I took guitar lessons from John Curulewski back in Chicago1979 Junior year of High School. He helped me pick out my first real guitar, Gibson Les Paul Custom, cherry sunburst. Still have it to this day. #1. Equinox for me. Check out the song A Day. All John Curulewski, still brings a tear to my eye to this day when I put it on.
15. Cyclorama (meh) 14. Edge of the Century (meh) 13. Kilroy Was Here (meh that had potential and makes you smile a little) 12. The Mission (cool, but kind of relied on Tommy Shaw way too much) 11. Brave New World (Interesting album with some hidden gems) 10. Cornerstone (Far from their best, but has a couple of timeless classics) 9. Styx (Great debut, could do better with less cover songs) 8. Paradise Theatre (holds up well, you can revisit this album quite often) 7. Styx II (Great album front to back, just can't compete with their absolute best because their top songs are really on other albums) 6. Pieces of Eight (side two is magnificent, although I think side one is kind of bland) 5. Equinox (I'd say has a bit of the same problem, except that Lorelei and Suite Madame Blue are two of their best songs and this might be straight-out one of the best albums of 1975) 4. The Serpent is Rising (Surprising pick for top five, but I think this album kills... Grove of Eglantine, Witch Wolf and Jonas Psalter are extremely underrated songs in their catalogue, and I'm bummed out that there's apparently no live recording or footage of the title track, I think it's one of JY's best solos) 3. Crystal Ball (I can almost agree with anyone who considers this their best album; one of the more proggy ones but also really fluid and easy to listen to, it opens and ends with a bang) 2. Man of Miracles (Srangely enough, if there's one Styx album that screams consistency, where I don't dislike ANY songs AT ALL it's this one; also love the Uriah Heep vibe on here) 1. The Grand Illusion (Man in the Wilderness, Miss America and the title tack are the real tie-breakers for me, when a single album has three of your maybe top 10 favorites from the band it's hard to argue... Come Sail Away and Castle Walls are also greatest hits material, so...)
Hey, GL.... Good summary here of the Styx "oeuvre" (fancy word for catalog!)... I just spun "Crystal Ball" again and my review reads like this: WOW!.... You're right, it could just be the greatest thing they ever did.... What drive, what energy, what killer tunes!.... It just flows on by, and then it's over, and I'm floored.... But alas, in the end, there's simply nothing that can knock Grand Illusion from the top o' the mountain.. Take Care, Ghostrider Rick
Great stuff... you know what- three years later Cornerstone has grown on me immensely, there's a lot of good Tommy Shaw stuff there and I may have taken a couple of tracks for granted... Did a Styx run about a month ago and it might be one of the easiest discographies of its size to take. Still hoping current Styx might play some gems from the earlier albums
Queen of Spades - One of those moment in time songs. My soccer teammate had his old Impala convertible top down. We were flying down a local two lane road on a beautiful fall afternoon for soccer practice. He blasted Queen of Spades, and I was hooked.
@@Protometal66Sweetheart you totally have to, if you love old school Styx, The Mission is the album for you, in fact in some ways it is on par with The Grand Illusion, also I like your last name, you have the same last name as on of my favorite guitarists, GLENN TIPTON.
Thanks for going through this Pete! I was not familiar with Styx outside of the radio hits and went back to listen to the catalog. Really good stuff here
One of my fave bands of all time. Love all their records, but Pieces of Eight is the one I play start to finish the most...followed by Grand Illusion...Then, and don't laugh, Equinox!
My first ever concert was Styx! November 1977 Long Beach Arena with Firefall opening.About 10 rows back center. Grand Illusion tour, was my introduction to Styx. Very partial to all the earlier work, pre Pieces of Eight. Great work Pete!!
I'd rank Paradise Theater more favorably. But I generally agree with your overall rankings for many bands. Thanks for your great videos. By the way, I read that Styx considers The Serpent is Rising as their worst album, but I love it!
To go with your review, when I heard "Gone, Gone, Gone" off "The Mission" I didn't realize, yet, that there was a new album, and was straining the brain to remember which of the Wooden Nickle albums it was on. The guitars and- most importantly- those early Styx harmonies had me convinced I missed one (even though I own all of the Styx catalogue). Great stuff
YES!!! The Mission is unbelievably good!! No, great!!! Listening to it for the first time, it immediately grabs you & draws you in for the whole ride from beginning to end and you feel like it's a lost recording from snackdab between The Grand Illusion & Pieces Of Eight!!!
GREAT VIDEO PETE LOVE THIS RANKING THE STUDIO ALBUMS BY ALL THESE BANDS CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR RUSH RANKINGS I HOPE YOU DO AN AEROSMITH AND TED NUGENT ONE AS WELL LOVE YOUR CHANNEL TAKE CARE PETE
Thanks to your list I gave the Mission a good listen. Bought it when it came out but never gave it time to sink in. What an album! Nice to see the post Kilroy stuff get a mention as well as the Wooden Nickel releases. Most lists only focus on the A & M releases. I am a Pieces of Eight guy, though, with Queen of Spades being my favorite Styx song.
