Styx “Lady” charted

Lady Styx

Writer(s): Dennis DeYoung (see lyrics here) Released: September 1973 First Charted: December 7, 1974 Peak: 6 BB, 6 CB, 3 GR, 7 HR, 7 RR, 5 CL, 19 CN, 23 AU, 2 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 20.6 video, 29.04 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Styx formed in 1972 in Chicago, Illinois. The band became arguably the biggest stadium rockers of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, but their beginnings were rather humble. The original lineup consisted of singer and keyboardist Dennis DeYoung, guitarist James “J.Y.” Young, guitarist John Curulewski, bassist Chuck Panozzo, and drummer John Panozzo. The quartet released four albums with Wooden Nickel that showed no indication of where this band would go. In 1974, however, their fortunes changed thanks to the power ballad “Lady.” The song, which first appeared on Styx II, was originally released as a single in September 1973. At the time it became a local hit in Chicago, but was ignored elsewhere. However, Jim Smith, a DJ on Chicago station WLS, heard the song on a jukebox in a Chicago pizza place. He convinced the management at his radio station to let him play the song. His show had audiences in 38 states and even some foreign countries. WK The new-found attention launched “Lady” into the national spotlight and a re-release sent it up the charts where it peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Dennis DeYoung has stated this was the first song he wrote for his wife, Suzanne. He wrote the song in 1972 but the record company rejected it for Styx’s first album. SF When the band recorded it for their second album, DeYoung performed it on an acoustic piano although he’d originally written it on electric piano. He preferred the acoustic sound. WK DeYoung has said radio stations were unsure how to classify the song because it started slow and then picked up. SF The Detroit Metro Times called it “the first true power ballad.” MT Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Styx MT Detroit Metro Times (6/11/2003). “Power Me, Ballad Me: The Power Ballad Timeline” by Serene Dominic SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 2/14/2024.