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/Man of Miracles (11/08)

On this date in 1974, Styx released their 4th album Man of Miracles. This album is sort of special for me, because it took a long exhausted search to actually find it.

Music Monday: Styx/The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings

After allowing some of the early Styx songs to be on the Come Sail Away anthology, Wooden Nickel then remastered all of the old albums and released them as a set together in 2005. This was The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings.

Music Monday: Styx/Come Sail Away Anthology

In 2004, Styx released yet another "greatest hits" album. This one was called Come Sail Away - The Styx Anthology. Now the main difference between this and the 1995 Greatest Hits is that it actually contains songs from the Wooden Nickel albums.

You get "Best Thing" (their first released single) from Styx I, "You Need Love" and "Lady" (the original, not the Lady '95 version) from Styx II, "Winner Take All" from The Serpent is Rising, and "Rock and Roll Feeling" from Man of Miracles.

It contains most of the hits in between and songs as recent as "One with Everything" off Cyclorama. The most interesting nugget in the whole thing though is a never before released extended version of "Man in the Wilderness" from The Grand Illusion.

I could not find a version of this one YouTube, so like before I just made one. Enjoy.

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My Top 10 Favorite Styx Album Covers

10) Man of Miracles (1980 Re-Issue)

Music Monday (Styx/Pieces of Eight, Side One)

As a follow up to the triple platinum selling The Grand Illusion, Styx released Pieces of Eight in 1978. 

Some consider the album to be Styx' second concept album, The Serpent Is Rising arguably being the first. And it does have a darker, "grungier" feel to it at times. The theme of the album, as Dennis DeYoung explained was about "not giving up your dreams just for the pursuit of money and material possessions".

Music Monday (Styx/Crystal Ball, Side Two)

The first side of Crystal Ball was covered previously here. It had all three singles released from the album, but the flip side has some great music on it as well.

Music Monday (Styx/Equinox, Side One)

So at this point, Styx had just left Wooden Nickel Records and signed with A&M. From here on out is most of the music the casual fan knows, with the four previous albums being completely forgotten. Well with one exception: the single "Lady".

In March of 1975, "Lady" peaked at #6 on the charts. In December of that same year, Styx released their first album on the A&M label, Equinox.

Music Monday (The Best of Styx)

Now this may seem out of place, but the next Styx album I am going to cover is not the next one in their discography. It is a compilation album from the Wooden Nickle years called Best of Styx.

Music Monday (Styx II, Side 2)

After me basically drooling over side one, it has now become the time to focus on the flip side of Styx II. Prepare for more drool. But first, the album cover from the 1980 re-issue:

Obviously re-named after the classic hit from side one. Once again, just like the Styx I re-issue, this is the album that I knew and played over and over again. I like this cover better than the original as well.

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Music Monday (Styx II, Side 1)

In 1973, Styx followed up their debut album simply called Styx (or Styx I in some cases), with Styx II. Real original I know. This also has a different name with the 1980 re-issue, but I will cover that when I go into side two.

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.

My Top 10 Favorite Styx Album Covers

10) Brave New World

9) Man of Miracles

8) Crystal Ball

7) Styx II (1980 "Lady" Re-issue)

6) Best of Styx (1980 Re-issue)

5) Paradise Theater (front/back)

Inside (unfolded)

4) Pieces of Eight

3) Styx I (1980 Re-issue)

2) Equinox

1) The Grand Illusion