Styx - Greatest Hits

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
If it's your belief that one of the reasons today's rock is so bereft of personality is that all sense of show business has been drained from the music, then a look back at the career of Styx offers proof positive that it wasn't always thus. Greatest Hits offers a comprehensive overview of the band, from its art-rock days--which produced a top 10 hit in "Lady," a new version of which is included in this package--to its years as a perennial album-rock favorite--with offerings ranging from flights of fancy ("Come Sail Away," "Renegade") to proto-power ballads ("Babe," "Crystal Ball") to songs reflecting the working-class roots of its audience ("Too Much Time on My Hands," "Blue Collar Man"). The band eventually succumbed to a shift in musical tides and just plain silliness ("Mr. Roboto"), but for a time, this disc suggests, a satin-suited pomp-rocker was something to be. --Daniel Durchholz

Tracks:

Lady '95
The Best Of Times
Lorelei
Too Much Time On My Hands
Babe
Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
Show Me The Way
Renegade
Come Sail Away
Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
The Grand Illusion
Crystal Ball
Suite Madame Blue
Miss America
Mr. Roboto
Don't Let It End

Amazon.com

If it's your belief that one of the reasons today's rock is so bereft of personality is that all sense of show business has been drained from the music, then a look back at the career of Styx offers proof positive that it wasn't always thus. Greatest Hits offers a comprehensive overview of the band, from its art-rock days--which produced a top 10 hit in "Lady," a new version of which is included in this package--to its years as a perennial album-rock favorite--with offerings ranging from flights of fancy ("Come Sail Away," "Renegade") to proto-power ballads ("Babe," "Crystal Ball") to songs reflecting the working-class roots of its audience ("Too Much Time on My Hands," "Blue Collar Man"). The band eventually succumbed to a shift in musical tides and just plain silliness ("Mr. Roboto"), but for a time, this disc suggests, a satin-suited pomp-rocker was something to be. --Daniel Durchholz

Customer Reviews:

Styx Greatest hits........2007-06-15

Brings back memories. Also kind of a upgrade to CD. I have The Grand Illusion on cassette.

It doesn't get more annoying than this.......2007-06-02

There were a bunch of bands from the '70s and '80s that were created with the help of evil equations by corporate America. The equations were based on this logic:

* What are all the elements that go into a hit song?
* How can we create a band that generates songs by patching all of these elements together?
* How can we plug these bands until we completely saturate the listening public?

The result was a collection of completely inbred sounds that charted well but that completely lacked originality or innovation. It was like taking a film about World War II and saying "Our research suggests that this film would make more money if it had a dinosaur in it." It is a bad idea but it fits the equasion.

The bands that were based on this kind of thinking included Styx, Foreigner, and Starship. "Styx Greatest Hits" is an example of what happens when you take one of those groups and distill it down to it's most shamelessly commercial material. This CD is an example of why commercial radio turned to crap. It doesn't get more annoying than this. Styx is the worst band in music history.

The worst of the worst.......2007-05-02

If the record label truly wanted to put together all of the "greatest" hits by Styx they would have ended up with a blank CD. Nothing Styx ever did was great. They were a generic, over-produced band that never reached beyond the bland corporate sound of their era.

Come sail away...to an album of incredible music!.......2007-04-27

Long before I got into Styx, I read in my Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll that in a 1979 poll, they were voted the most popular band for people aged 13-18. Of course, Styx can appeal to everybody, as the collection of songs on this album signals. I can't believe so many critics said negative things about these guys, they give the role of somebody who judges a bad name! Well, I don't care if those critics are too blind or unwilling to love Styx, because I do, as there are so many things to love about this compilation.
For starters, it goes on sale for only ten bucks. Secondly, it's got sixteen songs wrapped up on one disc. Finally, it's got great liner notes and pictures of the band, along with songwriting credits.
In terms of the music, it's got plenty to love, too. What opens the album is the rerecorded verison of "Lady". From the beautiful piano work, wall-of-vocals effect that became Styx's trademark, the epic drumming and fiery guitar solo, it's wonderful. "The Best of Times" starts off dramatically, but proceeds into a great song and followup to "Lady". "Loreli" has a strong guitar usage and seems to be a song featured in a movie based on the concept of the song, having a young lady move in with you. How awesome!
The bouncy keyboards and great chorus in "Too Much Time On My Hands" goes to show that these guys just don't let up when it comes to great songwriting. All right, I've really gotta give it up for "Renegade". This was the first Styx song I've ever heard and it got me hooked! From the opening, melodic vocal usage, the heavy, funky guitar riff, pounding, arena-ready drums and blazing guitar solo, this is a song to love! "Come Sail Away" is an epic, six-minute song that is very uplifting, from more great piano and guitar work to the wall-of-vocal chant of "Come sail away! Come sail away!". Such a great and timeless song.
Then comes the Christian-rock influenced ballad of "Show Me The Way". "Crystal Ball" seems to be another, early power ballad, and then, of course, there's the timeless, "Mr. Roboto". The dazzling, spacey keyboards, the chanting of "Secret! Secret! I've got a secret!", to the "Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto", I mean, who could forget? And if you weren't around then, this'll still prove to be a timeless song.
The rest of the songs are great, as well, and each musician is extremely talented and a great singer. This is very highly recommended as I hope that you'll love it all just as much as I do. Oh, by the way, I'm hoping to go to a Styx concert this summer, alongside another fave of my, Def Leppard! What a combination! Anyway, thanks for the time, and peace.

