Regardless, the move towards "Barry Manilow's territory" set Tommy and JY on one side with DDY on the other.
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1) Lights - Tommy gets the opening track this time and it's basically another great TS song. It was apparently released as the second single from the album, but I could not find any charting information so apparently it did not fare too well. Surprising. I know it has appeared on several greatest hits compilations.
I heard the knock on my door, I heard the ring of the bell
I got the letter but I couldn't go
So many thoughts in my head, So many places to be
So many faces that I long to see
Standing in front of me tonight
The lights will take me where I long to be
Just like a thousand nights before
Somebody said to me, why do you do this to you
Why sit back and relax
Go to the islands and forget it all
Slow down, you're moving too fast, you seem afraid it won't last
Take my advice, go straight and settle down
Thank you for caring, but tonight the lights will take me where I long to be
Just like a thousand nights before
I can't explain, it gives me something
Give me the lights, precious lights
Give me lights
Give me my hope, give me my energy
You can turn the wrong into right
Precious lights
illuminate me, carry me away
Carry me, carry me
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2) Why Me - The third single from the album, sung by DDY, that reached #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. I guess the main thing you can say about the "sound" of the album so far was that Dennis predominantly used a Fender Rhodes electric piano. I think it gave whole thing a more mature sound. Also, as evidenced on this track, they used real strings and a horn section.
I guess we used to be the lucky ones
Good fortune smiled on everyone
Stop - A voice said you best beware
Stop - Bad luck is everywhere
And sure enough the voice was right my luck changed overnight
Stop - Please tell me what went wrong
Stop - I can't take these ups and downs
Hard times come, hard times go
And in between you hope and pray the scars don't show
'Cause life is strange and so unsure
The days you hardly make it through, you swear that there's a curse on you
'Cause nothing seems to fit and things won't go your way
You know you've had enough, You've got the right to say
Why me, why me
Rubelator
Stop - Here comes anxiety
Stop - Won't you please let me be, I need relief
Hard times come, hard times go
In between you hope and pray the scars don't show
'Cause life is strange and so unsure
The days you hardly make it through, You're sure that there is a curse on you
If nothing seems to fit and things won't go your way
You know you've had enough, you can't take another day
Where to go and what to do, you've got those bills to pay
You're really not alone you know, 'cause everybody says,
Why me, Why me
Why me? That's what I want to know. You know what I mean? Huh. I don't know.
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3) Babe - The song was written by DDY as a birthday present for his wife Suzanne (tell me if you've heard that one before). The finished track was recorded as a demo with just DeYoung and Styx members John and Chuck Panozzo playing on the track, with DeYoung singing all of the harmonies himself.The song was not originally intended to be a Styx track, but JY and Tommy convinced him to put the song on Cornerstone (be careful what you ask for guys). As a result, the demo was placed on the album with Shaw overdubbing a guitar solo in the song's middle section. The track became a major hit, reaching #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was Styx's first, and only, U.S. #1 single.
Taken out of context, it's a great song but was a harbinger of bad things and feelings to come. Everything doesn't have to be a love song about your wife Dennis. Write about something else.
Babe, I'm leaving, I must be on my way
The time is drawing near
My train is going, I see it in your eyes
The love, the need, your tears
But I'll be lonely without you
And I'll need your love to see me through
Please believe me, my heart is in your hands
And I'll be missing you.
You know it's you Babe
Whenever I get weary and I've had enough
Feel like giving up
You know it's you Babe
Giving me the courage and the strength I need
Please believe that it's true
Babe, I love you.
You know it's you Babe
Whenever I get weary and I've had enough
Feel like giving up
You know it's you Babe
Giving me the courage and the strength I need
Please believe that it's true
Babe, I love you.
Babe, I'm leaving, I'll say it once again
Somehow try to smile
I know the feeling we're trying to forget
If only for a while
But I'll be lonely without you
And I'll need your love to see me through
Please believe me, my heart is in your hands
And I'll be missing you
Babe, I love you.
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4) Never Say Never - Another nice little Tommy Shaw song, with some French lyrics that got me thinking. This album does remind me a lot of Crystal Ball in its "softness". And it repeats the chorus way too often for me.
Never, never, never say never
Ne dis jamais jamais
Better, better believe in forever
And it can be that way
You think that you could never love again
The one time really tore you apart
So don't even try to touch your heart
You're never going to give it again
Never, never, never say never
Ne dis jamais jamais
Better, better believe in forever
And it can be that way
You think that too much joy can only bring pain
Before you know it, it can be gone
But give me a chance to prove you're wrong
You'll never say never again
Never, never, never say never
Ne dis jamais jamais
Better, better believe in forever
And it can be that way
Take time to smell the roses
Don't hold back your one chance
It hardly lasts, it hardly lasts
Better, better believe in forever
Out here I stand with my heart in my hand
My hopes on a wing and a prayer
I must have been born with a hole in my head
Cause I've never said these things before
Never, never, never say never
Ne dis jamais jamais
Better, better believe in forever
And it can be that way
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5) Boat on the River - The fourth single released from the album features Tommy Shaw on lead vocals and mandolin, with Dennis DeYoung accompanying on accordion. In the video for the song, Chuck Panozzo, John Panozzo, and James Young play bowed double bass, tambourine/bass drum and acoustic guitar respectively. It's basically Styx "unplugged". Funny thing is that is fared poorly in the U.S. not charting at all, but became a Top 5 hit in several German speaking countries (and reached #1 on the Swiss charts...wait, whut?)
Take me down to my boat on the river
I need to go down, I need to come down
Take me back to my boat on the river
And I won't cry out any more
Time stands still as I gaze In her waters
She eases me down, touching me gently
With the waters that flow past my boat on the river
So I won't cry out anymore
Oh the river is deep
The river it touches my life like the waves on the sand
And all roads lead to Tranquillity Base
Where the frown on my face disappears
Take me back to my boat on the river
And I won't cry out anymore
Oh the river is wide
The river it touches my life like the waves on the sand
And all roads lead to Tranquillity Base
Where the frown on my face disappears
Take me back to my boat on the river
And I won't cry out anymore
And I won't cry out anymore
And I won't cry out anymore
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Side one of Cornerstone contained four of the five singles released (two each by Tommy and Dennis), but only DDY's charted ("Babe" #1 and "Why Me" #26). That leaves one more for Side Two, and you know what else is found there? Chaos. Utter chaos.
6) Borrowed Time - One of the most rocking songs on the album (like that's hard on this one) sung by Tommy Shaw Dennis DeYoung. Wait, DDY? This was the song that was released as opposed to another ballad. I have listened to this song over and over recently in preparation for this post and it just comes off as clinical and well, "sterile" sounding. The intro is great, but everything else just seems forced to me. Like they had almost forgotten how to rock. The song only reached a disappointing #63 on the singles charts. The band opened their concerts with this song (see video), on their 1979-1980 "Grand Decathlon Tour" in support of the album.
Side Two
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,
maybe it's the sign of a fool
maybe 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,
maybe it's time to be cool
maybe 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 Crystal Ball 2.0. It sounds nice but there isn't a lot of substance.
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