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Thursday, April 16, 2020

"Why Can't This Night Go on Forever" by Journey

Song#:  3105
Date:  04/25/1987
Debut:  83
Peak:  60
Weeks:  12
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  It had been nearly a year since the first single from Journey's Raised on Radio album had been released. "Be Good to Yourself" was a #2 Rock hit that became the band's last Top 10 at Pop reaching #9. Three more Pop Top 20 entries would follow capped off by the #14 "I'll Be Alright Without You." That song typically would have wrapped up the run of singles from the LP, but the label thought they could eke out one more and decided to push out this fifth track. The ballad got a tepid response peaking in the bottom half of the Pop chart while only reaching #24 at AC. It was unable to crack the Rock chart. It would end up being the band's final song to reach the charts in the 80s.

ReduxReview:  This power ballad was the final track on the album and was in the same vein as "Open Arms" and "Faithfully." Unfortunately, it wasn't as successful. The tune was one of the better tracks on the album, but as a single it just wasn't as memorable as their other power ballad hits. Plus, the album was long-in-the-tooth having been around for nearly a year and I think folks were Journey'd out by this point. The song was a good album closer, but it wasn't exactly single-worthy.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Later in 1987, the band stopped working together. Some said it was an extended hiatus while others called it a breakup. Either way, the band members took off and did other projects. Steve Perry attempted a second solo album, but then set it aside. He would finally come out with one in 1994. Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain would form the band Bad English and score a couple of hits in 1989. Finally in 1995, Perry, Schon, and Cain along with former members Ross Valory and Steve Smith reformed Journey. They recorded the album Trial By Fire. It would be a #3 platinum seller thanks to the #12 Pop/#1 AC hit "When You Love a Woman." Unfortunately, health issues forced Perry to not tour and eventually he quit the band for good. Perry and Schon decided to keep going with Journey and hired Steve Augeri as their new lead vocalist. They released Arrival in 2000, but it got a tepid response. 2005's Generations did even worse. Augeri was then dropped from the band and was replaced by Arnel Pineda, whom Perry and Schon discovered via YouTube. The 2008 album Revelation followed and thanks to the hype surrounding Pineda and the #9 AC hit "After All These Years," the LP was a big success reaching #5 and going platinum. A follow-up album Eclipse would reach #13 in 2011. As of this posting date, Schon, Cain, and Pineda are still touring as Journey, but have yet to release a new album.

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