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
@@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.
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!
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.
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!
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!!!
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!!
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 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.
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
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
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!
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
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...
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.
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.
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 agree about Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight. Maybe I would switch the order because Pieces of Eight is a bit special for me being the first Styx album I bought. When it comes to ranking the rest I would rank Cornerstone and Paradise Theater higher and some of the early albums lower, but that is probably due to the fact I haven't listened enough to the early stuff.
I liked your list. Of course, it is all subjective. My list of most beloved STYX albums to least liked and my favorite song from each: 1. Pieces of Eight (Queen of Spades) . Not a bad song on the album 2. The Grand Illusion (Castle Walls/Miss America) Not a bad song on the album 3. Paradise Theatre (Half Penny, Two Penny) Not a bad song on the album 4. Equinox (Prelude12/Suite Madam Blue) Not a bad song on the album 5. Crystal Ball (Shooz) Not a bad song on the album 6. Cornerstone (Eddie) Why Me was kinda weak 7. Edge of the Century (Show Me The Way) All in a Days Work was kinda weak 8. Man of Miracles (Southern Woman) 9. Styx II (Lady/ I'm Gonna Make You Feel It) 10. The Serpent Is Rising (Young Man) 11. Kilroy Was Here (Don't Let It End) 12. The Mission (Gone, Gone, Gone) 13. Styx (Best Thing) 14. Brave New World (Everything Is Cool) 15. Cyclorama (none, I hated 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.
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.
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
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.
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....🙂👍
MY FRIEND. THANKS TO YOU I MEET THIS GREAT BAND. COMPLETELY MATCHED WITH THE FIRST PLACES, I ONLY CHANGE THE ORDER, FOR ME: 1. EQUINOX 2. CRISTAL BALL 3. THE GRAND ILLUSION 4. PIECES OF EIGHT 5. CRASH OF THE CROWN 6. CORNERSTONE 7. PRADISE THEATER
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.
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.
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 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.
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 ...
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.
1. Grand Illusion 2. Equinox 3. Pieces of Eight 4. Paradise Theater 5. Cornerstone 6 .Crystal Ball 7. Man of Miracles 8. Styx II 9. Serpent is Rising 10. Styx I 11. Mission 12. Cyclorama 13. Brave New World 14. Kilroy was Here 15. Edge of the Century
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.
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!
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'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...
I love Killroy... a very underrated album. I am ranking the 76-83 period. 1. Killroy 2. Cornerstone 3. Paradise Theater 4. Grand Illusion 5. Pieces of eight 6. Crystal Ball
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
I'm in my 20's and I honestly think Styx made some of the best music. My favorites are very closely tied among Grand Illusion, Edge of the Century, The Mission, Corner Stone, Paradise Theatre, and Cyclorama (what's up with the floating carrot).
A middle-term band for me. I easily divide this list in groups, no specifical order into each group. Fourth group, they are 100% disposable: Edge of the Century Cornerstone Kilroy Was Here Third group, just one or another interesting song: Styx Equinox Crystal Ball Pieces of Eight Paradise Theatre Cyclorama Brave New World Second group, good albums: Man of Miracles The Grand Illusion The Mission Styx II My favourite, that sounds really different from all others: The Serpent Is Rising
The other day a guy at the store had on a Styx concert T-shirt and I KNEW it was fine to walk right up and say, "The second album I ever bought was Paradise Theatre." HIS. FACE. LIT. UP. Mine, too.
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.
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.
If factoring in all components of making a record; melody; lyrics; hook; AND production (quality of recording and sound of guitars). I also prefer the hard rock tunes of STYX. My ranking is as follows: 1. Pieces of 8 2. Grand Illusion 3. Equinox 4. Paradise Theatre 5. Crystal Ball 6. Cornerstone 7. Styx 2 (good songs but bad sound recording) 8. Man of Miracles (would be much higher but recording quality not good) 9. Kilroy 10. Edge of the Century 11. Serpent is Rising (would be much higher but recording quality not good) 12. Cyclorama 13. Brave New World 14. STYX (could be some higher but recording quality not good and too many non-styx written songs) 15. Mission to Mars (I thought the tracks were decent enough, but not written by JY, DDY, TS and the guitar sounds were too "thin" for me.
I switch the two. *The Mission* became my numeral uno. *Pieces Of Eight* is now my (close) second favorite. I remember my mother bringing P.O.E. home on 8-track. But both albums I can listen to from start to finish. Been a huge Styx fan for close to 42 years now, they are my absolute favorite band. Even back in 1975 when I first heard *"Lady,"* I didn't know who they were then, but still liked the song. Not sure if that counts as being a true fan at that time though. They are working on a new studio album. I don't know about a release date...🎶🎸🙂
@@jerrywoods4066 Lol, you come over to this video as well to reply to every positive comment to try to subtly express your disdain for the current lineup of Styx? You were doing the same thing on the Crash of the Crown video, just give it up.
