Styx

This was a review I honestly had to ponder for a while. Atleast 3 listenings to make an honest and truthful review. First let me say this if you were a teenager or around that age in the 80's this is an amazing walk down memory lane. The vocal control that this band exhibited throughout their careers is outstanding. The song that personally takes me back is the ever popular ballad "Babe". Who doesnt remember being a nervous little dork teenager trying to get up the nerve to go ask that special girl you had your eye on to dance. We all have those memories. And for a mid level rocker who can ever forget the powerful Renegade. If there might be one small hit on styx as a band, it might be that they were caught between a pop artist and just slightly edging towards the heavier rock side. But as for a great complete CD chronicialling the amazing run they had in the eighties, get this CD, sit back and let your memories roll. Well recommended. Thanks for reading

Renegade probaly the only good song these guys have ever recorded and it should of stayed that way. These guys are pretty crappy compared too most 70s rock bands and sound the same as the sounds of kansas reo speedwagon stuff like that is OKAY but in small amounts. personally STYX just sound the same every song Come Sail Away is only the worse song i've ever heard in my life. A forgotten band that is only remembered by cheap complimations and people downloading Renegade off the internet or itunes. Ehhh go for some actullay good stuff like Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, or Pink Floyd.

Styx released their first A&M years collection 'Greatest Hits' in 1995. This is their second overall collection, with their first being 1975's Wooden Nickel Records 'Best of Styx.'

But this remains the most comprehensive collection of Styx on the market. All of the band's radio hits are here, and it also includes some popular album tracks and fan favorites as well. This collection spans Styx's A&M years, 1975-1995, a 20-year period.

Here is the album by album review.

Tracks from Equinox (1975):
'Lorelei,' 'Suite Madame Blue'
Review: I like what's represented. Obviously they would put 'Lorelei' here, because that was the radio hit here. But, I'm just a tad disappointed that we don't have 'Light Up' or 'Mother Dear' on here. But A&M got it right for the most part on this one.

Tracks from Crystal Ball (1976):
'Crystal Ball'
Review: THAT'S IT!?! Just 'Crystal Ball'? This was Tommy Shaw's first record with Styx, and it remains one of their finest. No 'Mademoiselle' or 'Shooz'? Or maybe even an album track like 'Jennifer'? That's disappointing.

Tracks from The Grand Illusion (1977):
'Come Sail Away,' 'Miss America,' 'Fooling Yourself,' 'Grand Illusion'
Review: They got all of the hits from the record. Just a tad disappointed to see 'Man In The Wilderness' absent, but that's a minor complaint, nothing to cry about. A&M definitely got this one right.

Tracks from Pieces of Eight (1978):
'Renegade,' 'Blue Collar Man'
Review: Again, A&M took the hits from the record, but forgot all about the album tracks. I am very disappointed that 'Sing For The Day' and 'Great White Hope' aren't here. But A&M did alright on this one.

Tracks from Cornerstone (1979):
'Babe'
Review: ONLY 'BABE'!?! Where is 'Boat On The River'? That was my favorite song from the album, and yet, nowhere to be found here. That's very disappointing. A&M got this one wrong. 'Babe' was great, but why stop there?

Tracks from Paradise Theater (1981):
'Too Much Time On My Hands,' 'The Best Of Times'
Review: A great record, one of Styx's best. And A&M picked the two significant tunes from this record. But, I am a little mad to see 'Rockin' The Paradise' and 'Snowblind' omitted. But still, A&M picked out the two hits from the record, so I'm not complaining at all.

Tracks from Kilroy Was Here (1983):
'Mr. Roboto,' 'Don't Let It End'
Review: The 1983 concept album is represented nicely here, but I'm just a tad bit disappointed to see 'Heavy Metal Poisoning' omitted. But A&M did a great job. Again, no complaints.

Tracks from Edge of the Century (1990):
'Show Me The Way'
Review: Out of all of Styx's records from the A&M years, this was, without a doubt, their weakest. 'Show Me The Way' is a nice tune, and I'm glad it's here. I did enjoy 'Love Is The Ritual,' so I'm just a tad disappointed that it's not here, but A&M did a great job with selections from this record.

New Tracks (1995):
'Lady 95'
Review: A great remake of their biggest Wooden Nickel hit. While I prefer the Wooden Nickel version over this one, this is still a great remake. Dennis' vocals are in top shape here. Cool remake.

Overall, 'Greatest Hits' is the best single disc Styx collection on the market and it remains the ultimate starting point for Styx. Everything here is great, despite a couple of key omissions.

Highly recommended for any Styx fan.

ENJOY!!!

if you don't want to buy several of their CD's, this is a great choice. I would have perferred some more of the older stuff.

A good way to listen to the best of Styx without listening to secondary cuts on individual CD's.

Styx was one of my favorite bands back in the day. They were never as progressive as most of the bands that I liked, but they were able to meld a mix of pop, rock and progressive rock like no other band. I have most of their albums on vinyl, but have only replaced this one on CD. "Paradise Theater" was Styx at the top of their game. The album is conceptual in nature with the theme of the birth and death of an old vaudeville theater in Chicago. I pretty much like every song on this disc. The weakest song was one of the biggest hits from the album Dennis Deyoung's ballad "Best Of Times" and even it is not bad. Each of the three main songwriters in Styx got to strut their stuff on this album and still remain within the concept. There were several big hits from this disc, but it is the album tracks that make it special. Songs like "Nothing Ever Goes As Planned", "Lonely People", "She Cares" and one of James Young's best rockers "Half Penny Two Penny" are all great. Of course the big hits "Snowblind", "Rocking The Paradise", and "Too Much Time On My Hands" are what most people know from this album. `Paradise Theater" is one of Styx's best and a must own for fans.

This is about as good as Styx ever was, as far as I am concerned. All the elements are there, the songwriting is excellent, vocals are great, the production is immaculate, it sounds like they are having a good time (even if they were probably partying themselves right into rehab centres to keep from killing each other at this point :) Using one of the album's centerpieces (The Best Of Times) to bracket the start and close adds a nice unity to the album, it's been done before and since, but it works very nicely here. It doesn't sound like they just threw it all together (see : end song on Brave New World), they made some inspired choices in their arrangements, from the pseudo-reggae jazz of Nothing Ever Goes As Planned, headphone psychedelia in Snowblind, a bit of prog rock in Half-Penny Two Penny.

