Styx (album)

Styx is the debut album by American rock band Styx. It was released in 1972.

Styx
Studio album by
Styx
ReleasedAugust 31, 1972 (1972-08-31)[1]
Recorded1971
StudioParagon Recording Studios, Chicago
Genre
Length32:36
LabelWooden Nickel
ProducerJohn Ryan, Bill Traut
Styx chronology
Styx
(1972)		 Styx II
(1973)
Singles from Styx
  1. "Best Thing"
    Released: July 1972 (US) [2]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]

Background

The band started as a cover band who played events such as weddings and birthday parties. They called themselves The Tradewinds in 1961, when the band was composed of, at 12 years of age, Chuck and John Panozzo, who played bass guitar and drums, respectively, and their neighbor, 14-year-old Dennis DeYoung on keyboards, accordion and vocals. They later named themselves TW4, after adding their college friend John Curulewski in 1968, and the south side hard rocker James "J.Y." Young in 1970, as guitarists, songwriters and singers for the band.

Their debut album showcased them as a progressive-art rock/'60s garage rock act. It contained the 13-minute opus "Movement for the Common Man," and J.Y. rocker "Children of the Land." It also features John Panozzo's percussion solo, the street interviews from Chicago "Street Collage," their symphonic rocker rendition of "Fanfare for the Common Man" and the prog-folk piece, sung by DeYoung and co-written by Young & DeYoung, "Mother Nature's Matinee."

The upbeat pop rocker "Best Thing" was co-written by DeYoung and Young, released as a single in late '72, and peaked at No. 82 on the charts.

The remaining songs on the album were cover versions that the record label suggested. The band members, including DeYoung, said that they had never heard of them before.

The album was reissued in 1979 under the title Styx I with new artwork. In late 2012, it was re-released for CD and digital download, along with Styx II (1973), The Serpent Is Rising (1973), and Man of Miracles (1974).

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Movement for the Common Man" James Young (section a), John Ryan (section b), Aaron Copland (section c), Dennis DeYoung (section d with Young)a. Young, b. spoken word, c. Young, d. DeYoung13:11
2."Right Away"Paul FrankYoung3:40
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
3."What Has Come Between Us"Mark GaddisDeYoung4:53
4."Best Thing"Young, DeYoungDeYoung, Young3:13
5."Quick Is the Beat of My Heart"Lewis MarkYoung3:49
6."After You Leave Me"George S. ClintonYoung4:00

Personnel

Styx

Production

Charts

Singles - Billboard (United States)

Year Single Chart Position
1972 "Best Thing" Pop Singles 82

References
  1. Music - StyxWorld
  2. "Styx singles".
  3. Planer, Lindsay. Styx: Styx at AllMusic. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  4. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 789. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone styx album guide.
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