques like harmonics, whammy, bending, among others, accompanied by a delicate selection of effects. The guitars transition from mostly heavy but balanced distortions (something innovative for the time) to clean guitars with delay and reverb, reminiscent of bands like Boston.
We hear a production that ventured into the 80s, still rooted in the organic sound of the 70s but with glimpses of what we would hear in studio production in the subsequent years.

Steve Perry's perfect performance
“Departure” is the album that positioned Journey as one of the greats in rock, especially Steve Perry, who possessed an almost perfect vocal technique, comparable to greats like Freddie Mercury. Remember that in 1980, there was no software or anything like what we now know as “Autotune.” It’s noteworthy that all artists before 1998, the year Autotune was invented, did not have access to this vocal production tool.
Perry presented perfect pitch in all songs, along with a very high vocal range that allowed him to produce melismas as high as he desired, complementing Neal Schon’s excellent solos and riffs.
“Departure” closes with emotion, specifically in songs like “Good Morning Girl” and “Stay Awhile,” a couple of ballads where orchestral arrangements add an extra touch of elegance to the album, serving as the cherry on top. The album then concludes with “Homemade Love,” a song with fun riffs and drums very much in the style of John Bonham.

Journey was consolidating as a great
Their hit “Anyway You Want It” placed them in privileged positions, and the band began to be known worldwide. The lineup, although it would undergo changes later on, had adapted to sound incomparably, possessing virtually everything at a musical level. Undoubtedly, a classic album that offers a lot, especially when listened to attentively, as it’s the small gestures that make it even more special.
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