Listening Party - Grand Illusion

[Toph]

The breakthrough. And for many, the ultimate Styx album. This is probably one that you are pretty familiar with - especially given its emphasis by the current lineup in recent years. But for a moment, take yourself back and listen to it with fresh ears and see if you hear anything new or different. What is interesting is a recent DDY interview that said that the band's manager and marketing guy wanted Superstars to be the first single. How would that have changed the album's trajectory?

So, here it is, the album that really launched the band's dominance into the late 70s and early 80s. The Grand Illusion is up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE4m82EJ-Vo

[Toph]

And if you've never seen the original tour, here it is....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyOv91RRtq8

[Baron Von Bielski]

Basically perfect from start to finish. I really only skip the final track - The Grand Finale, not because there's anything wrong with it per say... but because it's just not really a song more less a summary of a few songs on the album. My favorite Styx album. Dennis really shines on this album IMO and Tommy isn't that far behind. I love the progressive nature of most of these tracks... especially Man in the Wilderness and Castle Walls. I'd say only the title track and Superstars are conventional rockers. The rest fit the progressive bill with no perameters or formulas... the way I like 'em.

[masque]

welcome to the grand illusion!!!!

for me, in re-listening to the album I had to approach with fresh ears.......because this album between my liking it along with seeing the songs live over and over along with the radio comes close to creating grand illusion burnout. but if you take a step back from that and approach with fresh ears it is extremely hard to deny that this is their finest moment as a band.

believe it or not toph, I have so much enjoyed you putting this exercise together that for shits and giggles I have actually created a graph for the albums so I can sort of see the trajectory of how I feel about their albums within the graph....it's been super cool.

I wont bore everyone with a song by song breakdown because we know them so well......but I will say that this album contains the best collection of "hits" along with the best songs that were not "hits".

there isnt any other album they did that had songs as good as CSA and FY (the actual charting songs) along with the radio "hits" of GI and MA to be coupled with deep cuts as good as MITW, CW and Superstars.

There really isnt a moment on this album that I dont deeply love. To answer the thought about Superstars......i have no idea what it would have done for their careers one way or another.......but to me personally, I love the song and have always enjoyed it alot....but the spoken word part with DDY doing his thing towards the end probably would not have played well on radio or would have been edited out.

CSA is obviously the massive styx staple that we all love but FY is actually a song that I think is nearly as good and sits in my top 5 styx songs ever.

The production is top notch and to this day still sounds fantastic. I tip my hat to the guys on this one because with this album they sit the bar so high for everyone....not only for themselves but their competition as well.

overall score is a 9.5.

[scarab]

near perfection, a top 10 of all originals for me. Kind of like Hotel California, Every song is great.

[ztyxlynne]

Grand Illusion. Would anyone say that this is there best effort? But man there is not a bad song on it really. If Superstar's where released first I don't think it would of hurt at all. I love Dennis's spoken word part. I too had to pretend to listen to it like day one and the way it is produced is awesome. I have to say Dennis knew how to produce. He esp knew how to bring the best out of Tommy Shaw and I believe still does if given the chance. Over all I give it a 9. BTW did Dennis ever say why he does a alternative version of CSA live? And Toph, I agree this is a awesome idea doing these albums. If we ever meet I will buy the first round of drinks!

[Everett]

2nd fav album. However the next one is their best EVER.

[Kilroy1983]

What to say about this brilliant album. It was my first contact with the music of Styx in December 1977. I remember like it was yesterday when I saw the cover of "The Grand Illusion" at the record store. I went to buy the new album Supertramp "Even In The Quietest Moments" and I saw a album with green cover that caught my attention. A very beautiful painting. I ended up buying Supertramp and Styx albums and I went straight home to listen them. Out of curiosity I put the Styx first on my turntable.... "The Grand Illusion, Fooling Yourself, Superstars, Come Sail Away, Miss America, Man In the Wilderness, Castle Walls, The Grand Finale". Song after song I was falling in love more and more. Love at first sight. For me a perfect album.
From that moment on I began to search for Styx's albums and I found "Equinox" and "Crystal Ball" which had already been released in my country. A week later I bought both of them as well. Then my collection of Styx begun....

