This band is so so underrated they should’ve been in a rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Fame years ago. It is criminal that they’re not there. They’ve got like 30 outstanding songs.
Song was written for the 1976 bicentennial. Suite Madame Blue is the USA. The song is about how now 200 years later the USA had lost its innocence. We were no longer children. From Korea to all the assassinations and Vietnam our great country needed to get better. Fantastic song from an almost perfect album. Thank you for playing this. The Styx song "Man In The Wilderness" is cut from the same cord. It is equally perfect.
I’ve listened to this song for the first time back in 2010, in a coffeeshop in my hometown, on my laptop, as a newly born rock n’ roll addict. That was in Ha’il, Saudi Arabia, and now, you guys are but a beautiful reflection on my own journey. Bless you guys.
add Come Sail Away and Renegade to your list. pure fire. The Grand Illusion is their most complete album - absolutely legendary,
4 місяці тому+1
This song was paying tribute to the United States’ 200th birthday. There aren’t too many bad Styx songs but “Renegade” is easily my favorite. It is one of their staple encore songs!
Thanks for reacting to this Classic. Probably the proggiest song Styx ever did, along with Castle Walls. Written after the turmoil of Vietnam and the Watergate mess. "Madame Blue" = Statue of Liberty. A song saying "we should do better than this". "Lead us away from here.." See also KANSAS>>SONG FOR AMERICA REO SPEEDWAGON>GOLDEN COUNTRY CHICAGO>>DIALOGUE (I+II)
I saw Rush open for Styx on the 27th of March 1976 in Spokane, Washington. Styx were touring in support of the Equinox album and Rush were on the 2112 tour. Lovin'your reactions to the music that has been the soundtrack to my life and times 🤘 p
I am from Illinois. We are so proud of our band Styx. They had so many big hits in the 70's and 80's. They really don't make great music like this anymore.
To answer your question about the guitar in the intro, that's Tommy Shaw on an electric 12 string. If you watch the live video for this song, he has a double neck so he can switch between a 12 string and a six string.
Good stuff...there is a nice guitar intro right before this too that leads in nicely too. LORELI from this same record is also amazing...MAN IN THE WILDERNESS is also crazy good..and yes CRYSTAL BALL!!
Tommy Shaw wrote “Man In the Wilderness” the day after they first opened for Kansas. He was blown away by their long epic prog rock songs. It was his “prog rock” effort and one of my favorite Styx songs.
"Progressive" Styx. Interesting song to start the dive into their music. First album I listened to of theirs however Grand Illusion album is when I really got into them.
Reminds me of my teen years in the heart of the 70s as we would put it on our record player with our speakers turned up and play this kind of music all the time😂❤
Great reaction La/Che Styx very un appreciated. Dennis, Chuck, John, James, Tommy my favorite lineup. Saw them in 78 they sound the same live as they do in the studio. Great musicians and great song writing. Grand Illusion was a banger my personal opinion that put them on the map. Great harmonies and great musical writing. You should do album review of Grand Illusion every song on that album is fire. Love what you guys are doing…
Probably been at least 20 years since I heard this. An anthem from my youth. Thanks for giving it the bump and some love. Stuff like this, in all honesty, is pretty dated but still great for looking at what great music we had back then. I mean, the production quality they were able the achieve with the equipment that was available? Incredible really. Both in and out of the studio. I saw them on the Grand Illusion tour and it raised the bar in terms of what could be done on stage live as a rock band.
I saw this Band in concert live, and they sounded just like they did on the record. Musically, they are as talented as any Band I've ever heard. I saw them in 1977 in Seattle. Great concert.
The Queen of Spades, Miss America & Born for Adventure are 3 songs of theirs not to be missed. Trust me. All of their 70s work, and I mean all of it, is exceptional. It’s not for those who like top 40 music, but for those who like cerebral music that’s heavy and haunting. The Serpent is Rising is one of my desert island albums.
