Styx Listening Party - A&M Years Recap

[Toph]

Well we've gone from Equinox to Edge of the Century and made it through those 16 years that Styx absolutely hit their heights. A&M was great for Styx and Styx was great for A&M. Look at the phenomenal results.

- 8 Studio Albums, all 8 of which were certified GOLD, 5 certified platinum, and 4 certified multi-platinum
- 1 Compilation that was certified multi-platinum (GH1) and 1 that was certified GOLD (Classics, remember that one?)
- 5 albums that peaked in the top 10 of the Billboard Album Chart; 3 albums which peaked in the top 3
- 7 Top 10 singles (The 8th, Lady, was on WN); and an additional Top 20 single. 15 Top 40 Charted Singles
- Top 10 Singles in the 70s, 80s, and 90s
- Top 10 Singles under 4 different Presidential Administrations
- Named the Most Popular Band in America (1980)
- People's Choice Award (1980 - Babe)
- Grammy Nomination, Album of the Year (Cornerstone)

All in all a marriage made in heaven until the grunge 1990s came into play. I think sometimes with our current fan base (as well as the current band for that matter), we spend a lot more time complaining (bitching) about what went wrong during the A&M years vs. celebrating all that went right. Think about it for a second, this band had a phenomenal run! From Lady hitting in late 74/early 75 to an litany of hits over the next 9 years that should make anyone proud. Then to top it off, a reunion album 8 years later that produced one of the biggest hit records of 1991. What a ride with Styx and A&M! So, celebrate the success and realize that few bands have ever accomplished what Styx did during the A&M years. They made it to the top, and that is pretty special.

So, what's your favorites from the era? Keep it to the numbers in each headline - makes you really think and consider if you are limited to just the few I've outlined....

Here are mine:

Top 5 Songs (A&M Years) - defined as songs that really impacted me and that I still love
1. Come Sail Away
2. Show Me The Way
3. The Best of Times
4. Foolin' Yourself
5. AD 1928/Rockin' The Paradise

Top 3 Favorite Albums
1. TIE - Paradise Theatre/Grand Illusion
3. Cornerstone

Top 3 Album Sides
1. Paradise Theatre Side 1
2. Grand Illusion Side 1
3. Cornerstone Side 1

Let's recap the A&M years and then we'll jump into post A&M....

[sbsugar]

Great post, for me:

Top 5 Songs (A&M Years)
1. Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
2. AD 1928/Rockin' The Paradise
3. Snowblind
4. Pieces of Eight/Aku Aku
5. Double Life

Top 3 Favorite Albums
1. Pieces of Eight
2. Paradise Theater
3. Kilroy Was Here

Top 3 Album Sides
1. Paradise Theater Side 2
2. Pieces of Eight Side 2
3. Grand Illusion Side 1

[Kilroy1983]

Here´s mine:

Top 5 Songs (A&M Years)
1. Born For Adventure
2. Come Sail Away
3. Suite Madame Blue
4. Fooling Yourself
5. Blue Collar Man

Top 3 Favorite Albums
1. The Grand Illusion
2. Equinox
3. Pieces Of Eight

Top 3 Album Sides
1. Equinox Side 2
2. Grand Illusion Side 1
3. Pieces Of Eight Side 2

[yogi]

Top 5 Songs
5. The Best Of Times/Show Me The Way (TIE)
4. Man In The Wilderness
3. Suite Madame Blue
2. Come Sail Away
1. BORN FOR ADVENTURE

Top 3 Albums
3. Pieces Of Eight
2. The Grand Illusion
1. EQUINOX

Top 3 Album Sides
3. Edge Of Century - Side 1
2. The Grand Illusion - Side 1/Pieces Of Eight-Side 2 (TIE)
1. EQUINOX - SIDE 2

** Ties are soooooo chicken shi t**

[masque]

dear god this is hard;

songs;

1) renegade
2) fooling yourself
3) come sail away
4) the best of times
5) great white hope


albums;

1) the grand illusion
2) pieces of eight
3) paradise theater

album sides;

1) grand illusion side 1
2) pieces of eight side 2
3) paradise theater side 1

[Baron Von Bielski]

Top 5 Songs:
1. Pieces of Eight
2. Castle Walls
3. Fooling Yourself
4. Man in the Wilderness
5. Suite Madame Blue

Top 3 Albums:
1. The Grand Illusion
2. Pieces of Eight
3. Equinox

Top 3 Album Sides:
1. Pieces of Eight Side 2
2. The Grand Illusion Side 1
3. Crystal Ball Side 1