The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings is a 2-Disc set released by

Styx In Greek mythology, Styx (; grc, Στύξ ) is a river that forms the boundary between Earth (Gaia) and the Underworld. The rivers Acheron, Cocytus, Lethe, Phlegethon, and Styx all converge at the centre of the underworld on a great marsh, whic ...

in 2005. The compilation contains remastered versions of Styx's first four albums, ''

'', ''

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 wa ...

'', ''

The Serpent Is Rising ''The Serpent Is Rising'' is the third album by American band Styx, released in October 1973, a mere three months after their previous album '' Styx II'' in July 1973. The album was reissued in 1980 with new artwork and a new title, ''Serpent' ...

'', and ''

Man of Miracles ''Man of Miracles'' is the fourth album by Styx, released on November 8, 1974. This would be the band's last original album on the independent Chicago-based label Wooden Nickel Records before moving to the major label A&M. Background The ...

'', which were released by

Wooden Nickel Records Wooden Nickel Records was an American independent record label started in 1971 by Bill Traut, Jim Golden and Jerry Weintraub as a successor to Dunwich Records. Most of Wooden Nickel's releases were by acts based in the Chicago area, including th ...

. It also includes "Unfinished Song", which was previously released as the B-side to the single "

Best Thing "Best Thing" is the first single released by the band Styx from their self-titled debut album, '' Styx'' (1972). It charted at #82 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. '' Cash Box'' said that "high vocal harmonies and tight, rocky organ and lead guit ...

" and on the 1980 RCA reissue of ''Man of Miracles'' (which was entitled ''Miracles''). The four albums contained in this compilation (plus Styx's fifth album, ''

Equinox A solar equinox is a moment in time when the Sun crosses the Earth's equator, which is to say, appears directly above the equator, rather than north or south of the equator. On the day of the equinox, the Sun appears to rise "due east" and se ...

'') were recorded with original singer/songwriter/guitarist

John Curulewski John Curulewski (October 3, 1950 – February 13, 1988) was an American musician who was one of the original members of Styx. Career In 1969 Curulewski joined the Chicago-based band TW4, featuring college friends Dennis DeYoung, Chuck Panozz ...

and feature a harder, eclectic, and more progressive sound when compared to subsequent albums that included Curulewski's replacement, singer/songwriter/guitarist

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 ...

Track listing

Disc one

#"Movement for the Common Man" – 13:11 #*"Children of the Land" ( James Young) #*"Street Collage" (John Ryan) #*"

Fanfare for the Common Man ''Fanfare for the Common Man'' is a musical work by the American composer Aaron Copland. It was written in 1942 for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under conductor Eugene Goossens and was inspired in part by a speech made earlier that year b ...

" (

Aaron Copland Aaron Copland (, ; November 14, 1900December 2, 1990) was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later a conductor of his own and other American music. Copland was referred to by his peers and critics as "the Dean of American Com ...

) #*"Mother Nature's Matinee" (J. Young,

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 ...

) #"Right Away" (Paul Frank) – 3:40 #"What Has Come Between Us" (Mark Gaddis) – 4:53 #"

" (D. DeYoung, J. Young) – 3:13 #"Quick Is the Beat of My Heart" (Lewis Mark) – 3:49 #"After You Leave Me" (

George S. Clinton George Stanley Clinton, Jr. (born June 17, 1947) is an American composer, songwriter, arranger, and session musician. Biography Clinton was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His musical career began in Nashville while earning degrees in music and ...

) – 4:00 #" You Need Love" (D. DeYoung) – 3:47 #"

Lady The word ''lady'' is a term for a girl or woman, with various connotations. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the equivalent of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men. Inform ...

" (D. DeYoung) – 2:58 #"A Day" (

) – 8:24 #"You Better Ask" (J. Curulewski) – 3:55 #"Little Fugue In 'G'" (

Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...

) – 1:19 #"Father O.S. A." (D. DeYoung) – 7:10 #"Earl of Roseland" (D. DeYoung) – 4:41 #"I'm Gonna Make You Feel It" (D. DeYoung) – 2:23 #"Unfinished Song" (D. DeYoung) – 2:59

Disc two

#"Witch Wolf" (J. Young) – 3:57 #"The Grove of Eglantine" (D. DeYoung) – 5:00 #"Young Man" (J. Young, Rick Young) – 4:45 #"As Bad As This" (including hidden track "Plexiglas Toilet") – 6:10 #"Winner Take All" – 3:10
(The track listing on the back of this CD set erroneously lists this song as "Winner Takes All") #"22 Years" – 3:39 #"Jonas Psalter" – 4:41 #"The Serpent Is Rising" – 4:55 #"Krakatoa" – 1:36 #"Hallelujah Chorus" – 2:14 #"Rock & Roll Feeling" – 3:02 #"Havin' a Ball" – 3:53 #"Golden Lark" – 3:23 #"A Song for Suzanne" – 5:15 #"A Man Like Me" – 2:57 #" Lies" (Beau Charles/Buddy Randell) – 2:41 #"Evil Eyes" – 4:02 #"Southern Woman" – 3:10 #"Christopher, Mr. Christopher" – 4:02 #"Man of Miracles" – 4:55

Personnel

keyboards Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...

, vocals * James Young - guitar, vocals *

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

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 Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

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 A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings, The 2005 compilation albums Styx (band) compilation albums