Galley's Music Scene

Journey has always been on of America's greatest bands. This week saw the release of their 12th studio album, Generations. It's another solid effort by the band which now includes Neal Schon, Ross Vallory, Johnathan Cain, along with long-time members Steve Augeri on vocals and Deen Castronovo (formerly of Bad English) on drums.
Journey was, without a doubt, the biggest band in the world in 1983; Frontiers was on the top of the charts, they had a huge sell-out worldwide tour, and their previous album, Escape, was one of the best rock albums ever released. Journey was simply unbeatable in the years 1978 - 1986 for the sheer quality of the music they produced. Just think back of the albums from that period: Infinity, Evoluton, Departure, Captured, Escape, Frontiers, and Raised On Radio. Singer Steve Perry seeked more creative control of the band for 1986's Raised On Radio, and did the unthinkable; he convinced Neal and Johnathan to fire Ross Vallory and Steve Smith. Perry now admits that was a huge mistake. No offense to American Idol's Randy Jackson (who filled in on bass for that album and the subsequent tour), but ROR sounded too much like a Steve Perry solo record. Journey ultimately had to turn the tables and fire Perry in the late 1990's after he refused to accept medical treatment for an injury for religious reasons. Journey simply couldn't wait any longer and needed to tour to support the Trial By Fire album. They hired former Tall Stories singer, Steve Augeri, and filled in the now vacant drummer slot with Castronovo. Steve Smith simply did not care for touring any longer (which is a real bummer since I didn't get to see him play when he was with The Storm). Perry eventually had to have the surgery.

View Journey's bio at AllMusic.com

Preview Journey's music at CD Universe

The Bangles - Along with The Go-Go's, The Bangles were one of the most popular bands of the 80's of either gender. Their jangly-pop songs were perfect for singing along to when you were cruising the streets of your hometown. Creative differences caused them to break up in 1989, but they reunited in the summer of 2000 and released Doll Revolution in 2003. That album featured the track, Something That You Said which is one of the best songs they ever recorded.

Preview The Bangles' music at CD Universe

The Go-Go's - The Go-Go's came out of the punk/new wave explosion of the late 70's/early 80's, and gave us such classics as We Got The Beat, Vacation, and Head Over Heels. Lead Singer Belinda Carlisle went on to have a very successful career. The Go-Go's reunited in the 90's and released God Bless The Go-Go's in 2001 featuring the hit Unforgiven.

Preview The Go-Go's music at CD Universe

The Runaways - The Runaways could be seen as a launching post for several well-known female musicians. Joan Jett, Lita Ford and Michael Steele, (of The Bangles) were all members. While they only had one hit, Cherry Bomb, their straight-ahead rock was a refreshing change in the "soft rock" 70's.

Preview The Runaways' music at CD Universe

The Donnas - Described as "The Ramones meets The Runaways", The Donnas were more of a punk band. They even took identical first names as a tribute to The Ramones. Plugging away for several years, they finally had a hit album with 2002's Spend The Night.

Preview The Donnas' music at CD Universe

Vixen - Vixen paid their dues in the L.A./Hollywood club scene for several years before getting signed by EMI in 1987. Their self-titled 1988 debut album sold millions, thanks to the catchy track, Edge Of A Broken Heart. While not critical darlings, Vixen proved that they could rock just as hard as any of the male metal artists.

Preview Vixen's music at CD Universe

Air Supply ruled the pop charts in the 1980s; their sticky-sweet goodness was all over the radio. Despite what you may think of them, Air Supply were masters at creating slick ballads and lite rock songs. To the best of my knowledge, every one of their songs was a ballad. I never owned any of their albums, but a friend in college did, and he played the crap out of them.
The Definitive Collection was released in 1999, and features 20-bit remastering. It's one of those rare compilation CDs that actually contains all the songs you want! There's not a bad song in the bunch, but the previously unreleased Australian version of Lost In Love leaves a little to be desired.
[Digitally Remastered]

1. Lost In Love
2. All Out Of Love
3. Chances
4. Every Woman In The World
5. One That You Love, The
6. Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You)
7. Sweet Dreams
8. I Want To Give It All
9. Even The Nights Are Better
10. Now And Forever
11. Young Love
12. Two Less Lonely People In The World
13. Taking The Chance
14. Come What May
15. Making Love Out Of Nothing At All
16. I Can Wait Forever
17. Just As I Am
18. Lost In Love - [previously unreleased, original Australian version, bonus track]

Preview The Definitive Collection at CD Universe

ELO's 1981 album Time came at a pivotal time in their career. New Wave was taking over the airwaves, and the 1980 film they had contributed to, Xanadu, had flopped. The sound on Time had changed somewhat since their last album, Discovery but it was instantly recognizable as ELO. The result was what many ELO fans to be their masterpiece. Time is told from the viewpoint of a traveller in the year 2095. One of my all-time favorite lyrics comes from the track Ticket To The Moon.

Remember the good old 1980s,
when things were so uncomplicated?
I wish I could go back there again,
and everything could be the same.

It's funny how fitting those lyrics are in the year 2005.
Time is highlighted by the tracks, Twilight, Ticket To The Moon, Rain Is Falling, Here Is The News, and Hold On Tight.
[Digitally Remastered]

Preview Time at CD Unvierse