Journey

Band

Photo: Travis Shinn · CC BY-SA 3.0
Active 1973-1987, 1995-present
Origin San Francisco, California
Albums 15
Tracks 167
Most frequent collaborator Kevin Elson · 55 tracks
Genres Arena RockHard RockProgressive RockPop Rock
Complete Artist
99%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 166 of 167 tracks

Did Journey write their own songs?

Yes, nearly all of them. Journey is a self-writing band, credited on around 99% of their tracks. The core writers were guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardist Jonathan Cain, and singer Steve Perry, who together wrote anthems like 'Don't Stop Believin',' 'Faithfully,' and 'Open Arms.' Outside co-writers appear only rarely across their catalogue.

By the Numbers

15
Studio Albums
167
Tracks Credited
99%
Self-Written
53
Years Active
29
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 166 / 167 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 167 tracks: how many Journey wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Journey has a writing credit99%
81%
18%
1%
Sole author136tracks81%
Co-written30tracks18%
Outside writers1tracks1%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Journey's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 167 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)95%
Composer (music)99%
Producer32%
Performer84%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 167 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Neal Schon 1973-1987, 1995-present
70%
78%
16%
0%
Jonathan Cain 1980-1987, 1995-present
61%
61%
16%
0%
Arnel Pineda 2007-present
2%
2%
0%
22%
Deen Castronovo 1998-2015, 2021-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Todd Jensen 2021-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Jason Derlatka 2020-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Steve Perry Former 1977-1987, 1995-1998
44%
45%
7%
46%
Gregg Rolie Former 1973-1980
15%
18%
0%
0%
Ross Valory Former 1973-1987, 1995-2020
5%
5%
0%
0%
Steve Smith Former 1978-1987, 1995-2020
2%
2%
0%
0%
Aynsley Dunbar Former 1974-1978
4%
4%
0%
0%
George Tickner Former 1973-1975
1%
4%
0%
0%
Prairie Prince Former 1973-1974
0%
0%
0%
0%
Robert Fleischman Former 1977
2%
2%
0%
0%
Steve Augeri Former 1998-2006
7%
7%
0%
16%
Jeff Scott Soto Former 2006-2007
0%
0%
0%
7%
Randy Jackson Former 1986-1987, 2021-2022
2%
2%
0%
0%
Narada Michael Walden Former 2021-2022
8%
8%
9%
0%
Marco Mendoza Former 2021
0%
0%
0%
0%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Journey's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 99%
100%
88%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1975Journey
1976Look into the Future
1977Next
1978Infinity
1979Evolution
1980Departure
1981Escape
1983Frontiers
1986Raised on Radio
1996Trial by Fire
2001Arrival
2005Generations
2008Revelation
2011Eclipse
2022Freedom
Early · 98% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

98%
1970s
Journey, Look into the Future +3 more
100%
1980s
Departure, Escape +2 more
100%
1990s
Trial by Fire
100%
2000s
Arrival, Generations +1 more
100%
2010s
Eclipse
100%
2020s
Freedom

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Journey sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Journey
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Tina Turner0%
Diana Ross10%
Backstreet Boys25%
Kelly Clarkson49%
One Direction57%
The Rolling Stones76%
Heart84%
99%Journey
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'
Evolution
Written by Steve Perry
Wrote it
Just the Same Way
Evolution
Written by Gregg Rolie, Neal Schon, Ross Valory
Wrote it
Any Way You Want It
Departure
Written by Steve Perry, Neal Schon
Wrote it
Walks Like a Lady
Departure
Written by Steve Perry
Wrote it
Who's Crying Now
Escape
Written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain
Wrote it
Open Arms
Escape
Written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain
Wrote it
Don't Stop Believin'
Escape
Written by Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain
Wrote it
Still They Ride
Escape
Written by Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain
Wrote it
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
Frontiers
Written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain
Wrote it
Faithfully
Frontiers
Written by Jonathan Cain
Wrote it
After the Fall
Frontiers
Written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain
Wrote it
Send Her My Love
Frontiers
Written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain
Wrote it
Be Good to Yourself
Raised on Radio
Written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon
Wrote it
I'll Be Alright Without You
Raised on Radio
Written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon
Wrote it
Girl Can't Help It
Raised on Radio
Written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon
Wrote it
Suzanne
Raised on Radio
Written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain
Wrote it
When You Love a Woman
Trial by Fire
Written by Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain
Wrote it

