The first thing that you will notice about this album is that Dennis DeYoung is all over it. And that is why this is one of my favorite albums in the whole discography. After Styx I (previously covered here: Side 1, Side 2) it was hard to get a handle on what kind of band this was. Southern rock? Prog rock? Blues? The best description I have read was "art rock". I believe that's what best described Styx II.
It should also be noted beforehand that the success of this album was only reached over two years after its release.
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Side One
1) You Need Love - This was released as the second single from this album. Sung by JY, it reached #88 on the Billboard Singles chart. The B-side of this single is actually from their third album. Huh? How did they do that? Once again, Styx had moved on from this album before it became a hit. "You Need Love" is also included on the Best of Styx compilation from Wooden Nickle records.
Welcome my friends to a place that may seem most disturbing
Quite unnerving
Lend me your dreams and we'll add what we need to be free
Terminally
We'll fly to a spot where I know there is not any sorrow
No tomorrow
People just laugh cause they know how it feels to have loved
And be loved
Don't you worry
Ain't no need to hurry
All you really need is love
Now you may say tell me more of this place so inviting
And exciting
Here and above children love without doubt and can be
They can be
Listen my friends carefully to direction to get there
And you know where
Love is the place skewed to matter and space for us all
For us all
Don't you worry
Ain't no need to hurry
All you really need is love, love, love
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2) Lady - No explanation needed. Well maybe a little bit. This song was a local hit in the band's native Chicago, but initially failed to chart nationally. It didn't get much promotion and went nowhere, until a DJ named Jeff Davis on WLS in Chicago who was determined to make it a hit played the song every night at 8pm, until it became a national hit. It eventually did. The song gained success shortly after Styx left Wooden Nickel Records after four albums to move to A&M Records in 1974 as it began picking up airplay nationwide. It peaked at #6 on the Billboard Top 40 in March 1975. The B-side is actually a shortened version of "Children of the Land" from Styx I.This song is still performed live today by the band, and also Dennis DeYoung at his solo concerts some 40+ years after it was released. Basically, it's a fricking classic.
Lady, when you're with me I'm smiling
Give me all your love
Your hands build me up when I'm sinking
Touch me and my troubles all fade
Lady, from the moment I saw you
Standing all alone
You gave all the love that I needed
So shy, like a child who has grown
'Cause you're my lady of the morning
Love shines in your eyes
Sparkling, clear, and lovely
You're my lady
Lady, turns me on when I'm lonely
Give me all your charm
Evenings when she lays down beside me
She takes me gently into her arms
Lady of the morning
Love shines in your eyes
Sparkling, clear, and lovely
You're my ... lady
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3) A Day - Hey, look. John Curulewski finally gets to sing a song, and it's flipping fantastic! Makes you wonder how he got nothing on the first album. Seriously one of my favorite songs off this album. After the frantic end to "Lady", this goes right into a mellow vibe. It clocks in at 8 minutes 19 seconds and has a great guitar/keyboard solo right in the middle. Needless to say, I love this song.
Woke up in rainy autumn
Morning mist beginning to wane
And the birds of the winged trees calling my name
Care less the clouds above me
The wind is gently lifting my hair
where the rivers of the wind fall light rain now stand bare
Listen to the flowing streams
Golden in the shelter of my dreams
Playing a song on the meadow that echoes with love
Walk alone through the garden
The leaves are wet with morning's tear
And the whispering of someone is drawing me near
Content to rest awhile
Pondering the motion of time
Over unforgotten memories dipped in wine
Listen to the flowing streams
Golden in the shelter of my dreams
Playing a song on the meadow that echoes with love
[extended instrumental solos]
The god of dusk is falling around me
The night air now restless and dank
Yet the fields are specked with flowers few and rank
Moon reflecting off the water
Rippling an image to me
Of the way that it is and the way that it's going to be
Listen to the flowing streams
Golden in the shelter of my dreams
Playing a song on the meadow that echoes with love
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4) You Better Ask - Another song by JC! Yeah, I know! This is a very humorous song basically about man problems back in the 70's. I have an alternate single where this is the B-side to "You Need Love". The keyboard solo reminds me of something Dr Teeth would play in a Muppet movie. I also love at the very end where you can hear "Strangers in the Night" being played. Just a fun song.
I met a little girl sittin' in the front
Pardon me miss for seeming quite so blunt
But your beauty and your presence just took me by surprise
She said there's a meaning in my sexy stare
But that's my old man that's sittin' over there
And that's not the look of love that he's got for you in his eyes
You know what you've gotta do
There's no one else to blame but you
Nobody's gonna tell you so next time you just had better ask
I took her home and we was doing nip and tuck
How was I to know that I was out of luck
And before I knew it, the devil took my soul
In two weeks time it seemed to be the steady con
She told me "you're about to be a papa, John"
And I just looked around and tried to crawl into the nearest hole
You know what you've gotta do
There's no one else to blame but you
Nobody's gonna tell you so next time you just had better ask
Well, in two more weeks I started feelin' sore
I found myself waiting at my doctor's door
He said, "son I'm sorry but I've got some slightly less than tragic news
"Yeah, it seems you've been sociable with certain she's
Cause you've contracted what we call a social disease
And next time you better ask and use it, no don't refuse"
You know what you've gotta do
There's no one else to blame but you
Nobody's gonna tell you so next time you just had better ask
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How is that for an album side? We get a rocker that hit #88 on the charts, a legendary ballad from DDY, and JC showing his artsy and humorous side on the other two songs. I will follow up with the flip side shortly. Keep your eyes open for that.
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