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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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!).

Music Monday (Styx/Crystal Ball, Side One)

The next studio album by Styx was in 1976. It was called Crystal Ball, and it marked the first time since they started recording that the band membership changed.

Music Monday (Styx/Equinox, Side Two)

After taking a look at the first side last week, it is now time to dive into the flip side of Equinox by Styx.

Music Monday (Styx/Equinox, Side One)

So at this point, Styx had just left Wooden Nickel Records and signed with A&M. From here on out is most of the music the casual fan knows, with the four previous albums being completely forgotten. Well with one exception: the single "Lady".

In March of 1975, "Lady" peaked at #6 on the charts. In December of that same year, Styx released their first album on the A&M label, Equinox.

Music Monday (The Best of Styx)

Now this may seem out of place, but the next Styx album I am going to cover is not the next one in their discography. It is a compilation album from the Wooden Nickle years called Best of Styx.

Music Monday (Styx II, Side 1)

In 1973, Styx followed up their debut album simply called Styx (or Styx I in some cases), with Styx II. Real original I know. This also has a different name with the 1980 re-issue, but I will cover that when I go into side two.

The first thing that you will notice about this album is that Dennis DeYoung is all over it. And that is why this is one of my favorite albums in the whole discography. After Styx I (previously covered here: Side 1, Side 2) it was hard to get a handle on what kind of band this was. Southern rock? Prog rock? Blues? The best description I have read was "art rock". I believe that's what best described Styx II.

Music Monday (Styx I, Side 1)

So as I was finishing up the last few albums in the Yes discography, I began planning ahead for what I would do next. That answer was simple: Styx. In a way I know these albums far better than the Yes catalog because I was a fan of Styx first.

I will go into much more detail on it later, but in the early 80's when I got my first big boy stereo (and headphones) the first album I wanted on my turntable was Paradise Theater. I was massively hooked. That's when I began collecting the back catalog, but there were some albums I just couldn't figure out. Some of them had weird album covers and contained songs I had never heard of before. I later found out that these were re-issued albums from their original record company Wooden Nickel Records.

But first, some background on the band: