Music Monday: Styx/Return to Paradise

At this point, Styx has gotten back together due to reconciliation and a renewed popularity partially due to the release of their greatest hits album. They embarked on a reunion tour with everyone on board, except John Panozzo. If you remember Todd Sucherman had taken over for him for the "Lady '95" re-recording because he was fighting an illness. Before they embarked on the tour, they asked John to stay behind and get healthy while Todd would continue to fill in for him. John would never play with the band again. On July 16th, 1996 John Panozzo passed away from complications due to alcoholism. The band had lost one of its founding members. Styx dedicated the rest of the remaining tour to John. This tour was captured on Return to Paradise.

The live album reached #139 on the Billboard 200 album chart. In addition to the live tracks there were also three new studio tracks included.

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1) On My Way - Written and sung by Tommy, this song has always been one of my personal favorites. Just a great song.

"...everybody plays this one right, everybody gets a fresh, hot latte and a scone..."

Oh what a beautiful night, Couldn't get any clearer

Yeah what a wonderful sight, My old life in the rear view mirror

Hey now I'm travelin' light, Duffel bag and a six string

Yeah but it feels so right to hear the bells of freedom ring

Gotta get away from the same old same

Let a new day come, Start over again

Hey I was stuck in a grind, Little fish in a little pond

If I had a criminal mind I'd have got myself a gun

Had to get away from the ball and chain

Let a new day come or start goin' insane

I'm on my way

Don't know to where, but I'm gonna get there

On my way

Look at the world with my brand new eyes

I can't believe I feel so high

I'm on my way tonight

Hey I was going to seed, Spreading out like a corn field

I had so much denial to feed, I was full of nothing real

I had to get away from my old routine

Let a new day come, Start over again

I'm on my way

I don't know to where but I'm gonna get there

On my way

Look at the world through my brand new eyes

I can't believe I get to feel

So good

So high tonight

Starting tonight there will be a revival in my world

Turn on the lights and you'll see this one man band is now a symphony

And the sun is gonna shine like a summer time that has no end

And the love I will find I have no doubt that it will be mine

The love I find will all be mine

I had to get away while I could still be saved

Let a new day come, stop digging my grave

On my way...

I have faith the road up ahead gonna get much easier

On my way

Look at me now with a brand new life

I can't believe I feel so high

I'm on my way tonight

"...'scuse me, waitress, latte's and scones for everybody!..."

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2) Paradise - Written and sung by Dennis, this song was originally recorded for his musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame (not the Disney one lol). It was released as a single and reached #27 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, whatever that is. It is a typical Dennis song.

One touch was all I needed to know

You were the one for me

My fate and my destiny

For true love is never easy to find

I never dreamed this day

Would ever come my way

But suddenly I realized

My chance for happiness

Can't be found in some make believe world

Where damsels are in distress

Cause paradise is any place where I can be with you

And leave behind the heartache and the pain that I've been through

Safe in your arms

Safe from the world tonight

For you are my paradise

And I know I could never have dreamed

A feeling so heavenly

Cause paradise is any place where I can be with you

And leave behind the sorrow and the pain that I've been through

Safe in your arms

Safe from the world tonight

For you are my paradise

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3) Dear John - Written and sung by Tommy as a tribute to John Panozzo, and as usual he nails it. The whole double CD is worth buying just for this song.

Dear John I knew you about as well as anyone

We were the wild ones

So sure those days would never end

Now they're only memories my friend

Dear John I'll see you

Some day again

I swear I saw you on a crowded street today

I almost called your name

Thinking of all those yesterdays

Heaven help me

How I miss my friend

Dear John I'll see you

Some day again

There'll be a celebration

When all will be revealed

We'll have a reunion

High on a hill

Dear John how are you

God know it's heaven where you are

Find some peace there

May it never end

Dear John my heart knows

We'll meet again

Dear John I'll see you....

Some day again

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