Big Wheel In The Sky

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SUPERB LIVE BROADCAST FROM JOURNEY AT THEIR CREATIVE PEAK Founded in 1973 by ex-members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch, Journey s initial blend of progressive rock and jazz fusion was met tepidly by critics, and their early records were equally unsuccessful. Under pressure from Columbia Records to change their musical direction however, the band enlisted the talents of singer Steve Perry in 1977, which brought a new pop-oriented rock sound to the group making them appeal to fans of contemporaries like Foreigner and Boston. Hiring former Queen producer, Roy Thomas Baker, the band released Infinity in 1978, which provided their first platinum album and helped skyrocket the band to international fame. Thereafter, they created records in a more mainstream vein to capitalise on their newly-acquired success. By the end of 1978, Journey had already be working on a new album with Baker. Evolution was released on 5th April 1979, and was met with such enthusiastic accl that its success even surpassed that of Infinity. Selling over three million copies and charting at No. 20 on the Billboard 200, the album also produced the band s first Top 20 single, with Lovin , Touchin , Squeezin peaking at No. 16. The set presented here, recorded at Comiskey Park in Chicago on 9th August 79, featured as part of the tour in support of Evolution clearly demonstrates how far Journey had excelled in just a few short years. Featuring the aforementioned hit along with an array of favourites from their back catalogue, including Just The Same Way, Lights, and Wheel In The Sky, this live show is a prime snap of a band enjoying fame and beginning to reach the peak of their musical powers, while, incredibly, some of the group s best work was still to come.