Styx, a clever band with a clever name.......2007-04-04

Thanks to bands like Styx, Kansas, and Journey, we are left with a female population between the ages of 40-60 that are now contaminated with the diseases of dirty rock stars posing as musicians from an era of pure human disgrace. Thanks Styx.
What were these psycho girls thinking anyway. These guys looked like subhuman ape creatures that just got done rolling around in the mud with their fellow piggies. But girls liked them because they were famous.

Millions of girls everywhere. Millions of diseases. Herpes, the Clap, HIV, Crabs, Yeast infections, toenail fungus and diarreah of the private organs. Don't be alarmed, I'm just giving you a reference point for this stupid band STYX that existed for a moment in the disgusting 1970's.

Why did they have to contaminate so many females? They weren't the only band. Like I said there were many bands that played horrible ape-like junk music, but Styx and Kansas were the worst of the worst.

Their music was stuffed down our throats by greedy bloated record company executives who had no concern about the outcome and the effects. As little kids in the 70's, we bought into it, we listened to this garbage. It wasn't until we were in our 20's when Nirvana came out that music finally came back.

But how did this Styx/Kansas garbage prevail for so long? It was horrible.

One day, hundreds of years from now, the 70's will be looked back upon as the "age of the subhuman". The age when the human race went backwards for a breif time and descended into a subhuman race.

I mean, face it, Everybody smelled bad in the 70's, and everyone had lice. I'm sure Styx had lice as well, with all that nasty good for nothing long pattern baldness hair.

As far as their musical quality, "Come Sail Away" was one of their hits. The lead singer always had to sound like some stupid shamrock leprachon in every song. "Come Sail away with me lad". They try to give off a feeling of a fantasy land filled with pretty trees and big oceans. How many times do they repeat that line in the song. Holy rotten chicken fingers, it's just seriously annoying.

What a poor piece of poop Styx was. Horrible, utterly Horrible.
No wonder everyone wants to start a war.

Average customer rating:

A Continuation of Part 1
It rocks,it rolls and it smokes
Picks up where Styx's Greatest Hits Part 1 left off
Making Up
Not necessary and the title is misleading!!!

"Styx - Greatest Hits, Part II"
Styx
Manufacturer: A&M
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Styx - Greatest Hits
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ASIN: B000002G5M
Release Date: 1996-06-11

Tracks:

A.D. 1928
Rockin' The Paradise
Light Up
Sing For The Day
First Time
Mademoiselle Snowblind
Snowblind
Boat On The River
Borrowed Time
Lights
Queen Of Spades
Love At First Sight
Haven't We Been Here Before
Superstars
Little Suzie
It Takes Love

Customer Reviews:

A Continuation of Part 1.......2006-09-02

A spectacular album it is what it says it is. It is simply a continuation of the first Styx greatest hits album. Including 2 never before heard songs.

1. A.D. 1928 (10/10) The intro to Rockin' The Paradise. Very creative the start of it sounds alot like The Best Of Times.

2. Rockin' The Paradise (10/10) A little Pop Rock for your taste. Off of Paradise Theatre a catchy tune. A nice guitar solo in it too a great song.

3. Light Up (15/10) Off the album Equinox another great song a kind of uptempo love song kind of like "Lorelei" makes sense seeing how they caome from the same album. The Keyboard work is spectacular in this song.

4. Sing For The Day (12/10) Off the album Pieces Of Eight written by Tommy Shaw to his daughter Hannah. A little upbeat song. Great keyboard work by DeYoung.

5. First Time (28/10) Off the album Cornerstone. In my opinion Styx's second best ballad. A beautiful love scene is painted by DeYoung. A great guitar solo in the middle the vocals by Dennis are just superb.

6. Mademoiselle (18/10) A great song off the album Crystal Ball a lot of high pitched singing kinda catchy. But another good upbeat love song.

