"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 The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. Despite the song's success, the song has not been performed live by the band since singer

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 ...

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 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 Eduardo Rivadavia described the song as having a "deliberate, marching rhythm." The basic melody line for "The Best of Times" is used in two other places on the album: As a bold greeting to the listener in "A.D. 1928", and a softer, more subdued version for the farewell track, "A.D. 1958". DeYoung wrote "The Best of Times" to be the centerpiece of the ''Paradise Theater'' album, whose theme was inspired by the

1980 United States presidential election The 1980 United States presidential election was the 49th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 4, 1980. Republican nominee Ronald Reagan defeated incumbent Democratic President Jimmy Carter in a landslide victory. ...

between

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

and

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he previously served as th ...

and the fear that Americans were feeling at the time. Snippets of the melody are heard at the beginning and end of the album. DeYoung said of writing the song: DeYoung said of

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 ...

guitar solo A guitar solo is a melodic passage, instrumental section, or entire piece of music, pre-written (or improvised) to be played on a classical guitar, electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. In 20th and 21st century traditional music and popular m ...

Reception

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of the three main music industry trade magazines in the United States, along with '' Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 under the name ''Music Vendor'', but in 1964 it was changed to ''Record Wo ...

'' said that the song illustrates DeYoung's growth as a singer and songwriter and that "A triumphant chorus hook proclamation is hitbound." Rivadavia called "The Best of Times" "one of the more improbable Top Ten hits of the decade," adding that "somehow it just works."

Personnel

- lead vocals, keyboards *

- lead guitar, vocoder, backing vocals * James Young - rhythm guitar, 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 his ...

- drums

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Best of Times, The Styx (band) songs 1980 songs 1981 singles Songs written by Dennis DeYoung A&M Records singles RPM Top Singles number-one singles Rock ballads