The album starts out with the familiar "Tonights the night we'll make history" bit of music, which acts as an intro to 'Rocking The Paradise'. This is just on the verge, musically and lyrically, of getting Dennis-cheesy, but compared to future debacles (High Time, Hiphop-cracy) it is still just Styx rocking out. Acceptable rocker, good solos and riffing.

The next song, Too Much Time On My Hands, is prototypical 80s rocker, starts out with ye olde standard crazy synthesiser sweeps and clears up into a good rocking beat. Excellent chorus, this is one of the strongest songs Shaw ever wrote. And the solo (!) Absolutely an excellent hard rock guitar solo, doesn't fall into the trap of finger tapping and too many notes, he makes good use of the wah wah pedal for a very intense musical flight. This song has a slight influence of Pink Floyd, from the spacey intro that turns into a driving beat, the emotional blues guitar solo. Harmonies are out of this world.

"Nothing Ever Goes As Planned" is not exactly a pop song, but a very original arrangement and melody, very nice groove. Check out the bassline at the start. Typical wry Dennis lyrics and song, but above average delivery and energy.

"The Best Of Times" ye gods, what a good song! Starts out as an above average Dennis ballad (I'm not a big fan of his ballads in general) and turns into a real stomper of a chorus, with excellent vocals by James Young, nice vocoder work and of course guitar work by Shaw, superb understated rhythm section. These are the best - OF TIMES!

Side 2 is just a bit stepped down from Side 1, but sometimes after hearing the hits on side 1 being so overplayed, it's a relief to hear something different. "Lonely People" starts it off with another decent DeYoung groove, albeit probably a bit weaker than his side 1 showings. Nice horn shots and simple keyboard break redeems it. "She Cares" is a teeny bit cheesy (it makes Babe sound like Crazy Train), probably a bit of a weak song, but very nicely played, nice harmonies.

"Snowblind" is where James Young starts influencing the record, and for someone whose quality tends to vary wildly, he's in top form here. Psychedelic, creepy, moody, this would have been just another hard rock song about the dangers of drugs, without Dennis adding that keyboard sound that fades in and out, as well as lots of striking production tricks. Young and Shaw trade off vocals about being enslaved by Peruvian marching powder, excellent drumming by John Panozza here. Perfectly produced. This song was nominated "Most Likely To Corrupt Young Minds With Backward Lyrics" in 1981. Just kidding.

"Half-Penny, Two-Penny" is as good a song as "Best of Times". Here, James Young finally tops "Miss America" for a hard rocking song with lots of heavy riffs, vocal snarling, and real dynamics (you can tell the chorus apart from the verses). He rips the hopeless seeming corruption that occurs in his home country, with a lyrical particularity that's clearly personal (or at least fakes it well enough). Not quite a bridge, but a good turnaround after the second chorus, and another insane guitar solo / wah wah workout by Shaw. The song builds into a bridge back into the Best of Times music, absolutely brilliant music. When the song finally ends you KNOW it, as Dennis' voice announces the end of the album, the end of the hegemonic economy, the end of the century, the end of the world, etc. And a nice little fade-out throwaway in State St Sadie.

I was disappointed after this album, they never seemed to recapture the spark they had going here. All of the most pleasing aspects of each member is highlighted, rarely sounding forced. This is the sound of a BAND playing, not the Dennis show, not the Tommy show. If you're going to get a Styx record, this should be the first.

Of course I'm a bit biased, being a hard-core Styx fan back in the day. But I remember this as being the one that I could listen to over and over. One of the better "theme-theater" albums of it's era, at least in my opinion. One of the better albums to move to CD, so you could finally listen to the flow of the whole thing without having to flip it over. (i.e. Dark Side of the Moon).

I wouldn't call myself a Styx fanatic. I have enjoyed their music over the years and had the pleasure of seeing them live during their first Reunion tour. But they are not a group I ran out and bought the newest album the moment it was released. I felt their music was at times over dramatic and over-blown.

However, having said that, I found this album to be extremely well-done and quite enjoyable. After The Grand Illusion this is my favorite and gets played often. A previous review said that it was "almost a concept album." Well, yeah, it is a concept album.That was the Dennis DeYoung influence. It seems he always wanted to score a broadway play so we get main themes running through most Styx albums, from the great aforementioned Grand Illusion to the horrific Kilroy Was Here.

Almost all the songs are excellent, with the exception of "She Cares" which seems so out of place here. In my opinion though, the best piece, hands down, is James Young's "Snowblind", a song about cocaine addiction. As good as the other songs are, they all pale in comparison to this one. Other favorites: Shaw's "Too Much Time On My Hands" (which still gets airplay) and DeYoung's "Rockin' The Paradise." The song that got the most airplay at the time was DeYoung's "The Best of Times" which was good as a contrast to the rest of the music but seems to have faded away, even on the "oldies" radio stations.

I would recommend this, not only to Styx fans, but to rock fans in general. This was actually their last "great" Styx album as DeYoung's desire to go deeper into concept albums & rock operas began to take it's toll on the harmony of the band.

Styx's tenth album Paradise Theatre, which was released in February of 1981, was the band's first of two concept albums in a row.
Singer/keyboard player/songwriter Dennis DeYoung used the old Chicago Paradise Theatre as a metaphor for the downfall and decline of America during the late 1970s for the theme to this concept album.
Dennis' keyboards and vocals dominate on this album. His contributions which he wrote and sang were nothing short of SUPERB! The opening "AD 1928", "Nothing Ever Goes as Planned", the #3 hit "The Best of Times" (a major reason why this album sold as well as it did), the excellent epic "Lonely People", the album's reprise "AD 1958" and the outro "State Street Sadie' are all SUPERB. Dennis also co-wrote the hard rocking FM rock radio hit "Rockin' the Paradise" (which he sang lead on) with singer/guitarists James "JY" Young and Tommy Shaw and "Snowblind" (with JY and Tommy on lead vocals and Tommy wrote some lyrics as well but decided not to take credit). The latter track caused controversy with its supposed backward masking and as a result led to both Liberals and Conservatives like Jerry Falwell and later future Vice First Lady Tipper Gore's PMRC branded Styx as Satanic and evil (gimme a break!).
Tommy also contributed the album's other Top 10 hit "Too Much Time on My Hands" and the melodic "She Cares".
JY also contributed the scathing rocker "Half Penny Two Penny" which had a line about Mrs Cleaver (and it was Eldridge Cleaver and not the Beaver from Leave it to Beaver as some fans think).
This album is a great Styx album and is arguably one of their best albums of the classic era. I actually liked every album they did on A&M. This album still holds up even today despite the fact that critics panned the album.
Paradise Theatre was Styx's one and only US #1 album (where it reigned for three weeks in the Spring of 1981) and was their fourth consecutive Triple Platinum selling album in a row (meaning it sold more than three million in the US alone) and the public spoke with their wallet and rock radio embraced this album.
Paradise Theatre is recommended!

