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Greatest Hits (Styx Album)
''Greatest Hits'' is a compilation album and primary Greatest Hits album by the American rock band Styx. It was released by A&M Records on August 22, 1995. It contains 16 tracks, 8 of which were Billboard Top 10 Pop Singles, another 4 that were Billboard Top 40 Pop Singles, and 4 that received heavy airplay on FM album oriented rock stations. This album essentially replaced Styx's previous greatest hits album, '' Styx - Classics, Volume 15'', which was released by A&M in 1987. That previous album had excluded the hit song "Lady" because the song was originally recorded for and released through Wooden Nickel Records (which also had a distribution arrangement with RCA Records). Because A&M/PolyGram had been unable to secure distribution rights to the song, most of the classic lineup of Styx (Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw, Chuck Panozzo and James "J.Y." Young) reunited to re-record the track at Dennis' home studio, The White Room. They were joined by uncredited session drummer Todd Su ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Styx (band)
Styx () is an American rock band from Chicago that formed in 1972 and is best known for melding hard rock guitar balanced with acoustic guitar, synthesizers mixed with acoustic piano, upbeat tracks with power ballads, and incorporating elements of international musical theatre. The band established itself with a progressive rock sound in the 1970s, and began to incorporate pop rock and soft rock elements in the 1980s. Beginning with '' Styx'' in 1972, the band usually released an album every year throughout the 1970s. '' Styx II'' (1973) had the sleeper hit "Lady", a power ballad which reached No. 6 in the US, helping the album make the top 20. "Lady" was also a top 20 hit in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. ''Equinox'' (1975) and ''Crystal Ball'' (1976) reached the US top 70 with the first featuring "Lorelei", a No. 6 hit in Canada, while the latter marked the addition of Tommy Shaw to the band. Styx's commercial breakthrough in North America came with ''The Grand Illusion'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tommy Shaw
Tommy Roland Shaw (born September 11, 1953) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter best known for his tenure in the rock band Styx (band), Styx as co-lead vocalist. In between his stints with Styx, he has played with other groups including Damn Yankees (band), Damn Yankees and Shaw Blades as well as releasing several solo albums. Early life and music career Tommy Shaw was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and played with many local bands in his early years. He left Montgomery after attending Robert E. Lee High School (Montgomery, Alabama), Robert E. Lee High School to join The Smoke Ring (band), The Smoke Ring and then MSFunk, a Chicago-managed outfit that he played with for three years, which gave him a chance to be noticed by Styx (band), Styx during a two-week club gig in Chicago. After MSFunk disbanded, he went back to Montgomery to join a local group called Harvest with his childhood friends. Following Styx's move to A&M Records, A&M, guitarist and vocalist John Curulew ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
"Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" is the second single released from Styx's ''The Grand Illusion'' (1977) album. On the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 pop chart in the U.S., the single peaked at #29 in April 1978. It also hit no. 20 on the Canada RPM Top Singles chart the week of May 6, 1978. The song was written by guitarist Tommy Shaw. It was originally based on Shaw's initial perception of Styx keyboardist Dennis DeYoung — an "angry young man" who viewed the group's successes with a wary eye and grew angry or depressed with every setback. It was only in later years that Shaw began to see himself in the lyrics, and the song took on a more personal meaning to him. The composition features a number of time signature changes. The intro and outro are performed in time, led by Shaw's acoustic guitar tracks and Dennis DeYoung's synthesizer melodies. The vocal sections of the song are in . The instrumental features a synthesizer solo in time, before returning to for the final ch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cornerstone (Styx Album)
''Cornerstone'' is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Styx, released in 1979. Styx's third straight multi-platinum selling album, ''Cornerstone'' was Styx's first album to earn a Grammy nomination, which was for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group. Like the four previous Styx albums, the band produced the album themselves. Styx recorded the album at Pumpkin Studios in Oak Lawn, Illinois. ''Cornerstone'' is best known for including the group's only #1 Billboard Hot 100 Single, the power ballad "Babe". The album also includes the folk rock song "Boat on the River", which was a hit in Europe, though it failed to chart in the United States. ''Cornerstone'' became Styx's first US Top 5 album, peaking at #2 on the Billboard album chart. Background The album represented a musical transition for Styx, as the band emphasized its pop sound more than the progressive rock influences that dominated their first eight studio albums. Peaking at #2, the album was Styx's highe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Babe (Styx Song)
"Babe" is a song by the American rock band Styx. It was the lead single from the band's 1979 triple-platinum album ''Cornerstone''. The song was Styx's first, and only, US number-one single, spending two weeks at No. 1 in December 1979, serving as the penultimate number-one single of the 1970s. "Babe" also went to No. 9 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It additionally held the number-one spot for six weeks on the Canadian ''RPM'' national singles chart, charting in December 1979 and becoming the opening chart-topper of the 1980s. It was also the band's only UK Top 40 hit, peaking at No. 6. It also reached No. 1 in South Africa. Background and content The song was written by member Dennis DeYoung as a birthday present for his wife Suzanne. The theme of the song is "the separation of two people." DeYoung stated of it that "If they've figured out what's more important than a relationship between two people, I don't know what it is. The finished track was recorded as a demo with j ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Too Much Time On My Hands
