This Day in Music History: Styx/Styx I (03/01)

On this month (since no specific date is given) back in 1972, Styx released their debut album simply called Styx (the 1980 RCA re-issue is called Styx I and given a new cover).

I have previously covered this album more in depth here (Side 1) and here (Side 2).

From Dennis's Facebook page he talks about the album photo and how the band chose its name:

Hey everybody,

I'm back in my hotel room in Quebec City with nothing much to do so caveat emptor.

Here are some explanations to Styx photos that I found online. The first official group photo was our first album cover. We had nothing to do with this concept other than follow instructions from the record company. As I have said before the name Styx was suggested by Bill Trout the president of Wooden Nickel records, the man who signed us to the label.

Styx was the name no one in the group hated so Styx it was. (Other suggestions were Torch, Kelp, Miguelito Loveless, and my contribution, Dime Novel). Dime Novel got voted down for fear of this headline, "Dime Novel ain't worth a plug nickel". Little did we know that we could get Styx Stynx. Thinking back it most likely became Styx because the suggestion did not come from a band member.

For this photo we were asked to buy briefs then have them tea stained to look flesh color.

The idea was for us to look nude without actually being nude. John and Yoko copy catted us years later, hey wait that's wrong they actually were nude. If we had been nude you would have witnessed the real Grand Illusion. It was shot at the photographer's home with the help of his wife Blair. I think his name was Murray but I can't check it from here.

I remember her name because she was in charge of the smoke machine which was used to cover our privates. Here's what we heard throughout the entire shoot, imagine this in a New York accent, "Blairrrr Blairrrr more smoke crotch level". For years to come whenever there was a lull in the conversation one of us blurt out Blairr, Blairrr more smoke crotch level. The green painting we are surrounded by is of Dante's Inferno. And though it's warm there in the winter I give it two thumbs down as a vacation spot. 

Cheers Dennis

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This Day in Music History: Styx/Cyclorama (02/18)

Styx released their 14th album Cyclorama on this date back in 2003. It was the first first album since they replaced Dennis DeYoung with Lawrence Gowan. It's been basically Tommy Shaw's band ever since and that might be a good thing. The band just seems to have more fun without DDY. Wonder why...

Side One

This Day in Music History: Styx/The Grand Illusion (07/07)

On this date in 1977, Styx released The Grand Illusion. Yes, it was 7/7/77, and it was also their 7th album. It's like they planned that or something...

Anyway, here is the awesome album cover which I have used on my blog many times before:

According to keyboardist Dennis DeYoung (DDY!), the album's theme was the struggle to overcome self-deluding superficiality in order to affirm one's genuine value. This theme was reflected in the lyrics of the album's title track:

So if you think your life is complete confusion

'cause your neighbor's got it made

just remember that it's a grand illusion

and deep inside we're all the same



To me, this is a must own for everyone. It also contains what I think is their best song ever. No, not Come Sail Away, but this:

I have previously covered this album in more depth here: Side One, Side Two.

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This Day in Music History: Styx/Brave New World (06/29)

Brave New World is the 13th studio album by Styx, released on this day in 1999. 

It is the last album with the band's original keyboardist and vocalist, Dennis DeYoung. The album peaked at #175 on the Billboard 200 and notably reached the top 10 on the Top Internet Albums chart. However, its position on the Billboard charts was the lowest from a Styx album of all new material since 1973's The Serpent Is Rising (ouch).

I have covered this album previously and in more depth here (Side One) and here (Side Two).

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Friday and the Random 10 (Existential Edition)

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Friday and the Random 10 (Hello YouTube Edition)

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This Day in Music History: Styx/Paradise Theatre (01/19)

Paradise Theatre is the tenth album by the rock band Styx, released on this date in January, 1981. This is probably my most favorite album of all time.

The album consists of four charted singles. "The Best of Times", written by Dennis DeYoung, went to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Too Much Time on My Hands", written by Tommy Shaw, went to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, Shaw's only top 10 hit for Styx. "Nothing Ever Goes as Planned", written by DeYoung, went to #54 on the US Pop Chart. "Rockin' the Paradise" — written by DeYoung, Shaw and James Young — went to #8 on the Top Rock Track Chart.

Paradise Theatre became Styx's only US #1 album. It was the band's fourth consecutive triple-platinum album, and (as of 2015) the last multi-platinum album by the band.

This Day in Music History: Styx/Equinox (12/01)

Equinox is the fifth album by Styx, released on this day in 1975. The album was the band's first release for A&M Records (with whom they signed earlier in 1975, after the unexpected success of the single "Lady").

