Departure is the sixth studio album by American rock band Journey. It was released on February 29, 1980, by Columbia Records. Departure was Journey's highest-charting album to that point, giving them their first appearance in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 album charts, peaking at No. 8.

This third album of Journey's with Steve Perry at the helm continues the mastery of classic melodic rock that the band is famed for. This would be the last album before Greg Rolie is replaced by Jonathan Cain on keyboards, so it is the last we get to hear of certain classic rock influences. For sure, this is a rocking album but with a definite moodiness to it in spots.

"Any Way You Want It" kicks off the album with a bang. With no instrumental intro, Steve Perry starts belting out one of Journey's most famous rockers. Then comes the light, catchy "Walk Like a Lady", a bluesy number that nicely offsets the opening rocker. "Someday Soon" is melodic rock bliss, and it includes some of the last of the great vocals we get to hear from Greg Rolie. Following is a very uniquely moody tune in "People and Places". I don't know what it is about that song, but with the way the different members each sing a word one after the other combined with the haunting (in spots) sound of the keyboard, this one still can send shivers up my spine. Very unique track.

Then after more fine melodies on "Precious Time", a few definite rockers kick in. "Where Were You" has an amazingly melodic chorus, "I'm Cryin'" contains some of the most amazingly emotive Perry vocals ever, and "Line Of Fire" absolutely smokes. From there the tempo and mood slows up with the short but very nice title track instrumental, which leads into the very pretty, pleasant "Good Morning Girl". "Stay Awhile" further continues the pretty slowdown in tempo, before "Homemade Love" ends the album by again rocking the house.