This song is about America. Some of their older stuff like this is just great, come sail away (The full version not the shortened one most people react to) It's great, So is anything from the concept album Paradise theater
70’s 70’s 70’s ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Styx formed (1972) members include Dennis DeYoung - vocals James “J.Y.” Young - guitar & vocals John “J.C.” Curulewski - guitar until he left 1975 and replaced with Tommy Shaw - guitar & vocals ❤️ Chuck & John Panozzo - bass & drums
MAN…THE LAST SONG ON THE ALBUM, WHICH IS A KICK ASS ALBUM. EVERY SONG A MASTERPIECE. WHEN THIS CAME OUT IN 1975, WE CRANKED UP THE STEREO N ROCKED THE WALLS. SEEN THEM 7 TIMES IN CONCERT. ALWAYS GREAT SOUNDING CONCERT. ALL THE SONGS N THIS ALBUM, WAS ON THE FM RADIO. ROCK ON 👊🖖
"Suite" refers to a musical piece with multiple movements that work together. On the original vinyl album "Equinox" the preceeding track is actually a 12-string acoustic intro. track(by John Curulewski) where there's no time between its end and the start of the next track, "Suite: Madame Blue". Back in those days you could hear the "hits" on the radio, but you bought the album to listen all the way through to get to gems like this that didn't meet radio airplay length or format. You did "Come Sail Away", another Dennis DeYoung song, so I think you may be ready for a Tommy Shaw one: "Fooling Yourself", "Blue Collar Man", "Man In The Wilderness", "Renegade", "Crystal Ball". Or James "JY" Young: "Young Man", "Man Of Miracles", "Snowblind"(with Tommy also on vocals). Or more Dennis DeYoung: "Castle Walls", "Queen Of Spades", "Pieces Of Eight", "Lady", "Born For Adventure". Or from John Curulewski (original band member before Tommy Shaw): "A Day".
Early Styx was the best.Suite Madame Blue has an ambitious structure,combining elements of rock,classical and orchestral music that creates a powerful and reflective piece.It’s emotional depth captured the imagination of my 20 year old self.
Still their best song. Styx at their most theatrical and proggiest. Still fresh, still moving. The lyrics are still true, sadly. Even better live, always a minutes long ovation(I've seen Styx four times)
In case you didn’t pick up on it, this was a statement about the US….and its fall from being the ideal nation to one of controversy, in the most general terms. Styx has a huge library of music….and is my wife’s favorite band…and one of mine!
Among music fans who grew up with 70s Styx, and not their more lame poppy hits of the 80s, Suite Madame Blue is a well known and recognized classic of FM radio.
Young teen, crushing hard on cute guitar player in a mega group. Come on ladies, you know it. 😂 Decades later, what were the odds he performed in your rural home town?? Yep, twice and both times I was out of state. 😂🤣🤣🤣🤣 I stood in freezing rain over nt for that Grand Illusion tour and I scored big!! Awwww, the best memories. We had the best 🎶 🎵 music!!
ONE OF THE BEST CLASSIC ROCK SINGERS (DENNIS DEYOUNG)AND A PRETTY GOOD ORGAN (PIANIST) PLAYER IN MY TOP 8 WITH PLANT, ROGERS, GRAMM, THOMAS, MERCURY, DIO AND STEVE PERRY🔉🎼🎵🎶🎙🎤🎧🎹 🤘 AND PROPS TO THE LATE DRUMMER 🥁
"Lady" - I know it sounds like a soft love song and, given that its Styx, it "is" a soft love song, UNTIL ITS NOT. Still my favourite "drop" in all of music. It's "classical piano meets hard rock riffs" like you have never heard before. And that is a guarantee because no one ever did it like Styx.
Omg this whole flippin album. Is epic!!!! Masterpiece!!!
Yes indeed it is.
This band is so so underrated they should’ve been in a rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Fame years ago. It is criminal that they’re not there. They’ve got like 30 outstanding songs.
Song was written for the 1976 bicentennial. Suite Madame Blue is the USA. The song is about how now 200 years later the USA had lost its innocence. We were no longer children. From Korea to all the assassinations and Vietnam our great country needed to get better. Fantastic song from an almost perfect album. Thank you for playing this. The Styx song "Man In The Wilderness" is cut from the same cord. It is equally perfect.
"Red White and Blue, gaze at your looking-glass; you're not a child anymore". Absolutely haunting lyrics.
Blue collar man and lady are awesome songs by Styx
Snowblind, crystal ball absolute must
I second this!
This is absolutely my favorite Styx song, from my favorite pre Tommy Shaw album. You should check out Light Up and Lorelei from this album too.
Light Up is AWESOME
My millionth plus time listening to Suite Madame Blue🔵
That's What You Call Early Proggy Styx La & Che. Another One You Should Do Is ( Crystal Ball ) That Was ( Tommy ) Shaw's First Song, Bangerrr!!! 💯🙂
Love crystal ball!! Jennifer is a good song too
And Snowblind
Crystal Ball, Snowblind, Renegade, Miss America!!!
I’ve listened to this song for the first time back in 2010, in a coffeeshop in my hometown, on my laptop, as a newly born rock n’ roll addict. That was in Ha’il, Saudi Arabia, and now, you guys are but a beautiful reflection on my own journey. Bless you guys.
"Equinox". My favorite Styx release. Thank for the reaction.
My favorite song from STYX 😅😊
add Come Sail Away and Renegade to your list. pure fire. The Grand Illusion is their most complete album - absolutely legendary,
This song was paying tribute to the United States’ 200th birthday.
There aren’t too many bad Styx songs but “Renegade” is easily my favorite. It is one of their staple encore songs!
My very 1st live concert ever, was Styx, Foghat, and Head East! ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.
Thank you both. 😊
Love it
Thanks for reacting to this Classic. Probably the proggiest song Styx ever did, along with Castle Walls.
Written after the turmoil of Vietnam and the Watergate mess. "Madame Blue" = Statue of Liberty. A song saying "we should do better than this".
"Lead us away from here.."
See also
KANSAS>>SONG FOR AMERICA
REO SPEEDWAGON>GOLDEN COUNTRY
CHICAGO>>DIALOGUE (I+II)
I've always said that the twins: Chuck (bass) and John (drums) Panozzo make one of the best (and severely under-rated) rhythm sections in rock.
@@O_Towne_Bear ESPECIALLY CHUCK ON THE DRUMS, DRUMMER PLAYING NOW , NOT AS GOOD BY FAR PROGRESSIVELY THEN CHUCK, HANDS DOWN 🥁
@@O_Towne_Bear ESPECIALLY CHUCK ON THE DRUMS, UNDERRATED AND BETTER THEN THE DRUMMER THATS TOURING WITH STYX, PROGRESSIVELY A GOOD DRUMMER 🥁
I saw Rush open for Styx on the 27th of March 1976 in Spokane, Washington. Styx were touring in support of the Equinox album and Rush were on the 2112 tour.
Lovin'your reactions to the music that has been the soundtrack to my life and times 🤘 p
I haven’t heard this song in years, thanks
Put Styx in Rock & Roll hall of fame now !
I know. So may great bands still MIA fro the Rock Hall of Fame. Styx should be there. I think it is going take fans to get them in.
@@joanfisher1079 F the R&R HOF, they are a joke
KANSAS isn't even in the RnR HOF, and they were 10 times better than Styx. America's best Progressive Rock band.
My millionth plus times listening to Sweet Madame Blue.
"Light Up" was the big song for any of their early concerts. Especially in the 70s.
My favorite Styx album.
My time, my music. Seen them a couple times after this. Grand Illusion and Crystal Ball tours. Amazing band in concert.
I am from Illinois. We are so proud of our band Styx. They had so many big hits in the 70's and 80's. They really don't make great music like this anymore.
To answer your question about the guitar in the intro, that's Tommy Shaw on an electric 12 string. If you watch the live video for this song, he has a double neck so he can switch between a 12 string and a six string.
Good stuff...there is a nice guitar intro right before this too that leads in nicely too. LORELI from this same record is also amazing...MAN IN THE WILDERNESS is also crazy good..and yes CRYSTAL BALL!!
At last… keep going down the rabbit hole… so many great songs!
One of my favorites by Styx thanks for reviewing it tiday Love Crystal Ball, Lady, Loreili, Grand illusion, etc. Their sound was always evolvig
I absolutely love you guys. ❤😊
Man in the Wilderness is another superb tune
Tommy Shaw wrote “Man In the Wilderness” the day after they first opened for Kansas. He was blown away by their long epic prog rock songs. It was his “prog rock” effort and one of my favorite Styx songs.
We need this song now more than ever
Both sides probably say this. The very liberal and the very conservative want their way.
Styx rocked in my home town summer of 1975 great song!
When they played this live it was so amazing and entertaining!
Saw Styx last year with Foghat in Columbus Oh! They still have it!
Early Styx, early Rush...I'm flashing back, man! (Thanks!)