I knew this day was coming and I knew it would be so hard as Styx is my favorite band. But I will do my best: 1. The grand illusion 2. Pieces of eight 3. Paradise theatre 4. Crystal ball 5. Equinox 6. Cornerstone 7. Kilroy was here 8. The mission 9. Serpent is rising 10. Styx 2 11 man of miracles 12. Styx 1 13. Cyclorama 14. Brave new world 15. Edge of the century.
Hi, Pete. Great to know that the only three albums I own from the band are 3 of your favorite ones. "The Grand Illusion" "Cornerstone" "Paradise Theater" I've been about to buy "Killroy Was Here" but I think I 'm gonna follow your advice and get "Pieces of Eight" and "Equinox" first. By the way, "Pieces of Eight", the name of the album has a connection with the "Real de a 8" (a spanish coin) which was the coin used in the States before the dollar. I' m really curious about this. The album, which I'm now listening to in Spotify, is glorious. Thanks for your show. It really helps in these difficult times. Greetings from Spain.
Great show Pete - Styx was my first favorite band. My top 5 would be: Pieces Of Eight Grand Illusion Paradise Theatre Serpent is Rising Man Of Miracles But, I love all of their 70's and 80's output so much!
Crystal Ball and Equinox are effing awesome albums and put together with Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight, what a quartet. Those four albums can be put up against any bands best.
I love your story about your dad taking you to see Styx on the Paradise Theater tour. My dad did the same thing for me and a couple of my friends but for the Cornerstone tour. We had a blast! Great memories.
Great list!!! Same here with the debate on Illusion and Pieces! I’d probably go with Pieces on top since it was my first Styx lp... I’ll have to pick up Mission... based on how you raved about it, I know I’m gonna dig it!
Hey Pete, you mentioned how *Crystal Ball* came in with an important new member (of course TS). Going with that, you should do a top 10 of very important new members to any band. I'd be interested to see whose new members you think were instrumental in really changing those bands for the better...
Thanks Pete, I have only heard a couple of songs from this band so I will check out your first 4 album picks first and then move with the rest, I have check bands and albums that I haven't heard thanks to your videos and suggestions, so I will do with this band Most recently I heard the Toto catalog and yes indeed their debut album in my opinion is also their best
Killer Vocal Harmonies. Not many on their level - Vocally. Rarely do you see a Cover Band cop-Styx . . . due to the Vocals. Pete really enjoying your channel.
I went to a party in Huntington Beach, CA, and Styx was cranking out on the reel to reel. I was really digging the tuneage but then sort of forgot about them. I was driving to Las Vegas, moving there, and stopped at a record store to get some new music for the road and when I pulled up to park 'Grand Illusion' came on the radio. I listened to the whole song then went in and asked the guy working if he knew who did it. He said it was the new Styx album. I bought it... cassette... and dug it so much I bought all their stuff when I got to Vegas. I saw them live twice, great shows but then I lost interest and never really got back into them. But hey, that's just my preferences
I saw Styx in 1977 on The Grand Illusion tour. Fantastic show. My top 5 in order are Equinox, Pieces Of Eight, Grand Illusion, Crystal Ball & Man Of Miracles.
My first concert was Styx on their Cornerstone tour in '79. I was 13 and my mom was cool enough to take me and a friend. I've been a fan since '77 when The Grand Illusion was released. BTW , TGI is my "all-time" favorite album.
Same top 3. Equinox has the edge, has to be my No.1. Some albums have that little bit of perfection to them. Lookin' forward to the Rush ranking tomorrow. A Farewell To KIngs is my go to top Rush album. More perfect than perfect.
I got into Styx by accident, because I heard "The Best Of Times" on radio. Liked them ever since, but grew out of this song after a while. And I agree, The Grand Illusion is the best album for me too. By the way Pete, what is your opinion on British rockers Status Quo?
Same top 4,which are the only Styx albums I own,although I am somewhat familiar with everything up until Kilroy. Queen of Spades blew me away when Pieces of Eight came out. It was the B side of one of the singles from the album and I used to play it on the jukebox in my favorite pizza place.In the jukebox days I used to play mostly B sides and the owners used to have a look like they didn't know they had music like that on their jukebox.
