Original Album Classics

Not opened yet

Whenever I have read about this discography of the band Journey, there is never any mention of the band's first three albums, Journey (1975), Look Into the Future (1976) and Next (1977). These albums don't feature the band's famous lead singer, Steve Perry and had more of a progressive rock approach. There's no real hit, no real pop melodies and more focused on musicianship rather than commercial success.This Original Album Classics collects all three albums in one cheap slipcase. The CDs are house in cheap miniature vinyl sleeve replicas. There's nothing fancy about it whatsoever. It's a budget collection and looks like one. The real quality is in the music and to my surprise, the music is VERY good. So good in fact that I question some of the music sources online that I have seen over the years rag on each one of these albums.Of the three, my favourite is the first two. Journey and Look Into the Future are quite a heavy guitar driven progressive rock and have an edge over a lot of the rock of the time period. These two albums work well played one after the other, feeling like a double album more than anything. Next is a little more into the psychedelic side of things with a slower more melodic pace and generally does its own thing. It's still has those hard hitting rock songs and a very enjoyable record but it doesn't sound quite as self indulgent or adventurous as its predecessors.The quality of the sound is pretty flawless for all three CDs. They're not loud and sound absolutely fantastic cranked up. This is how albums printed on CD should be. The prints of these albums sound a lot nicer than the first few Steve Perry era albums, which was a surprise. There's obviously been some love given to these albums and they hold up rather well because of it.For those who are getting into Journey, this is not your mother's hit making band. This is a serious group of musicians creating some fairly self indulgent music for musicians. They're very good albums but not for the easy listening crowd. I would personally recommend them, especially if you're into early to mid 70s Santana. You can't go wrong with all three albums for a tenner.

The first three album releases by U.S. rock band Journey; are presented in a glossy CD type slip case on this 2011 release.Containing the albums; Journey (1975),Look into the future ('76) and Next ('77) - the first two albums are in the style of prog-rock tradition of the era,with swirling keyboards,incredible guitar solos and searing vocals etc.also jazz-tinged guitar work of Neil Schon - very much influenced by him and Greg Rolie - previous member of Rock legends Santana.I already own the first two albums individually,and have reviewed these in more detail on my Amazon reviews.So instead would like to concentrate on the final album included in this set - Next.Whilst this may not have the same power and sheer bombast of the previous two releases; it carries on the prog-rock DNA of their roots,but has a heavy rock/metal (even) feel to some tracks.opening track: Spaceman sets the pace in such a way.British drummer Aynsley Dunbar's contributions are - not always obvious - but outstanding all the same.long,incredible guitar sections courtesy of Neil Schon (again) - the only original member still in the journey ranks today (2023),are evident on - especially - last three tracks; Next,Nickel and Dime - and Karma.this being the album's closing track - and not for the first time on the Next album; has a fade-out,then reprise on the coda - just when you think it's over.While Next: is the slightly under-par of the three lp's - it's still a worthy inclusion and gives a slight hint into the Next (pun time) stage of the Journey (and again) - oh stop it!! 😂,of the AOR/melodic rock path they were to take herein...Steve Perry was to join the following year (1978) - you know!The package: well,It's not bad I'm thinking.but it comes in single cardboard sleeves,glossy ones but cheap and flimsy all the same!First two album sleeves contain microscopic - if not invisible writing - info on Next is a slight improvement - but not great.The slipcase front cover consists of four-piece Journey line-up replicating the Next album cover.rear sleeve; all three album covers and short write up of early band resumé of 1975-77.A dissapointing package on the whole,who's main saving grace is the glossy colour presentation it presents to the fan and purchaser at large.This completes my final piece of my Journey studio albums I have been collecting for quite some time now.I decided to plump for this 'original album classics' boxset for the pure economics of it all.under £10 asking price.Next as an individual CD - up to £15 - makes sense? 🤗N.B. original and long-term Journey member and bass guitarist Ross Valory - is superb on all three album discs.No mention of digital re-mastering for this set.very good/excellent sound quality - all the same.P.S. remembering original rythym guitarist and songwriter - George Tickner - who sadly passed away in July 2023 at the age of 76 🎸🎶🙏🏼

Great 3cd set.

My title says it all really, you get the first 3 Journey albums in cardboard sleeves but with the original artwork in place on each one. Whether you like the music is down to personal taste but the fact that you can pick them up cheaply like this means it doesn't really matter. Personally I liked the first two, not so keen on the third album.

