Styx - Classics, Volume 15 is a greatest hits compilation for the band Styx, released in 1987 by A&M Records as part of A&M's classics series of greatest hits albums for artists on its label. Like Best of Styx (one of my favorites that I covered here), this compilation is label-exclusive. Therefore it only contains Styx's hits on the A&M label. This means it excludes Styx's significant hit "Lady", which was recorded for Wooden Nickel Records.
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Fast forward now to 1995. Although they had been dropped from their label, Styx was looking to repackage and update their greatest hits collection, but Wooden Nickel would still not allow them to use the song "Lady". However, they found a loophole that said it could be used if it was re-recorded. So Tommy Shaw, Dennis DeYoung, James Young, and Chuck Panozzo reunited at Dennis' home studio The White Room to re-record the song. Absent from the "reunion" was John Panozzo who was fighting health problems due to alcoholism. Uncredited session drummer Todd Sucherman filled in for John. Sadly, more on that later...
Harmonizing together for the first time since 1984, Tommy Shaw said the whole thing was fun and "the past seemed to be behind us. It was great". Styx Greatest Hits went double platinum.
... and the band got back together y'all!
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In 1996, Styx - Greatest Hits, Part 2 was released and contained many mid-range hits and concert staples (14 of them!) that had been omitted from the previous compilations. In addition to these were also two new studio tracks, "Little Suzie" sung by Tommy and "It Takes Love" sung by Dennis that had previously never been released. These were songs co-written by Glen Burtnik (so he was still around guys!)
Somebody lookin' for the answer,
Somebody dyin' to cut a deal
Somebody got a cure to cancer,
Somebody drunk behind the wheel
But me, i'm just tryin' to find my little suzie
Somebody bustin' illegal aliens,
Somebody burnin' hollywood
Somebody tryin' to shoot the president,
Someone abused and misunderstood
But, me, i'm just holding up a sign for little suzie
Somebody reachin' out for jesus,
Somebody lookin' for a sign
Somebody said they spotted elvis,
He was healin' the sick and leadin' the blind
But me, i'm just tryin' to make some time for my little suzie
Yeah me, i'm sneakin' up behind, don't you hear me say
I won't surrender, i will survive, so help me jesus
We'll be together until the end of all space and time
Everybody's got an infomercial,
Everybody's psychic on the phone
Somebody had a sex change reversal,
Somebody thinks nobody knows
Somebody cryin' out for justice,
Somebody shootin' someone's kid
Somebody caught the perpetrator,
Somebody swears they never did
But me, i'm just makin' time for my little suzie
Yeah me, i'm playin' my guitar for my little suzie
The world is gonna turn from here until doomsday
But i don't give a damn long as i've got little suzie
I won't surrender, i will survive, so help me jesus
We'll be together until the end of all space and time
Somebody's awaiting execution,
Somebody's dyin' to pull the switch
Somebody cries another martyr,
Somebody screams "fry the son of a bitch"
But me, i'm just spending time with little suzie
Yeah me, i'm playing my guitar for little suzie
Oh me, i'm safe in the arms of little suzie
Sometimes it's hard to smile
You keep looking back, searching for somebody
Who once was in your life
Baby, let him go now, there'll be something better ahead
It takes love to make love
You can't hide behind your broken heart
It takes love to make love
Let the light of another lover shine on you
We all have tears to cry but there comes a day
To leave your tears behind you
And give your heart some place to start
And if you find your way there
There'll be someone waiting for you
It takes love to make love
You can't hide behind your broken heart
And it takes love to make love
Let the light of another lover shine on you
Like a river that flows to the sea
Don't wait like a river flowing down
It takes love to make love
You can't hide behind your broken heart
It takes love to make love
Let the light of another lover shine on you
It takes love to make love
Never mind the broken heart, baby
And it takes love to make love
Let the light of another lover shine on you
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A few notes on these albums:
Styx Classic Volume 15 - The version of "Come Sail Away" on the album is an abbreviated edit, and the version of "Miss America" is a live performance of the song.
Styx Greatest Hits - "Come Sail Away" is presented here in its full 6:05 version and "Miss America" is here in its original studio version (despite the CD's packaging showing incorrect time listings for both tracks).
The only charted songs that have never been included in a compilation are "Why Me", "Music Time", and "High Time".
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