If you don't have Styx's 1977 'The Grand Illusion' in your collection, than you are really missing out. While Styx were somewhat famous before, 'The Grand Illusion' was their breakthrough record. Songs like 'The Grand Illusion' and 'Come Sail Away' are played on classic rock radio stations all the time.

And it's not hard to see why. Styx rocked. They were a perfect blend of soft ballads (many were dedicated to Dennis DeYoung's wife, Suzanne) and hard rock tunes.

I know, so far, this isn't much of a review. But that's going to change right now.

So, here it is. The album by album, track by track review.

1. The Grand Illusion And so begins Styx's masterpiece. This song is probably my favorite song they did. As a huge prog rock fan, I couldn't be more satisfied. Dennis' vocals are superb here, better than ever. Tommy and J.Y. do a great job backing him up. A MUST LISTEN!!

2. Fooling Yourself One of Tommy's best songs. 'Why must you be such an angry young man?' is the opening lyric, and the rest is history. Another must listen. It sounds just as good as it did 31 years ago, in 1977 today!

3. Superstars A classic, but very underrated tune. I never understood why. 'Superstars' is a great rock tune; Dennis' keyboards are at their best, and this is a classic Tommy Shaw vocal piece. A MUST LISTEN INDEED!

4. Come Sail Away Probably the centerpiece of the entire Styx catalog. Definitely their biggest hit. The heaviest song Dennis sang on, no doubt; it starts off as a dreamy, sort of fantasy-in-music type of song, and than it gets really heavy. If you haven't heard this, than you probably aren't a classic rock listener. 'Come Sail Away' is, again, a must listen!

5. Miss America James Young takes the vocals for this song. 'Miss America' is another rocker; for those of you that think Styx plays nothing but fluffy pop rock, your wrong! And 'Miss America' proves it. Heavy vocals, great guitar lines and bass lines throughout, this is a must listen for any Styx fan and classic heavy metal fan!

6. Man In The Wilderness Don't let the title fool you. This is a rock tune indeed. Tommy's vocals are superb, and the guitar riffs are incredible! A great rock and roll tune from Styx! Another must listen!

7. Castle Walls Probably the weakest track on the album, but still great! Dennis whispers, but proves he can sing perfectly--even while whispering! A very dreamy tune, but great keyboard lines throughout. Don't take what I said the wrong way, about this being weak. It's not! It's just it's weak compared to the other songs here.

8. The Grand Finale And what a way to close out the record! This is only 2 minutes, but it's quite a way to end a masterpiece. This is very underrated, but it's superb, as is the rest of the record. A great way to close out a masterpiece!

Styx's 'The Grand Illusion' is a must have for any serious record collector. 1977 was a great year for music, and 'The Grand Illusion' is definitely one of the best records of '77. You must listen to this.

Overall, this is highly recommended for any Styx or classic rock fan. A prog rock masterpiece. A must listen indeed.

Highly recommended. A masterpiece, plain and simple.

ENJOY!!!

I bought this album when it first came out due to "Come sail Away" and I played the first side over and over and became a Styx fan. Then I subsequently purchased their other albums throughout the years and later on their CDs. I now have every album/CD of their's since the Grand Illusion. I know many Styx fans and "experts" think this is their best work but I just don't get it. It is good but I still like Cornerstone, Paradise Theatre, Edge of the century and Cyclorama better. First of all there are really only 7 songs on the disc. The first four are very good and Come Sail Away and Fooling Yourself I consider great songs but Castle Walls, Man in the Wilderness and Miss America (Okay, I am not a JY fan) just don't do it for me. This would be in top for best "half albums" but not for full albums. All in all though they were and still are a great band and I love their music and can't wait for another new disc.

The bottom line here is this: For the non-hardcore Styx fan, all you need from Styx is the Grand Illusion and their greatest hits. That way you have their definitive work, along with "all those other songs you like". Why? Because this was Styx's near flawless album. The songwriting is very strong throughout with no filler tunes (the only Styx album that is true for). This caught Styx in 1977 for Tommy Shaw's second album with the band. This was when they were still mainly a hard-rock outfit. Following this album, Styx songwriting started falling off noticably. Then (much worse) Dennis DeYoung took more control of the band and pulled them into a much more pop territory. That was then topped off by the Kilroy fiasco that killed the band. Get this album and their greatest hits. It is all you need.

As a teen, I loved this record. I went to their concerts, bought t-shirts, and wrote their names all over my folders in High School. I have always considered them one of my all-time favorite groups.

Then, with kids, the CD's we played in the car for many years revolved around music more geared to their ages. However, I am pleased to say that I now have my kids requesting to listen to this CD! My kids think I'm cool because I went to Styx concerts, too.

This CD was the group's big "breakthrough" album. It shows their true song-writing abilities, as well as musical talents. It has great guitar riffs, as well as haunting melodies that stick in your head. Even their lyrics are great. The song that was most played on the radio was, "Come Sail Away." When I saw them in concert, the crowd wanted, "Miss America." When they came out of for the encore, it was expected that they would play that song. When they didn't people chanted for the song. The next tour, they added that song! It was highly popular.

Tommy Shaw's guitar playing as well as singing are so great. James Young has such a distinct voice, and wrote songs that enhanced it well. Dennis DeYoung has such a talent with keyboards and puts his whole heart into every song. The brothers who played bass and drums were under-appreciated during the 70's, but their talent is much more appreciated with hindsight.

All these years later, this album is still so good, and great to listen to. My kids love it (range from 12 to 18 years old), and I still love it.

I--very highly--recommend this CD.