The album also marked the final appearance of original Styx guitarist John Curulewski who was fired abruptly following the release of Equinox. The band went into a frantic search to find a replacement for their upcoming tour to support the album. Soon after, they found Tommy Shaw.

The album's biggest hit was the track "Lorelei", which was Styx's second US Top 30 hit. Another well known song in the album was "Suite Madame Blue" which was written about the upcoming Bicentennial of the US. The track became a staple for all Styx tours with Dennis DeYoung.

Although Equinox stalled at #58, it went Gold in 1977 shortly before the release of The Grand Illusion.

I covered this album in more depth here (Side One), and here (Side Two).

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Friday and the Random 10 (Nuclear Atomic Edition)

Welcome to a new and improved, simplified and stripped down Random 10! 

Here's a picture.

This Day in Music History (10/19): Styx/Cornerstone

On this day in 1979, Styx released its ninth studio album Cornerstone. This was Styx's follow-up to their second consecutive Top 10 selling Triple Platinum album in a row, 1978's Pieces of Eight.

Like the four previous Styx albums, the band produced the album themselves once again. However, the band started using a new recording studio Pumpkin Studios in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Plus, the album was the first where the band shied away from the art-rock/prog-rock influences that dominated their first eight studio albums and was the band's first move towards a more pop/rock direction (band member Dennis DeYoung stated in a 2009 interview that the change in direction came from reading bad reviews the group got in the rock press while on their first tour of England).

Regardless, the move towards "Barry Manilow's territory" set Tommy and JY on one side with DDY on the other.

This Day in Music History (10/09): Styx/Edge of the Century

On this date in 1990, Styx released their 12th studio album, Edge of the Century.

It was the first Styx album featuring Glen Burtnik (who replaced Tommy Shaw) and the last album to feature John Panozzo on drums (he would die six years later of liver cirrhosis).

The album spawned three singles. "Show Me the Way" was written by Dennis DeYoung (DDY!) and peaked at #3, due to the Gulf War Troops adopting the song as an anthem. Some radio stations played an edited version with the children of troops singing. "Love Is the Ritual" (which kicks ass!) and "Love at First Sight" were also released as singles, but neither garnered the same amount of success as "Show Me the Way".

I covered this album in more depth in these posts: Side One, Side Two.

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This Day in Music History (10/01): Styx/The Serpent is Rising/Crystal Ball

On this day, Styx released not one, but two albums (obviously in different years).

1973: The Serpent is Rising

The Serpent Is Rising is the third album by Styx, released in 1973. The band considers this to be their worst recording. Dennis DeYoung has gone far as saying it was "one of the worst recorded and produced in the history of music." The album peaked at #192 on the Billboard 200, their second-lowest charting album, and as of 2007 has sold less than 100,000 copies worldwide (two of these are owned by me!).

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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Music Monday: Styx/Brave New World (Side Two)

Brave New World peaked at #175 on the Billboard 200 and notably reached the top 10 on the Top Internet Albums chart (yay?). However, its position on the Billboard charts was the lowest from a Styx album of all new material since 1973's The Serpent Is Rising. Ouch, just ouch.

That being said, there is still a lot of good music on this album, especially side two. Side one wasn't bad either...

Music Monday: Styx/Brave New World (Side One)

Well, that didn't last long...

The Styx "reunion" following the Return to Paradise tour was able to produce their 13th studio album in 1999 called Brave New World, but for Dennis DeYoung it would be his last with the band.

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.

Music Monday: Styx/Greatest Hits

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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Music Monday: Styx/Edge of the Century (Side Two)

After covering side one last week, it is now time to look at the flip side. Hopefully I'll get everything 100% right this time so Glen Burtnik won't have to correct me on Facebook. Yeah, that happened (and was epic!).

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Music Monday: Styx/Edge of the Century (Side One)

With Tommy Shaw out of the band, Dennis DeYoung would take back over as the driving force behind Styx. Glenn Burtnik replaced Tommy (who was in Damn Yankees at this point) while the rest of the membership stayed the same. In 1990, seven (7!) years after their last studio album Kilroy Was Here, Styx released Edge of the Century.

Music Monday: Styx/The Solo Albums (1984-1989)

I was in junior high when Kilroy came out. I spent all my high school years talking about the music of my favorite band without ever hearing anything new from them. For everyone else it was "oh yeah they did that roboto song". Grrr. By the time Edge of the Century came out in 1990, Styx was already losing favor with me as I was getting more and more into Yes. Besides, I was almost 1/2 way done with college at this point as well. That's a long time to go between albums (years to be exact).

Even though there were no Styx albums during this time, I picked up every solo album that came out.