GREAT review I really enjoyed it. You sure gave the Wooden Nickel more love than most do. Ill give you my rankings with top songs 15. Styx - What Has Come Between Us & 14. Styx ll - Lady & You Need Love 13. Brave New World- Roseland , Everything Is Cool, Brave New World & Heavy Water all very good 12. Man of Miracles- Golden Lark, Evil Eyes, A Song For Suzanne 11. The Serpent Is Rising- Serpent is Rising(JC meets Kurt Cobain) Young Man ( JY's Best Song) 10. Kilroy Was Here- Side 2 is VERY strong - Side 1 not good at all 09. Crystal Ball - Solid album - like the entire album- Crystal Ball, Put Me On, Ballerina best tracks on solid album 08. Edge of the Century - Outstanding Album- All In A Days Work, Show Me The Way, World Tonight, Love Is The Ritual, and the title track are all outstanding - Glens all over this- Really really good album that you didnt give much love to. 07. Cyclorama- These Are the Times, Killing The Thing That You Love, Kiss Your Ass Goodbye, Yes I Can, One With Everything, More Love For the Money, Do Things My Way all fantastic - Glen shines again 06. The Mission - Love the entire album - Locomotive is one of my all time favorite Styx songs 05. Paradise Theater - GREAT album not a huge fan of She Cares & Lonely People but the rest of the album is GREAT 04. Cornerstone - Borrowed Time, Love In The Midnight & Lights are tremendous. GREAT album ** My #'s 3&2 depend on the day you ask 03. Pieces of Eight - It has a PERFECT Side 2( Tails) & a near perfect Side 1(Heads) 02. The Grand Illusion - Its a PERFECT album 01. EQUINOX - GREATEST Side 2 in the history of Rock, Perfect Side 1 - My favorite All Time album ** Get a chance and you will need to give these albums some solid listens check out (in order) Images & Words, Octavarium & Metropolis ll Scenes From a Memory by Dream Theater. Dream Theater is my all time favorite band. Styx is #2 Thanks for the great review
Interesting rankings. I know pretty much every Styx song by heart (I consider Kilroy to be their last album). It's been a while since I listened to some of the albums all the way through. I agree with a most of your rankings, although Paradise being that low, kind of put me off. But I heard your reasoning, and some of the key songs you mentioned kind of make me re-think their discography. The first Styx album I ever heard was Paradise, and I loved it. Still do. But how does it hold up as a whole album, compared their whole discography? Very good question. Time to listen to everything, in order, starting from Styx I, and ending with Kilroy.
Nice ranking Pete. Grand Illusion is my fav by far and what really got me hooked on Styx. I hated Mr. Roboto (and still do) haven't listened much to newer Styx with Gowan but will give it a go. Thanks.
1.)Pieces Of Eight(because of the Hipgnosis cover art). Also dig the pipe organ on I'm Okay, and Sing For The Day as well. 2.)The Grand Illusion 3.)Equinox 4.)Crystal Ball 5.)The Mission 6.)The Wooden Nickel Collection. It's a 2 CD set that was released in 2003, and contains all four Wooden Nickel albums 7.)Cyclorama(cool Storm Thorogerson Cover art) 8.)Killroy Was Here. I actually dig the concept, the sci-fi vibe, and the synths. 9.)Cornerstone 10.)Paradise Theater-too much electric piano 11.)Edge Of The Century 12.)Brave New World, which I don't actually have(and have never heard).
No Styx II, seriously??? I think it rocks. Maybe not in the traditional Styx way of the big albums, but it a great listen, especially on original clean vinyl pressing. Lots going on this record.
Yep Grand Illusion the best one. Couple years ago I got the 180 g vinyl and it's just so nice to have a brand new beautiful record with that gorgeous cover.
Solid Ranking. Hard to rank some of those albums... choosing a favorite sometimes comes down to the one you are listening to at the moment. Love Queen of Spades as well.
Pretty much agree on the same top two....even though haven't heard all Styx stuff yet. "I'm Ok" and "Fooling Yourself(The Angry Youngman)" from each of those two albums are probably my two fav Styx songs, but songs from other albums like "Lorelei",Suite Madame Blue", "Lights", "Why Me", and "Music Time" are also ones I like a lot....🙂👍
Glad to see you rank the Styx albums. Agree with the top 3; GI, P of 8, & Equinox. I would rank paradise higher with cornerstone and serpent lower. A bombastic band that put out some cringy stuff, but at their best they were great. They should be in the R&R HoF.
Every now and then, there's a rare radio earworm that is every bit worth the hype (things like Ace of Spades by Motorhead, Highway Star by Deep Purple, or Working Man by Rush.). Just, be hanging with some friends, find the tone and sing out loud "Oh mama, I'm in fear for my life, from the long arm of the law", and immediately, almost involuntarily, someone will respond "Law man has put an end to my running, and I'm so far from my home" If you have more than 1 friend around- you will all finish the verse, before you realize what it is you're doing.
I can give you my top 5, haven't heard a few later ones though. My favorite is Equinox. Number 2 would be The Grand Illusion 3- Paradise Theater 4 - Crystal Ball 5 - Pieces of Eight
1 ) The Grand Illusion 2 ) Pieces Of Eight 3 ) Paradise Theatre 4 ) Equinox 5 ) Styx II ... Caught them on ' Paradise Theatre ' tour , the first act was all 'Paradise Theatre ' , the 2nd act was their discography of their ' hits ' ... No opening band , 2 1/2 - 3 hours of pure Styx ... btw Dennis De Young played a janitor in a movie theatre , to start the show ...
I saw the Grand Illusion tour. When the come sail away solo started Tommy Shaw was on a platform with the spotlight on him. I thought that was the coolest thing I had ever seen as a 15 year old boy. I got my first guitar immediately after that.
@@essenegnostic8711 damn, that's one of the few Styx concerts i missed. Wish I'd seen that one ! Saw them every following tour, always spectacular musically and visually.
I'll always love Styx dearly-- they were the band that really got me into classic rock in the first place when I was around 11 or so. My dad gave me the StyxWorld Live album that had just come out in 2001, and to this day it remains my idea of the perfect rock show. Naturally, I had to figure out my own ranking: 15. Kilroy Was Here 14. Edge of the Century 13. Serpent Is Rising 12. Man of Miracles 11. Styx 10. Cornerstone 9. Paradise Theatre 8. The Mission 7. Brave New World 6. Grand Illusion 5. Pieces of Eight 4. Equinox 3. Styx II 2. Crystal Ball 1. Cyclorama (yep, you read that right)
Interesting #1 choice. I have that CD as my #10 choice. I too have the live CD you mentioned. I bought it at their concert that year. When they played with "Billy Squire, and Bad Company. The best concert I've ever been to, for Styx, or anyone else. Although Triumph comes in at a close second, and Stevie Nicks third...
