The first side contained the band's first (and only) U.S. #1 single in "Babe". However, there was becoming a major rift in the band that wanted to continue its rocking ways as opposed to entering "Barry Manilow's territory". This became evident as the follow up singles to "Babe" were released.
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6) Borrowed Time - One of the most rocking songs on the album (like that's hard on this one) sung by
Yeah yeah!
Don't look now, but here come the eightees!
I was so cool back in sixty-five
I had it made 'cause I understood what to do to survive
I had my car, and I made the scene
Didn't give a damn about no gasoline
They can go to hell
My friend we never thought about the world and its realities
The promised land was ours, we were the Great Society
I'm so confused by the things I read, I need the truth
But the truth is, I don't know who to believe
The left say yes, and the right says no
I'm in between and the more I learn well, the less that I know
I got to make a show
Livin' high, living fine
Livin' high on borrowed time
Yes! No!
Yes! No!
No! Yes!
No! Yes!
Faith be with me now
I'm just a dreamer in a dreamland
Faith be with me now
I'm just a dreamer in a dreamland
'Cause we're livin' high, livin' fine (You know I'm livin' fine)
Livin' high (Yes I'm livin' high)
On borrowed time (On borrowed time)
Livin' high (Whoohoo!), Livin' fine (Ahhh!)
Livin' high on Lake Shore Drive (Midnight ride)
Livin' high (We're livin' high)
On Leslie Lane (Let's go back and play it again!)
Livin' high (We're livin' high)
On Red Bud Trail (On Red Bud, Red Bud Trail!)
Livin' high on Central Drive (He's on Central Drive!)
Livin' high (We're livin', livin' high)
On Prestwick Drive (Catch me on Prestwick Drive!...)
Livin' high (...gettin' in and drivin' my Mercedes...)
Livin' fine (...up and down and up and down -- sh*t! I don't....)
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7) First Time - This song is so sugary sweet it almost gives me diabetes when I listen to it. Yeah, it's that bad. And this is the song they wanted to release as the second single! Radio stations were playing it and got such a response that A&M wanted it out until Tommy Shaw complained and drew a line in the sand. If they release that as the next single then he threatened to leave the band. He said in the Behind the Music Documentary that "We just can't do that. That can't be who we become. The band was big enough already. We didn't have to stretch out into Barry Manilow's territory." The following band meetings led to Dennis being fired from the band for eight weeks, but because they couldn't come up with a replacement they eventually wanted him back.
The lights are low and we're alone
The fire's glow it keeps us warm
As I reach out and touch your face
The moon lights up our first embrace
But please don't hesitate - hold my hand, don't be afraid
Of the feelings in your heart
Just close your eyes, no one will mind ff we're to fall in love this first time
Don't be afraid of love
Don't be afraid of love
Don't be afraid of love
It's the first time, the first time for love
There could be so many worlds and mountains we could climb
Together, the two of us tonight
The two of us, we're quite a pair
These lonely nights we both can share
So don't be shy, 'cause it's okay
I understand feeling that way
Hold my hand, don't be afraid of the feelings in your heart
Close your eyes, no one will mind if we're to fall in love this first time
It's the first time, the first time for love
There could be so many worlds and mountains we could climb
Together, the two of us tonight
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8) Eddie - This one is pretty straightforward. The only song by JY on the album is a rocker about Edward Kennedy, pleading with him not to make a run for the U.S. presidency.
I woke up today, the papers spoke of a man we know
He's made of the stuff they say that first made our country grow
Living in style, traveling to distant lands
Better hang tough, for now it's time to make your stand
Can we ignore the basic facts of history
Or deny what people say is destiny
I think the message is ever so loud and clear
Eddie, now don't you run
You know you're a bootlegger's son
And you saw just what it's done to the others
Eddie, now don't you run
It's the end of all your fun
And you saw just what they've done t
o your brothers
Can we ignore the basic facts of history
Or deny what people say is destiny
First in the eighties but last of the sons
First in the eyes of his countrymen
I think the message is ever so loud and clear
Eddie, now don't you run
You know you're a bootlegger's son
And you saw just what it's done to the others
Eddie, now don't you run
It's the end of all your fun
And you saw just what they've done to
your brothers
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9) Love in the Midnight - The album ends with this nice song by Tommy (does he do any other kind?).
The time is now to take my wares to the street
And I know how, the street's been good to me
Maybe it's the sign of a wise man, m
aybe it's the sign of a fool
Maybe it's the night for a rendezvous with a woman like you
It's gone too far, I'll take my life into the streets
I feel the need and I can't stop myself
Maybe it's time to be a strong man, m
aybe it's time to be cool
Maybe I'll take to the boulevard w
here there's nothing I won't do
Can you tell me where my heart is
When I'm looking for love in the midnight
There's a burning in my body
And I'm looking for love in the midnight
Better hold on tight, I'm a ravenous man
I'll tell you anything to make you think I'm alright
You know the moonlight brings out the devil in me
For tomorrow, I'll regret it in the daylight
Can you tell me where my heart is
When I'm looking for love in the midnight
Won't you tell me where my heart is
When I'm looking for love
Better hold on tight, I'm a ravenous man
I'll tell you anything to make you think I'm alright
You know the moonlight brings out the devil in me
For tomorrow, I'll regret it in the daylight
Can you tell me where my heart is
When I'm looking for love in the midnight
There's a burning in my body
And I'm looking for love in the midnight
Won't you tell me where my heart is
When I'm looking for love
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Despite all the internal drama it created, Cornerstone became Styx's first US Top 5 album peaking at #2 on the Billboard album chart and it went Triple Platinum (3 million copies sold in the US).
The album that I have unfolds in the middle of the back cover with lyrics on either side like on the picture above. The album itself has a protective cover that looks like this:
The front cover, along with image on the back makes it look like you're buying something "mystical", when in truth there is nothing special about this album at all. It's almost like Man of Miracles, or Crystal Ball 2.0. It sounds nice but there isn't a lot of substance.
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