 | StyxA Retrospective: 1971-2004 |
Overview:The Panozzo twin brothers started playing in their garage at the age of 12. Their neighbor, DeYoung, joined them. When the trio went to Chicago State University, they formed TW4 with Curulewski. Young joined in 1970. In 1971, Wooden Nickel Records heard them, signed them the following year, and Styx (named after river Hades in Greek mythology) was born. In 1975, the group signed with A&M after a revival of the song “Lady” restored interest in the band. After their first A&M album (Equinox), Curulewski left the group; replaced by Shaw. The group broke up in ‘84. Shaw, DeYoung, and JY did solo projects. In 1990, Styx reunited for an album without Shaw, who worked with supergroup Damn Yankees from 1989 to 1992 and then as a duo with Damn Yankees’ bandmate Jack Blades in 1995. Shaw returned to the fold for a 1995 tour and they recorded a few songs in the studio for their Greatest Hits and Greatest Hits 2 compilations. In 1999, they released their first studio album in nearly a decade. They’ve actively toured since and released studio albums sporadically. The Players:
On the Web:
Lists/Podcasts: |
Awards:
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The Studio Albums:Hover over an album cover to see its title and year of release. Click on the album to go directly to it on this page. 
Compilations:
Live Albums:
Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies are noted. If the song charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to singles charts. |
Styx I
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Notes: |
Charted: October 7, 1972 Peak: -- US, 14 DF Sales (in millions): -- Tracks:
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About the Album: “Although they began as an artsy prog-rock band, Styx would eventually transform into the virtual arena rock prototype by the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, due to a fondness for bombastic rockers and soaring power ballads.” GP Twin brothers John Panozzo and Chuck Panozzo started playing in their garage at the age of 12. Their neighbor, Dennis DeYoung quickly joined them and they formed a “combo named the Tradewinds during the late 1960s.” LP When the trio went to Chicago State University, they formed TW4 with John Curulewski. James Young joined in 1970. “Local gigs in and around the Windy City led them to the attention of Bill Traut, a Chicago musician/producer whose regional record label Wooden Nickel was distributed throughout North America by RCA. Traut was actively seeking new talent and TW4 was just what he was looking for to compete with” LP the “primarily U.K-centered progressive rock scene” LP and bands like Yes; Rush; and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The band changed their name to Styx, “named after a river from Greek mythology that ran through the ‘land of the dead’ in the underworld,” GP and signed to Wooden Nickel. |
Styx II
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Notes: |
Released: July 1973 Peak: 20 US, 15 DF Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Tracks:
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About the Album: Styx’s early albums reflected the prog-rock vibe Traut was seeking. They built a substantial local following with their early albums and non-stop touring, but couldn’t break through to the mainstream until 1974 when Lady, a track from their second album, was revived by Chicago radio station WLS-FM. It was issued as a single nationwide and became a top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. GP |
The Serpent Is Rising
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Notes: |
Charted: February 9, 1974 Peak: 192 US, 13 DF Sales (in millions): -- Tracks:
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About the Album: Styx’s third studio outing was a loose concept album which sold under 100,000. It was promoted with the single “Winner Take All” which didn’t chart. |
Man of Miracles
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Notes: |
Charted: November 9, 1974 Peak: 154 US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU, 14 DF Sales (in millions): -- Tracks:
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About the Album: This was Styx’s last album with Wooden Nickel. It didn’t gain much traction for the band, but featured a cover of the Knickerbockers’ “Lies,” which was later substituted with “Best Thing” from the first album. It was during promotion for this album that “Lady” from Styx II was revived and gained attention for the band and got them signed to a major label. |
Equinox
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Notes: |
Charted: December 20, 1975 Peak: 58 US, 15 DF Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Tracks:
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About the Album: This was Styx’s fifth album overall and first with major label A&M. It gave them their second top-40 hit with Lorelei and also led to songs Light Up and Suite Madame Blue gaining inroads into AOR radio. |
Crystal Ball
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Notes: |
Charted: October 30. 1976 Peak: 66 US, 15 DF Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Tracks:
