Friday and the Random 10 (Can We Beat Georgia Again? Edition)

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Friday and the Random 10 (New Year's Eve Return Edition)

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This Day in Music History:Styx/Big Bang Theory (05/10)

Big Bang Theory is the fifteenth studio album by the band Styx, released on this day in 2005. It consists of cover versions of classic rock songs.

This Day in Music History: Styx/Styx I (03/01)

On this month (since no specific date is given) back in 1972, Styx released their debut album simply called Styx (the 1980 RCA re-issue is called Styx I and given a new cover).

I have previously covered this album more in depth here (Side 1) and here (Side 2).

From Dennis's Facebook page he talks about the album photo and how the band chose its name:

Hey everybody,

I'm back in my hotel room in Quebec City with nothing much to do so caveat emptor.

Here are some explanations to Styx photos that I found online. The first official group photo was our first album cover. We had nothing to do with this concept other than follow instructions from the record company. As I have said before the name Styx was suggested by Bill Trout the president of Wooden Nickel records, the man who signed us to the label.

Styx was the name no one in the group hated so Styx it was. (Other suggestions were Torch, Kelp, Miguelito Loveless, and my contribution, Dime Novel). Dime Novel got voted down for fear of this headline, "Dime Novel ain't worth a plug nickel". Little did we know that we could get Styx Stynx. Thinking back it most likely became Styx because the suggestion did not come from a band member.

For this photo we were asked to buy briefs then have them tea stained to look flesh color.

The idea was for us to look nude without actually being nude. John and Yoko copy catted us years later, hey wait that's wrong they actually were nude. If we had been nude you would have witnessed the real Grand Illusion. It was shot at the photographer's home with the help of his wife Blair. I think his name was Murray but I can't check it from here.

I remember her name because she was in charge of the smoke machine which was used to cover our privates. Here's what we heard throughout the entire shoot, imagine this in a New York accent, "Blairrrr Blairrrr more smoke crotch level". For years to come whenever there was a lull in the conversation one of us blurt out Blairr, Blairrr more smoke crotch level. The green painting we are surrounded by is of Dante's Inferno. And though it's warm there in the winter I give it two thumbs down as a vacation spot. 

Cheers Dennis

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This Day in Music History: Styx/Kilroy Was Here (02/22)

On this date in 1983, Styx basically destroyed their career with the release of Kilroy Was Here (covered in more detail here: Side One, Side Two) Yeah, you know THAT one. The one that brought us this:

Styx and Yes have always gone back and forth as being my favorite band. It was hard for me to recover from this album though, which had a tour that was a financial disaster. I mean they had reached their pinnacle to me just two years before with Paradise Theater. When I got this album (I still have it in my collection) I was just utterly confused. It just didn't sound like Styx and quite frankly it was embarrassing to me. Side Two is actually decent to me, but the band has never been the same ever since.

No, please. Let it end.

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This Day in Music History: Styx/Cyclorama (02/18)

Styx released their 14th album Cyclorama on this date back in 2003. It was the first first album since they replaced Dennis DeYoung with Lawrence Gowan. It's been basically Tommy Shaw's band ever since and that might be a good thing. The band just seems to have more fun without DDY. Wonder why...

Side One

Friday and the Random 10 (Still Stuck in the Hotel Edition)

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This Day in Music History: Styx/The Grand Illusion (07/07)

On this date in 1977, Styx released The Grand Illusion. Yes, it was 7/7/77, and it was also their 7th album. It's like they planned that or something...

Anyway, here is the awesome album cover which I have used on my blog many times before:

According to keyboardist Dennis DeYoung (DDY!), the album's theme was the struggle to overcome self-deluding superficiality in order to affirm one's genuine value. This theme was reflected in the lyrics of the album's title track:

So if you think your life is complete confusion

'cause your neighbor's got it made

just remember that it's a grand illusion

and deep inside we're all the same



To me, this is a must own for everyone. It also contains what I think is their best song ever. No, not Come Sail Away, but this:

I have previously covered this album in more depth here: Side One, Side Two.

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This Day in Music History: Styx/Styx II (07/01)

On this day in 1973 (no specific date is actually given), Styx released their second album simply called Styx II, and it's one of my favorites!

This album contained the band's first hit "Lady" which went to #6 on the Billboard Top 40. After Styx moved to A&M Records and achieved national success in the US, the album was reissued in 1980 by their prior label, Wooden Nickel. Under the title Lady, the reissue had new artwork (though it is not to be confused with a Styx compilation album that was later released with the same name).

I have previously covered this album in more depth here: Side One, Side Two.

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This Day in Music History: Styx/Brave New World (06/29)

Brave New World is the 13th studio album by Styx, released on this day in 1999. 

It is the last album with the band's original keyboardist and vocalist, Dennis DeYoung. The album peaked at #175 on the Billboard 200 and notably reached the top 10 on the Top Internet Albums chart. However, its position on the Billboard charts was the lowest from a Styx album of all new material since 1973's The Serpent Is Rising (ouch).

I have covered this album previously and in more depth here (Side One) and here (Side Two).

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This Day in Music History (06/16): Styx/The Mission

The Mission is the sixteenth studio album by the band Styx, released on this day in 2017. It was also a nice surprise for their fans, who basically had no idea a new album was being worked on. It is the band's first studio album since 2005's Big Bang Theory, their first album of original material since 2003's Cyclorama, and their highest-charting studio album in the United States since 1983's Kilroy Was Here, reaching #45 on the Billboard 200. 

A concept album, it tells the story of a mission to the planet Mars in the year 2033. The album's story was written by Tommy Shaw and Will Evankovich.

The album was conceived in 2015 when Tommy Shaw composed the guitar riff that became the record's closing track "Mission to Mars". The first lines Shaw wrote were "Now we can say it / This is the day / We'll be on our way / On our mission to Mars". The story was then formed around this idea.

Styx announced the album in conjunction with the release of the lead single "Gone Gone Gone", while "Radio Silence" and "Hundred Million Miles from Home" were later made available prior to the album's release.

My fave track:

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Friday and the Random 10 (Sound Chaser Edition)

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Friday and the Random 10 (Dream After Dream Edition)

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Friday and the Random 10 (I Thought That They Were Angels Edition)

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Friday and the Random 10 (I Do Wanna Know Edition)

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Friday and the Random 10 (Royalty Edition)

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This Day in Music History: Styx/Paradise Theatre (01/19)

Paradise Theatre is the tenth album by the rock band Styx, released on this date in January, 1981. This is probably my most favorite album of all time.

The album consists of four charted singles. "The Best of Times", written by Dennis DeYoung, went to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Too Much Time on My Hands", written by Tommy Shaw, went to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, Shaw's only top 10 hit for Styx. "Nothing Ever Goes as Planned", written by DeYoung, went to #54 on the US Pop Chart. "Rockin' the Paradise" — written by DeYoung, Shaw and James Young — went to #8 on the Top Rock Track Chart.

Paradise Theatre became Styx's only US #1 album. It was the band's fourth consecutive triple-platinum album, and (as of 2015) the last multi-platinum album by the band.

Friday and the Random Ten (Sailing Away Edition)

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Friday and the Random Ten (Lonely Heart Edition)

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Friday and the Random 10 (Let's Get It Up Edition)

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