From Journey’s groundbreaking fusion-driven beginnings to their contemporary albums featuring the iconic frontman Arnel Pineda, the band has consistently aimed to create a captivating atmosphere with their opening tracks. These songs often act as a musical cheat code, revealing the essence of everything that follows within each album.

The powerful, guitar-heavy tracks “Of a Lifetime” and “City of Hope” encapsulate the exhilarating sound of albums such as the 1975 self-titled Journey and the 2011 release Eclipse. Meanwhile, hits like “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” paved the way for the polished, radio-friendly sound that emerged in 1981’s Escape and 1983’s Frontiers.

With the commercial rise of Journey in the late 1970s, following the arrival of Steve Perry, the band strategically placed their most recognizable tracks from 1978’s Infinity and 1980’s Departure right at the forefront. Notably, the talented guitarist Neal Schon showcased his artistry during the instrumental piece on 1979’s Evolution.

READ MORE: Discover Our Comprehensive Ranking of Every Journey Album

Co-founder Gregg Rolie was given the opportunity to shine once more on his final album with Journey, the 1980 release Dream, After Dream. Successors to Perry, Steve Augeri and Pineda, were later introduced through signature tracks on 2001’s Arrival and 2008’s Revelation, respectively.

While not every opening track may have met the lofty expectations set by fans, all of them hold significant importance in establishing the narrative of the albums that follow. Below, we present an engaging ranking of every opening song from Journey’s illustrious career:

No. 17. “Majestic”
From: Evolution (1979)

Journey clearly had a fondness for this brief instrumental track, as they later included a recorded version in their concerts. While there’s nothing egregiously wrong with “Majestic,” it lacks the captivating elements that fans typically seek. Essentially, it serves as a fleeting moment of guitar and collective sighs, with “Lovin’, Touchin,’ Squeezin’,” which became Journey’s first Top 20 single, still waiting in the wings.

No. 16. “Together We Run”
From: Freedom (2022)

A collaborative effort from a talented group of songwriters including Schon, Jonathan Cain, and occasional bandmate Randy Jackson, “Together We Run” aimed to deliver a modern anthem. However, Jackson’s involvement does not yield another R&B-inspired triumph like “After the Fall” or “I’ll Be Alright Without You.” Instead, it’s a typical contemporary showcase for the powerful vocals of Arnel Pineda, culminating in a sweeping solo from Schon.

No. 15. “Destiny”
From: Dream, After Dream (1980)

Rolie’s last album with Journey was not the highly celebrated Departure, a Top 10 blockbuster featuring the hit “Any Way You Want It.” Instead, it served as a lesser-known soundtrack that allowed Journey to revisit their expansive early sound. While Steve Perry doesn’t dominate “Destiny” with vocals, he contributes a few soaring lines that help set the tone for the album’s nostalgic journey through fusion rock.

No. 14. “Never Walk Away”
From: Revelation (2008)

Pineda bursts onto the scene with remarkable energy in this opening track from his inaugural studio album with Journey. He delivers an astonishing vocal performance, supported by the dynamic production of Kevin Shirley, who enhances the soundscape around Pineda – particularly highlighting Neal Schon’s contributions.

No. 13. “On a Saturday Nite”
From: Look Into the Future (1976)

Rolie sets a confident tone for Journey’s second album with a song that is both approachable and assertive, steering the band further toward traditional classic rock, if not fully embracing the pop-leaning sound that would later propel them to commercial success.

No. 12. “Red 13 / State of Grace”
From: Red 13 (2002)

Following the softer rock approach of Arrival, Journey returned with a fiery, fusion-influenced opening track. The song takes its time, beginning with a two-minute build-up before launching into a powerful groove, with Perry’s successor, Steve Augeri, matching the energy step for step.

No. 11. “Spaceman”
From: Next (1977)

Co-written by Aynsley Dunbar and Gregg Rolie, “Spaceman” presents some of the band’s earliest signs of a pop sensibility. Although it was placed as the lead track on the album and released as a single, it unfortunately did not chart well, leading to a brief lineup change before settling on Steve Perry as the new frontman.