Chicago based rockers Styx's seventh album entitled The Grand Illusion was released on July 7, 1977 to an unsuspecting audience in the States.
The number seven would prove to be Styx's magic number.
I first bought this album after hearing the live versions of guiatrist/singer Tommy Shaw's "Fooling Yourself" (a Top 30 hit), guitarist James "JY" Young's "Miss America" and of course singer/keyboard player Dennis DeYoung's classic Top 10 hit "Come Sail Away" (later humorously covered by the character Eric Cartman on South Park) on the double live album Caught in the Act, which I got on tape in 1984 (I was eight then).
I subsequently received The Grand Illusion on cassette when I was 9 in 1985 and was blown away by every song including Dennis' classic title cut, the Shaw/DeYoung/Young collaboration "Superstars", plus the underrated gems like Tommy's "Man in the Wilderness", Dennis' masterpiece "Castle Walls" (which he resurrected for his solo shows in recent years at the behest of his youngest son Matthew who said that was the best Styx song ever) and the concluding "The Grand Finale".
I eventually got the CD version of the album in November of 1993 and then rebought the disc after it got stolen.
The Grand Illusion was Styx's first US Top 10 album peaking at #6 and would be the first of FOUR Triple Platinum (FIVE Double Platinum) albums in a row!
I love this album and hope they remaster it soon. Whomever said Styx were a lousy band should think otherwise after hearing this record.

This was one of the first albums I ever purchased back when I was a teenager. Some people knock Styx but I think the music is really good and has stood the test of time better than other rock music from the same period. I Purchased a foreign version of this album to see if it was mastered better than the American version, but it was identical. Styx's early recordings have been remastered, when will the big selling albums like this one be done?

I bought this one for a few songs. Pieces of Eight and Queen of Spades are the best of them. About half the songs are good. This one is for fans or those who were teens in the 70s

Not quite as awesome as the previous three Styx records, but a must have for the serious audiophile.

This music cd arrived in a timely fashion... it was a replacement sent to me because the first attempt was lost in the USPS system.
The music is as good as I remember. This cd replaces the vinyl album I had way back when. I was reminded how great STYX is when I recently attended one of their concerts with the band BOSTON. They can still rock!

Pieces of Eight is my favorite Styx album bar none. Some claim the album is a carbon copy of The Grand Illusion, that the lp shows no growth. I prefer to think that this cd improves on what The Grand Illusion attempted. On this cd we do not have an ANTHEM like Come Sail Away, and thank GOD for that. Also, every song on EIGHT is ENJOYABLE. Lords of the Ring is cool. Aku Aku is very mellow. Blue Collar Man and Renegade are TWO of Tommy's best songs. And Sing for the Day is another GEM. The Great White Hope is a slightly nerdy song but it's a lot of FUN and James Young is awesome singing the tune. And even Dennis rocks out vocally on Queen of Spades. And Pieces of Eight, the song, has a good positive THEME. All in all this is my favorite Styx cd. And thank GOD it doesn't have all of the drama of The Paradise Theater. God does that crap get too much air play. I mean, play something from EIGHT or some of the hits from Equinox or Crystal Ball. There are many gems on those two records.

This is a great cd! I had it on vinyl for years, and just now got it on cd! It sounds even better than before! Thanks for a great product!

1979's 'Cornerstone' is often panned and put down by Styx fans. True, it is very different from the Wooden Nickel-era Styx that released 'Lady' in 1972 and the early A&M years Styx that put out 'Equinox' and 'The Grand Illusion,' to name a few, but this isn't a bad Styx record at all.

In fact, I think it's well worthy of five stars. Sure, many people buy this for 'Babe,' the band's first and only #1 hit, but there is far more to 'Cornerstone' than just that one song.

For example, 'Borrowed Time' is a superb rocker from Styx. It starts off as somewhat of a melodic song, with some catchy keyboard lines from Dennis, and than the guitar riffs from J.Y. and Tommy start to kick in. It's one of my all-time favorite Styx songs.

Another great song is 'Lights.' John's drum intro is superb, and the lyrics are meaningful and powerful at the same time. It is definitely a must-listen for any Styx fan.

While this is not as good as 'The Grand Illusion,' 'Equinox' and 'Pieces of Eight' or maybe one of their earlier Wooden Nickel masterpieces such as 'The Serpent Is Rising,' it's still worth your time.

Styx could make ballads and rock and roll songs, and 'Cornerstone' proves it. If you've never checked out this record or your too afraid to, don't be. This record features many great tunes besides 'Babe.'

Overall, this is highly recommended for any Styx fan. The whole record is great.

Highly recommended. Not their best record, but still great.

ENJOY!!!

LOVE IN THE MIDNIGHT, LIGHTS, BOAT ON THE RIVER, EDDY (Ted Kennedy), and BABE are incredible songs. Everything else is forgettable. STYX fell apart during this album... and the scars never truly healed. Dennis' ego could not accept the "sea change" within STYX and this album reflected what became two bands in one... the Dennis DeYoung band and the Tommy Shaw band. This album has some great songs but no cohesiveness. Every other album that followed was similar in fractured structure (including the Number One album PARADISE THEATRE) until CYCLORAMA (Dennis was no longer in the band.)

So be forewarned, this album has some great songs... but no album cohesiveness.

Babe was one of the best songs on this album and Lights was the number 1 for me on this album. Tommy Shaw knows how to play and sing better then anyone in that band.

Styx's ninth album Cornerstone was released in September of 1979.
The album is best remembered for singer/keyboard player/chief songwriter Dennis DeYoung's musical love-letter to his wife called "Babe". This song was Styx's first and only No. 1 hit and it helped the band get their third album in a row to Triple Platinum status and the first Top 3 charting disc for the band peaking at #2 and it wouldn't be their last.
Led by Babe as well as the following Top 40 single, Dennis' classic about one's worries "Why Me" (which should have been Nancy Kerrigan's theme song from her attack at the hands of Tonya Harding), introduced us to a poppier sounding Styx (fellow prog rock band Genesis had changed their sound at that time as well yet no one complained).
The album experiments with some new sounds as well like horns, strings and conflicting musical styles.
Singer and guitarist Tommy Shaw's "Boat on the River" was a great folk song which showed Tommy was not just full of rock music (like he claimed on Behind the Music) and could have been written by a European folk performer and the song almost didn't get released as band manager Derek Sutton said the song was deplorable but Dennis DeYoung told Tommy Shaw let's record it and it became the band's biggest European hit.
Dennis and Tommy co-wrote the opening "Lights" which had Tommy on vocal and the hard rocking "Borrowed Time" which had Dennis on vocal and one of his best rock vocals ever and was the opening song on the Cornerstone tour in 1979/80.
Dennis also contributed the ballad "First Time", which would have been a hit had if Tommy not complained like a 2-year old by threatening to walk out if it was released. First Time would have been a #1.
Guitarist James "JY" Young wrote the scathing rocker "Eddie" about Edward kennedy, the last of the Kennedy sons.
Tommy also had the melodic "Never Say Never" and the closing epic "Love in the Midnight" which started as a "Crystal Ball" part two but turns into one of the best Styx tracks ever with a blazing JY solo.
Many fans scoff at this album but I like it alot, even today and still sounds great 28 years after its release.
I highly recommend Cornerstone!