How do you have the time to listen to all of these bands? I used to have a large album collection in the 80s and 90s and still found myself listening to the same 8 or 9 bands most of the time.
It's kinda cool that both Iron Maiden and Styx have an album and a title track called Brave New World released around the same time. (Styx's one was a year earlier) Both songs have references to the book of the same title, although Maiden's one follows the book more closely. Both are great tracks imho.
Wouldn’t really change anything. I have fallen away from their newer albums and promising to get into more of that. Finally saw them with REO in Portland, OR. Great show, not loud enough lol
I put "Serpent is Rising" on top, other than that my list is fairly similar to yours. The interesting thing about Styx it is fairly rankable as albums. Many of my favourite bands is just impossible to rank as I would flip-flop every other day. I think it's because I like prog first, rock second and pop-ballads pretty much last, and the balance between those parts in Styx albums makes them pretty easy to sort in order... I think... :)
First concert I ever went to was Styx back in 1976. I'll will always remember seeing DDY in a rocking chair singing Lady. To me he is the greatest male vocalist of all time. Far as albums go, I flip flop between Grand Illusion and Equinox for #1 then Pieces of Eight.
I took guitar lessons from John Curulewski back in Chicago1979 Junior year of High School. He helped me pick out my first real guitar, Gibson Les Paul Custom, cherry sunburst. Still have it to this day. #1. Equinox for me. Check out the song A Day. All John Curulewski, still brings a tear to my eye to this day when I put it on.
yet, another band well deserved for Rock Hall of Fame
The Wooden Nickle stuff is terribly underrated...
15. Cyclorama (meh)
14. Edge of the Century (meh)
13. Kilroy Was Here (meh that had potential and makes you smile a little)
12. The Mission (cool, but kind of relied on Tommy Shaw way too much)
11. Brave New World (Interesting album with some hidden gems)
10. Cornerstone (Far from their best, but has a couple of timeless classics)
9. Styx (Great debut, could do better with less cover songs)
8. Paradise Theatre (holds up well, you can revisit this album quite often)
7. Styx II (Great album front to back, just can't compete with their absolute best because their top songs are really on other albums)
6. Pieces of Eight (side two is magnificent, although I think side one is kind of bland)
5. Equinox (I'd say has a bit of the same problem, except that Lorelei and Suite Madame Blue are two of their best songs and this might be straight-out one of the best albums of 1975)
4. The Serpent is Rising (Surprising pick for top five, but I think this album kills... Grove of Eglantine, Witch Wolf and Jonas Psalter are extremely underrated songs in their catalogue, and I'm bummed out that there's apparently no live recording or footage of the title track, I think it's one of JY's best solos)
3. Crystal Ball (I can almost agree with anyone who considers this their best album; one of the more proggy ones but also really fluid and easy to listen to, it opens and ends with a bang)
2. Man of Miracles (Srangely enough, if there's one Styx album that screams consistency, where I don't dislike ANY songs AT ALL it's this one; also love the Uriah Heep vibe on here)
1. The Grand Illusion (Man in the Wilderness, Miss America and the title tack are the real tie-breakers for me, when a single album has three of your maybe top 10 favorites from the band it's hard to argue... Come Sail Away and Castle Walls are also greatest hits material, so...)
Good list. I love their Wooden Nickel stuff too.
Hey, GL.... Good summary here of the Styx "oeuvre" (fancy word for catalog!)... I just spun "Crystal Ball" again and my review reads like this: WOW!.... You're right, it could just be the greatest thing they ever did.... What drive, what energy, what killer tunes!.... It just flows on by, and then it's over, and I'm floored.... But alas, in the end, there's simply nothing that can knock Grand Illusion from the top o' the mountain.. Take Care, Ghostrider Rick
I have to agree with most of your pics are right on..... The early stuff is very underrated!!
Great stuff... you know what- three years later Cornerstone has grown on me immensely, there's a lot of good Tommy Shaw stuff there and I may have taken a couple of tracks for granted... Did a Styx run about a month ago and it might be one of the easiest discographies of its size to take. Still hoping current Styx might play some gems from the earlier albums
I agree that Grand Illusion is a better album, but I always go for Equinox
Thank you for recognizing Equinox.
Equinox is the best ! I love Man of Miracles also !
For me it’s
1.Grand Illusion
2. Equinox
3. Man of Miracles
These seem to be the only albums from Styx I listen to these days! 👍
Equinox is my all time favorite album. Side 2 is the greatest side of music in rock & roll history IMO
Equinox then grand illusion
my list
1. Grand Illusion
2. Pieces of Eight
3. Paradise Theatre
4. Cornerstone
5. Equinox
Agreed! It's like you read my mind.
Thanks for putting this together and the top Styx songs. Styx is a band I never paid much attention to but I’m listening now.
Queen of Spades - One of those moment in time songs.
