"Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" is a song by American rock band
Styx, released as the first single from their eighth studio album, ''
Pieces of Eight
The Spanish dollar, also known as the piece of eight ( es, Real de a ocho, , , or ), is a silver coin of approximately diameter worth eight Spanish reales. It was minted in the Spanish Empire following a monetary reform in 1497 with content ...
'' (1978). Released in 1978, the single came in two 7" vinyl formats: one with the b-side "Superstars" (a track from ''
The Grand Illusion
''The Grand Illusion'' is the seventh studio album by American rock band Styx. Recorded at Paragon Recording Studios in Chicago, the album was released on July 7, 1977, by A&M Records. (Intentionally choosing the combination 7th on 7-7-77 f ...
'') and a second single with the instrumental album track "Aku-Aku" as the b-side. Some printings of the single were also issued in a translucent blue vinyl, which are now highly sought after collectors items.
Lyrics and music
Tommy Shaw recalled that a friend of his was laid off from the railroad. "He was having to go stand in line at the unemployment office. It just drove him nuts, because he’s like, ‘I wanna work! I don’t wanna be standing around here, asking for a handout…’ It really bugged him, and that was the inspiration for that song.” As read in a ''Circus'' magazine (or the like) of the time, the music was composed by Shaw after hearing the sound of his motor boat engine when it failed to start.
[ He said it sounded like a good ]riff
A riff is a repeated chord progression or refrain in music (also known as an ostinato figure in classical music); it is a pattern, or melody, often played by the rhythm section instruments or solo instrument, that forms the basis or accompani ...
to a song.
The song is in D natural minor
In music theory, the minor scale is three scale patterns – the natural minor scale (or Aeolian mode), the harmonic minor scale, and the melodic minor scale (ascending or descending) – rather than just two as with the major scale, which also ...
, with moments of D harmonic minor
In music theory, the minor scale is three scale patterns – the natural minor scale (or Aeolian mode), the harmonic minor scale, and the melodic minor scale (ascending or descending) – rather than just two as with the major scale, which also ...
due to the use of the V chord, A major.
Reception
According to ''Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'', it has "riveting high energy guitar licks and a powerful lead vocal." ''Cash Box
''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...
'' said that "rhythm guitar
In music performances, rhythm guitar is a technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., drum kit, bass guitar ...
work provides a gritty, rough and tumble bottom which highlights the bright lead guitar
Lead guitar (also known as solo guitar) is a musical part for a guitar in which the guitarist plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs and chords within a song structure. The lead is the featur ...
passages and the upper register vocals."Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
critic Mike DeGagne said that it best represents "Styx's feisty, straightforward brand of album rock," who called it "an invigorating keyboard and guitar rush -- hard and heavy, yet curved by Tommy Shaw's emphasized vocals."United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
in November 1978, and spent two weeks at No. 9 on the Canada RPM Top 100 Singles
''RPM'' ( and later ) was a Canadian music-industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. ''R ...
chart.
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Personnel
* 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 includi ...
– lead vocals, lead guitar
* James Young – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Dennis DeYoung
Dennis DeYoung (born February 18, 1947) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He was a founding member of the rock band Styx, and served as its primary lead vocalist and keyboardist from 1972 until 1999. DeYoung was th ...
– keyboards, backing vocals
* Chuck Panozzo
Charles Salvatore Panozzo (born September 20, 1948) is an American musician best known as a co-founder of the rock band Styx. He is currently a part-time bass player in the band, sharing bass duties with Ricky Phillips. Panozzo suffers from HIV ...
– bass
* John Panozzo
John Anthony Panozzo (September 20, 1948 – July 16, 1996) was an American drummer best known for his work with rock band Styx.
Early life and career
Panozzo grew up in the Roseland neighborhood, the south side of Chicago, Illinois, with hi ...
– drums
Music video
A promo video for this song was filmed by director Bruce Gowers
Bruce Gowers is a British television director and producer, best known for his work on large-scale live music and event productions.
Gowers started his career in his native United Kingdom, where his music video for Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" b ...
of the band performing on a soundstage. Videos were also shot for the ''Pieces of Eight'' songs "Sing for the Day
"Sing for the Day'" is the second single that Styx released from their album ''Pieces of Eight''. It reached #41 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in February 1979. It was later the B-side of their next single “Renegade”. Tommy ...
" and "I'm OK".
In popular culture
The song was used in the Season 8 episode of '' The Middle'' titled "Trip and Fall". A re-recorded version of the song has been released as downloadable content for the ''Rock Band
A rock band or pop band is a small musical ensemble that performs rock music, pop music, or a related genre. A four-piece band is the most common configuration in rock and pop music. In the early years, the configuration was typically two guita ...
'' video game.
Sources
External links
*
{{authority control
Styx (band) songs
1978 singles
Music videos directed by Bruce Gowers
Songs written by Tommy Shaw
A&M Records singles
Songs about labor
1978 songs