If I had to depend on 30 second samples, I never would have bought Departure which would eventually become my favorite Journey album. I really like Open Arms from the Heavy Metal soundtrack. I loved the Escape album that I got for Christmas. I bought Infinity and Departure at the same time from Columbia House and when they arrived, I was disappointed. These albums didn’t have that Escape feel. They seemed a little undercooked or not quite finished. It was a more 1970’s sound that I wasn’t expecting or ready for.
I had put them aside and went on to other things. Allan had convinced me to give Wheel In The Sky from Infinity another listen. It was months later, in May when my mind was changed. I was at my Aunt’s house in Vermont. I was home alone and was going to wash the dishes. I put Departure in the tape deck in the other room. I was washing away only half listening to the album while I worked. We got to the 4th track People And Places. At first since I wasn’t actively listening, I wasn’t quite sure what I was hearing. When I gave it my full attention, I was drawn in by the vocal work and subtle arrangement. I stopped what I was doing and let the song finish. When it was over, I hit rewind and started People And Places over again. This time I stared out the open window. I looked north at the green of the tree covered mountains, a cool breeze carrying the scent of spring to me. I played People and Placesa few more times in that perfect setting wanting that moment to last. For a moment I was one with the universe. I’m not certain why that was so important. Maybe it was the realization that it was just a couple of weeks away from the end of my junior year at Vermont Academy and I was unsure about what would follow graduation. I was pretty sure that I’d be headed back to Indiana. I just wasn’t sure how I could leave these people and places behind.
Any Way You Want It
Here is the most popular song on this album and my least favorite.
Someday Soon
People And Places
I’m Cryin’
Departure
This song is basically Journey’s version of The Journey my favorite track from Boston’s Don’t Look Back
Good Morning Girl / Stay Awhile
Sometimes it takes a while for music to make that connection. The planets need to be in the right order or the environment just right. Departure is that album that made the leap from cast off to perennial favorite just because we were all in the right place at the right time.