Escape was a groundbreaking album for San Francisco's
Journey, charting three singles inside Billboard's Top Ten, with "Don't Stop Believing" reaching number nine, "Who's Crying Now" number four, and "Open Arms" peaking at number two and holding there for six weeks.
Escape flung
Journey steadfastly into the AOR arena, combining
Neal Schon's grand yet palatable guitar playing with
Jonathan Cain's blatant keyboards. All this was topped off by the passionate, wide-ranged vocals of
Steve Perry, who is the true lifeblood of this album, and this band. The songs on
Escape are more rock-flavored, with more hooks and a harder cadence compared to their former sound. "Who's Crying Now" spotlights the sweeping fervor of
Perry's voice, whose theme about the ups and downs of a relationship was plentiful in
Journey's repertoire. With "Don't Stop Believing," the whisper of
Perry's ardor is crept up to with
Schon's searing electric guitar work, making for a perfect rock song. One of rock's most beautiful ballads, "Open Arms," gleams with an honesty and feel only
Steve Perry could muster. Outside of the singles, there is a certain electricity that circulates through the rest of the album. The songs are timeless, and as a whole, they have a way of rekindling the innocence of youthful romance and the rebelliousness of growing up, built from heartfelt songwriting and sturdy musicianship. ~ Mike DeGagne