Best of Styx
Encyclopedia
With the success of Styx
's album The Grand Illusion
, Wooden Nickel Records
, Styx's previous label, released Best of Styx, which contained selected Styx songs in the Wooden Nickel catalog. Styx had left Wooden Nickel Records
to sign with A&M Records
several years earlier, so the compilation does not contain any songs from Styx's three A&M albums that preceded this album's release. "Lady" and "Best Thing
" are the two songs that could be classified as hits in this collection, having charted at numbers 6 and 82 on the Billboard Hot 100
, respectively. "You Need Love
" had been released as a single, but it did not chart. The remainder of the songs are selected album tracks from Styx's Wooden Nickel releases.
RCA Records
reissued the album with new artwork in 1980.
Styx (band)
Styx is an American rock band that became famous for its albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Chicago band is known for melding the style of prog-rock with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and elements of American musical theater....
's album The Grand Illusion
The Grand Illusion (album)
The Grand Illusion is the seventh studio album by Styx, released on July 7, 1977 . It became the band's first Triple Platinum album, and spawned the Top 10 hit "Come Sail Away" and the Top 30 hit "Fooling Yourself"....
, Wooden Nickel Records
Wooden Nickel Records
Wooden Nickel Records was an American independent record label started in 1971 by Bill Traut, Jim Golden and Jerry Weintraub as a successor to Dunwich Records. Most of Wooden Nickel's releases were by acts based in the Chicago area, including the Siegel-Schwall Band, Megan McDonough and Styx. The...
, Styx's previous label, released Best of Styx, which contained selected Styx songs in the Wooden Nickel catalog. Styx had left Wooden Nickel Records
Wooden Nickel Records
Wooden Nickel Records was an American independent record label started in 1971 by Bill Traut, Jim Golden and Jerry Weintraub as a successor to Dunwich Records. Most of Wooden Nickel's releases were by acts based in the Chicago area, including the Siegel-Schwall Band, Megan McDonough and Styx. The...
to sign with A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
several years earlier, so the compilation does not contain any songs from Styx's three A&M albums that preceded this album's release. "Lady" and "Best Thing
Best Thing
"Best Thing" is the first single released by the band Styx from their self-titled debut album, Styx. It charted at #82 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was also included on the original release of the band's fourth album, Man of Miracles....
" are the two songs that could be classified as hits in this collection, having charted at numbers 6 and 82 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, respectively. "You Need Love
You Need Love
Following the success of the 1974 re-release of the single "Lady" from the album Styx II, "You Need Love" from that album was released as a follow-up single, written by Dennis DeYoung....
" had been released as a single, but it did not chart. The remainder of the songs are selected album tracks from Styx's Wooden Nickel releases.
RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
reissued the album with new artwork in 1980.
Track listing
- "You Need LoveYou Need LoveFollowing the success of the 1974 re-release of the single "Lady" from the album Styx II, "You Need Love" from that album was released as a follow-up single, written by Dennis DeYoung....
" (DeYoung) – 3:44 - "Lady" (DeYoung) – 2:56
- "I'm Gonna Make You Feel It" (DeYoung) – 2:23
- "What Has Come Between Us" (Mark Gaddis) – 4:53
- "Southern Woman" (J. Young, R. Brandle) – 3:10
- "Rock & Roll Feeling" (J. Young, J. Curulewski) – 3:02
- "Winner Take All" (D. DeYoung, C. Lofrano) – 3:10
- "Best ThingBest Thing"Best Thing" is the first single released by the band Styx from their self-titled debut album, Styx. It charted at #82 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was also included on the original release of the band's fourth album, Man of Miracles....
" (James Young, Dennis DeYoung) – 3:13 - "Witch Wolf" (J. Young-R. Brandle) – 3:57
- "The Grove of Eglantine" (DeYoung) – 5:00
- "Man of Miracles" (J. Young, D. DeYoung, R. Brandle) – 4:55
Personnel
- John Curulewski - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, ARPARP Instruments, Inc.ARP Instruments, Inc. was an American manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, founded by Alan Robert Pearlman in 1969. Best known for its line of synthesizers that emerged in the early 1970s, ARP closed its doors in 1981 due to financial difficulties...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Dennis DeYoungDennis DeYoungDennis DeYoung is an American singer, songwriter, musician and producer best known for being a founding member of the rock band Styx, a tenure that lasted from 1970 to 1999.-Early life:...
- keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, ARP, vocals - Chuck PanozzoChuck PanozzoCharles Salvatore "Chuck" Panozzo is an American musician best known as the bass player for the rock band Styx. A longtime member of Styx, he founded the group with his fraternal twin brother, drummer John Panozzo, who died in July 1996, and singer Dennis DeYoung...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - John PanozzoJohn PanozzoJohn Anthony Panozzo was an American drummer best known for his work with rock band Styx.Panozzo grew up in the Roseland neighborhood, the south side of Chicago, Illinois, with his fraternal twin brother, Chuck . At age 7, the twins took musical lessons from their uncle in which John took an...
- percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals - James YoungJames Young (American musician)James "J.Y." Young is a guitarist, singer and songwriter, and member of the rock band, Styx. Young began playing keyboard and piano at the age of five. He attended Calumet High in Chicago and learned to play clarinet and guitar during those years.J.Y...
- guitar, vocals