This Day in Music History: Styx/Pieces of Eight (09/01)

As a follow up to the triple platinum selling The Grand Illusion, Styx released Pieces of Eight on this day 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".

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1) Great White Hope - The album starts of with a James Young rocker. It is about a boxer that is the "great white hope" from the city of Chicago. It sets you up for the rest of the album which is the "main event".

When I was a young man, I had to kick and scratch and claw

Now it's like top gun in the Old West, everybody wants me to draw

If I had known it would be like this I might have given it a second thought

But if someone had told me to give it up, it's a line that I wouldn't have bought

Look at me, I'm the great white hope

Can't you see I'm up against the ropes

Don't you know It's so hard to cope

When you feel like the great white hope

Now you've paid your money you're sitting in your ringside seat

And I know that some of you out there, might wanna see the champ get beat

If I had known it would be like this I might have given it a second thought

But real life sure isn't like school, there's some lessons that just can't be taught

Look at me. I'm the great white hope

Can't you see I'm up against the ropes

Don't you know It's so hard to cope

When you feel like the great white hope

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2) I'm O.K. - Another introspective song again, but this one by Dennis DeYoung. It takes you back to younger days of "Father O.S.A." with the church organ from St. James Cathedral used throughout.

Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey, Eight, Skate, Seven on the Rotate!

If I could stand beside myself

Would I see me or maybe someone else

'Cause it's hard to please most everyone

When your spirit's got you on the run, on the run

They say do your best but don't cause a fuss

Don't make waves be like the rest of us

But I can feel the tide is turning fast

'Cause deep inside I know that I can't last another day

Not another day!

'Cause I'm O.K.

I finally found the person I've been searching for

I'm alright

I'm feeling good about myself and that's for sure

'Cause I believed them when they said I must do things their way,

They tried to cast me in their mold but I just had to say,

That I'm O.K.

I'm O.K. this way yes I'm O.K. Yes I'm OK!

I'm O.K.

I finally found the person I've been searching for (everybody sing now!)

I'm alright

I'm feeling good about myself and that's for sure (whoo!)

I'm O.K.

I finally found the person I've been searching for (yahoo!)

I'm alright

I'm feeling good about myself and that's for sure

I'm O.K.

I'm feeling good about myself and that's for sure

I'm alright

I'm O.K. this way yes I'm OK!

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3) Sing for the Day - This is the second single released from the album. Yet another great Tommy Shaw song, it peaked at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart. Personally, I think this is one of the most under-rated songs Styx has ever done. Any dad with a daughter will understand what I mean. I almost named my second daughter Hannah because of this song (We went with Lorelei instead). The B-side was "Superstars" from the previous album The Grand Illusion.

Sing for the day sing for the moment

Sing for the time of your life

Come for an hour stay for a moment

Stay for the rest of your life

Hannah you're with me in spirit wherever I go

To the ends of the earth and all points between high and low

Each night by the stage you appear as you are

The ever intangible child

Ageless and timeless as Dorian Grey

Oh Hannah I know that it's you and you're leading me on

Hannah you're my inspiration my fountain of youth

And as your surrogate leader I'm bound in your searach for the truth

And yes how the truth rushes out

When it's become honestly clear

I see your anxious and curious eyes

But Hannah I need you as much as you think you need me

Come to your window tonight and we'll fly to your dreams

And we'll

Sing for the day sing for the moment

Sing for the time of your life

Come for an hour stay for a moment

Stay for the rest of your life

Hannah don't fail me I need you like never before

Father time's at my back on my heels

Behind every door (and he says)

Son when the youth has but gone from your face

Will she let you grow older with grace?

Or will she give you up for one younger than you?

Oh Hannah please tell me the things that he says are untrue

Hannah I'm honestly hoping you'll always be there

Sing for the day sing for the moment

Sing for the time of your life

Come for an hour stay for a moment

Stay for the rest of your life

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4) The Message - This is a DDY synthesizer piece that is used as the intro for the next song.

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5) Lords of the Ring - JY sings this medieval sounding song that does feel like it belongs way back on The Serpent is Rising. And no, it's not about the book, or the movies.

