I've spoken quite a bit about Styx in these pages already, but I haven't covered off on my first and favorite. The Beatles 1967-1970 set the table for the collection to come, but it was Styx that was my personal contemporary fave band of the time. Once again, I gravitated to the progressive (it would be another few years before I even knew what that term meant), and it was 'Castle Walls' that drew me in. Along with 'Suite Madame Blue' this wonderful composition demonstrated that Styx could have been a successful progressive rock band had they tried. But why do that when they ultimately became megastars doing what they did best - marrying commercial FM radio hits with some sophistication. Styx are very much Chicago (the city) in their approach - brash, in your face, as subtle as a train wreck. But with some added street smarts. They played both sides of the fence and won most fans over. Today, Styx are one of those bands that creates handwringing from the modern critic. Aren't they just too cheesy? All that is endemic to late 70s and early 80s AOR? They don't get a pass like Steely Dan does. To be fair, I do think experiencing the album from the era does help in this case. I was just coming of age myself, so music like this is more part of my DNA than an objective viewpoint some 45 years later. While obscurities such as Alpha Centauri continue to roll in, and I (and others) heap much praise, they really aren't so much different from a musical approach. But superstardom has a way of bringing out the naysayers. And I too can be just that person when groups like REO Speedwagon and Journey find themselves on my turntable. Yuck - how could have anyone liked that I ask? While I personally think Styx is a cut above, not all who hear them agree.
So what of the music itself? I love the opening 'The Grand Illusion' which I think is the perfect blend of who Styx really were at this point: AOR, Hard Rock, Progressive Rock. In that order. Tommy Shaw really comes into his own with 'Fooling Yourself' and 'Man in the Wilderness', the latter featuring a killer guitar break. Shaw adds a touch of folksiness to most of his tunes, another lever for the band to pull on. Other than 'Castle Walls' my other favorite was (and is) 'Miss America'. This tune is quite possibly James Young's finest hard rock composition. While I gravitated towards prog at an early age, I also had some pent up anger for a lot of reasons, and 'Miss America' helped me through some early aggression. As strange as this may sound, it was Styx that introduced me to the hard rock, and ultimately, heavy metal genres. Both still favorite styles of mine today, though the anger element is long gone from me. I appreciate the energy and tone they both bring.
That leaves the throwaway 'Superstars', the only track on the album I have no memory of despite hearing it hundreds of times. And then comes their blockbuster 'Come Sail Away'. It is an absolutely beautiful track. Had it been only three minutes - perfect timing for the radio - then I would have loved it. But that annoying chorus which never stops drives me batty. Why they felt it so necessary to carry that on for so long is a great mystery to me.
Ownership: LP: 1977 A&M. Single sleeve. Also purchased (probably a month later when I cobbled enough money) at Sears Roebuck in Dallas (same location on Webbs Chapel Extension). And it was early enough to have the poster. Yaay. When I build my King Tut tomb, I'll get this in there lol.
1977 (first listen); 7//05; 11/6/23 (review / new entry)
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