Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) - Styx, Shaw, Tommy
Come Sail Away
Miss America - Styx, Young, James [Styx]
Man in the Wilderness [#] - Styx, Shaw, Tommy
Track Listings (18) - Disc #2
Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) - Styx, Shaw, Tommy
Sing for the Day - Styx, Shaw, Tommy
Renegade - Styx, Shaw, Tommy
Pieces of Eight
Lights
Babe
Borrowed Time
Boat on the River - Styx, Shaw, Tommy
A.D. 1928
Rockin' the Paradise
Too Much Time on My Hands - Styx, Shaw, Tommy
The Best of Times
Snowblind
Mr. Roboto
Love Is the Ritual - Styx, Burtnik, Glen
Show Me the Way
Dear John - Styx, Shaw, Tommy
One With Everything - Styx, Burtnik, Glen
Styx may have had their musical roots in the UK's burgeoning late-'60s/early-'70s prog-rock bombast, but they were true pioneers in at least one sense: The Chicago-bred quintet virtually defined the hugely successful "corp... more » rock" boom that followed a decade after prog's original fortunes tarnished. And if that label suggests a certain sense of the formulaic, in Styx it actually denoted a band with sharp ears and a shrewder sense of rock history, attested to immediately here by the Yes-inspired harmonies of "You Need Love" and the staccato rhythms of the Beatles' "Getting Better" on "Winner Take All." This 35-track double-disc anthology charts a course from sudden fame to its sometimes stormy aftermath, spanning the band's 1972 debut and its resilient 2003 comeback contender, Cyclorama. But after working their way up from the Grand Funk-worthy, meat 'n' instant potatoes of "Rock and Roll Feeling" and bald-faced melodramatics of "Lady" and "Come Sail Away" to the gutsier edge of "Blue Collar Man" and "Too Much Time on My Hands," rising tides of punk and new wave began to erode their younger demographic. And by the time "Babe" gave way to the faux techno of '83's "Mr. Roboto," even those sympathetic to the band's hook-rich, prog-lite sensibility seemed restless. Still, their Tommy Shaw-dominate output in the '90s and beyond showcased a band that had subtly matured from their arena-rock cliché salad days. --Jerry McCulley« less
Styx may have had their musical roots in the UK's burgeoning late-'60s/early-'70s prog-rock bombast, but they were true pioneers in at least one sense: The Chicago-bred quintet virtually defined the hugely successful "corp rock" boom that followed a decade after prog's original fortunes tarnished. And if that label suggests a certain sense of the formulaic, in Styx it actually denoted a band with sharp ears and a shrewder sense of rock history, attested to immediately here by the Yes-inspired harmonies of "You Need Love" and the staccato rhythms of the Beatles' "Getting Better" on "Winner Take All." This 35-track double-disc anthology charts a course from sudden fame to its sometimes stormy aftermath, spanning the band's 1972 debut and its resilient 2003 comeback contender, Cyclorama. But after working their way up from the Grand Funk-worthy, meat 'n' instant potatoes of "Rock and Roll Feeling" and bald-faced melodramatics of "Lady" and "Come Sail Away" to the gutsier edge of "Blue Collar Man" and "Too Much Time on My Hands," rising tides of punk and new wave began to erode their younger demographic. And by the time "Babe" gave way to the faux techno of '83's "Mr. Roboto," even those sympathetic to the band's hook-rich, prog-lite sensibility seemed restless. Still, their Tommy Shaw-dominate output in the '90s and beyond showcased a band that had subtly matured from their arena-rock cliché salad days. --Jerry McCulley
Sharon L. from SOUTH PARK, PA Reviewed on 5/20/2011...
What a great CD. All the songs from their beginning.
CD Reviews
Sweet...sweet sounds are everywhere....
Joe | Lynchburg, Virginia United States | 04/04/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This wonderful two CD set..."Come Sail Away: The STYX Anthology" is a generous collection of their more well known material...the price is right...and even better for CDNOW Club members ! Aside from owning EVERY album...it's the PERFECT CD NOW "buy together" combo with "The Wooden Nickel Recordings" to give we STYX fans all we need for our listening pleasure ! Both pretty much make any other STYX "hits" collection obsolete ! Oh yes....for the diehard STYX fan...there are songs we'd love to have included that are missing....but that's what the individual albums are for...right ?
There's no need to comment on the set list...it's all very obvious. What else DO I want to comment on ? The sound quality....PRISTINE ! I have a pretty decent sound system in my SUV...and when I turned it up and played it loud...I got chills ! The remastering job on this collection is EXTRAORDINARY....and it makes me plead with A&M and STYX to PLEASE remaster the origional albums...this set sounds beautiful !
"Come Sail Away : The STYX Anthology " was released a year ago this May...and I don't understand why it took me so long to buy it ! If you love STYX music....do the "buy together" deal with "The Wooden Nickel Recordings" right now...and "come sail away" to the world of STYX....ENJOY !"
Classic Styx FINALLY REMASTERED!!!