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About the Album: The night before Styx was set to launch a tour in support of their Equinox album, Curulewski abruptly left the band. They scrambled to find a replacement, settling with guitarist and singer Tommy Shaw. While Crystal Ball wouldn’t become a monstrous success, Shaw’s addition to the band would set the band on a trajectory which would make them arguably America’s favorite rock band. Here he contributed the album’s power ballad title track and in a co-lead vocal with DeYoung on top 40 hit Mademoiselle. |
The Grand Illusion
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Notes: |
Released: July 7, 1977 Peak: 6 US, 49 AU, 17 DF Sales (in millions): 3.0 US, 5.0 world (includes US) Tracks:
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About the Album: This was the first of Styx’s four consecutive top-10, multi-platinum albums. No band had ever accomplished that feat. This album was propelled by Come Sail Away, a top 10 Dennis DeYoung-penned pop hit that became the band’s show closer, and Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man), a prototype for the Tommy Shaw rockers that were to come. |
Pieces of Eight
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Notes: |
Charted: September 30, 1978 Peak: 6 US, 70 AU, 15 DF Sales (in millions): 3.0 US Tracks:
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About the Album: DeYoung had established himself as the most commercial of the band’s trio of singer/songwriters with top-10 hits “Lady” and “Come Sail Away” and James Young was the undeniable rocker of the band. Shaw, however, found a comfortable place between the two and exerted his clout as a rocker who could also generate hits on Pieces of Eight with the top-40 songs Renegade and Blue Collar Man. |
Cornerstone
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Notes: |
Charted: October 13, 1979 Peak: 2 US, 36 UK, 11 CN, 21 AU, 13 DF Sales (in millions): 2.0 US Tracks:
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About the Album: DeYoung returned to the forefront on the Cornerstone album. To the chagrin of Styx’s harder-rocking fans and to the delight of the pop world, the lead single was the full-on ballad Babe by DeYoung. The lighter fare landed Styx its only #1 pop hit, but caused tension as Shaw fought to keep the band from succumbing to DeYoung’s more theatrical, melodic balladry. For unknown reasons, “Why Me,” the second top-40 hit from Cornerstone, failed to find a home on any of the compilations featured on this page. |
Paradise Theater
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Notes: |
Released: January 19, 1981 Peak: 13 US, 8 UK, 12 CN, 27 AU, 112 DF Sales (in millions): 3.0 US, 4.0 world (includes US) Tracks:
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About the Album: “The band decided that their first release of the ‘80s would be a concept album, 1981’s Paradise Theater, which was loosely based on the rise and fall of a once-beautiful theater (which was supposedly used as a metaphor for the state of the U.S. at the time – the Iranian hostage situation, the Cold War, Reagan, etc.). Paradise Theater became Styx's biggest hit of their career (selling over three million copies in a three-year period), as they became one of the U.S. top rock acts due to such big hit singles as Too Much Time on My Hands and The Best of Times.” GP The former was yet another Tommy Shaw rocker while the latter was a DeYoung song that was more in the vein of ‘Lady” and ‘Come Sail Away,’ which had ballad elements but still rocked. |
Kilroy Was Here
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Notes: |
Released: February 22, 1983 Peak: 3 US, 67 UK, 45 AU, 14 DF Sales (in millions): 1.0 US Tracks:
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About the Album: “But the behind-the-scenes bickering only intensified in the wake of the album’s success, as DeYoung was now convinced that a more theatrical approach was the future direction for Styx. Shaw and the rest of the group begrudgingly went along.” GP “The resulting follow-up was another hit, 1983’s sci-fi based Kilroy Was Here (which told the story of a future where rock & roll was outlawed, almost a carbon copy of the story line of Rush’s 2112).” GP “The ensuing prop-heavy tour seemed to focus more on scripted dialogue and lengthy films than good old rock & roll.” GP In addition, the over-the-top (and poorly done) concept coupled with lead single Mr. Roboto’s cheesy novelty elements, alienated some Styx fans – and “would eventually lead to the group’s breakup.” GP |
Classics
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Rating: 
4.179 out of 5.00 |
Released: 1987 Recorded: 1975-1983 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Tracks:
Total Running Time: 68:49 |
About the Album: This was released as part of A&M Records’ series of compilations (officially it is called Classics Volume 15). It offered a nice snapshot of Styx’s heyday, but was superseded by the superior Greatest Hits in 1995. It omits top-40 hits “Lorelei” and “Mademoiselle,” as well as the pre-A&M years top-10 hit “Lady.” |
Caught in the Act
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Rating: 
3.534 out of 5.00 Awards: (Click on award to learn more).