Love Styx AND this may be my favorite by them. The song RENEGADE IS DA BOMB!!! AND CRYSTAL BALL AND...AND...AND😊Do them ASAP ❤❤
Very beautiful I loved it! Thanks guys.
"Progressive" Styx. Interesting song to start the dive into their music. First album I listened to of theirs however Grand Illusion album is when I really got into them.
These guys could make a record. Production value is off the charts.
even better live...still
Many Choices. I'm thinking "Grand Illusion" next. It's definitely a must listen for Styx.
Love 70s Styx
Reminds me of my teen years in the heart of the 70s as we would put it on our record player with our speakers turned up and play this kind of music all the time😂❤
This whole album is great. It was the album before Tommy Shaw joined them on Crystal Ball. " Born for Adventure" off this album has a great bassline.
Great reaction La/Che Styx very un appreciated. Dennis, Chuck, John, James, Tommy my favorite lineup. Saw them in 78 they sound the same live as they do in the studio. Great musicians and great song writing. Grand Illusion was a banger my personal opinion that put them on the map. Great harmonies and great musical writing. You should do album review of Grand Illusion every song on that album is fire. Love what you guys are doing…
You found them. Good one. Try "Crystal Ball" next.
You took the words out of my typing hand .. Crystal Ball .. 100% must listen for 'progressive/folk/rock' masterpiece. :)
Agreed, would love to hear Lady as well
You should hear this live. Incredible.
Probably been at least 20 years since I heard this. An anthem from my youth. Thanks for giving it the bump and some love. Stuff like this, in all honesty, is pretty dated but still great for looking at what great music we had back then. I mean, the production quality they were able the achieve with the equipment that was available? Incredible really. Both in and out of the studio. I saw them on the Grand Illusion tour and it raised the bar in terms of what could be done on stage live as a rock band.
I saw this Band in concert live, and they sounded just like they did on the record. Musically, they are as talented as any Band I've ever heard. I saw them in 1977 in Seattle. Great concert.
ive seen videos of them live from back then and they are better live now...saw them 2 bout 10 years ago ...they are amazing
Thank you Thank you Thank you for bringing STYX into the mix. Paradise Theatre tour was amazing live. Keep ‘em going boys.
I love this song!
This the best of Styx, great album. Made me a fan early on though their later stuff left me cold. But this album is fire.
The power of this song is amazing!
The Queen of Spades, Miss America & Born for Adventure are 3 songs of theirs not to be missed. Trust me. All of their 70s work, and I mean all of it, is exceptional. It’s not for those who like top 40 music, but for those who like cerebral music that’s heavy and haunting. The Serpent is Rising is one of my desert island albums.
This song is about America.
Some of their older stuff like this is just great, come sail away (The full version not the shortened one most people react to) It's great,
So is anything from the concept album Paradise theater
Great song… awesome shirt Che! 👍
70’s 70’s 70’s
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Styx formed (1972) members include
Dennis DeYoung - vocals
James “J.Y.” Young - guitar & vocals
John “J.C.” Curulewski - guitar until he left 1975 and replaced with Tommy Shaw - guitar & vocals ❤️
Chuck & John Panozzo - bass & drums
MAN…THE LAST SONG ON THE ALBUM, WHICH IS A KICK ASS ALBUM.
EVERY SONG A MASTERPIECE. WHEN THIS CAME OUT IN 1975, WE CRANKED UP THE STEREO N ROCKED THE WALLS. SEEN THEM 7 TIMES IN CONCERT. ALWAYS GREAT SOUNDING CONCERT.
ALL THE SONGS N THIS ALBUM, WAS ON THE FM RADIO. ROCK ON 👊🖖
Thank You for a killer tune.
Still for me one of the best rock bands of all time. To bad they all can't get along and play together again!
Queen of Spades...🔥
👍 Sweet!
"Lady" was my favorite
I was fortunate enough to have seen them in concert....inside Diamond Head Crater in Hawaii. Heart was the opening act.
One of their best
QUEEN OF SPADES.
Equinox is a great album...so are Crystal ball, Pieces of Eight, and The Grand Illusion!
Reminds me of my childhood
An ode to the United States before the ‘76 Bicentennial. Styx and DeYoung absolutely crushed it with this track.
I was a teenage who did go crazy over Styx. My favorite band for most of my life.
Saw these guys in concert in Seattle 76!❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️
This was the Bicentennial year 1976, Styx was making a comment about America in the post Nixon/Vietnam disco era...