Eric Morris | San Antonio, Texas United States | 05/07/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"OK. I'm a completist who owns every single Styx album ever made. That said, this collection was worth every nickel because of the remastering. Clean, clear, fresh and "in the room" sound on every carefully chosen track. This is by far the best ever Styx compilation. Every single album is represented (except 1999's "Brave New World" -- hence only 4 stars). I could bitch about what's not here but I won't, because what's here is so good! They included all the big hits plus some excellent album tracks (i.e. Pieces of Eight, Borrowed Time, Shooz). The only "bonus" is the previously unreleased long version of the sublime "Man In The Wilderness" (which alone is worth the price of admission). "One With Everything" from 2003's "Cyclorama" is a freaking masterpiece of vintage Stygian proportions and was an excellent choice to include here. Best of all, there are no dorky "remixes," obnoxious "alternate versions," or surprise (uncredited on the outside case) live versions. ALL ORIGINAL STUDIO TRACKS ALL REMASTERED! BUY THIS NOW! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!!?"
It's like discovering a buried treasure.
Fernando Perez | Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico | 11/08/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Recently I have been trading music material with one of my uncles, who is 15 years older than me, he showed me an album (On vinyl) called Paradise Theater, of a band I wasn't familiar with, called STYX (I only recognized Mr. Tommy Shaw, I'm a big fan of the Damn Yankees), with songs almost as old as me, What I encountered here was so much diversity of EXCELLENT music, Dennis DeYoung, balladist extraordinaire has my uncle's respect, but I favor the powerful riffs of Tommy Shaw, he made me forget his excellent tenure on Damn Yankees, with even better songs, needless to say I got hooked on Styx and purchased this Antology album, only to discover even more gems, over 30 years of history with this band.
I honestly don't know why it took me so long to discover STYX, now among with my all time favorite bands, so, If you have a relative who has a pile of well taken care of vinyls, take a look, you might discover a treasure."
THIS ALBUM IS FRIGGIN AWESOME
DANtheSTYXfan | Kalamazoo, MI USA | 08/16/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I became a Styx fan about 2 years ago when I was a senoir in high school. The first time I heard the song Blue Collar Man (long Nights) I instantly fell in love with the classic lineup of Dennis DeYoung, The Panozzo Brothers, James Young, and Tommy Shaw. This was the very first Styx CD I ever bought and I loved it so much I had to go out and buy the rest of the Styx albums. I love every song on this CD from "Best Thing" all the way to "One With Everything". I do think that there are some songs missing though such as "Don't Let It End", "First Time", "Haven't We Been Here Before", "Queen Of Spades", and "Superstars", and there are no songs from BRAVE NEW WORLD which really is a great album. And I also feel that there isn't enough from the wooden nickel era. But that is the truth with every greatest hits or anthology album something is always missing to someone that is why we buy the individual albums and why artists release more than one greatest hits album.
But enough negative stuff this is a great album to start with. They start with their first Top 100 hit off their self-titled album STYX with "Best Thing". And then comes two songs off of Styx II The Top 100 hit "You Need Love" and the original "Lady" their first Top Ten hit. They then showcase "Winner Take All" off of THE SERPENT IS RISING and "Rock & Roll Feeling" from MAN OF MIRACLES. Then comes their best off of EQUINOX with their classic songs, "Loerelei", "Light Up", and the two parter "Prelude 12" and "Suite Madame Blue". Then comes the start of the Tommy Shaw era album CRYSTAL BALL with the songs "Crystal Ball", "Shooz", and the Top 40 hit "Mademoisselle". Then the THE GRAND ILLUSION with the songs "Come Sail Away", "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)", "Grand Illusion", "Miss America" and the full length version of "Man In The Wilderness".
Then they start disc 2 with my favorite album PIECES OF EIGHT. They start out the 2nd CD with my favorite song too. "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" they also have songs "Sing For The Day", "Renegade", and "Pieces Of Eight" from that album. Then comes the songs off of CORNERSTONE with their only #1 hit ever. "Babe" plus other songs like "Lights", "Borrowed Time", and "Boat On The River". Then comes the songs off of the album PARADISE THEATRE with "Too Much Time On My Hands", "The Best Of Times", "Snowblind", and the two-parter "A.D. 1928" and "Rockin' The Paradise". Then comes "Mr. Roboto" from their album KILROY WAS HERE. Then comes two songs from their first reunion EDGE OF THE CENTURY. Their Top Ten Hit of the 90s "Show Me The Way" and their spin on the music of that day with "Love Is The Ritual". Then comes the emotionally gripping song dedicates to their late and great drummer John Panozzo in "Dear John" off of RETURN TO PARADISE and then they finish off the anthology with "One With Everything" from CYCLORAMA which features Lawrence Gowan.
Well thats it sure its missing a few things but doesn't every greatest hits album for any band have songs that they miss. This a great album to start or end your collection. I highly suggest that you buy this album today."
Cool Compilation!!
steveperryfan1978 | 05/10/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are several treasures on this album ranging the full length of Styx's career. The remastered sound, especially on the Wooden Nickel cuts are superb.
I've read some reviews that point out certain tracks, such as "Dont Let it End" that aren't included on this compliation. But I think it's important to point out that several of those tracks, including that track--are available on other Styx compliation albums.Also in defense of the current Styx line up first of all they are not playing fairs.....don't get them confused with Journey who just got done playing after rodeos! When Steve Perry left Journey, Journey lost it's voice. Styx however had many voices! And if a band is going to be based off of it's original lineup I feel sorry for many fans out there that are missing out on some great music.I think any Styx fan would enjoy this compliation. There's alot of rare gems on this and as stated earlier the remastered sound is excellent. Go ahead and listen to it!!"