I have been a long term AOR fan and Journey are one of the best there is in this genre. I have had all the commercial albums or CDs but never got the first three ex Santana Neil Schon based albums bar the few tracks on the Time3 box set. So I bought this Mini Cardboard sleeve triple set. If you put the three together as a whole, I would say a third of the songs would make a good album. Tho if your a Don't Stop Believing' styled AOR Journey fan then you will be better leaving them alone, unless you like Carlos but a bit more mundane.

Classic music

Excelente!!!!!!

no comment

BUENA TRILOGÍA DE UNA DE LAS MEJORES BANDAS DE ROCK DURO EN SUS INICIOS , RECOMENDABLE LA CAJA , HE COMPRADO ALGUNAS DE DISCOS QUE ME FALTABAN PARA LA COLECCIÓN ESTA BASTANTE BIEN LO ÚNICO QUE EL FORMATO EN CARTÓN NO ME GUSTA YA QUE LUEGO SE ESTROPEA CON LA HUMEDAD

super petit coffret ,pas cher qui regroupe les trois 1ers albums de ce groupe de prodiges . 1ers albums qui sont les meilleurs pourquoi me direz vous? eh ben la vague fm mtv et consortsn'est pas encore au pouvoir par conséquent on peut encore composer sans que ça ressemble a un reblochon en train de se liquéfier et l'ami perry est encore en chemin donc n'a pas encore balancé ses vocalises humides typiques de cette époque aujourd'hui révolue (c'est pas pour autant que c'est meilleur) . que du bon ,sophistiqué alambiqué mais efficace et écoutable ,on est parfois a la limite du jazz rock . vous pouvez acheter les yeux fermés et les oreilles ouvertes et si vous n'êtes pas convaincus vous pourrez toujours caler l'armoire de tatie josiane avec.

Advertencia: Si eres de los que consideran que Journey liderados por Steve Perry son la mejor banda de rock de todos los tiempos, ni continúes leyendo.Journey inició su carrera como una banda de rock con fuertes dosis de jazz-fusion. Neal Schon y Greg Rollie (Santana), Ross Valory (The Storm) y Ainsley Dunbar (Frank Zappa) formaron este grupo y grabaron los dos primeros álbumes de esta trilogía que se ofrece y que son los que más valen la pena. Para el tercer álbum, habían tomado la decisión de hacer una música mucho más accesible y por lo tanto NEXT no es de interés para quienes buscan en esto rock y no pop. Dos de tres a un muy buen precio. Vale la pena. Esos primeros dos álbumes son muy buenos.

Vorab: Für wenig Geld gibt es knapp 120 Minuten tolle Rockmusik. Dafür gibt es aber auch nur einebillige Verpackung ohne Booklet, jedoch ist der Klang zufriedenstellend.Auf diesen Alben singt noch Keyboarder Gregg Rolie und das macht er richtig gut. Noch besser ist das wasNeil Schon an der Gitarre bietet, speziell auf den längeren Songs "Of A Lifetime" (6:54), "Kohoutek" (6:46),"Look into The Future" (8:13) und "I'm Gonna Leave You Now" (7:00): Ellenlange, furiose Gitarren Soli,die einfach nur begeistern, wobei "Kohoutek" sogar rein instrumental ist.Im Gegensatz zu den nachfolgenden Alben mit Steve Perry gibt es auf diesen Alben keine Hits, ala "WheelIn The Sky", "Don't Stop Believing" etc. Aber dafür gibt es noch "richtige", erdige Rockmusik mit leichtprogressiven Einschlag und mit "Of A Lifetime" einen mitreißenden Song mit einem tollem Refrain, der einem gar nicht mehr aus dem Ohr will.In der Einzelbewertung gibt es für das selbst betitelte erste Album und für "Look Into The Future" glatte5 Sterne, das Album "Next" fällt hingegen etwas ab, auch sind hier die Songs und damit die Instrumentalpartskürzer (nur ein 6 Minuten Song), deshalb nur 4 Sterne.Fazit: Gerade auch wegen der Spielfreude der Band auf den ersten beiden Alben und der gut gemachten,abwechslungsreichen Songs eine lohnenswerte Anschaffung für Rockfans.