[gr8dane]

I was still all over Equinox,so when I picked up GI,
I was disappointed, as I wanted another one like it.
I found there was a new sound to Styx and GI.
Don't get me wrong ,I did like it and played it tons,
but...... .
Well it made me like Crystal Ball even more.
I would be OK if I never heard Come Sail Away,Grand Illusion and Miss America again.

[pinkfloyd1973]

I just listened to it again all the way through last night, it's one of those albums you can play over and over again without skipping over anything. Castle Walls is just perfection, it still sends chills down my spine with it's haunting beauty

[FormerDJMike]

Recently listened to it on vinyl. Listen closely to the end of Miss America. You can hear them miss a guitar note. For years I thought it was a skip on my record. Then when I bought it on cd it was there too. I noticed it again on the 180 gram vinyl remaster as well. My second favorite Styx album and I don't listen to it as much as I should anymore. My first exposure to Styx probably around 1980. It was my brothers album and I liked it because one of my brothers favored Dennis (his name is also Dennis). I love the studio version of Miss America. As overplayed as it is, it is still one of my all time favorite Styx songs.

[masque]

Recently listened to it on vinyl. Listen closely to the end of Miss America. You can hear them miss a guitar note. For years I thought it was a skip on my record. Then when I bought it on cd it was there too. I noticed it again on the 180 gram vinyl remaster as well. My second favorite Styx album and I don't listen to it as much as I should anymore. My first exposure to Styx probably around 1980. It was my brothers album and I liked it because one of my brothers favored Dennis (his name is also Dennis). I love the studio version of Miss America. As overplayed as it is, it is still one of my all time favorite Styx songs.

yes I have always loved that missed note in the fade of miss america......i love the fact that they left it in there.

[Toph]

Ah the Grand Illusion. The most cohesive Styx album that there is. Every song plays a role and they all form a unique story. What I find interesting about Grand Illusion is that Side One and Side Two are completely different in tone. Side One is the more upbeat, positive side. Side Two is the downer, more cynical side. But at the end of the day it really works well together.

So here goes:
- Grand Illusion: The classic opener of an album - hearkens back to Magical Mystery Tour or Sgt Pepper intros - sets the stage and the theme. Classic Styx harmonies, DDY is great on lead vox. A royal triumphant theme with the da da da da dum da da da da dum da da da da de de da dum opening - feels like a knight is going to be riding by. My only minor gripe - I think the guitar solo lasts one phrase too long. At one point feels repetitive. "America spells competition - join us in our blind ambition..." classic line

Foolin' Yourself - My favorite Tommy Shaw tune. Great marriage of acoustic guitar and keyboards. This is what Tommy really added to the Styx sound. The combo of the Oberheim and the acoustic guitar is a juxtaposition that really resonates. Another one is the acoustic piano with the electric guitar juxtaposition that is evident on so many Styx songs (Lady, CSA, BOT). A great message, a great song, a great overall tune. Why it didn't get higher than #29 is a mystery to me - should have been a top 5 single.

Superstars - Some say the weakest song on Grand Illusion. I say, if it is the weakest, it only means it is the smallest among the giants. Because all these songs are huge. Clearly, a pop oriented song with the high harmonies and captivating hook. The only hint of "progigness" is the Dennis spoken part. Dennis's role on this album always felt to me as a mysterious ring leader or narrator of the Grand Illusion. Almost like a Willie Wonka or something - he's leading you on the Grand Illusion and coming in and out with that echoey like voice effect. Did anyone ever see it this way?

Come Sail Away - Not much more to write about on this one as it has been done to death. Truly the closest in the grand scheme of rock masterpieces that Styx gets. Mentioned in same breath as Carry On Wayward Son, Stairway To Heaven, Let It Be, My Generation, More Than A Feeling, etc. as one of those timeless classic rock songs that must be included on any classic rock playlist. Some have never understood the logic of the second angels verse (where they angels turn into starships real time within the song). Some have said that it cheapens what otherwise was a great lyrical expression and was playing too much on the space movie fad at the time (Close Encounters, Star Wars). I thought this way for a long time until someone pointed out that the story is oddly familiar to chapter 1 of Ezekiel in the bible. Read it and see how it applies.

