In 1981, Steve Perry of Journey gave a live version of “Don’t Stop Believin'” that demonstrated why many newspapers considered him one of the finest vocalists of all time. The group’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” had become an international hit earlier this year. During a 1981 performance in Houston, Texas, the band demonstrated their outstanding musicianship with the single, which would eventually become their signature song.
Perry’s voice is remarkably smooth, and he sings the song with a birdlike sound. He also has the irresistible appeal of a rock star, which makes the crowd go crazy. Many commenters have noted that, despite the difficulty of doing so, Perry sounds better live than on record. Below is an HD remaster of Journey’s 1981 performance of “Don’t Stop Believin'” that they posted to their YouTube account.
With 274 million views, the 1981 live rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin'” was evidently popular with the crowd. This is the third most popular video on Journey’s YouTube account and the top overall for live performances. The band’s Escape Tour, where the recording took place, promoted their latest seventh studio album, Escape.
On November 5th and 6th, 1981, Journey played two shows in Houston as part of their tour. Nonetheless, the exact night of recording for “Don’t Stop Believin'” remains unknown. The band looks to have been absolutely ripping in 1981 during the Escape tour, since “Who’s Crying Now”—also filmed in Houston during the trip—is the band’s second most popular live performance on YouTube.
Fans, deeply impressed by Journey’s live rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin'” in Houston, added comments such as “No Auto-Tune, no backing tracks, just some amazing musicians who have left their mark quite clearly way up there” and “Steve Perry sings this song like that kid who doesn’t study a lick but walks into the final exam and aces it”. Very simple.
“Don’t Stop Believin'” peaked at number 10 both locally and internationally. Over time, the song became Journey’s most popular hit, earning 18 US Platinum certifications.