This is considered to be Styx's transition album released shortly before Tommy Shaw arrived (JC plays on Equinox). It contains haunting reminders of The Serpent Is Rising, but with a slightly more straight ahead rock direction. Fortunately none of these songs were never really overplayed on the radio, therefore they have aged gracefully and have a refreshing sound. Favorite songs are Lorelei, Lonely Child, Midnight Ride, and the great classic Prelude 12 / Suite Madame Blue.

Styx's 'Equinox' is one of their most progressive oriented records. Their last record with original guitarist John Curulewski, who left later in 1975, and would be replaced by Tommy Shaw, who would make his debut with the band on 1976's 'Crystal Ball' album.

But boy is 'Equinox' good! Every song on here is worth 5 stars. Dennis DeYoung sings on most songs, but also take note of James Young's vocal appearance on 'Midnight Ride' and Curulewski's on 'Mother Dear.'

My favorite song on the album is probably 'Mother Dear.' It features some awesome slide guitar and some awesome keyboards from Dennis. John's vocals are surprisingly good; he could have easily sang lead for another band.

'Lorelei,' obviously, was the hit on the record. It is a superb song, and probably my second favorite on the album. Dennis' vocals are at their very best, and this song is definitely worth listening to.

'Suite Madame Blue,' 'Prelude 12,' 'Midnight Ride' and 'Light Up' are the other highlights here. And that's pretty much the whole record. Everything on this record is great.

Overall, 1975's 'Equinox' is one of Styx's best. Highly recommended for any Styx fan. This record is a masterpiece, plain and simple. Highly recommended. ENJOY!!!

Styx's first album with A&M was a classic. Every song is excellent, a must for any Styx fan.

Chicago bred rockers Styx's fifth album Equinox was released in November of 1975.
This was the band's first album for A&M (they were on an independent label Wooden Nickel for years).
They were signed to A&M based on the strength of the success of the song "Lady", which became a hit two years after its 1973 release in 1975.
Singer/keyboard player Dennis DeYoung kicks the album off with the classic "Light Up" and he also wrote and sang the first half closer "Lonely Child", and the concluding epic "Suite Madame Blue" which is the arguably best song of the pre-Tommy Shaw era and these tracks had some of DDY's best synth work with the ARP String Synthesizers and Mini-Moog synthesizer solo work.
DeYoung also co-wrote three songs to which he also does lead vocals, "Lorelei" (which was a US Top 30 hit) and "Born for Adventure" which were co-written by guitarist James "JY" Young and also "Mother Dear" co-written by late guitarist John Curulewski and both Dennis and John sang.
JY also wrote and sang the rocking "Midnight Ride" which kicked off the second half of the album.
John Curulewski also wrote the 12-string acoustic guitar instrumental "Prelude 12" which was a prelude to Suite Madame Blue.
All in all, Equinox was a great start to Styx's time at A&M and was an eventual Gold seller although it was a slow seller at first.
Highly recommended!

I'm 14, and I got into Styx almost completely by chance. My parent have no record players or LP's, and neither have any Styx cassettes or CD's. My Dad and I were just listening to SIRIUS classic rock, and Lorelei came on. I IMMEDIATELY LOVED THE SONG! That night, I also happened to watch "Big Daddy", and learned that the song Mr. Roboto was by Styx. Since then, I've been collecting their albums. In fact, this is the first of theirs I bought (because of Lorelei), and I was not dissapointed. The very first song I heard told me that I was going to enjoy this band for years to come. Well, one year later, I'm still into this album. Compared to their others, it's not their best, but it's still essential to have for Lorelei and Light Up alone.
Light Up: Ought to be in their Greatest Hits I. Very mellow, 60's feel. 9/10
Lorelei: Styx's first step towards stardom, and one of the their best songs to date. 10/10
Mother Dear: Strange, upbeat feel. It's actually very entertaining. 8/10
Lonely Child: Very nice, passionate love song. DeYoung's vocals are top notch here. 9/10
Midnight Ride: Probably the most forgettable JY rocker. Still O.K. though. 7/10
Born For Adventure:A DeYoung rocker. It's a very heavy sound, which doesn't quite match DeYoung's vocals. 6/10
Prelude 12/Suite Madame Blue: Just barely worse than Lorelei. Another classic Styx prog/mainstream hit. 10/10

this is one of there better albums. great band from the seventies.youll enjoy this album allot.

I have ordered from Amazon many time and will always come here first for any requests. I have friends that contact me to find what they are looking for. Thank You from all of us, for having and delivering on time and notifying when shippment has been made.

As a long-term STYX fan, I found myself playing this 1976 release more often than the others. I found it highly upbeat from the opening tracks("Put Me On"- "Mademoiselle"), which always made me feel good. It ends with a romantic Dennis De Young composition- "Clair De Lune/Ballerina", which showcases Dennis's writing tallents- who else could write a beautiful love(rock)song to tie in with Debussey's classical masterpiece? Five,no SIX Stars!