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Charted: April 21, 1984 Recorded: April 9-10, 1983 Peak: 31 US, 44 UK, 17 DF Sales (in millions): -- Tracks, Disc 1:
Tracks, Disc 2:
Total Running Time: 83:30 |
About the Album: Styx’s first live album was recorded during their 1983 Kilroy Was Here. The set includes one new studio cut, “Music Time,” which hints at long-time guitarist and singer Tommy Shaw’s departure in the video. The group wouldn’t release another studio album until 1990. |
Edge of the Century
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Notes: |
Released: October 9, 1990 Peak: 63 US, 13 DF Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Tracks:
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About the Album: After 1983’s Kilroy Was Here and a live album the next year, Styx went on hiatus. DeYoung, Young, and Shaw released solo albums. None matched Styx’s success, although DeYoung had a top-10 hit with “Desert Moon.” In 1989, Shaw joined Night Ranger’s singer and bassist Jack Blades and guitarist Ted Nugent in the supergroup Damn Yankees, which produced the top-10 power ballad “High Enough” and the #1 album rock track “Coming of Age.” Meanwhile, the remainder of the band reformed Styx with Glen Burtnik stepping in for Shaw. The lead single, “Love Is the Ritual,” failed to reignite much interest in the band, but another DeYoung ballad, “Show Me the Way,” was a surprise top-10 hit for a group most assumed were dead and gone. |
Greatest Hits
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Rating:
4.195 out of 5.00 Awards: (Click on award to learn more).
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Released: August 22, 1995 Recorded: 1975-1990, 1995 Peak: 138 US Sales (in millions): 2.0 US Tracks:
Total Running Time: 75:25 |
About the Album: After Styx’s short-lived reunion in 1990, the members went their separate ways again. DeYoung played Pontius Pilate in a revival of Jesus Christ Superstar and recorded an album of Broadway showtunes. Young issued a pair of solo albums and Shaw released an album in 1995 with Jack Blades, his bandmate from Damn Yankees. Shaw reunited with his former bandmates in Styx for a re-recording of “Lady” for the Greatest Hits album. Like the Classics release, Greatest Hits still overlooked some top-40 hits, including “Why Me,” “Mademoiselle,” and “Music Time” – all of which were absent from Classics as well. There was only one more studio album released between the two compilations, which is represented by the top-5 hit “Show Me the Way.” It also includes “Lorelei,” which was not on Classics. The only song featured on Classics which isn’t included here as well is “Light Up.” A reunion tour followed this album, but John Panozzo had to bow out (replaced by Todd Sucherman) due to struggles with alcoholism. He died that year. |
Greatest Hits 2
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Rating: 
2.895 out of 5.00 Awards: (Click on award to learn more).
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Released: June 11, 1996 Recorded: 1975-1996 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Tracks:
Total Running Time: 76:25 |
About the Album: While this largely feels like a leftovers collection, “Mademoiselle” and “Love at First Sight” were both top-40 hits and “Sing for the Day” just missed the cut. “Light Up” and “Borrowed Time” were singles and “Boat on the River” found top-5 success in Europe. “Rockin’ the Paradise” and “Snowblind” were album rock hits. This collection still manages to miss the mark, though. “Why Me” (a top-40 hit), “Nothing Ever Goes As Planned,” “High Time,” and “Love Is the Ritual” all charted, but are supplanted by album cuts like “First Time,” “Queen of Spades,” and “Superstars” which don’t need to be here. The collection includes two new cuts (“Little Suzie” and “It Takes Love”). |
Return to Paradise
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Rating:
3.683 out of 5.00 Awards: (Click on award to learn more).