My soccer teammate had his old Impala convertible top down. We were flying down a local two lane road on a beautiful fall afternoon for soccer practice. He blasted Queen of Spades, and I was hooked.
Hahahahahahahahahaaaa!!! you... WIN
Best song Styx ever did
Not in the Rock Hall of Fame but at least Biggie is...what a joke.
I like rap and even I think he shouldn't be in there yet.
Jason Thayer yet? How about never should be in
Don't forget Madonna, Run DMC & Public Enemy. 🙄
the Hall of Fame is a joke
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a joke!
Queen of Spades -- first song I ever heard from Styx. Opened me up to rock music. One of the great songs of the 70s.
Man In The Wilderness and Castle Walls make The Grand Illusion my #1 Styx album.
Yeah and Radio Silence from The Mission really has a melody that sounds reminiscient of the first track you named, which is a KILLER TRACK.
@@dinorocker8647 I'll have to check it out, thanks. I have heard of the Mission but I've never heard anything by then.
@@Protometal66Sweetheart you totally have to, if you love old school Styx, The Mission is the album for you, in fact in some ways it is on par with The Grand Illusion, also I like your last name, you have the same last name as on of my favorite guitarists, GLENN TIPTON.
Thanks for going through this Pete! I was not familiar with Styx outside of the radio hits and went back to listen to the catalog. Really good stuff here
I swear, I'm the ONLY person on Earth who love's Kilroy Was Here!
Not the only one! Hahaha but yeah it gets undeserved hate. Listen to it!!!!
I love Kilroy..
@@erosbifebeef5115 no it deserves to be hated lol
One of my fave bands of all time. Love all their records, but Pieces of Eight is the one I play start to finish the most...followed by Grand Illusion...Then, and don't laugh, Equinox!
No one should laugh at Equinox, It's an awesome album
Jason Lee Equinox is really strong. Nothing to laugh at there!
I don’t hear any laughter, only a great, rocking album!
Why would someone laugh at Equinox?
Equinox is indeed an awesome album. Sweet Madame Blue kicks butt! A great finale!
Yep, Queen of spades is a kick ass Styx tune ! Also Crystal Ball is one of my all time favs By Styx 🙂
Nobody did Dramatic Hard Rock like DDY but Queen of Spades was really his last ever in that style. At least he went out with a bang!
@@atlasking6110 And he looked good in his wife's shirts too :P
My first ever concert was Styx! November 1977 Long Beach Arena with Firefall opening.About 10 rows back center. Grand Illusion tour, was my introduction to Styx. Very partial to all the earlier work, pre Pieces of Eight. Great work Pete!!
I love the intro of Borrowed Time
People are gonna say I'm crazy, but I think their 2017 mission album is their best. I just discovered it and I am in love with it
"The Mission" became my favorite Styx Lp as well. I think it surprised a lot of fans by how good it was...
It's an awesome album!
No it's that dam good
You hit my exact ranking right on the nail! Very good dissection of each album and ranking.
Solid ranking, but I’d have Paradise Theater much higher. Cool concept with some very memorable tracks.
I'd rank Paradise Theater more favorably. But I generally agree with your overall rankings for many bands. Thanks for your great videos. By the way, I read that Styx considers The Serpent is Rising as their worst album, but I love it!
Definitely a favorite band of mine. To see them live is amazing.
Thanks, Pete. I’ve wanted to explore this band, but wasn’t sure where to start.
Great stuff. Love Styx.my #1 favorite song snowblind . In the middle when the singing stops and the guitar takes over just awesome 😎
To go with your review, when I heard "Gone, Gone, Gone" off "The Mission" I didn't realize, yet, that there was a new album, and was straining the brain to remember which of the Wooden Nickle albums it was on. The guitars and- most importantly- those early Styx harmonies had me convinced I missed one (even though I own all of the Styx catalogue).
Great stuff
YES!!! The Mission is unbelievably good!! No, great!!! Listening to it for the first time, it immediately grabs you & draws you in for the whole ride from beginning to end and you feel like it's a lost recording from snackdab between The Grand Illusion & Pieces Of Eight!!!
I agree mission to mars just as good as grand illusion pieces of eight some of us are just brave enough to admit lol btw new journey album sucks
GREAT VIDEO PETE LOVE THIS RANKING THE STUDIO ALBUMS BY ALL THESE BANDS CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR RUSH RANKINGS I HOPE YOU DO AN AEROSMITH AND TED NUGENT ONE AS WELL LOVE YOUR CHANNEL TAKE CARE PETE
Thank you for your ranking Styx review! Styx Grand Illusion is my favorite too! 🎤🎸🎵🥁
Thanks to your list I gave the Mission a good listen. Bought it when it came out but never gave it time to sink in. What an album! Nice to see the post Kilroy stuff get a mention as well as the Wooden Nickel releases. Most lists only focus on the A & M releases. I am a Pieces of Eight guy, though, with Queen of Spades being my favorite Styx song.
Bugger, now I have come sail away in my head and have to sing it from the start. Paradise always be my favourite album.
I knew this day was coming and I knew it would be so hard as Styx is my favorite band. But I will do my best:
1. The grand illusion
2. Pieces of eight
3. Paradise theatre
4. Crystal ball
5. Equinox
6. Cornerstone
7. Kilroy was here
8. The mission
9. Serpent is rising
10. Styx 2
11 man of miracles
12. Styx 1
13. Cyclorama
14. Brave new world
15. Edge of the century.
masque1313 totally agree with you
Top 5 is correct in my book...
