Writer: Steve Perry
Producer: Roy Thomas Baker
Recorded: Late 1978 and early 1979
Released: March 1979 (album), July 1979 (single)
| Players: | Steve Perry — vocals Neal Schon — guitar, vocals Gregg Rolie — keyboards, vocals Ross Valory — bass Steve Smith — drums |
| Album: | Evolution (Columbia, 1979) |
The Evolution album marked the Journey debut of drummer Steve Smith, who replaced Aynsley Dunbar. Smith had been a member of the band Montrose, who opened shows for Journey in 1978.
“Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' ” was Journey's first Top 20 single, peaking at Number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Lead singer Steve Perry said the song came from a true story, after he watched from a window as his then-girlfriend got out of a Corvette and gave the driver a lengthy kiss goodbye. Perry initially called the song “Love Justice.”
On Evolution, the song quickly segues into another track called “City Of The Angels.”
Evolution hit Number 20 on the Billboard 200. It was the band's second consecutive million-seller.
Thanks to its sing-along “na-na-na-na-na-na” section, “Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' ” became a concert favorite among Journey fans.
Prior to the Evolution tour, Journey signed one of rock's first corporate sponsorship deals, with Budweiser.