Song came out in 1975.
"Suite" refers to a musical piece with multiple movements that work together. On the original vinyl album "Equinox" the preceeding track is actually a 12-string acoustic intro. track(by John Curulewski) where there's no time between its end and the start of the next track, "Suite: Madame Blue". Back in those days you could hear the "hits" on the radio, but you bought the album to listen all the way through to get to gems like this that didn't meet radio airplay length or format.
You did "Come Sail Away", another Dennis DeYoung song, so I think you may be ready for a Tommy Shaw one: "Fooling Yourself", "Blue Collar Man", "Man In The Wilderness", "Renegade", "Crystal Ball".
Or James "JY" Young: "Young Man", "Man Of Miracles", "Snowblind"(with Tommy also on vocals).
Or more Dennis DeYoung: "Castle Walls", "Queen Of Spades", "Pieces Of Eight", "Lady", "Born For Adventure".
Or from John Curulewski (original band member before Tommy Shaw): "A Day".
This song still gives me chills! So good!
Early Styx was the best.Suite Madame Blue has an ambitious structure,combining elements of rock,classical and orchestral music that creates a powerful and reflective piece.It’s emotional depth captured the imagination of my 20 year old self.
Closest they got to Progressive Rock, along with Castle Walls, maybe Come Sail Away.
This dude got his eyes closed and just RIDING this gorgeous song!! Awesome.
Still their best song. Styx at their most theatrical and proggiest. Still fresh, still moving. The lyrics are still true, sadly.
Even better live, always a minutes long ovation(I've seen Styx four times)
my favorite song "Man in the Wildness/Castle walls"
@@daveheesen9174
Those are 2 different songs.
@@kbrewski1 your pretty sharp...so are Prelude and Suite Madam Blue
This was the last song with their original guitarist John Curulewski on that lead guitar intro.
Tommy Shaw joined on the next album Crystal Ball.
I highly suggest for your next Styx song Castle Walls
My favorite song on my favorite STYX album …..
Top shelf stuff
Excellent
Bought this album in '75 when it came out. A top prog album. Chi boys
Great track.
Agree with most the comments. Also love Crystal Ball!
Red White and Blue. Miss America -next. Got to see them last year in Valdosta Georgia. They are still so pro.
In case you didn’t pick up on it, this was a statement about the US….and its fall from being the ideal nation to one of controversy, in the most general terms.
Styx has a huge library of music….and is my wife’s favorite band…and one of mine!
Equinox and The Grand Illusion albums are worthy of all-album listens
You guys should check out the songs "Miss America" or "Half Penny, Two Penny" with guitarist James Young on vocals.
"Lady" is what started it all... 🤘
Yes, this was on the radio in 1975.
Not their most well known song, primarily due to it not getting much air play due to its length but, without a doubt MY favorite by them!
Among music fans who grew up with 70s Styx, and not their more lame poppy hits of the 80s, Suite Madame Blue is a well known and recognized classic of FM radio.
Young teen, crushing hard on cute guitar player in a mega group. Come on ladies, you know it. 😂
Decades later, what were the odds he performed in your rural home town??
Yep, twice and both times I was out of state. 😂🤣🤣🤣🤣
I stood in freezing rain over nt for that Grand Illusion tour and I scored big!!
Awwww, the best memories.
We had the best 🎶 🎵 music!!
Best Styx song!
Wow, havnt heard that in awhile, you'll like, "miss America",
Extremely creative tune
Styx- Crystal Ball live with the CYO ( contemporay youth orchestra) ... a must watch!!!
ONE OF THE BEST CLASSIC ROCK SINGERS (DENNIS DEYOUNG)AND A PRETTY GOOD ORGAN (PIANIST) PLAYER IN MY TOP 8 WITH PLANT, ROGERS, GRAMM, THOMAS, MERCURY, DIO AND STEVE PERRY🔉🎼🎵🎶🎙🎤🎧🎹 🤘 AND PROPS TO THE LATE DRUMMER 🥁
I'm glad I was able to see Styx when Dennis DeYoung was still with them. A great pianist and vocalist
"Lady" - I know it sounds like a soft love song and, given that its Styx, it "is" a soft love song, UNTIL ITS NOT. Still my favourite "drop" in all of music. It's "classical piano meets hard rock riffs" like you have never heard before. And that is a guarantee because no one ever did it like Styx.