Soon after forming in San Francisco in 1973, led by two prominent members of Santana, Journey quickly delivered a series of increasingly popular albums that featured such cuts as “Wheel in the Sky,” “Lights” and “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin,” each of which would become signature songs. What followed, though, was a sequence of records that found the band front and center of mainstream rock.

As the ’80s started, having already begun to establish a foothold on the pop singles chart, the lineup of Steve Perry (vocals), Neal Schon guitar), Ross Valory (bass), Steve Smith (drums) and Gregg Rolie (keyboards)—to be followed by Jonathan Cain, who was also a significant songwriter—was responsible for the creation of their biggest hits, as the band evolved into a style that appealed to the masses. Soon, the period from Departure through Escape and Frontiers yielded an unbroken stream of records that remain essential programming for classic rock stations.

“Any Way You Want It”—Departure (1980)

The great guitar riff from Schon and the driving rhythm section helped this catchy number make it all the way to #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it’s remained one of the band‘s best known untempo songs, thanks in no small part to the great vocals of its chorus. Perry, who co-wrote the song with Schon, revealed that Thin Lizzy bassist/vocalist Phil Lynott inspired some of the song‘s elements when the two bands toured together.

“Stone in Love”—Escape (1981)

Their biggest album, with over 10 million copies sold in the U.S. alone, yielded four big pop hits, as well as this one that album radio embraced. The track opens with a powerful riff from Schon, combined with melodic guitar lines. That guitar riff became a rock radio staple and is a live-set standard to this day.

“After the Fall”—Frontiers (1983)

A moderately paced power ballad, the song showcases Perry’s voice and also marked the first Journey song to feature bassist Randy Jackson, a touring (and later in-studio) member for their next album, Raised on Radio. The song reached #23 on the Hot 100, no doubt aided by its inclusion in the film Risky Business, as well as #30 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

“Ask the Lonely”—Two of a Kind (Soundtrack) (1983)

The song was written by Perry and Cain during the Frontiers sessions and featured on the soundtrack to the film that reunited Grease stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. It achieved significant radio rock success in the U.S., reaching #3 on that chart.

“Only the Young”—Vision Quest (Soundtrack) (1985)

Another track featured on a film soundtrack, it was originally recorded for 1983’s Frontiers but was dropped from the album and replaced by other tracks. They licensed it to the band Scandal, which recorded it for their 1984 album Warrior, as the first released version. Journey‘s own recording appeared a year later on the soundtrack for the coming-of-age film Vision Quest, and was released as a single that reached #9 on the Hot 100. (Schon’s guitar and Cain’s keyboards gave the song its mid-’80s flavor).

“Don‘t Stop Believin’”—Escape (1981)

The second single from their monster album was a huge hit (#9) upon its release and has managed to get even bigger with time, aided in no small part by its prominent placement in the series finale of The Sopranos. It starts with just Cain’s keyboard riff and Perry‘s vocal, before the whole band joins in. The anthem is arguably their most well-known signature song. Cain’s inspiration for the title: his father had always backed him as a young, struggling songwriter and musician working on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Related: Journey and The Sopranos

“Open Arms”—Escape (1981)

One of Journey’s best ballads peaked at #2 on the Hot 100 but reached #1 in rival trade magazine Record World. Cain’s piano and Perry‘s voice meld so perfectly that VH1 named it the top power ballad of all time.

Related: Our Album Rewind of Escape

“Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”—Frontiers (1983)

The lead single from the LP, it delivered one of their biggest hits at #8 on the Hot 100 and four weeks at #1 on the Billboard rock chart. Easily identifiable by the keyboard opening and driving drums, this is one of the most classic early ‘80s songs from the band. The song also gained popularity decades later through its use in the movies Yes Man and Tron: Legacy, as well as the fourth season of Stranger Things.

“Faithfully”—Frontiers (1983)

Written by Cain, with lyrics inspired by the band touring the country, the spare track is dominated by piano and vocal. The fan favorite was the second release from the album—peaking at #12—and is a permanent part of their live setlist.

“Who‘s Crying Now”—Escape (1981)

Released as the first single a week before Escape arrived, the song became their first to reach the top 5 on the pop chart, peaking at #4, leading the way to the album‘s enormous success. The song, a collaborative effort from Perry and Cain, develops from a piano and guitar interplay, ultimately leading to an extended guitar solo from Schon to close the track..

Journey’s five-album run from 1978’s Infinity to 1983’s Frontiers was one of the most iconic in classic rock, with enduring, hit songs and multi-platinum success, establishing them as one of music’s most significant concert draws.

Journey releases and merch are available in the U.S. here, in Canada here and in the U.K. here.