"I'll Be Alright Without You" by Journey

Song#:  2959
Date:  12/06/1986
Debut:  79
Peak:  14
Weeks:  21
Genre:  Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  With three Pop Top 20 hits including the #9 "Be Good to Yourself" to its credit, Journey's Raised on Radio album was certified platinum in July of '86. Hoping to sell a few more copies, their label issued out this fourth single. It was a good choice to do so as the tune became the second highest peaking single from the album on the Pop chart while becoming the second AC Top 10 of the band's career (#7). It also got to #26 at Rock.

ReduxReview:  It was strange that each successive single from Raised on Radio moved further and further away from Journey's trademark arena rock and towards a more mainstream, soft rock/AC sound. They started out with a bang with "Be Good to Yourself," but things tapered off from there until they finally pushed out this mid-tempo pop tune. The band had certainly changed and I wasn't all for it. I preferred the band rockin' it up rather than slinging out songs that would go Top 10 at AC. Yet, I really didn't mind this song. It was well-written and performed. It's just that it belonged on a Steve Perry solo album - you know, the one your parents would buy and listen to after the latest Michael McDonald release...

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  When sessions commenced for Raised on Radio, two of the band's long-time members, bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith, disagreed with the musical direction of the band and were eventually fired. They both went off to do their own projects, but later in 1990 they got together with another former Journey member, original lead vocalist/keyboardist Gregg Rollie, and formed a band called The Storm. Also brought on board was Kevin Chalfant, who had been the lead singer for 707 ("Mega Force" #62 Pop/#12 Rock, 1980), and guitarist Josh Ramos. They got signed to Interscope and released a self-titled debut album in 1990. Their first single, "I've Got a Lot to Learn About Love," was a success reaching #6 at Rock and #26 Pop. A follow-up single, "Show Me the Way," got to #22 on the Rock chart. A second album, Eye of the Storm, was completed, but after changes at the label, it ended up getting shelved (it was issued out on an indie label later in '96). After that, the band split. Valory and Smith would join back up with Journey in 1996 for their comeback album.

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