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
my list
1. Grand Illusion
2. Pieces of Eight
3. Paradise Theatre
4. Cornerstone
5. Equinox
Agreed! It's like you read my mind.
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
The Wooden Nickle stuff is terribly underrated...
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
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.
Thank you for your ranking Styx review! Styx Grand Illusion is my favorite too! 🎤🎸🎵🥁
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!
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
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!
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
Queen of Spades -- first song I ever heard from Styx. Opened me up to rock music. One of the great songs of the 70s.
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
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!
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.
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
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!!
Solid ranking, but I’d have Paradise Theater much higher. Cool concept with some very memorable tracks.
I love the intro of Borrowed Time
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
It was that cassette that got me into them you are not alone
Bugger, now I have come sail away in my head and have to sing it from the start. Paradise always be my favourite album.
Great stuff. Love Styx.my #1 favorite song snowblind . In the middle when the singing stops and the guitar takes over just awesome 😎
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
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.
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
1. Illusion
2. Eight
3. Crystal
4. Equinox
5. Kilroy
6. II
7. Miracles
8. Serpent
9. I
10 Paradise
11 Brave
12 Edge
13 Corner
14 Mission
15 Cyclorama
I love the Wooden Nickel recordings. Before they hit the big time. Interesting listening. Thanks for your thoughts.
agreed on Queen of Spades. Amazing song!
Definitely a favorite band of mine. To see them live is amazing.
I would rate "Paradise Theater " much much higher, one of the 5 best of Styx
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
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!
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
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.
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...
Grand Illusion is my number one too, but Paradise Theater must be higher than 11.
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.
Thanks, Pete. I’ve wanted to explore this band, but wasn’t sure where to start.
great list the top two I would flip around . I had forgotten how many good albums Styx had made...
Queen of Spades!! Such a killer song. Definitely my favorite on Pieces of Eight. 🤘
Paradise Theater tour was my first concert ever. Loved it.
Dig the Mission, great songs and production
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.
100% agree. The Grand Illusion. It was the first cassette I bought, the first music I ever bought. Love singing Miss America at karaoke.
I just started watching this one, but that is a dope f'n shirt! Loves me some Styx!
Such a fantastic band.very diverse and original.
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 agree about Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight. Maybe I would switch the order because Pieces of Eight is a bit special for me being the first Styx album I bought. When it comes to ranking the rest I would rank Cornerstone and Paradise Theater higher and some of the early albums lower, but that is probably due to the fact I haven't listened enough to the early stuff.
I liked your list. Of course, it is all subjective. My list of most beloved STYX albums to least liked and my favorite song from each:
1. Pieces of Eight (Queen of Spades)
. Not a bad song on the album
2. The Grand Illusion (Castle Walls/Miss America)
Not a bad song on the album
3. Paradise Theatre (Half Penny, Two Penny)
Not a bad song on the album
4. Equinox (Prelude12/Suite Madam Blue)
Not a bad song on the album
5. Crystal Ball (Shooz)
Not a bad song on the album
6. Cornerstone (Eddie)
Why Me was kinda weak
7. Edge of the Century (Show Me The Way)
All in a Days Work was kinda weak
8. Man of Miracles (Southern Woman)
9. Styx II (Lady/ I'm Gonna Make You Feel It)
10. The Serpent Is Rising (Young Man)
11.
Kilroy Was Here (Don't Let It End)
12. The Mission (Gone, Gone, Gone)
13. Styx (Best Thing)
14. Brave New World (Everything Is Cool)
15. Cyclorama (none, I hated 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.
1. Grand Illusion One of my top 10 desert albums.
2. Pieces of Eight.
flip flop the rest, Sytx a great band.
I love Styx !
Hugs from Brazil 🎉
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.
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
#1 Album Peices of Eight!! Fav song, Miss America!!!!
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.
5 - Cornerstone
4 - Kilroy Was Here
3 - Pieces Of 8
2 - Paradise Theatre
1 - The Grand Illusion
"Man in the Wilderness" means so much more to me at 53 than 23. Cheers.
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....🙂👍
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 was a teenager in the late 90's, and Styx was my favorite band, a testament to how timeless and fantastic they are!
MY FRIEND. THANKS TO YOU I MEET THIS GREAT BAND. COMPLETELY MATCHED WITH THE FIRST PLACES, I ONLY CHANGE THE ORDER, FOR ME: 1. EQUINOX 2. CRISTAL BALL 3. THE GRAND ILLUSION 4. PIECES OF EIGHT 5. CRASH OF THE CROWN 6. CORNERSTONE 7. PRADISE THEATER
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.