Maybe move up Crystal Ball to No 3. ..otherwise agree with your list. ....
BEVEN BOY I almost did. I love that album!!!
Almost everyone would agreed with your top 5. Only the order might change.
Hi, Pete. Great to know that the only three albums I own from the band are 3 of your favorite ones.
"The Grand Illusion"
"Cornerstone"
"Paradise Theater"
I've been about to buy "Killroy Was Here" but I think I 'm gonna follow your advice and get "Pieces of Eight" and "Equinox" first. By the way, "Pieces of Eight", the name of the album has a connection with the "Real de a 8" (a spanish coin) which was the coin used in the States before the dollar. I' m really curious about this. The album, which I'm now listening to in Spotify, is glorious. Thanks for your show. It really helps in these difficult times.
Greetings from Spain.
Great show Pete - Styx was my first favorite band. My top 5 would be:
Pieces Of Eight
Grand Illusion
Paradise Theatre
Serpent is Rising
Man Of Miracles
But, I love all of their 70's and 80's output so much!
Crystal Ball and Equinox are effing awesome albums and put together with Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight, what a quartet. Those four albums can be put up against any bands best.
Totally agree
Paradise Theater tour was my first concert ever. Loved it.
I love your story about your dad taking you to see Styx on the Paradise Theater tour. My dad did the same thing for me and a couple of my friends but for the Cornerstone tour. We had a blast! Great memories.
If you paid attention, that's not what happened.
Great list!!! Same here with the debate on Illusion and Pieces! I’d probably go with Pieces on top since it was my first Styx lp... I’ll have to pick up Mission... based on how you raved about it, I know I’m gonna dig it!
Styx did a gig at my high school in 1974. Loved them.
The grand illusion came out when I was a junior in college. My favorite.
I love the Wooden Nickel recordings. Before they hit the big time. Interesting listening. Thanks for your thoughts.
great list the top two I would flip around . I had forgotten how many good albums Styx had made...
Hey Pete, you mentioned how *Crystal Ball* came in with an important new member (of course TS).
Going with that, you should do a top 10 of very important new members to any band. I'd be interested to see whose new members you think were instrumental in really changing those bands for the better...
great vid Pete, just got back into a Styx so might think bout buying the albums I don't own
Thanks Pete, I have only heard a couple of songs from this band so I will check out your first 4 album picks first and then move with the rest, I have check bands and albums that I haven't heard thanks to your videos and suggestions, so I will do with this band
Most recently I heard the Toto catalog and yes indeed their debut album in my opinion is also their best
I would rate "Paradise Theater " much much higher, one of the 5 best of Styx
Killer Vocal Harmonies. Not many on their level - Vocally. Rarely do you see a Cover Band cop-Styx . . . due to the Vocals. Pete really enjoying your channel.
I just started watching this one, but that is a dope f'n shirt! Loves me some Styx!
I went to a party in Huntington Beach, CA, and Styx was cranking out on the reel to reel. I was really digging the tuneage but then sort of forgot about them. I was driving to Las Vegas, moving there, and stopped at a record store to get some new music for the road and when I pulled up to park 'Grand Illusion' came on the radio. I listened to the whole song then went in and asked the guy working if he knew who did it. He said it was the new Styx album. I bought it... cassette... and dug it so much I bought all their stuff when I got to Vegas.
I saw them live twice, great shows but then I lost interest and never really got back into them. But hey, that's just my preferences
I was a teenager in the late 90's, and Styx was my favorite band, a testament to how timeless and fantastic they are!
Grand Illusion is my number one too, but Paradise Theater must be higher than 11.
Interesting take; thanks for sharing. One of the Styx songs that I'm surprised I love so, so much is... "Boat on the River." It just sounds so great.
Awesome. Could you rank the YES albums? It would take a while but I’m sure a few people would enjoy
"Man in the Wilderness" means so much more to me at 53 than 23. Cheers.
Styx is the band that got me into Hard Rock in the late 70s while I was in Elementary school. I heard Blue Collar Man, and I was changed forever!
I saw Styx in 1977 on The Grand Illusion tour. Fantastic show. My top 5 in order are Equinox, Pieces Of Eight, Grand Illusion, Crystal Ball & Man Of Miracles.
agreed on Queen of Spades. Amazing song!
My first concert was Styx on their Cornerstone tour in '79. I was 13 and my mom was cool enough to take me and a friend. I've been a fan since '77 when The Grand Illusion was released. BTW , TGI is my "all-time" favorite album.
Would love to see a video of your favorite concept albums/rock operas. Or I guess parts of albums, like 2112.
Such a fantastic band.very diverse and original.
Pete, totally on board with Illusion, Castle Walls is fantastic. I trade that with Crystal Ball, which got me into Styx. Great show!
Equinox rules my list. Only discovered Man of Miracles last year! Finding a long lost Styx album, what a treat. Styx II also on the podium.
Same top 3. Equinox has the edge, has to be my No.1.
Some albums have that little bit of perfection to them.
Lookin' forward to the Rush ranking tomorrow. A Farewell To KIngs is my go to top Rush album. More perfect than perfect.
