Anytime

Album: Infinity (1978)
Charted: 83
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Songfacts®:

  • According to the liner notes of Journey's Time3 compilation, guitarist Neal Schon wrote the chorus lyrics. Said Schon: "(keyboard player) Gregg Rolie was doing Bing Crosby - you know, 'ooh, ooh.' And I'd listened to lots of Beatles records when I was a kid, so I just went 'Anytime that you want me.' It came out real easy in rehearsal."

    Rolie supplied the lead vocals, and the song was released as the second single from Infinity.
  • The band wrote this song before Steve Perry joined; it's credited to Robert Fleischman, Gregg Rolie, Neal Schon, Roger Silver and Ross Valory.

    Fleischman was with the band just a short time, and did not perform on any of their albums. Roger Silver is a San Francisco-based poet who contributed lyrics to the song.
  • This song reached just #83 in the US, but was proof of what Steve Perry could bring to the band. Journey released three albums before he arrived, none of which produced a chart hit. The first Infinity single, "Wheel In The Sky," rose to #57. Perry didn't write that one either, but it was clear he could deliver a distinct vocal that popped on the airwaves. The next single after "Anytime" was "Lights," which Perry co-wrote. That one went to #68 and became a Journey classic.

Comments: 3

  • Kaye from Alabama Most of the the lead singers for Journey since and including Steve Perry, have 'blown out' their voices.
    There's very few men, and women that can continue to sing with such a wide range for 300+ gigs a year, practice, warm ups, and recording.
    Freddie Mercury, if he were still with us ( but, his range had a lot to do with cultural, and religious exposure), and Micky Thomas best known for Jefferson Starship, now just Starship, and his first hit, Fooled Around and Fell in love, still has the range and power he had in the '70 when he was playing with my husband in local bands in N. Florida, S. Georgia. To name 2.
    Pat Benetar, classically trained, Ann Wilson, classically trained.
    Now, look up Tommy Shaw's version of 'Open Arms'
    That is on a copulation tribute album.
    You might just be impressed.
    Digging ditches is damn hard dirty work.
    Going on stage, whether you feel like it or not, cold, flu, stomach virus, migraine headache, strep throat,
    And performing like you feel absolutely wonderful and so very happy to be there, when you would rather be lying on the stage trying not to die, is the hardest job in the world.
    I work as a gardener, landscaping, basically ditch digging, and I am no where near exhausted, sick, and basically insane as I was when touring and singing with several well known bands and performers.
    I was a trained lyric soprano that learned to sing rock and some pop and country.
    Now my range is quite a bit lower than it was.
  • Jim from Long Beach, CaGregg Rolie, The American Paul Carrack, he sings on hits for other bands(Journey/Santana) but remains faceless..Great voice and keyboard player..
  • Dodge from Casper, WyGregg Rolie, though somehow not the most recognizable face of the two bands, founded and was the original singer for both supergroups Santana and Journey. He is the co-lead vocalist here, though he is the clear and recognizable singer on the timeless Santana smash Black Magic Woman.
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