5.-Paradise Theatre
4.-Equinox
3.-Crystal Ball
2..-Pieces Of Eight
1.-The Grand Illusion
Thanks so much... From Colombia!!!
Pete, totally on board with Illusion, Castle Walls is fantastic. I trade that with Crystal Ball, which got me into Styx. Great show!
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.
One of my best rock bands...!
-STYX.
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 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.
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 ...
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.
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!
You hit my exact ranking right on the nail! Very good dissection of each album and ranking.
1. Grand Illusion 2. Equinox 3. Pieces of Eight 4. Paradise Theater 5. Cornerstone 6 .Crystal Ball 7. Man of Miracles 8. Styx II 9. Serpent is Rising 10. Styx I 11. Mission 12. Cyclorama 13. Brave New World 14. Kilroy was Here 15. Edge of the Century
I have EQUINOX on vinyl this album is my childhood soundtrack one of my favorite all time
Missed out Big Bang Theory...excellent album of covers. Some great hard rock stuff on there. Would be number 5 or 6 on my list.
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.
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!
Awesome. Could you rank the YES albums? It would take a while but I’m sure a few people would enjoy
When I would go to the record store back in the 70's, I would always make sure to pick up Styx.....
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.
Styx - PIECES OF EIGHT & GRAND ILLUSION are my favorite albums! The rest of the other albums were good too.
Equinox is my favorite and also the first i get my hand on back in the 70's. Kilroy is underrated btw!
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.
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...
I love Killroy... a very underrated album. I am ranking the 76-83 period.
1. Killroy
2. Cornerstone
3. Paradise Theater
4. Grand Illusion
5. Pieces of eight
6. Crystal Ball
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
I'm in my 20's and I honestly think Styx made some of the best music. My favorites are very closely tied among Grand Illusion, Edge of the Century, The Mission, Corner Stone, Paradise Theatre, and Cyclorama (what's up with the floating carrot).
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
A middle-term band for me.
I easily divide this list in groups, no specifical order into each group.
Fourth group, they are 100% disposable:
Edge of the Century
Cornerstone
Kilroy Was Here
Third group, just one or another interesting song:
Styx
Equinox
Crystal Ball
Pieces of Eight
Paradise Theatre
Cyclorama
Brave New World
Second group, good albums:
Man of Miracles
The Grand Illusion
The Mission
Styx II
My favourite, that sounds really different from all others:
The Serpent Is Rising
The other day a guy at the store had on a Styx concert T-shirt and I KNEW it was fine to walk right up and say, "The second album I ever bought was Paradise Theatre." HIS. FACE. LIT. UP. Mine, too.
My first was The Game
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.
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.
If factoring in all components of making a record; melody; lyrics; hook; AND production (quality of recording and sound of guitars). I also prefer the hard rock tunes of STYX. My ranking is as follows:
1. Pieces of 8
2. Grand Illusion
3. Equinox
4. Paradise Theatre
5. Crystal Ball
6. Cornerstone
7. Styx 2 (good songs but bad sound recording)
8. Man of Miracles (would be much higher but recording quality not good)
9. Kilroy
10. Edge of the Century
11. Serpent is Rising (would be much higher but recording quality not good)
12. Cyclorama
13. Brave New World
14. STYX (could be some higher but recording quality not good and too many non-styx written songs)
15. Mission to Mars (I thought the tracks were decent enough, but not written by JY, DDY, TS and the guitar sounds were too "thin" for me.
Switch Equinox and Paradise Theater and I 100% agree!
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.
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.
The mission is great, top 3 for me! Pieces of eight is my favorite.
I switch the two. *The Mission* became my numeral uno. *Pieces Of Eight* is now my (close) second favorite. I remember my mother bringing P.O.E. home on 8-track. But both albums I can listen to from start to finish.
Been a huge Styx fan for close to 42 years now, they are my absolute favorite band. Even back in 1975 when I first heard *"Lady,"* I didn't know who they were then, but still liked the song. Not sure if that counts as being a true fan at that time though.
They are working on a new studio album. I don't know about a release date...🎶🎸🙂
In my opinion The Mission is one of the great comeback albums.
Thought it was a big drag
@@jerrywoods4066 Lol, you come over to this video as well to reply to every positive comment to try to subtly express your disdain for the current lineup of Styx? You were doing the same thing on the Crash of the Crown video, just give it up.
@@dougmcauliffe2253 no Doug I keep listening to these new song and giving my comments on them . Nice try though
Driving my chevelle SS ,new stereo.. 75 I believe styx equinox blasting.. life didn't get any better!