MR

http://youtube.com/watch?v=i7TpP7SZku0

Never seen this before. Very 80s. Tommy appears to only be in the video for a couple of seconds wearing a fur coat.

Yeah, always a funny/weird one to watch.

I remember in Sterlings book, reading about it and how Tommy just couldn't be around these guys. He made an appearance so that has to count for something!

Every time I hear this song, and more so when I see the video, it's like I'm listening/watching an entirely different band. Imagine playing this video for someone who's never heard of Styx and saying "yeah, this was my favorite band back in the day" and "I grew up on this stuff --- Styx kicks ass!"

That said, it was a nice trip down memory lane, even though I felt like I was watching Devo!

Pheew.Ahh ehm strange Styx indeed.It's a little off if you think about Midnight Ride and listen/see this one.I'll take MR.
It's like Spandau Ballet on speed.

I like big things (beep beep) the size of them impresses me.

That line makes me think of that great Joe Walsh classic ILBT.

LordofDaRing wrote:I like big things (beep beep) the size of them impresses me.

That line makes me think of that great Joe Walsh classic ILBT.

Indeed.ILBT too.

Music Time is all Dennis De Young. It was something that should have been on Desert Moon and NOT a Styx album. Just like much of Edge of The Century and DDY's songs from Brave New World, those songs should have been part of his solo work, not on a Styx project. Styx should have only been reserved for group creations, not solo work. I believe DDY started this with Cornerstone. Paradise Theater was much more cohesive, more towards a total group work and it showed. Kilroy was again DDY and it showed...only this time in a bad way.

Grotelul wrote:Music Time is all Dennis De Young. It was something that should have been on Desert Moon and NOT a Styx album. Just like much of Edge of The Century and DDY's songs from Brave New World, those songs should have been part of his solo work, not on a Styx project. Styx should have only been reserved for group creations, not solo work. I believe DDY started this with Cornerstone. Paradise Theater was much more cohesive, more towards a total group work and it showed. Kilroy was again DDY and it showed...only this time in a bad way.

I agree!

Kilroy should have been Dennis' first solo effort.

Music Time / Boys Will Be Boys seem to be written around the same time.

If there was that much dissent over Kilroy, they should have gone in a direction they were all comfortable with.

styxfanNH wrote:Kilroy should have been Dennis' first solo effort.

Music Time / Boys Will Be Boys seem to be written around the same time.

If there was that much dissent over Kilroy, they should have gone in a direction they were all comfortable with.

Agree here, NH.

As blt said above, the Music Time vid is very 80's and very much in the spirit of what was going on MTV at that time. I have always enjoyed the heck out of it.

Bugsy

I dunno... I've always dug this tune. Never thought it sounded out of place at all with Styx. It doesn't sound a lot like the older stuff (like Midnight Ride), to be sure. But it's not that different from their later sounding stuff, either (Rockin' the Paradise, High Time...)

bugsymalone wrote:
As blt said above, the Music Time vid is very 80's and very much in the spirit of what was going on MTV at that time. I have always enjoyed the heck out of it.

Bugsy

It is very 80s. But thats the point. Music in 1983-84 was different than the mid-late 70s. They had to change it up. Whether diehard fans like it or not, a lot of Styx's new fans are usually introduced to the band as a result of Styx's most famous Kilroy song (Even JY has admitted this). I post a link to the Rolling Stone article on Kilroy. The first little bit of the review does a good job of explaining why Styx went a little different rout: http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/131527/review/5940986?utm_source=Rhapsody&utm_medium=CDreview.

If Kilroy was Dennis' first solo, IMO Dennis would be much more famous as a solo singer than he is today and Styx would not have the current following that it does.

blt man wrote:It is very 80s. But thats the point. Music in 1983-84 was different than the mid-late 70s. They had to change it up.

"Changing it up" doesn't have to mean laying on the cheese with a trowel.

For the 501st time, I point in the general direction of Rush.

blt man wrote:

bugsymalone wrote:
As blt said above, the Music Time vid is very 80's and very much in the spirit of what was going on MTV at that time. I have always enjoyed the heck out of it.

Bugsy

It is very 80s. But thats the point. Music in 1983-84 was different than the mid-late 70s. They had to change it up. Whether diehard fans like it or not, a lot of Styx's new fans are usually introduced to the band as a result of Styx's most famous Kilroy song (Even JY has admitted this). I post a link to the Rolling Stone article on Kilroy. The first little bit of the review does a good job of explaining why Styx went a little different rout: http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/131527/review/5940986?utm_source=Rhapsody&utm_medium=CDreview.

If Kilroy was Dennis' first solo, IMO Dennis would be much more famous as a solo singer than he is today and Styx would not have the current following that it does.