Miss America - With a flip of the record, we go from soaring optimism to cynicism and pessimism. Miss America "sometimes the cover makes the book" is a sneering commentary on our culture which tends to glorify the superficial. One of JY's strongest efforts and vocally, he keeps the voice within range so that there are fewer cracks on the recorded version than in other JY songs. Keyboards on this song are underrated. You think of Miss America as a guitar driven rocker, but the studio version lends a lot of keyboards into the mix which do two things a) softens it up a bit while remaining true to its rock roots, and b) adds a level of variety to the song beyond just the standard JY rock son.

Man in the Wilderness - Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. So appropro and such strong lyrics. Tommy really shines on this album lyrically as this and Foolin Yourself are extremely strong lyrically. The chorus melody is strong, but I think misses an opportunity to not have three part harmony. If you listen closely, you'll here that it is only Tommy and JY - no Dennis in the lower range. The result is a chorus that doesn't have quite the oomph of other Styx choruses. Still, a minor nit and overall a very strong tune.

Castle Walls - Be honest, did this song ever scare you? It scared the crap out of me when I was a kid. A lot of eerily sounding and forboding notes. If you want to get a peek under the tent at the personal issues DDY was encountering at this time, this is the song that will do it. Classic in its minor key mysteriousness. We've all had fears in our lives and this one hits right at the heart of it.

Grand Finale - Despite the fact that the last 3 songs have taken you down a dark and pessimistic road, as they often like to do, Styx leaves you with a tinge of optimism to close out the album. As a synopsis of the album, it is telling you that it will be ok. Is the lyric "Sail Away, Superstars. Sail Away To The Skies"? or is it just "Sail Away Superstars, Sail Away Superstars?" I've seen both written and didn't know what was official. The first one makes it all tie together better, but not sure if that is what they are saying - even hard to decipher listening.

Obviously this is Styx at their nadir of 70s rock. A followup will be strong but not quite as well received and various member changes in taste will then move the band into a further direction. But as far as capturing the sound and fee of the late 70s, this is it.

[Toph]

I was still all over Equinox,so when I picked up GI,
I was disappointed, as I wanted another one like it.
I found there was a new sound to Styx and GI.
Don't get me wrong ,I did like it and played it tons,
but...... .
Well it made me like Crystal Ball even more.
I would be OK if I never heard Come Sail Away,Grand Illusion and Miss America again.

You are right, the sound on GI is different than the previous two - they are continuing to evolve more and more to the mainstream and having a more pop sound. Getting pretty far from the Wooden Nickel days at this point...

[masque]

Ah the Grand Illusion. The most cohesive Styx album that there is. Every song plays a role and they all form a unique story. What I find interesting about Grand Illusion is that Side One and Side Two are completely different in tone. Side One is the more upbeat, positive side. Side Two is the downer, more cynical side. But at the end of the day it really works well together.

So here goes:
- Grand Illusion: The classic opener of an album - hearkens back to Magical Mystery Tour or Sgt Pepper intros - sets the stage and the theme. Classic Styx harmonies, DDY is great on lead vox. A royal triumphant theme with the da da da da dum da da da da dum da da da da de de da dum opening - feels like a knight is going to be riding by. My only minor gripe - I think the guitar solo lasts one phrase too long. At one point feels repetitive. "America spells competition - join us in our blind ambition..." classic line

Foolin' Yourself - My favorite Tommy Shaw tune. Great marriage of acoustic guitar and keyboards. This is what Tommy really added to the Styx sound. The combo of the Oberheim and the acoustic guitar is a juxtaposition that really resonates. Another one is the acoustic piano with the electric guitar juxtaposition that is evident on so many Styx songs (Lady, CSA, BOT). A great message, a great song, a great overall tune. Why it didn't get higher than #29 is a mystery to me - should have been a top 5 single.