In November of 1976, Chicago based rockers Styx released their sixth album, and second for A&M, entitled Crystal Ball, which was also their first album with new guitarist and singer/songwriter Tommy Shaw (a Birmingham, alabama native), whom joined in late 1975.
Once again, the band produced the album themselves and is still a classic.
The album starts with the hard rocking "Put Me On", which was written by Shaw, singer/keyboard player Dennis DeYoung and guitarist/singer James JY Young whom also does lead vocal on the track. The track has JY singing the hard rock section and the slower section was sung by Dennis and the drum sound changed to the drum sound that would be synonymous with the band in later albums. Then, the track goes back to the hard rock section and ends with the ending riff speeding up on the tape which then segues into Tommy's first lead vocal for the band, the Top 40 hit "Mademoiselle" which was a great Shaw/DeYoung collaboration. Dennis' ballad "Jennifer" is a great song with excellent guitar leads by JY and Fender Rhodes and ARP synth playing by DDY. The first half of the album ends with Tommy's classic title cut which is one of the best Styx songs ever and featured excellent rhythm section work by the bass playing and drumming twin brothers Chuck and John Panozzo respectively and one of DDY's best synthesizer solos.
The rocker "Shooz" starts the second half and Tommy sings and screams his heart out on this track and cooks some excellent slide guitar work and JY does a Hendrix type of guitar solo on the track. Dennis' "This Old Man" follows and was a homage to his hard-working father. The album concludes with Dennis' piano arrangement of the classic DeBussy piece "Clair De Lune" which is changed from C# to C natural as a lead into the epic DeYoung/Shaw collaboration "Ballerina" (with a classic DeYoung vocal) which ends the album in a majestic way.
When it was released, it actually sold less than Equinox but eventually went Gold in 1978 after the success of the next album.
If you like all of Styx's albums between 1975 and 1999, I recommend this album.

This is where it begins for Tommy Shaw. This is a spectacular effort by the band. John C. has departed and in comes in Shaw with his knack of capturing the top 40 hit. On this release though that never really happened so this may be considered a warm-up to their next, 'The Grand Illusion'. Lead off song "Put Me On'another James Young classic and can still say that after all these years the song still rocks. This is the album also, that sees James Young starting to take a backseat on lead vocals. As on their first four albums James Young was very prevalent on lead, but as success found its way with the band DeYoung and Shaw capture the spotlight for the top 40 hits that keep the band selling millions of records. I always like to link albums together as must have's. If you have one then you must have another because they just go together. If you pick up 'Crystal Ball' then please pick up 'Equinox' also. They have a certain flavor to them and they rock. Nothing bad here on this cd.

I know that critics, hard rockers, head bangers, punkers, alt.fans, new wavers, grunge fans, rappers, the fashion police, and even some Styx fans like to totally blast the album Kilroy Was Here into infinity. It has become hip to blast Styx and especially the Kilroy album. If you take the album at face value sure it is trite and kind of childish. We now live in a more cruel and jaded world but I am not jaded enough to enjoy listen to Styx and Kilroy Was Here.

I also think this album was one of the final nails in the coffin to end this genre of music (Journey, REO, etc). from continuing as being a major force in music regarding popularity and album sales. I have read customer's reviews about Kilroy from Amazon and other sites which are mostly very negative and even calling it the worst album ever made. In my opinion this is by far from being the worst album of all time. I think Kilroy is much better then most of the music by new groups over the last fifteen years.

There are many things about the album that I like. To start with, it is still Styx's original line up (except for a guitar player that left in the mid 70s.) Styx updated there image and look on this album. I think that Dennis DeYoung looks much better after getting his hair cut and not having a mustache. Tommy Shaw also looked more contemporary and does not have the 70s "lost youth" look. By 1983 it was not the 70s anymore and Styx changed with the times.

Mr. Roboto is a good song to start the album and I think the order of the songs for the album is also good. Mr. Roboto has a kind of new wave sound. It even somewhat sounds to me like Devo's Whip It during the verses. I always really liked the song Cold War. I think it is a very good especially during the chorus when DeYoung sings the backround vocals "cold war." I thought the lyrics were timely and I like the phrase "party with the President." Don't Let It End is also a respectable Styx ballad in my opinion. It is classic DeYoung and it is a good track on the album. The song Heavy Metal Poisoning is really good especially during the chorus when Dennis sings the backround "heavy metal poisoning toxic wasteland!!!."

Haven't We Been Here Before has some great vocals harmonies coming from one of the best vocal bands from that genre. It is also a pretty good song.

One of the best things about Kilroy is that it still has the Styx sound and trademark. Hard rockers, ballads, great vocals, vocal harmonies, lots of Dennis's snyths being upfront, and tommy's personal songs are all included on this album. One other thing I really like about this album is the production, mix and the sound dynamics. It is has the classic Styx sound and it more crisp and deep than most albums by other bands during that time period.

This is not nearly as good of a concept album as for example the Who's Tommy or Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon But Kilroy Was Here is a pretty decent album and I like listening to it every once a while.

I agree with the review by D. Hunter (see below). I wouldn't start with this album, but once you've covered the basics (I.E. Greatest Hits, Grand Illussion, etc.) I think this album is a natural progression and is an excellent album. I don't even consider it a risky album for the band. It was a natural progression for them as the early to mid-80s rolled around. I remember hearing Mr Roboto on the radio when I was in elementary school and thinking it was a very cool song. Is this album as timeless as Grand Illusion? No. It's not a classic rock album. But, again, this album doesn't have a bad song on it and is a natural progression of the band's sound. It's truly a very solid album and in some ways a very tradtional STYX album.

I have been around for quite some time. I listenend to Styx in high school. Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight were staples on my 8-track. So don't get all bent out of shape when I say that "Kilroy Was Here" was a natural evolution of Styx for me. When I heard "Paradise Theatre", I knew change was in the air.
We are talking of a time when people were just becoming aware of "machines,aka,computers" taking over the jobs of that were done by humans. Add to that, our government was trying to make Ozzy Osbourne responsible for teenage suicide because of his lyrics. I mean, come on, how many really believed that he "looked" at a plane and it crashed?
DeYoung wrote a story that spread over years of music writing, one album melding into the next, until he came to the logical conclusion of machines and censorship that made up "Kilroy Was Here".
I do not believe that "Kilroy" was the low point for Styx, but rather a very brave telling of a story that was prevelent for the times it was written for.
I was in my twenties when "Kilroy" was released. I loved it then and I love it now.
I only wish my children had the benefit of such amazing song-writing as we had then instead of the cursed saturated & sex drowning lyrics that they have today. I would much rather them listen to "Kilroy Was Here".

1983's 'Kilroy Was Here' is not as weak as 1990's 'Edge of the Century,' but it's pretty bad. Don't get me wrong, I am a HUGE Styx fan, but I just never really got into 'Kilroy.'