Yes music was different in 83-84 and one would expect something different than Pieces of Eight. I am alright with change, as long as it is a group creation. Music Time was not. I hear no Tommy Shaw or James Young influence in there..all DDY. Mr. Roboto the same. It is a catchy tune but if this was released as a solo by DDY, do you think it would have been as big? I highly doubt it. I really believe after Paradise Theater that Dennis thought, he is the main man here and without him Styx would be nothing. He was going to use the vehicle that was Styx to bring about success for himself. As JY says, after a certain point, he was all about himself. JY went along because he really wasn't creating much at this time and knew Styx was a good gig for him regardless. He played the good boy. Tommy on the other hand said WTF..why stick around to push DDY's creations, I'm better than that. Who could really blame him.

stabbim wrote:

blt man wrote:It is very 80s. But thats the point. Music in 1983-84 was different than the mid-late 70s. They had to change it up.

"Changing it up" doesn't have to mean laying on the cheese with a trowel.

For the 501st time, I point in the general direction of Rush.

The single only band that not-changing has worked for. Not sure that's the best bet to hedge... someone originally coined the phrase "change or die" for a reason.
What about those of us who LIKED some of the "new direction" stuff? I enjoyed the older sound immensely, of course. And the new. I respect them as artists for what they created, not for whether or not they created specifically what I wanted them to create. Mr. Roboto was no less valid than Come Sail Away. Two songs, written to entertain and be enjoyed. I was enteratined, and I enjoyed 'em both. In this, it's all the same, no?

ManOfMiracles wrote:

stabbim wrote:

blt man wrote:It is very 80s. But thats the point. Music in 1983-84 was different than the mid-late 70s. They had to change it up.

"Changing it up" doesn't have to mean laying on the cheese with a trowel.

For the 501st time, I point in the general direction of Rush.

The single only band that not-changing has worked for. Not sure that's the best bet to hedge...

No, in fact they did change their style, abandoning a lot of the prog-rock leanings that had categorized their music in the 70s. That was my point -- Rush changed with the times, they just didn't put out crappy music as a result.

On the other hand, if you want an example of a band that stayed successful without changing, there's always AC/DC.

ManOfMiracles wrote: What about those of us who LIKED some of the "new direction" stuff?

What about you? You have your opinions, like everyone else.

stabbim wrote:

blt man wrote:It is very 80s. But thats the point. Music in 1983-84 was different than the mid-late 70s. They had to change it up.

"Changing it up" doesn't have to mean laying on the cheese with a trowel.

For the 501st time, I point in the general direction of Rush.

Then get the hell out of here and go to a Rush board.

You either take Styx as Styx or you don't. Styx didn't end in 1978. They had more albums and more hits post 1978 than they had pre-1978.

stabbim wrote:

ManOfMiracles wrote:

stabbim wrote:

blt man wrote:It is very 80s. But thats the point. Music in 1983-84 was different than the mid-late 70s. They had to change it up.

"Changing it up" doesn't have to mean laying on the cheese with a trowel.

For the 501st time, I point in the general direction of Rush.

The single only band that not-changing has worked for. Not sure that's the best bet to hedge...

No, in fact they did change their style, abandoning a lot of the prog-rock leanings that had categorized their music in the 70s. That was my point -- Rush changed with the times, they just didn't put out crappy music as a result.

On the other hand, if you want an example of a band that stayed successful without changing, there's always AC/DC.

ManOfMiracles wrote: What about those of us who LIKED some of the "new direction" stuff?

What about you? You have your opinions, like everyone else.

Your opinion on crappy music not most fans.

In fact post 1978 saw the only Grammy nomination...the only People's Choice award...the only #1 single...the only #1 album.....the only 2 gold selling singles..

Yeah, the music really was terrible...and they were so unsuccessful too.

stabbim wrote:

blt man wrote:It is very 80s. But thats the point. Music in 1983-84 was different than the mid-late 70s. They had to change it up.

"Changing it up" doesn't have to mean laying on the cheese with a trowel.

For the 501st time, I point in the general direction of Rush.

Rush has a niche following - they were never as mainstream as Styx.

rajah2165 wrote:Then get the hell out of here and go to a Rush board.

Your opinion on crappy music not most fans.

Rush has a niche following - they were never as mainstream as Styx.

Hey Sabbim, I think he's flirting with you.

Grotelul wrote:Music Time is all Dennis De Young. It was something that should have been on Desert Moon and NOT a Styx album. Just like much of Edge of The Century and DDY's songs from Brave New World, those songs should have been part of his solo work, not on a Styx project. Styx should have only been reserved for group creations, not solo work. I believe DDY started this with Cornerstone. Paradise Theater was much more cohesive, more towards a total group work and it showed. Kilroy was again DDY and it showed...only this time in a bad way.