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Released: May 5, 1997 Recorded: September 21, 1996 Peak: 139 US, 13 DF Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Tracks, Disc 1:
Tracks, Disc 2:
Total Running Time: 1:50:10 |
About the Album: Styx’s second live album celebrated their 1996 reunion for the Return to Paradise tour. Alongside the familiar fare were three new studio cuts – “On My Way,” “Paradise, and “Dear John.” The latter was a tribute to John Panozzo, the group’s drummer until his death on July 16, 1996. |
Brave New World
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Notes: |
Released: June 29, 1999 Peak: 175 US, 16 DF Sales (in millions): -- Tracks:
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About the Album: In 1999, Styx issued Brave New World, only their second studio album of the last 16 years – and their first with Tommy Shaw back in the band. This album isn’t represented on any of the Styx anthologies noted on this page, but it did produce the Tommy Shaw-led single “Everything Is Cool.” While most of the band was ready to soldier on with further albums and tours, DeYoung had to take a break when he developed a virus that made him extremely light sensitive. He eventually overcame the disorder, but Shaw and Young had already replaced him with Lawrence Gowan and moved ahead. DeYoung sued them over the use of the name Styx in a lawsuit settled in late 2001. Chuck Panozzo also confirmed rumors that he’d contracted AIDS but was battling it successfully. |
Cyclorama
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Notes: |
Released: February 18, 2003 Peak: 127 US, 14 DF Sales (in millions): -- Tracks:
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About the Album: The new-millenium lineup of Styx did plenty of touring and churned out a glut of live albums (four), but only one album of new material, 2003’s Cyclorama, with the lineup “of Shaw, Young, Burtnik, Sucherman and Gowan. It also featured guest appearances from John Waite, Brian Wilson, and actor Billy Bob Thornton. By the end of the year, Burtnik was out of the band and replaced by former Bad English and Babys member Ricky Phillips, although Panozzo did play with the group on select live dates.” GP |
Come Sail Away: The Anthology
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Rating:
4.080 out of 5.00 |
Released: May 4, 2004 Recorded: 1972-2003 Peak: 136 US Sales (in millions): -- Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Best Thing (2) You Need Love (3) Lady (4) Winner Take All (5) Rock and Roll Feeling (6) Light Up (7) Lorelei (8) Prelude 12 (9) Suite Madame Blue (10) Shooz (11) Mademoiselle (12) Crystal Ball (13) The Grand Illusion (14) Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man) (15) Come Sail Away (16) Miss America (17) Man in the Wilderness Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Blue Collar Man (2) Sing for the Day (3) Renegade (4) Pieces of Eight (5) Lights (6) Babe (7) Borrowed Time (8) Boat on the River (9) A.D. 1928 (10) Rockin’ the Paradise (11) Too Much Time on My Hands (12) The Best of Times (13) Snowblind (14) Mr. Roboto (15) Love Is the Ritual (16) Show Me the Way (17) Dear John (18) One with Everything Total Running Time: 149:55 |
About the Album: This is Styx’s first anthology to include material from the Wooden Nickel years. The band had a couple of minor hits during that time with “Best Thing” and “You Need Love,” but more notably had a top-10 hit with “Lady.” It is a welcome addition since it hasn’t been represented in previous collections, save a rerecorded version on the 1995 Greatest Hits. This collection also improves on its predecessors by offering a chronological run-through of the songs, which helps frame a band who may be best known for their arena rock heyday of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, but had a more progressive rock sound before that and moved away from their classic sound on post-Kilroy releases. This two-disc retrospective gets a lot right, but still makes mistakes. It could dispense with album cuts like “Shooz” and “Man in the Wilderness” to make room for better known songs like “Why Me,” a top-40 hit not included on any of the band’s hits collection, and “Don’t Let It End,” a top-10 which is inexplicably left out. It’s also commendable that there is an effort to represent all Styx’s albums, but “One with Everything” doesn’t hold up alongside classic material and wasn’t even a single. At least “Waiting for Our Time,” also from the Cyclorama album, eked its way onto the album rock chart. It also doesn’t make sense that the collection comes so close to hitting all the studio efforts, but then ignores 1999’s Brave New World. “Everything Is Cool” from that album would have fit better than “One with Everything.” |
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First posted 6/11/2008; last updated 8/11/2022. |
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