No. 10. “City of Hope”
From: Eclipse (2011)

In this track, Schon emerges as a driving force, but Pineda’s vocal prowess matches the intensity of his guitar riffs. The song builds to an explosive conclusion, showcasing a jam that transitions into a fusion style. Journey’s sound had never felt this expansive since the late 1970s, and Eclipse marked their second consecutive album featuring a Top 20 hit sung by Pineda.

No. 9. “Message of Love”
From: Trial by Fire (1996)

Journey reunited after nearly a decade apart, with Perry still firmly steering their signature sound. “Message of Love” serves as a continuation of the smooth style characteristic of the Raised on Radio era. This track could easily be mistaken for a solo offering from Perry due to its familiar sound.

No. 8. “Higher Place”
From: Arrival (2001)

Journey made a bold move by pushing beyond Augeri’s vocal similarities to Perry in this track, which features contributions from Jack Blades and Schon. At times, “Higher Place” evokes a progressive rock vibe while referencing the band’s earlier successes, ultimately using those elements as a foundation for a fresh musical direction.

No. 7. “Faith in the Heartland”
From: Generations (2005)

Journey’s inclination to explore themes of the everyday working-class has remained strong throughout their career, particularly with a song like “Faith in the Heartland.” Despite the risk of slipping into tribute or parody, the song avoids those pitfalls, largely thanks to Augeri’s passionate delivery, infusing every line with heartfelt sincerity. Unfortunately, Generations struggled commercially, and Augeri, citing vocal issues, departed after just two albums.

No. 6. “Girl Can’t Help It”
From: Raised on Radio (1986)

Perry took command of Journey during the lead-up to this album, reshaping the lineup and taking on the role of producer. This approach led to some groundbreaking song treatments that diverged from anything Journey had previously attempted. “Girl Can’t Help It” stands out as one of three Top 40 hits from Raised on Radio, representing a classic Journey sound revitalized for a new era.

No. 5. “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”
From: Frontiers (1983)

As bassist Ross Valory and Schon grappled with painful personal issues, Perry and Cain sought to channel those feelings into their music. Perry reflected, “There’s got to be a more soulful way of looking at this,” leading to the creation of “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart).” This powerful anthem energized Journey, prompting them to perform it live even before Perry had fully memorized the lyrics.

No. 4. “Of a Lifetime”
From: Journey (1975)

Journey’s musical journey begins with this seven-minute track that showcases their early jazz fusion influences, reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s stylistic explorations. Rolie described it as being based on eclectic jamming, setting it apart from their previous work in Santana. He remarked, “It’s almost like we were ahead of our time,” which resonates even today.

No. 3. “Lights”
From: Infinity (1978)

Perry had an early version of “Lights” ready when he joined Journey, which proved fortuitous. Rolie noted that the band wasn’t initially convinced by Perry until they harmonized on this track during a backstage moment. Rolie recounted, “It dawned on me right then that this could really be great.” Interestingly, despite its popularity, this radio staple only peaked at No. 68 on the Hot 100, yet Journey achieved the remarkable feat of earning a platinum album without a hit single.

No. 2. “Any Way You Want It”
From: Departure (1980)

Perry drew inspiration from his vocal interplay with Schon’s guitar in “Any Way You Want It” from Phil Lynott’s performance when Thin Lizzy opened for Journey. Their call-and-response style created a vibrant dynamic, with Perry and Rolie focusing the song’s energy into a catchy Top 40 hit.

No. 1. “Don’t Stop Believin'”
From: Escape (1981)

The narrative surrounding “Don’t Stop Believin’” revolves around anticipation: waiting for the song’s essence to unfold, waiting for the perfect vocalist—who but Perry could elevate this track to such iconic status?—and waiting for the unmistakable chorus that contributes to its timelessness. Despite its omnipresence, this anthem barely grazed the Top 10, leaving fans wondering why it didn’t soar higher in 1981.

Nick DeRiso is the author of the Amazon best-selling rock band biography ‘Journey: Worlds Apart,’ available here and at all major bookseller websites..

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