Discography 15 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Journey167 tracks
KE55Kevin Elson, 55 tracks KS53Kevin Shirley, 53 tracks 21Roy Thomas Baker, 21 tracks 20Greg Rolie, 20 tracks MS20Mike Stone, 20 tracks GW12Geoff Workman, 12 tracks GK8Glen Kolotkin, 8 tracks RH7Roy Halee, 7 tracks KT6Kim Tribble, 6 tracks JB4Jack Blades, 4 tracks DV3Diane Valory, 3 tracks MS3Matt Schon, 3 tracks JB2John Bettis, 2 tracks EC2Elizabeth Cain, 2 tracks GH1George Harold Harrison, 1 track AK1Alex Kash, 1 track TA1Tena Austin, 1 track HC1Heidi Cogdell, 1 track RS1Roger Silver, 1 track GE1Greg Errico, 1 track TR1Taylor Rhodes, 1 track AP1Andre Pessis, 1 track TH1Tammy Hyler, 1 track EB1Eric Bazilian, 1 track TD1Tommy De Rossi, 1 track AS1Amber Schon, 1 track JH1Jeremy Hunsicker, 1 track EP1Erik Pineda, 1 track RE1Rachel Efron, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. KE Kevin Elson · KS Kevin Shirley · MS Mike Stone · GW Geoff Workman

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Journey's story spans two distinct commercial peaks: the progressive hard rock of the early years and the polished, Steve Perry-fronted arena rock era that produced Escape and Frontiers. Their revival with Filipino vocalist Arnel Pineda (discovered on YouTube) gave them a third act and global reach few classic rock bands achieve.

Quick Facts

  • Don't Stop Believin'Certified 18x platinum and the top-selling digital catalog track in US history
  • Rock HallInducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017
  • EscapeTheir 1981 album Escape reached number one and became their most successful
  • YouTube singerGuitarist Neal Schon found singer Arnel Pineda on YouTube covering 'Faithfully'
  • CertificationsEarned 25 gold and platinum albums, including a 15-million-selling Greatest Hits

Creative Fingerprint

A self-writing arena-rock band: Journey's members wrote nearly all of their catalogue, with guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardist Jonathan Cain, and singer Steve Perry as the core writers behind anthems like 'Don't Stop Believin'.'

The Story

Journey are an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1973, originating from members of the band Santana. Known for anthemic power ballads and hard rock, they became one of the best-selling rock acts of the late 1970s and 1980s, with timeless hits like 'Don't Stop Believin'' and 'Open Arms' defining the arena rock era.

Awards & Recognition

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017
'Don't Stop Believin'' is certified 18x platinum and is the top-selling digital catalog track in US history
Earned 25 gold and platinum albums over their career
Their Greatest Hits album has sold more than 15 million copies
Escape (1981) reached number one and became their most successful album

Frequently Asked Questions Journey

Did Journey write their own songs?
Yes, nearly all of them. Journey is a self-writing band, credited on around 99% of their tracks. The core writers were guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardist Jonathan Cain, and singer Steve Perry, who together wrote anthems like 'Don't Stop Believin',' 'Faithfully,' and 'Open Arms.' Outside co-writers appear only rarely across their catalogue.
Who wrote 'Don't Stop Believin''?
'Don't Stop Believin'' (1981) was written by Steve Perry, Neal Schon, and Jonathan Cain. It became Journey's signature song and, decades later, the top-selling digital catalog track in US history.
Who wrote 'Faithfully'?
'Faithfully' (1983) was written by keyboardist Jonathan Cain. It is one of the band's most beloved ballads, and the song Arnel Pineda was singing in the YouTube video that got him the job as lead singer.
Who is the singer of Journey?
Steve Perry was the lead singer during their peak years, from 1978 to 1987. Since 2007 the band has been fronted by Arnel Pineda, whom guitarist Neal Schon discovered on YouTube.
How was Arnel Pineda discovered?
Neal Schon searched YouTube for a new singer and found Arnel Pineda fronting a cover band in the Philippines, singing Journey songs including 'Faithfully.' He joined as lead vocalist in 2007.
How many albums has Journey released?
This catalogue covers 15 of their studio albums, from their 1975 self-titled debut to Freedom (2022).
Is Journey in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Yes. Journey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
What is Journey's biggest song?
'Don't Stop Believin'' is by far their most famous, certified 18x platinum and a streaming and karaoke staple decades after its 1981 release.
Who wrote 'Open Arms'?
'Open Arms' (1981) was written by Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain. It became one of the band's signature power ballads and a US number-two hit.
What genre is Journey?
They are an arena rock and hard rock band, known for soaring vocals, guitar solos, and anthemic choruses that made them one of the defining rock acts of the late 1970s and 1980s.

Sources

Wikipedia: Journey