Rock N Roll Road Stories #401

Journey 

June 1, 2014 - Greetings rock fans! The seventies were a unique decade musically. Even though it will never get the same notoriety as the sixties, which was arguably a period that defined rock n roll music and took it to the masses like never before, you still can’t dismiss the plethora of outstanding talent which emerged in all genres.

Yes the sixties had English bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Cream, but the seventies also played heavily in what we look at today as Classic rock with bands like Led Zeppelin, Queen, and Black Sabbath rising above. The decade also saw the emergence of more American rock bands than ever before.

It’s interesting to try and pick out the American bands that symbolized what the decade meant not for music fans and radio but for historical purposes as well. Four bands come to mind that not only dominated album oriented rock radio in many ways but were also successful touring bands that made a living entertaining thousands and thousands of music fans.

Ironic as it sounds, these bands have also had to endure the wrath of critics and have been attacked as much as they have been praised. Ladies and gentlemen, the seventies bands that you love and hate at the same time; Styx, Foreigner, Kansas, and Journey.

These bands may not all the sound the same but they have a lot in common.  Most of the members of these bands were born in America, they all put out their debut albums and the bulk of their biggest records in the seventies, and they are all have had to endure a great deal of criticism despite having huge loyal fan bases. Whether it’s just or not everybody agrees that these bands deserve the same recognition as some of their peers from this era.

Not surprisingly, none of these bands are in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and honestly, none of them probably ever will be, except for maybe Journey, but that is still along shot. Despite all of this backlash, these four bands have so many hit songs that it would take another entire column to list them all and once again let me reiterate it doesn’t matter whether you like them or not, they were very successful.

Here is quick synopsis of each of the forgotten four’s accomplishments.

Journey was formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former Santana group members Neal Schon and Greg Rolie and released their first five records in the seventies. The have had many hit songs. Our favorite album would be 1978’s “Infinity” and as far as songs go “Lights”, “Any Way” and of course “Don’t Stop Believing”(cheese).

Chicago’s Styx released nine albums from 1972-1977 including 1977’s “The Grand Illusion” which produced several big radio songs. Among them arguably their most famous song “Come Sail Away.”

Foreigner may only be 50% American but they made their mark on American radio and by touring the states relentlessly. Their first three albums that were pretty close to being their best three albums were released from 1977-79.  From “Cold As Ice” to “Jukebox Hero”, they were a big time radio band.

Kansas, who hailed from Topeka, and named their band after their home state, released their first six albums in the seventies and also toured non-stop for years. They brought it heavy with “Carry On My Wayward Son” and slowed it down with their number one hit “Dust In The Wind.”

Whether you love them or hate them, these bands symbolize American rock radio from the seventies as well as anyone and are synonymous with the decade and still continue to tour bringing joy to their many fans.

Until next time, keep on rocking! 

(Previously published in The Yankee Shopper Magazine)