"Too Much Time on My Hands" is a song by American rock band Styx (band), Styx, released as the second single from their tenth album ''Paradise Theatre (album), Paradise Theatre''. It was written and sung by Tommy Shaw, who also plays the lead guitar solo during the break in the song. It was Shaw's only top 10 single as a writer and vocalist with Styx. Background The inspiration for its lyrics came from Shaw's experiences in a bar in Niles, Michigan, U.S. The lyrics are about an unemployed man who has "given up hope for the afternoon soap opera, soaps / and a cold bottle of beer, brew. Reception Allmusic critic Eduardo Rivadavia regarded "Too Much Time on My Hands" as one of Shaw's best singles. ''Classic Rock'' critic Malcolm Dome rated it as Styx 6th greatest song, saying that it shows a "New wave music, new wave aptitude" linking Styx's 1970s material with 1980s music. Personnel * Tommy Shaw – lead vocals, lead guitar * Dennis DeYoung – keyboards, backing vocals * James ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Equinox (Styx Album)
''Equinox'' is the fifth studio album by American rock band Styx, released in December 1975. The lead single "Lorelei" became Styx's second US Top 40 hit. The album was the band's first release for A&M Records (with whom they had signed earlier in 1975, after the success of the 1973 single "Lady"). The album marked the final appearance of original Styx guitarist John Curulewski who left the band to spend time with his family.VH1's: Styx Behind The Music Tommy Shaw replaced him. Although ''Equinox'' stalled at number 58, it was certified Gold in 1977 shortly before the release of ''The Grand Illusion'' (1977). ''Record World'' called "Light Up" an "uptempo effort" with "clean sound and infectious hooks." Track listing All lead vocals by Dennis DeYoung, except where noted. Personnel Styx * Dennis DeYoung – vocals, keyboards * James "JY" Young – vocals, electric guitars * John Curulewski – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, synthesizers * Chuck Panozzo – bass g ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lorelei (Styx Song)
"Lorelei" is a song from rock band Styx. It is on their 1975 album ''Equinox'', and was released as a single in 1976. Background The song peaked at #27 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in April 1976 and was the band's second top 40 hit single. "Lorelei" Billboard Hot 100 Chart history Accessed May 27, 2012. Lorelei also hit number six on the Canadian charts during the weeks of May 8 and 15, 1976. Chicago radio superstation WLS, which gave the song much airplay, ranked "Lorelei" as the 77th most popular hit of 1976. It reached as high as number eight (for two weeks) on their surveys of April 17 and 24, 1976. ''Record World'' described the song as "a hard rocking number with overtones of The Who and Raspberries in its fiery rhythms. "Lorelei" was one of the songs that Styx re-recorded for their '' Regeneration: Volume 1'' EP in 2010 with James Young on lead vocals Personnel *Dennis DeYoung: lead vocals, keyboards * James Young: lead guitar, backing vocals *John Curulewski: r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paradise Theatre (album)
''Paradise Theatre'' is the tenth studio album by American rock band Styx, released on January 16, 1981, by A&M Records. It was the band's most commercially successful album, peaking at #1 for 3 weeks on the ''Billboard'' 200 in April and May 1981 (non-consecutively). It was also the band's fourth consecutive album to be certified triple-platinum by the RIAA. Four singles from the album charted on various charts, with two songs reaching the top 10 pop singles chart. The lead single " 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. Background A concept album, the album is a fictional account of Chicago's Paradise Theatre f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Best Of Times (song)
"The Best of Times" is a song by American rock band Styx, released as the first single from their tenth album '' Paradise Theatre''. It reached No. 1 in Canada on the ''RPM'' national singles chart, their second chart-topper in that country, and No. 3 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for four weeks in March and April 1981. In the UK, the song peaked at No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart. Despite the song's success, the song has not been performed live by the band since singer Dennis DeYoung was dismissed in 1999. DeYoung, however, still performs the song regularly on his solo tours. Lyrics and music The title "The Best of Times" is somewhat ironic since the lyrics often state that these are the worst of times. But the singer says that he can get consolation, since the chorus states "The best of times are when I’m alone with you.” Allmusic critic Eduardo Rivadavia described the song as having a "deliberate, marching rhythm." The basic melody line for "The Best of Times" is u ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Styx II
''Styx II'' is the second album by American band Styx, released in July 1973. Background After releasing their debut album, which consisted mostly of cover songs, the band intended to write some strong original new material; Dennis DeYoung was particularly in favor of this. DeYoung had written a song by himself on an electric piano in the band's garage, and had originally intended for it to be on the first album. He later decided to play it on an acoustic piano. However, Bill Traut wanted to save it for the second album. The result was " Lady", written about DeYoung's wife Suzanne. "Lady" failed to be a hit when it was first released in 1973; however, after the band released their fourth album '' Man of Miracles'' in 1974, they went to WLS, the most powerful Chicago radio station at the time, and convinced the program director (Jim Smith) to replay this song. It wound up being played frequently on the air in Chicago. In May 1975, the song broke out nationally, eventually peak ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Come Sail Away
"Come Sail Away" is a song by American progressive rock group Styx, written and sung by singer and songwriter Dennis DeYoung and featured on the band's seventh album ''The Grand Illusion'' (1977). Upon its release as the lead single from the album, "Come Sail Away" peaked at #8 in January 1978 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and helped ''The Grand Illusion'' achieve multi-platinum sales in 1978. It is one of the biggest hits of Styx's career. Background and writing Lyrically, the song uses sailing as a metaphor to achieve one's dreams. The lyrics touch on nostalgia of "childhood friends," escapism, and a religious thematic symbolized by "a gathering of angels" singing "a song of hope." The ending lyrics explain a transformation from a sailing ship into a starship, by narrating that "they climbed aboard their starship and headed for the skies". DeYoung revealed on ''In the Studio with Redbeard'' (which devoted an entire episode to the making of ''The Grand Illusion''), that he ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