Though I always liked "Music Time", this post is dead on.

rajah2165 wrote:You either take Styx as Styx or you don't. Styx didn't end in 1978. They had more albums and more hits post 1978 than they had pre-1978.

I like quite a bit of their post-78 output. I like at least a couple of tunes on every Styx album. Wouldn't be wasting my time on a forum dedicated to their music if I didn't like more of it than not. As for "you either take Styx as Styx or you don't," I can only say "physician, heal thyself."

rajah2165 wrote:In fact post 1978 saw the only Grammy nomination...the only People's Choice award...the only #1 single...the only #1 album.....the only 2 gold selling singles..

Yeah, the music really was terrible...and they were so unsuccessful too.

Well, yes, some of it was terrible, and all the beating of the commercial drum doesn't change that. IMO. Seriously, what is this defective chromosome that Styx fans in particular seem to have when it comes to equating popularity with quality?

rajah2165 wrote:Rush has a niche following - they were never as mainstream as Styx.

Agreed. What's your point?

stabbim wrote:Seriously, what is this defective chromosome that Styx fans in particular seem to have when it comes to equating popularity with quality?

I think "defective chromosome" about covers it.

rajah2165 wrote:

stabbim wrote:

blt man wrote:It is very 80s. But thats the point. Music in 1983-84 was different than the mid-late 70s. They had to change it up.

"Changing it up" doesn't have to mean laying on the cheese with a trowel.

For the 501st time, I point in the general direction of Rush.

Then get the hell out of here and go to a Rush board.

You either take Styx as Styx or you don't. Styx didn't end in 1978. They had more albums and more hits post 1978 than they had pre-1978.

Do you take the current Styx? Hmmmm...you don't, so why are you here?

stabbim wrote:

rajah2165 wrote:You either take Styx as Styx or you don't. Styx didn't end in 1978. They had more albums and more hits post 1978 than they had pre-1978.

I like quite a bit of their post-78 output. I like at least a couple of tunes on every Styx album. Wouldn't be wasting my time on a forum dedicated to their music if I didn't like more of it than not. As for "you either take Styx as Styx or you don't," I can only say "physician, heal thyself."

rajah2165 wrote:In fact post 1978 saw the only Grammy nomination...the only People's Choice award...the only #1 single...the only #1 album.....the only 2 gold selling singles..

Yeah, the music really was terrible...and they were so unsuccessful too.

Well, yes, some of it was terrible, and all the beating of the commercial drum doesn't change that. IMO. Seriously, what is this defective chromosome that Styx fans in particular seem to have when it comes to equating popularity with quality?

rajah2165 wrote:Rush has a niche following - they were never as mainstream as Styx.

Agreed. What's your point?

Uh.. Grammy nominations aren't popularity based...Again, the only Styx album to ever receive a Grammy nomination was CORNERSTONE....

Zan wrote:

stabbim wrote:Seriously, what is this defective chromosome that Styx fans in particular seem to have when it comes to equating popularity with quality?

I think "defective chromosome" about covers it.

Speaking of defective chromosomes, how bout a drink, Zan?

Grotelul wrote:

rajah2165 wrote:

stabbim wrote:

blt man wrote:It is very 80s. But thats the point. Music in 1983-84 was different than the mid-late 70s. They had to change it up.

"Changing it up" doesn't have to mean laying on the cheese with a trowel.

For the 501st time, I point in the general direction of Rush.

Then get the hell out of here and go to a Rush board.

You either take Styx as Styx or you don't. Styx didn't end in 1978. They had more albums and more hits post 1978 than they had pre-1978.

Do you take the current Styx? Hmmmm...you don't, so why are you here?

Because current Styx doesn't exist. Styx ended in 1998,

rajah2165 wrote:Uh.. Grammy nominations aren't popularity based...Again, the only Styx album to ever receive a Grammy nomination was CORNERSTONE....

Of course they are. In this case the popularity reflects approval of industry types rather than the public at large (not that the two aren't intertwined on some level) but that's absolutely what they are.

Nice job side-stepping everything else in the argument, by the way.

stabbim wrote:

rajah2165 wrote:Uh.. Grammy nominations aren't popularity based...Again, the only Styx album to ever receive a Grammy nomination was CORNERSTONE....

Of course they are. In this case the popularity reflects approval of industry types rather than the public at large (not that the two aren't intertwined on some level) but that's absolutely what they are.

Nice job side-stepping everything else in the argument, by the way.

Why tell me do you think if something is popular that it is crap?

Its called the music BUSINESS for a reason..

rajah2165 wrote:Speaking of defective chromosomes, how bout a drink, Zan?

No thanks. I don't date outside my species.