Superstars - Some say the weakest song on Grand Illusion. I say, if it is the weakest, it only means it is the smallest among the giants. Because all these songs are huge. Clearly, a pop oriented song with the high harmonies and captivating hook. The only hint of "progigness" is the Dennis spoken part. Dennis's role on this album always felt to me as a mysterious ring leader or narrator of the Grand Illusion. Almost like a Willie Wonka or something - he's leading you on the Grand Illusion and coming in and out with that echoey like voice effect. Did anyone ever see it this way?

Come Sail Away - Not much more to write about on this one as it has been done to death. Truly the closest in the grand scheme of rock masterpieces that Styx gets. Mentioned in same breath as Carry On Wayward Son, Stairway To Heaven, Let It Be, My Generation, More Than A Feeling, etc. as one of those timeless classic rock songs that must be included on any classic rock playlist. Some have never understood the logic of the second angels verse (where they angels turn into starships real time within the song). Some have said that it cheapens what otherwise was a great lyrical expression and was playing too much on the space movie fad at the time (Close Encounters, Star Wars). I thought this way for a long time until someone pointed out that the story is oddly familiar to chapter 1 of Ezekiel in the bible. Read it and see how it applies.

Miss America - With a flip of the record, we go from soaring optimism to cynicism and pessimism. Miss America "sometimes the cover makes the book" is a sneering commentary on our culture which tends to glorify the superficial. One of JY's strongest efforts and vocally, he keeps the voice within range so that there are fewer cracks on the recorded version than in other JY songs. Keyboards on this song are underrated. You think of Miss America as a guitar driven rocker, but the studio version lends a lot of keyboards into the mix which do two things a) softens it up a bit while remaining true to its rock roots, and b) adds a level of variety to the song beyond just the standard JY rock son.

Man in the Wilderness - Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. So appropro and such strong lyrics. Tommy really shines on this album lyrically as this and Foolin Yourself are extremely strong lyrically. The chorus melody is strong, but I think misses an opportunity to not have three part harmony. If you listen closely, you'll here that it is only Tommy and JY - no Dennis in the lower range. The result is a chorus that doesn't have quite the oomph of other Styx choruses. Still, a minor nit and overall a very strong tune.

Castle Walls - Be honest, did this song ever scare you? It scared the crap out of me when I was a kid. A lot of eerily sounding and forboding notes. If you want to get a peek under the tent at the personal issues DDY was encountering at this time, this is the song that will do it. Classic in its minor key mysteriousness. We've all had fears in our lives and this one hits right at the heart of it.

Grand Finale - Despite the fact that the last 3 songs have taken you down a dark and pessimistic road, as they often like to do, Styx leaves you with a tinge of optimism to close out the album. As a synopsis of the album, it is telling you that it will be ok. Is the lyric "Sail Away, Superstars. Sail Away To The Skies"? or is it just "Sail Away Superstars, Sail Away Superstars?" I've seen both written and didn't know what was official. The first one makes it all tie together better, but not sure if that is what they are saying - even hard to decipher listening.

Obviously this is Styx at their nadir of 70s rock. A followup will be strong but not quite as well received and various member changes in taste will then move the band into a further direction. But as far as capturing the sound and fee of the late 70s, this is it.

fantastic written review toph and I agree with nearly 100% of it.

[yogi]

GREAT review of an even GREATER album.

Even though I will ALWAYS like Equinox better this is their best overall album. Not a weak song on it and its as fresh today as it was back in the day.

[Everett]

Happy b day GI

[yogi]

7-7-77.

Seems just like yesterday. If Tommy's & JY's version of Styx are in concert tonight they sure should play that album in it's entirety as should Dennis if he's in concert tonight.

Happy Birthday to one of the GREATEST albums EVER delivered PERFECTLY by one of the GREATEST rock and roll bands EVER!!

[Everett]

Anyone else think the extended JY solo here is unnecessary???????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4XsnNavpFc