''Departure'' is the sixth studio album by American

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band

Journey Journey or journeying may refer to: * Travel, the movement of people between distant geographical locations ** Day's journey, a measurement of distance ** Road trip, a long-distance journey on the road Animals * Journey (horse), a thoroughbred ra ...

. It was released on February 29, 1980 by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

. ''Departure'' was Journey's highest-charting album to that point, giving them their first appearance in the top 10 of the ''Billboard'' 200 album charts, peaking at No. 8. The album includes "

Any Way You Want It "Any Way You Want It" is a song by American rock band Journey, released in February 1980 as the lead single from the band's sixth album '' Departure'' (1980). Written by lead singer Steve Perry and guitarist Neal Schon, it peaked at number 23 on t ...

", the lead off track and top 25 single. The album featured an edgier sound, thanks partly to the "live in studio" way the songs were recorded. The band went into

The Automatt The Automatt was a sound recording studio in San Francisco, California, promoted for its early mix automation system. During its eight active years, 1976 to 1984, it was one of the top recording studios in the region. The Automatt was founded by p ...

studio with 19 tracks, eventually trimming down to 12. Three singles were released off of ''Departure''. "

" reached #23 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and the follow up " Walks Like a Lady" reached #32. The last single was a medley of "Good Morning Girl" and "Stay Awhile" which only reached #55. ''

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of the three main music industry trade magazines in the United States, along with '' Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 under the name ''Music Vendor'', but in 1964 it was changed to ''Record Wo ...

'' called the medley "an epic ballad" with "healthy amounts of pomp and bravado." ''Departure'' would mark the last full-time studio album appearance of founding member

Gregg Rolie Gregg Alan Rolie (born June 17, 1947) is an American singer and keyboardist. Rolie served as lead singer of the bands Santana and Journey – both of which he co-founded. He also helmed rock group The Storm, performed in Ringo Starr & His All ...

, and his penultimate recording with the band: his final contributions would appear on ''

Dream, After Dream ''Dream, After Dream'', performed by the American rock band Journey, is the soundtrack album to the Japanese fantasy film ''Yume, Yume No Ato'' directed by fashion designer Kenzo Takada. Released in 1980 on Columbia Records, it was the seventh a ...

'', a soundtrack album to the Japanese film of the same name, which would also be released in 1980. Rolie had become tired of life on the road and decided to leave the band after assisting in the selection of his replacement,

Jonathan Cain Jonathan Leonard Friga (born February 26, 1950), known professionally as Jonathan Cain, is an American musician and songwriter best known as the keyboardist for Journey. He has also worked with the Babys and Bad English. Cain was inducted into ...

, then of

The Babys The Babys are a British rock group best known for their songs " Isn't It Time" and "Every Time I Think of You". Both songs were composed by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy, and each reached No. 13 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and No. 8 on the ...

. Rolie sang lead vocals on only one song on ''Departure'', the ballad "Someday Soon". In 1986, Columbia reissued ''Departure'' on compact disc in the U.S. and Europe. They subsequently remastered the album in 1996. BMG/Columbia remastered ''Departure'' again in 2006 for European, Japanese and American listeners, adding bonus tracks 13 "Natural Thing" and 14 "Little Girl". Dave Donnelly at DNA Mastering in New York City led the 2006 project.

Track listing

Personnel

Journey *

Steve Perry Stephen Ray Perry (born January 22, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer of the rock band Journey during their most commercially successful periods from 1977 to 1987, and again from 1995 to 1998. He also wrote/co ...

– lead vocals *

Neal Schon Neal (Neil) is a given masculine name and surname of Gaelic and Irish origin. The name is an Anglicisation of the Irish Niall which is of disputed derivation. The Irish name may be derived from words meaning "cloud", "passionate", "victory", "hono ...

– guitars, co-lead vocals on "People and Places", backing vocals *

– keyboards, harmonica, co-lead vocals on "Someday Soon", backing vocals *

Ross Valory Ross Lamont Valory (born February 2, 1949) is an American musician who is best known as the original bass player for the rock band Journey from 1973 to 1985 and again from 1995 to 2020. Valory was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a ...

– bass guitar, bass pedals, backing vocals *

Steve Smith Stephen, Steve, Stevie, or Steven Smith may refer to: Academics * Steve Smith (political scientist) (born 1952), British international relations theorist and senior university manager * Stephen Smith (journalist) (born 1956), American journalist, ...

– drums, percussion Production *

Geoff Workman Geoff Workman (21 September 1947 – 21 January 2010) was an English record producer and engineer, best known for producing and engineering albums for The Cars, Queen, Journey, Foreigner, Drivin N Cryin, Toto, Mötley Crüe, Private Eye and Tw ...

– producer, engineer, mixing * Kevin Elson – producer, live sound * Ken Kessie – engineer * Jim Welch – art direction

Charts

;Album ;Singles

Walks Like a Lady Good Morning Girl/Stay Awhile (medley)

Certifications

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Departure (Journey Album) 1980 albums Albums produced by Geoff Workman Journey (band) albums Columbia Records albums Albums produced by Kevin Elson