Since it is Styx, three stars is fair. But it is kind of a joke. The band members play characters living in some kind of robot civilization that hates rock and roll. I get really annoyed when people compare it to records like 'Tommy' and 'The Wall.' Let's be honest, it's decent, but it's nowhere near as good as those are.

Since I've been so negative, I'll state some positives here. I am not a pop lover, for those who have read my reviews know, but I did enjoy the highly bizarre 'Mr. Roboto' and the Tommy Shaw ballad 'Haven't We Been Here Before.' And 'Don't Let It End' is solid, as is 'Heavy Metal Poisoning,' but the rest can be skipped.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this unless you are a Styx die-hard or collector. If you want Styx at their progressive best, pick up either 'The Serpent Is Rising,' 'Equinox' or 'The Grand Illusion' or if you want them at their pop rock best, pick up 'Cornerstone' and the great concept album 'Paradise Theater.'

But skip this one. It's good as far as these things go, but it's below average in Styx standards.

Recommended for the Styx die-hard or collector, but casual fans should just skip this one.

I have been a Styx fan for years. In fact, the band occupies a special place in my heart. "The Grand Illusion" was released when I was in the 5th grade, and it was the very first vinyl record I ever bought. I re-purchased it when it was released on CD a few years later. I still listen to it often. It is a classic hard rock recording that has held up well decades later.

When I was in high school, "Kilroy Was Here" was released. I ran to the record store to buy it the day it was released. However, when I placed the album on the spinner and set the needle down, the Velveeta started to pour out of my stereo speakers.

"You're wondering who I am...
*secret secret, I've got a secret*
"Machine or MAN-UH-CAN..."

I couldn't believe that Styx would release such a contrived piece of garbage. I invited a friend of mine, who was also a Styx fan, to my house for a listen. We wound up having an argument, because he thought the album was "really cool." So I placed a bet. I bet him ten bucks that the public would recognize this album to be a steaming dung heap, and it would fail to crack the "Billboard Top Ten."

Well, I was wrong. A few days later, it did crack the top ten and I was out ten bucks. However, my confidence in my musical judgment has remained secure. History has shown this album to be what it really is--a cheesy vanity project that spelled the demise of a great band.

This was a review I honestly had to ponder for a while. Atleast 3 listenings to make an honest and truthful review. First let me say this if you were a teenager or around that age in the 80's this is an amazing walk down memory lane. The vocal control that this band exhibited throughout their careers is outstanding. The song that personally takes me back is the ever popular ballad "Babe". Who doesnt remember being a nervous little dork teenager trying to get up the nerve to go ask that special girl you had your eye on to dance. We all have those memories. And for a mid level rocker who can ever forget the powerful Renegade. If there might be one small hit on styx as a band, it might be that they were caught between a pop artist and just slightly edging towards the heavier rock side. But as for a great complete CD chronicialling the amazing run they had in the eighties, get this CD, sit back and let your memories roll. Well recommended. Thanks for reading

Renegade probaly the only good song these guys have ever recorded and it should of stayed that way. These guys are pretty crappy compared too most 70s rock bands and sound the same as the sounds of kansas reo speedwagon stuff like that is OKAY but in small amounts. personally STYX just sound the same every song Come Sail Away is only the worse song i've ever heard in my life. A forgotten band that is only remembered by cheap complimations and people downloading Renegade off the internet or itunes. Ehhh go for some actullay good stuff like Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, or Pink Floyd.

Styx released their first A&M years collection 'Greatest Hits' in 1995. This is their second overall collection, with their first being 1975's Wooden Nickel Records 'Best of Styx.'

But this remains the most comprehensive collection of Styx on the market. All of the band's radio hits are here, and it also includes some popular album tracks and fan favorites as well. This collection spans Styx's A&M years, 1975-1995, a 20-year period.

Here is the album by album review.

Tracks from Equinox (1975):
'Lorelei,' 'Suite Madame Blue'
Review: I like what's represented. Obviously they would put 'Lorelei' here, because that was the radio hit here. But, I'm just a tad disappointed that we don't have 'Light Up' or 'Mother Dear' on here. But A&M got it right for the most part on this one.

Tracks from Crystal Ball (1976):
'Crystal Ball'
Review: THAT'S IT!?! Just 'Crystal Ball'? This was Tommy Shaw's first record with Styx, and it remains one of their finest. No 'Mademoiselle' or 'Shooz'? Or maybe even an album track like 'Jennifer'? That's disappointing.

Tracks from The Grand Illusion (1977):
'Come Sail Away,' 'Miss America,' 'Fooling Yourself,' 'Grand Illusion'
Review: They got all of the hits from the record. Just a tad disappointed to see 'Man In The Wilderness' absent, but that's a minor complaint, nothing to cry about. A&M definitely got this one right.

Tracks from Pieces of Eight (1978):
'Renegade,' 'Blue Collar Man'
Review: Again, A&M took the hits from the record, but forgot all about the album tracks. I am very disappointed that 'Sing For The Day' and 'Great White Hope' aren't here. But A&M did alright on this one.

Tracks from Cornerstone (1979):
'Babe'
Review: ONLY 'BABE'!?! Where is 'Boat On The River'? That was my favorite song from the album, and yet, nowhere to be found here. That's very disappointing. A&M got this one wrong. 'Babe' was great, but why stop there?

Tracks from Paradise Theater (1981):
'Too Much Time On My Hands,' 'The Best Of Times'
Review: A great record, one of Styx's best. And A&M picked the two significant tunes from this record. But, I am a little mad to see 'Rockin' The Paradise' and 'Snowblind' omitted. But still, A&M picked out the two hits from the record, so I'm not complaining at all.

Tracks from Kilroy Was Here (1983):
'Mr. Roboto,' 'Don't Let It End'
Review: The 1983 concept album is represented nicely here, but I'm just a tad bit disappointed to see 'Heavy Metal Poisoning' omitted. But A&M did a great job. Again, no complaints.

Tracks from Edge of the Century (1990):
'Show Me The Way'
Review: Out of all of Styx's records from the A&M years, this was, without a doubt, their weakest. 'Show Me The Way' is a nice tune, and I'm glad it's here. I did enjoy 'Love Is The Ritual,' so I'm just a tad disappointed that it's not here, but A&M did a great job with selections from this record.

