Styx Album: “Greatest Hits”

Styx had an incredibly distinctive sound now some twenty years ago. This album, was aptly titled and has all their hits. Included is "Lady" (more on that though, in a moment), "Too Much Time", "Babe" and my two favorites, their two signature songs (to me, that is) being "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" and "Come Sail Away" . They are all well reproduced, and inside a set of headphones will fill up your head with great music.

My only complaint? Their first hit "Lady" is included as not as the original, but as a re-recorded version. The differences are subtle, but throw it off for me just a tad. That is not enough of a reason to dog this album out, though. Ought to be an Amazon Essential!

I am so very sorry that a band that writes songs of a positive nature that are filled with hope and inspiration offends so many people. But whether you like it or not, that hope gave them 4 consecutive triple platinum albums. As vocalists, the singers in Styx are unmatched. With three lead vocalists with totally different styles, Styx sung some of the greatest harmonies of the era. And as far as musicianship goes, let me ask you, how many keyboard players out there can play the solo at the end of Fooling Yourself played by Dennis DeYoung?? I thought so:) Blue Collar Man and Renegade only begin to show the guitar shredding capabilities of James Young and Tommy Shaw. For those who call their lyrics tripe, listen to songs like "The Grand Illusion", "Rockin' The Paradise", "Queen Of Spades". For those who hate ballads, you should check out albums like, Equinox, Crystal Ball, Grand Illusion, Pieces Of Eight. Though many of their hits were ballads, most of their songs were rock oriented with art-rock, progressive flavoring. But as for the comment about "Babe". It was a song Dennis wrote to his wife about missing her when he is on the road. Oh God, an honest song, by a man that is devoted to his wife. How awful and threatening.

Excellent music from one of the greatest and by far the most underated bands of all time. Great song by a great band. All of their A&M and CMC albums are classics. The only album that I have heard that is better than the Grand Illusion, Paradise Theatre, or Pieces of Eight is Seven Deadly Zens (Import). Tommy Shaw has written & sung a classic for all times. CMC should have broke the bank to promote this. It truly would have put them on the map. Its not too late CMC, remember the song Lady? People who dont even like Styx, will still love this CD. Thanks for the great music Styx! Thank you even more Tommy!

All I've been reading is how the "hits" (in restropect) were silly and pretentous. May I remind you all that Dennis DeYoung is the genius behind the conceptual album. Light some candles, turn down the lights and put on The Grand Illusion. Listen to the story behind the music. The music surrounds you and transports you to other places, times and worlds. STYX will forever be the band that will take an "angry young man" and turn him on to life. Another review was from a 15-year-old kid who also relishes the simple fact that STYX doesn't need to sing about sex, guns, gangs & drugs to make good music. I agree. Listen to the songs on all their albums that appear between the "hits". "Half-Penny, Two-Penny" Could JY lick his guitar any louder? Could the pipe organ solo on "I'm O.K." sound any more magestic? If you have a kick-*** surround system with a sub-woofer, crank that organ solo up. I swear you'll change religions. Granted, Kilroy Was Here is bubble gum, but again, it tells a story. Remember, it was 1983, STYX was competing with the likes of Journey, REO Speedwagon and Triumph. That was the sound of the time. Go back to the Wooden Nickel albums. "Jonas Psalter" kicks so much rock-n-roll ass I named my boat after the song. "The Grove of Englantine" "You Need Love" "Earl of Roseland" forget about it! Everytime STYX comes to town I would run over my own mother for tickets. There are those who dismiss STYX as just another long haired band that sold out to the masses in a heap of late seventies commerciality, but I say they're fooling themselves. Be honest, whenever you hear "Come Sail Away" or "Renegade" on the radio you sing along. You do. You know who you are. And you know all the words too. I'm proud to say that as I made the switch to CD's a few years ago, the first thing I did was complete my STYX collection before I bought anything else. I still need Tommy's First two solo CD's, JY's "City Slicker", DDY's "Desert Moon" and "Serpent is Rising" STYX epitomizes Rock-n-Roll.

styx...journey...foreigner...kansas...boston

the best of eighties rock by far, styx being #3 on my best 80's band list

if you're into rockin' songs, they got the goods...

-> renegade- great song, maybe their best rock song...

-> grand illusion- underrated; very good, upbeat/pumpup song

-> blue collar man (long nights)- appeals to the common folk :0 :)

-> COME SAIL AWAY- the juggernaut, their absolute best all-around song

if you're the power-ballad type, they deliver w/style

-> the best of times- moving piece (see what A.D. Boorman has to say)

-> BABE- their best ballad (see above)

-> show me the way- a suprisingly good song from their later years

-> crystal ball- my favorite slower song by them

of course, there are the tweener songs, which are all fantasic 80's music. these include the infamous Mr. Roboto, and one of my personal favorites, suite madame blue. as you probably can conclude from alot of the other reviews, styx has a DIFFERENT APPEAL TO EACH of the people that like their music, it takes amazing talent to do this. (even my mom likes styx!)