7. Snowblind (32/10) A Styx classic. Off the album Paradise Theatre. Starts out with JY's low-pitch raspy voice then Tommy takes over with some high pitched hard rock. A sweet guitar solo and then they repeat the process to finish it off.

8. Boat On The River (16/10) Off the album Cornerstone. A very different kind of sound. Features DeYoung on Accordian and Shaw on Mandolin. Kind of almost Polka sounding.

9. Borrowed Time (19/10) Off the album Cornerstone. A lot of high pitched singing. Keyboard work is great. Really Pumps you up.

10. Lights (22/10) Off the album Cornerstone. DeYoung's vocals are great. John's drums are spectacular especially in the beginning. A great song with a message kinda reminiscent of Pieces Of Eight.

11. Queen Of Spades (25/10) Off the album Pieces Of Eight. A great song some great guitar work. If your best friend is thinking about going out with one of your ex-girlfriends and you know that it is a bad idea play this song for him.

12. Love At First Sight (10/10) Off the album Edge Of The Century. A very nice somber love song.

13. Haven't We Been Here Before (33/10) Off the album Kilroy Was Here. Tommy Shaw has never been famous for love ballads but he struck gold on this one if you are ever in a situation were you can't be with the one you love this is the song for you.

14. Superstars (14/10) Off the album The Grand Illusion. This was one of their 6 hits off of it and is definetly the weakest but it is still a great song. It was definetly meant to be played live.

15. Little Suzie (15/10) The first song with new drummer Todd Sucherman written by Tommy Shaw. A great song overall and very well done but John is truly missed and you can tell.

16. It Takes Love (30/10) This was the last original song recorded by Styx with John Panozzo before the Lady 95 version. It was recorded in 1992 with DeYoung and John's parts the others were added later. This song is very heartwrenching for any die-hard Styx fan it makes you kind of tear up beacause you know how much this song means to them.

Well there you have it my review. I think that this is a great Styx album after you get greatest hits 1. You should also add The Best Of Styx. You know their first greatest hits basically their best of wooden nickel. After you complete your findings of their hit I suggest you move to the individual albums.

It rocks,it rolls and it smokes.......2006-01-11

I just cant contain my admiration for Styx.they are one of my favourite rock bands and this collection just smokes.highly recommended.BUY TODAY.

Picks up where Styx's Greatest Hits Part 1 left off.......2006-01-07

Styx's second Greatest Hits album Greatest Hits Part 2 was released in June of 1996.
This compiation has the tracks left off of the first greatest hits.
The rest of the band's charting hits are included here such as the Top 40 hit Mademoiselle from 1976, the Top 100 charting Borrowed Time from 1979/80 and the Top 30 hit Love at First Sight from 1991. Plus the monster European hit Boat on the River which wasn't relesed as a single.
Plus, you also get more great album tracks like Light Up from Equinox, Superstars from The Grand Illusion, Sing for the Day and Queen of Spades from Pieces of Eight, Lights and First Time(the song which Tommy Shaw complained about quitting the band if A&M released it as a single) from Cornerstone, AD 1928/Rockin' the Paradise(a rock radio staple) and Snowblind(which was a hit on Album Rock radio in 1981) from Paradise Theater and Haven't We Been Here Before(a single which flopped) from Kilroy Was Here.
Also, there are two new songs. Tommy Shaw's rocker Little Suzie which was co-written with Dennis DeYoung and featured Todd Sucherman on drums. There's also the ballad It Takes Love which was the last song John Panozzo recorded back in 1992 with Dennis, Tommy and JY adding vocals and guitar solos in 1996.
The songs on here sound better than the original CDs and when will A&M remaster their albums.
Highly recommended!

Making Up.......2005-12-31

This does kind of make up for where part one left off, but it's not perfect. If I were you, I'd get COme Sail Away instead of the two Greatest Hits', unless you get a bundle that's even cheaper, but this is still a less than perfect first inpression for Styx.

Not necessary and the title is misleading!!!.......2004-09-27

This "greatest hits" compilation would have been better if it had been released as the second CD of the first Greatest Hits collection. Why bother to put it out as a separate album, since the songs on this album are clearly inferior to the ones on the first compiliation that was released only a year before? Answer: to make more profits for A&M records, since a 2 CD set would cost about $20 or less, while two separate CDs would cost a total of at least $30! WHAT A RIP OFF!!!!

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greatest hits blitz vol. 2

Manufacturer: BMG Special Products
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000AL8G46

Product Description

American Woman Knock Three Times (Last Night) I Didn't Get to sleep at all Lady Brother Louie The night the lights went out in Georgia Rock The Boat Midnight Train to Georgia Seasons In the Sun I can't go for that (no can do) Jessie's Girl Sweet Dreams (Are made of this) Broken wings Sara I knew you were waiting (for me)

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