This Day in Music History: Styx/Kilroy Was Here (02/22)

On this date in 1983, Styx basically destroyed their career with the release of Kilroy Was Here (covered in more detail here: Side One, Side Two) Yeah, you know THAT one. The one that brought us this:

Styx and Yes have always gone back and forth as being my favorite band. It was hard for me to recover from this album though, which had a tour that was a financial disaster. I mean they had reached their pinnacle to me just two years before with Paradise Theater. When I got this album (I still have it in my collection) I was just utterly confused. It just didn't sound like Styx and quite frankly it was embarrassing to me. Side Two is actually decent to me, but the band has never been the same ever since.

No, please. Let it end.

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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/Man of Miracles (11/08)

On this date in 1974, Styx released their 4th album Man of Miracles. This album is sort of special for me, because it took a long exhausted search to actually find it.

My Top 10 Favorite Styx Album Covers

10) Man of Miracles (1980 Re-Issue)

Music Monday: Styx/Paradise Theater (Act Two)

Act one told the story of the opening of the theater and the "best of times" it had in its glory days. Act two tells of its decline and eventual demolition.

The back side of the album cover shows the Paradise closed and in disrepair. You can barely make out the banner for Sparky the Flying Dog which states he was appearing until July 7th, 1958. That was the exact date that workmen finished the demolition of the theater.

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Music Monday: Styx/Paradise Theatre (Act One)

After the drama that took place and the disagreements that boiled over following the previous album Cornerstone, Styx released their 10th studio album in 1981. And I must say, it is one of my top five favorite albums of all time. I am speaking of course about Paradise Theatre.

Paradise Theatre is a concept album which details a fictional account of Chicago's Paradise Theatre (photo on the left) from its grand opening in 1928 (front cover of the album) to its closing and eventual abandonment and demolition in 1958 (back cover). Dennis DeYoung used it as a metaphor for America's changing times from the late 1970's into the 1980's. The band members are depicted as "players", and each side of the album is referred to as "Act One" and "Act Two".

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My Top 10 Favorite Styx Album Covers

10) Brave New World

9) Man of Miracles

8) Crystal Ball

7) Styx II (1980 "Lady" Re-issue)

6) Best of Styx (1980 Re-issue)

5) Paradise Theater (front/back)

Inside (unfolded)

4) Pieces of Eight

3) Styx I (1980 Re-issue)

2) Equinox

1) The Grand Illusion