All hail to the Lords of the Ring

To the magic and mystery they bring

To the music in their story

All hail to the Lords of the Ring

To the magic and mystery they bring

To the lands of ancient glory

In the year of the Lords

The message came from above

The heavens opened with their mighty sound

that shook the people in the town

And so we came from everywhere

The young and old the rich and poor

To hear the legend of the magic ring

and of the powers it could bring, they sing

All hail to the Lords of the Ring

To the magic and mystery they bring

To the music in their story

All hail to the Lords of the Ring

To the magic and mystery it brings

May we someday wear its glory

And now the message is clear

For I became a Lord this year

And though the legend was pure fantasy

We still need the hope it brings, so let's sing

All hail to the Lords of the Ring

To believe is a wonderous thing

May we always sing their glory

All hail to the Lords of the Ring

To the magic and mystery they bring

To the promise of their story

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The album has a gatefold cover, done by Hipgnosis, that when opened up looks like this. Obvious Easter Island references with the moai statues in the background, as well as the earrings of the lady in different stages of her life. DeYoung stated in a 1991 interview that he initially hated the cover but grew to like it as he got older.

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6) Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) - The first single released from the album and was available in two 7" vinyl formats, one with the b-side "Superstars", a track from The Grand Illusion, and a second single with the instrumental album track "Aku-Aku" as the b-side. Some printings of the single were also issued in a translucent blue vinyl, which are now highly sought after collectors items. The song was composed by Tommy Shaw after hearing the sound of his motor boat engine when it failed to start. He said it sounded like a good riff to a song. The song reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It was also featured on the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati on the episodes "Fish Story" and "Johnny Comes Back". A re-recorded version has been released as downloadable content for the Rock Band video game. In other words, the song is a freaking classic.

Give me a job, give me security

Give me a chance to survive

I'm just a poor soul in the unemployment line

My God, I'm hardly alive

My mother and father, my wife and my friends

I see them laugh in my face

But I've got the power, and I've got the will

I'm not a charity case

I'll take those long nights, impossible odds

Keeping my eye to the keyhole

If it takes all that to be just what I am

Well, I'm gonna be a blue collar man

Make me an offer that I can't refuse

Make me respectable, man

This is my last time in the unemployment line

So like it or not I'll take those

Long nights, impossible odds

Keeping my back to the wall

If it takes all that to be just what I am

Well, I'm gonna be a blue collar man

Keeping my mind on a better life

Where happiness is only a heartbeat away

Paradise, can it be all I heard it was

I close my eyes and maybe I'm already there

I'll take those long nights, impossible odds

Keeping my back to the wall

All that be just what I am

Well, I'm gonna be a blue collar man

You don't understand

I'll take those long nights, impossible odds

Keeping my eye to the keyhole

If it takes all that be just who I am

Well I vow to be a blue collar, gotta be a blue collar,

Gonna be a Blue collar man.

Believe it.

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7) Queen of Spades - Now here's something you don't hear me say often, but this song is a rocker by Dennis DeYoung. Yes, I said DDY. Think along the lines of maybe "Suite Madame Blue" and you get the idea. I always thought he should have done more songs like this before losing his mind in the "Barry Manilow territory". Oh well, enjoy it while you can.

Day into night she's with me

How sweet is her warm embrace

Safe in the scent of jasmine

So safe in her gold and lace

Mornings I find, she's left me

So cold so alone, but aware

I try to escape, she finds me

Oh run though I may, she's there, there, there, there, there...

Luck is a lady whose smile is as cold as a stone

She'll bring you things, many things you might never have known

But when your die is cast she'll have the final laugh at you

She'll lock you in a duel, where you come out the fool

Beware of the Queen of Spades

Her black widow's curse might find you yet

Beware of a love that you will regret

Her love means only your death

Day into night she's with me

Turn of a card, she's there

The first time is free, you know

But from now on, pay me, me, me, me, me...

Beware of the Queen of Spades

Her black widow's curse might find you yet

Beware of a love that you will regret

Her love means only your death

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8) Renegade - Seriously, the most bad-ass song Tommy has ever wrote. It lulls you in with those opening vocals, then kicks you right in the teeth. It was the third (!) single released from the album and reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. Some pressings of the single were made with translucent, red vinyl. Years after its release it remains a staple on classic rock radio playlists, and is usually the final song Styx plays at its concerts.

The song is a first-person narrative of an outlaw, captured for a bounty, who recognizes that he is about to be executed for his criminal activities. The execution will be by hanging, as the outlaw laments, "Hangman is coming down from the gallows and I don't have very long."

Since 2001, the song has become a de facto theme song for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense. The song is frequently played on the Heinz Field jumbotron, accompanied by a video featuring members of the defense. According to lore, during the 2008 season that saw the Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII, the defense was able to keep the opposing team from scoring nine times out of the ten times the song was played. On Sunday, January 11, 2009 Styx performed the national anthem and sang the introduction to "Renegade" before the Steelers-San Diego Chargers playoff game. They also performed the song in between the 2nd and 3rd period of the 2011 Winter Classic.

Oh, Mama, I'm in fear for my life from the long arm of the law

Law man has put an end to my running and I'm so far from my home

Oh, Mama I can hear you a-cryin', you're so scared and all alone

Hangman is comin' down from the gallows and I don't have very long

The jig is up, the noose is out

They finally found me

The renegade who had it made

Retrieved for a bounty

Never more to go astray

This will be the end today of the wanted man

Oh, Mama, I've been years on the lam and had a high price on my head

Lawman said, 'Get him dead or alive.' Now it's for sure he'll see me dead

Dear Mama, I can hear you cryin', you're so scared and all alone

Hangman is comin' down from the gallows and I don't have very long

The jig is up, the noose is out

They finally found me

The renegade who had it made

Retrieved for a bounty

Never more to go astray

The judge will have revenge today on the wanted man

Oh, Mama, I'm in fear for my life from the long arm of the law

Hangman is comin' down from the gallows and I don't have very long

The jig is up, the noose is out

They finally found me

The renegade who had it made

Retrieved for a bounty

Never more to go astray

This will be the end today of the wanted man

The wanted man

And I don't wanna go, oh, no

Oh, Mama, don't let them take me

No, no, no, I can't go

Hey, hey

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9) Pieces of Eight - Title track obviously with DDY singing on piano. This is a great song and almost like the "Come Sail Away" of this album from the song structure. Never released as a single, but I always felt it was one of the better songs on the album.

It's six o'clock

Good morning sounds are everywhere

The warmth of spring, a gentle breeze blows through my hair

I hurry through my life never stopping to see

How beautiful it was meant to be

I'm just a prisoner in a king's disguise

Broken dreams as we shuffle by

It's six o'clock it's quitting time I'm done for the day

Out on the streets I overheard a lady say

We now have everything or so people say

But now this emptiness haunts me every day

We seek the lion's share never knowing why

Come alive spread your wings and fly

Pieces of eight

The search for the money tree

Don't cash your freedoms in for gold

Pieces of eight

Can't buy you everything

Don't let it turn your heart to stone

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10) Aku-Aku - This is a mostly instrumental piece, which serves as a postlude for the previous song. Most of the videos I found had the last two songs combined. The only lyrics are the words "aku aku" whispered at certain times and it leaves you with an eerie feeling as the album closes.

Aku-Aku: the Secret of Easter Island is a 1958 book by Thor Heyerdahl, which describes an archaeological expedition's investigations of Polynesian history and culture at Easter Island, Pitcairn Island, and Tahiti. By far the greatest part of the book tells of the work on Easter Island, where the expedition investigated the giant stone statues (moai), and the quarries at Rano Raraku and Puna Pau. The book and a follow-up film of the same name made a major contribution to general public awareness of both the island and the statues.

This explains the title of the last track, along with the images used on the album cover.

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Pieces of Eight reached #6 on the Billboard Pop Album chart, and had three hit singles (all sung by Tommy Shaw I might add). It was the band's second consecutive triple platinum selling album.

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