I got into Styx by accident, because I heard "The Best Of Times" on radio. Liked them ever since, but grew out of this song after a while. And I agree, The Grand Illusion is the best album for me too.
By the way Pete, what is your opinion on British rockers Status Quo?
Only difference between our lists is I have Styx II above The Mission. Good stuff in general. Thanks for the video!
Same top 4,which are the only Styx albums I own,although I am somewhat familiar with everything up until Kilroy. Queen of Spades blew me away when Pieces of Eight came out. It was the B side of one of the singles from the album and I used to play it on the jukebox in my favorite pizza place.In the jukebox days I used to play mostly B sides and the owners used to have a look like they didn't know they had music like that on their jukebox.
GREAT review I really enjoyed it. You sure gave the Wooden Nickel more love than most do. Ill give you my rankings with top songs
15. Styx - What Has Come Between Us &
14. Styx ll - Lady & You Need Love
13. Brave New World- Roseland , Everything Is Cool, Brave New World & Heavy Water all very good
12. Man of Miracles- Golden Lark, Evil Eyes, A Song For Suzanne
11. The Serpent Is Rising- Serpent is Rising(JC meets Kurt Cobain) Young Man ( JY's Best Song)
10. Kilroy Was Here- Side 2 is VERY strong - Side 1 not good at all
09. Crystal Ball - Solid album - like the entire album- Crystal Ball, Put Me On, Ballerina best tracks on solid album
08. Edge of the Century - Outstanding Album- All In A Days Work, Show Me The Way, World Tonight, Love Is The Ritual, and the title track are all outstanding - Glens all over this- Really really good album that you didnt give much love to.
07. Cyclorama- These Are the Times, Killing The Thing That You Love, Kiss Your Ass Goodbye, Yes I Can, One With Everything, More Love For the Money, Do Things My Way all fantastic - Glen shines again
06. The Mission - Love the entire album - Locomotive is one of my all time favorite Styx songs
05. Paradise Theater - GREAT album not a huge fan of She Cares & Lonely People but the rest of the album is GREAT
04. Cornerstone - Borrowed Time, Love In The Midnight & Lights are tremendous. GREAT album
** My #'s 3&2 depend on the day you ask
03. Pieces of Eight - It has a PERFECT Side 2( Tails) & a near perfect Side 1(Heads)
02. The Grand Illusion - Its a PERFECT album
01. EQUINOX - GREATEST Side 2 in the history of Rock, Perfect Side 1 - My favorite All Time album
** Get a chance and you will need to give these albums some solid listens check out (in order) Images & Words, Octavarium & Metropolis ll Scenes From a Memory by Dream Theater. Dream Theater is my all time favorite band. Styx is #2
Thanks for the great review
Styx - PIECES OF EIGHT & GRAND ILLUSION are my favorite albums! The rest of the other albums were good too.
Interesting rankings. I know pretty much every Styx song by heart (I consider Kilroy to be their last album). It's been a while since I listened to some of the albums all the way through. I agree with a most of your rankings, although Paradise being that low, kind of put me off. But I heard your reasoning, and some of the key songs you mentioned kind of make me re-think their discography. The first Styx album I ever heard was Paradise, and I loved it. Still do. But how does it hold up as a whole album, compared their whole discography? Very good question. Time to listen to everything, in order, starting from Styx I, and ending with Kilroy.
Nice ranking Pete. Grand Illusion is my fav by far and what really got me hooked on Styx. I hated Mr. Roboto (and still do) haven't listened much to newer Styx with Gowan but will give it a go. Thanks.
Dig the Mission, great songs and production
Wow we were almost right on point Peter. Except my two top favorites are Equinox and Crystal Ball.
Would like to see/hear you ranking the Foreigner albums!
1.)Pieces Of Eight(because of the Hipgnosis cover art). Also dig the pipe organ on I'm Okay, and Sing For The Day as well.
2.)The Grand Illusion
3.)Equinox
4.)Crystal Ball
5.)The Mission
6.)The Wooden Nickel Collection. It's a 2 CD set that was released in 2003, and contains all four Wooden Nickel albums
7.)Cyclorama(cool Storm Thorogerson Cover art)
8.)Killroy Was Here. I actually dig the concept, the sci-fi vibe, and the synths.
9.)Cornerstone
10.)Paradise Theater-too much electric piano
11.)Edge Of The Century
12.)Brave New World, which I don't actually have(and have never heard).
No Styx II, seriously??? I think it rocks. Maybe not in the traditional Styx way of the big albums, but it a great listen, especially on original clean vinyl pressing. Lots going on this record.
Yep Grand Illusion the best one. Couple years ago I got the 180 g vinyl and it's just so nice to have a brand new beautiful record with that gorgeous cover.
Solid Ranking. Hard to rank some of those albums... choosing a favorite sometimes comes down to the one you are listening to at the moment. Love Queen of Spades as well.
i loved the show a couple years back when they played both Pieces of Eight & Grand Illusion in their entirety
100% agree. The Grand Illusion. It was the first cassette I bought, the first music I ever bought. Love singing Miss America at karaoke.
