Freedom (Journey album)
2022 studio album by Journey
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Freedom is the fifteenth studio album by the American rock band Journey, released on July 8, 2022, through BMG Rights Management and Frontiers Records. It is the band's second album to date not to feature founding bassist Ross Valory, who was dismissed in 2020; he was replaced by Randy Jackson, who previously replaced Valory on Raised on Radio (1986). With 15 songs and a runtime of one hour and 13 minutes, it is the longest studio album Journey ever released.[9][10]
- Tarpan Studio (San Rafael, California)
- Yo Mama's House (Hollywood, California)
- Left On Sunset (Hollywood, California)
- NRG Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)
- Addiction Sound (Nashville, Tennessee)
- Dreamsong (Orlando, Florida)
| Freedom | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 8, 2022 | |||
| Recorded | 2021 | |||
| Studio |
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| Length | 73:12 | |||
| Label | BMG | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Journey chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Freedom | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [6] |
| Classic Rock | [7] |
| Riff Magazine | 5/10[8] |
Upon its release, Freedom received mixed critical reviews—despite the performances and musicianship receiving near-universal praise, criticism was directed at its production, mixing, and length.
Background and title
The album's 11-year gap from Eclipse (2011) marked the longest between two Journey studio albums to date. It is the only Journey album to feature drummer and producer Narada Michael Walden, as well as the first album to feature bassist Randy Jackson since Raised on Radio (1986). Both departed the group before its release.[11]
The album's title of Freedom was the original title of the group's 1986 album Raised on Radio, but was changed by then lead singer Steve Perry.[12]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, and Narada Michael Walden, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Together We Run" |
| 4:49 |
| 2. | "Don't Give Up on Us" | 5:23 | |
| 3. | "Still Believe in Love" | 5:16 | |
| 4. | "You Got the Best of Me" | 5:33 | |
| 5. | "Live to Love Again" | Cain | 5:30 |
| 6. | "The Way We Used to Be" | 3:35 | |
| 7. | "Come Away with Me" | 4:02 | |
| 8. | "After Glow" | 5:22 | |
| 9. | "Let It Rain" | 4:40 | |
| 10. | "Holdin' On" |
| 3:14 |
| 11. | "All Day and All Night" | 3:38 | |
| 12. | "Don't Go" |
| 4:58 |
| 13. | "United We Stand" |
| 5:05 |
| 14. | "Life Rolls On" |
| 4:57 |
| 15. | "Beautiful as You Are" | 7:10 | |
| Total length: | 73:12 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16. | "Hard to Let It Go" | Cain | 4:08 |
- Notes
- The CD released by BMG does not list Walden among the writers of "The Way We Used to Be".
Personnel
Journey
- Neal Schon – guitars, backing vocals, keyboards, producer
- Jonathan Cain – keyboards (all tracks except "All Day and All Night" and "Don't Go"), backing vocals, synth bass on "Still Believe in Love", producer
- Arnel Pineda – lead vocals (all tracks except "After Glow")
- Randy Jackson – bass (all tracks except "Still Believe in Love"), backing vocals
- Narada Michael Walden – drums, backing vocals, keyboards, producer
- Jason Derlatka – backing vocals (tracks 5, 6, 9, 12, 14, 15)
- Deen Castronovo – lead vocals on "After Glow"
Production and design
- Bob Clearmountain – engineer
- Adam Ayan – engineer
- Jim Reitzel – engineer
- Keith Gretlein – engineer
- David Kalmusky – engineer
Charts
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[13] | 23 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[14] | 25 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[15] | 77 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[16] | 65 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17] | 7 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[18] | 22 |
| Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[19] | 29 |
| Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[20] | 8 |
| Spanish Albums (Promusicae)[21] | 92 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] | 2 |
| UK Albums (Official Charts)[23] | 87 |
| UK Independent Albums (Official Charts)[24] | 3 |
| US Billboard 200[25] | 88 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[26] | 9 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[27] | 17 |