New Tracks (1995):
'Lady 95'
Review: A great remake of their biggest Wooden Nickel hit. While I prefer the Wooden Nickel version over this one, this is still a great remake. Dennis' vocals are in top shape here. Cool remake.

Overall, 'Greatest Hits' is the best single disc Styx collection on the market and it remains the ultimate starting point for Styx. Everything here is great, despite a couple of key omissions.

Highly recommended for any Styx fan.

ENJOY!!!

if you don't want to buy several of their CD's, this is a great choice. I would have perferred some more of the older stuff.

A good way to listen to the best of Styx without listening to secondary cuts on individual CD's.

What a treat to get all of this great music (4 seperate recordings) on a 2-disc compliation. Not only can we hear the origins of one of the quintessential rock bands of the 70's and 80's (arguably the decades of the greatest output of rock music) but we get some absolute musical gems that stand alone as testament to the genius of the men behind the band.

From "Quick is the Beat of my Heart" and the funky/bluesy cover of George Clinton's "After You Leave Me", to the quirky "You Better Ask", "The Serpent is Rising", and the always funny "Plexiglass Toilet", we get the evolution of a great band that helped define an entire era of rock and roll. Like them or not, here is the historic struggle that gave STYX the backbone and experience to evolve into one of the best selling rock bands of all time.

This collection is highly recommended for all who love the quirky and turbulent music that is the foundation for all that came later.

The Amazon customer-review average of 5 stars, across nearly 50 reviewers, ludicrously overstates the merits of this music, effectively proclaiming it a must-have masterpiece. Don't get me wrong, though, there is some good rock n' roll here.

A third of the tunes could be compiled to comprise a highly recommended, great work of 70s AOR, with plenty of guitar crunch, pounding keyboards, amped up vocals and soaring harmonies. Add to that some proggish tendencies in composition and lyrics and some of the over-the-top style of arrangment and production they'd become well known for.

Half the tunes make for extremely satisfying listening for Styx fans and a solid listen for most fans of 70s-style, straight-ahead, AOR. The other half consists of weak-to-middling stuff that comes from a band in its formative years working out kinks and discovering strengths. Styx fans will find most of that "other half" a decent, intriguing listening experience.

Many will make it a habit to skip "As Bad as This" by John Curlewski and his "Krakatoa" as well. "Bad" seems intended to be an interlude in the "Serpent" album, providing a jarring shift from a meditative mood to a presumedly humorous take on Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat" (?!). This tune will only annoy the listener who is already in the groove of this album.

Curlewski, while offering the highly enjoyable, moody and mellow "A Day," has a thin voice and a delivery that pales in comparsion to the vocal powers of Dennis DeYoung and James Young. After hearing these recordings, I feel his soon-to-be departure from the band is not much of a loss, particularly given the future addition of Tommy Shaw. This is not a commentary on Curlewski's guitar chops, which are strong, but Shaw and James Young will have no problem in this area.

These early albums are definitely a highly entertaining and interesting look at a landmark group's formative years, particularly in it's ventures into proggish and hard-rock territory. There is already a strong tendency towards the lush, dramatic arrangments and lyrics they'd be known and loved (and hated by self-righteous critics) for. The vocal harmonies are in place but the tunesmithing isn't quite as refined as it would become.

The project-like care and remastering that went into this album of music, makes for a handsome, enjoyable and, for huge fans of Styx only, essential package. Whatever you do, though, do not purchase this with 5-star expectations.

There's not a lot to say; if you like Styx and don't have the first four albums, this re-release is well-engineered, well-packaged and a real trip down memory lane. The liner notes are particularly interesting reading, adding a great deal of insight into the band's early days. Of course, it's fun to hear Plexiglass Toilet hidden in there, too.

I first discovered these albums(on cassette, even) back when "Mr. Roboto" was polluting the airwaves. I didn't even think it was the same band back then(hey, I was 10), I just knew it was some of the coolest music I'd ever heard. For years the Wooden Nickel-era Styx releases along with pre-Perry Journey, have held revered status in my music collection and I've recommended them every chance I get. FINALLY! They're all in one nice neat two disc package! Forget "Babe", "The Best Of Times" or "Too Much Time On My Hands". Check these out! Symphonic, Lush, Metallic, Progressive and at times, just plain weird, these are the ones with everything. Personal favourite would be "The Serpent Is Rising" which mixes flat-out hard rockers like "Witch Wolf", "Jonas Psalter", and "Young Man" with progressive majesty like "The Grove Of Eglantine" and the title track. Just to make things even cooler, check out the spoken word "Krakatoa" which segues into "The Hallelujah Chorus", and the album's hidden track is something right out of Dr. Demento's radio show.
The "Man Of Miracles" album is more of a standard 70's rock album until the heavier-than-lead title track. The first two albums fall squarely into the Yes/Genesis prog mode. Any fan of music that pushes the envelope or even any Styx fan eager to hear the band's roots would be wise to pick this double cd up.

This is a great collection, and an absolute must for Styx fans. When these albums were originally released (between 1972-1975), they were on the Wooden Nickel label, which folded relatively quickly. They were then reissued (on vinyl) by RCA, but with different, garish covers (and different titles, for example, Styx II was called Styx-Lady). Then they were CD editions of each of them, but their release pattern was questionable as well. Now you have them all here in a superb remastering job.

Styx actually started out as a progressive rock group (like another rock group from Chicago called Chicago), which is exemplified by their first album. It begins with a 13 1/2 minute track, Movement for the Common Man (the longest song in Styx's career), and one of their best songs (despite some obvious lyrics in the first movement of the song). It has a few great covers, like Right Away and What Has Come Between Us. James Young handles most of the lead vocals, and I always felt he was an intregal part of Styx, even though he never really got the credit. The 2nd album still had a prog vibe to it (especially John Curulewski's A Day, an 8 1/2 minute song), but it also had Lady, Styx's first hit and still a radio staple to this day. The 3rd and 4th albums, The Serpent is Rising and Man of Miracles, are good but a bit uneven. Serpent is more experimental than Miracles, and has some great songs on it, most notably Witch Wolf and As Bad As This. There's even the Hallejulah chorus from Handel on it. Eventually, Styx toned down the prog influences and became mega superstars. In later albums, the prog influence was gone and they succumbed to sappy ballads (Don't Let It End, Babe) and overblown theatrics (Kilroy Was Here, their worst album). But here we see the makings of a great band, and the music is damn good too, especially the first two albums.