Pretty much agree on the same top two....even though haven't heard all Styx stuff yet. "I'm Ok" and "Fooling Yourself(The Angry Youngman)" from each of those two albums are probably my two fav Styx songs, but songs from other albums like "Lorelei",Suite Madame Blue", "Lights", "Why Me", and "Music Time" are also ones I like a lot....🙂👍
I liked how you chose a deep cut as your favorite all time Styx song (Queen of Spades).
🙏 for opening my eyes to THIN LIZZY, Mr Jones too..
I was at the concert at the Meadowlands that you missed out on tickets. It was a great show! Styx at the peak of their live performance powers.
Great story about Paradise Theater tour. We were lucky to get tickets. My dad took me to that concert. It was my very first concert.
Glad to see you rank the Styx albums. Agree with the top 3; GI, P of 8, & Equinox. I would rank paradise higher with cornerstone and serpent lower. A bombastic band that put out some cringy stuff, but at their best they were great. They should be in the R&R HoF.
Great shirt of my favorite Styx album.
Every now and then, there's a rare radio earworm that is every bit worth the hype (things like Ace of Spades by Motorhead, Highway Star by Deep Purple, or Working Man by Rush.). Just, be hanging with some friends, find the tone and sing out loud "Oh mama, I'm in fear for my life, from the long arm of the law", and immediately, almost involuntarily, someone will respond "Law man has put an end to my running, and I'm so far from my home" If you have more than 1 friend around- you will all finish the verse, before you realize what it is you're doing.
love crystall ball. brought to mind a lot of song i forgot about. the paradise was my freshman year of in high school!
I love Styx !
Hugs from Brazil 🎉
I can give you my top 5, haven't heard a few later ones though.
My favorite is Equinox.
Number 2 would be The Grand Illusion
3- Paradise Theater
4 - Crystal Ball
5 - Pieces of Eight
When I would go to the record store back in the 70's, I would always make sure to pick up Styx.....
1 ) The Grand Illusion 2 ) Pieces Of Eight 3 ) Paradise Theatre 4 ) Equinox 5 ) Styx II ... Caught them on ' Paradise Theatre ' tour , the first act was all 'Paradise Theatre ' , the 2nd act was their discography of their ' hits ' ... No opening band , 2 1/2 - 3 hours of pure Styx ... btw Dennis De Young played a janitor in a movie theatre , to start the show ...
I saw the Grand Illusion tour. When the come sail away solo started Tommy Shaw was on a platform with the spotlight on him. I thought that was the coolest thing I had ever seen as a 15 year old boy. I got my first guitar immediately after that.
I saw that tour ... Opened with a big curtain in front of the stage , DeYoung in a magician's tux.
@@essenegnostic8711 damn, that's one of the few Styx concerts i missed. Wish I'd seen that one ! Saw them every following tour, always spectacular musically and visually.
@@rickleblanc8900 Best one I saw.
Una banda muy buena rodando el rock progresivo el hard rock y con guiños al pop en fin una de mis favoritas saludos desde chile
I'll always love Styx dearly-- they were the band that really got me into classic rock in the first place when I was around 11 or so. My dad gave me the StyxWorld Live album that had just come out in 2001, and to this day it remains my idea of the perfect rock show. Naturally, I had to figure out my own ranking:
15. Kilroy Was Here
14. Edge of the Century
13. Serpent Is Rising
12. Man of Miracles
11. Styx
10. Cornerstone
9. Paradise Theatre
8. The Mission
7. Brave New World
6. Grand Illusion
5. Pieces of Eight
4. Equinox
3. Styx II
2. Crystal Ball
1. Cyclorama (yep, you read that right)
Interesting #1 choice. I have that CD as my #10 choice. I too have the live CD you mentioned. I bought it at their concert that year. When they played with "Billy Squire, and Bad Company. The best concert I've ever been to, for Styx, or anyone else. Although Triumph comes in at a close second, and Stevie Nicks third...
How do you have the time to listen to all of these bands? I used to have a large album collection in the 80s and 90s and still found myself listening to the same 8 or 9 bands most of the time.
It's kinda cool that both Iron Maiden and Styx have an album and a title track called Brave New World released around the same time. (Styx's one was a year earlier) Both songs have references to the book of the same title, although Maiden's one follows the book more closely. Both are great tracks imho.
Wouldn’t really change anything. I have fallen away from their newer albums and promising to get into more of that. Finally saw them with REO in Portland, OR. Great show, not loud enough lol
I put "Serpent is Rising" on top, other than that my list is fairly similar to yours. The interesting thing about Styx it is fairly rankable as albums. Many of my favourite bands is just impossible to rank as I would flip-flop every other day. I think it's because I like prog first, rock second and pop-ballads pretty much last, and the balance between those parts in Styx albums makes them pretty easy to sort in order... I think... :)
Grand Illusion is my favorite Styx album too. I've been digging the Wooden Nickel recordings lately though.
Grand Illusion was the 1st Styx album I ever got. Absolutely solid album from beginning to end.
Equinox is my favorite and also the first i get my hand on back in the 70's. Kilroy is underrated btw!
First concert I ever went to was Styx back in 1976. I'll will always remember seeing DDY in a rocking chair singing Lady. To me he is the greatest male vocalist of all time. Far as albums go, I flip flop between Grand Illusion and Equinox for #1 then Pieces of Eight.