Note: this release was originally purchased as a cassette tape, later replaced by the Audio Master Plus Series CD.
I don't get as much pleasure from it now as I did in '81 yet I know all the words and can vocalize all the guitar solos. It definitely fills a niche when I'm feeling nostalgic for that time. This was a loose concept album that marked the beginning of the end for the band. I could easily group Styx with other bands of the time that tried to combine elements of AOR and prog rock (Kansas, Journey, REO Speedwagon), but they stand out to me for two reasons: first, Tommy Shaw is a helluva guitar player and second, Dennis DeYoung has a great AOR voice. I probably would have remained a fan if I hadn't become more interested in New Wave music and Styx hadn't released the infamous Kilroy Was Here. I probably should have opted for a greatest hits package instead of this CD, but I don't think that would have been as much fun to listen to as I reminisce.
Press of the time:
- Billboard: "just when you think they've peaked come back with an equally if not more impressive outing."
- CashBox: "the band should hit the platinum plus mark once again"
- Record World: "full of appeal for album and single-oriented radio"
- Smash Hits (2 out of 10): "heavy handed tosh"
- Record Mirror (★★★★): "pretty close to perfection"
Album chart peaks:
- US Billboard 200: #1
- Billboard Rock: #1
- CashBox: #1
- Rolling Stone: #2
Tracks: I have to admit to still liking Rockin' The Paradise (#8 rock) and Too Much Time On My Hands (#2 rock, #9 pop). Nothing Ever Goes As Planned (#54 pop) reminds me of Foreigner, just like She Cares sounds like a Jackson Browne song. The Best Of Times (#16 rock, #3 pop), a huge hit, is now almost unbearable now as is Lonely People. Half-Penny Two-Penny would be forgettable if it weren't for a great guitar solo.
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| 231 N. Crawford Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 1928 - 1956 |
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: This music reminds me of my freshman year in high school when it may have been one of my most-listened-to albums. If you had asked me in the spring of 1981 who my favorite group was, I probably would have answered Styx. I remember staying up late one night so I could listen to a radio special about this album on Westwood One or some syndicated network like that. I really need to be wearing a baseball jersey concert shirt while I write this.
