Why Paradise Theatre is so strong

[Toph]

One word - Hooks!

Of all the Styx albums, there are more catchy pop hooks on this one than any other. What Many of the songs on Paradise Theatre pull off is "double" hooks - two different repeating hooks. Take the entire first side. Every song has two distinctively different repeated hooks interwoven within the song.

- Rockin The Paradise - First you have the "Take pride, be wise..." section followed by the main "Rockin The/In Paradise" chorus
- Too Much Time - You have the "Is it any wonder.." main chorus followed by the "Too Much Time" vocal triad before and after the guitar solo and at the fade.
- Nothing Ever Goes As Planned - The "Nothing Ever Goes..." chorus followed by the "Still Got Them Mother Nature's Blue's" section
Best of Times - "The Best of Times" chorus followed the "These are the Best of Times" bridge (repeated again on the live version).

There are others on the album, but the fact that the first four songs all have double hooks is quite awesome songwriting. Its hard enough to develop one compelling hook, much less two. Band was clearly at the top of its game for this album.

[Monker]

Oh....

I thought this thread was going to be about the Paradise Theatre album being caught using steriods. The Cornerstone album turned him in because, well, Cornerstone was being bullied by PT because he's such a wimp and he just couldn't take it any longer.

[Toph]

Oh....

I thought this thread was going to be about the Paradise Theatre album being caught using steriods. The Cornerstone album turned him in because, well, Cornerstone was being bullied by PT because he's such a wimp and he just couldn't take it any longer.

Is this your attempt at humor? If so, its a FAIL.

[yogi]

Great album. I really liked it back in the day, but I even like it more now. At the time it came out( when I was MUCH younger) I didn't like the horns. I thought Styx was getting too much like Chicago.

Today I like the horns a lot better.

Excellent album.

[gr8dane]

Yep.
Several left hooks,a couple of right hooks and rounding off with a few uppercuts.
Paradise Theatre is a great album.
And thankfully no wet noodle limpy wimpy ballads as 'Babe' and 'First time'.

[gr8dane]

Great album. I really liked it back in the day, but I even like it more now. At the time it came out( when I was MUCH younger) I didn't like the horns. I thought Styx was getting too much like Chicago.

Today I like the horns a lot better.

Excellent album.

You horny Yogi ?

[Toph]

Yep.
Several left hooks,a couple of right hooks and rounding off with a few uppercuts.
Paradise Theatre is a great album.
And thankfully no wet noodle limpy wimpy ballads as 'Babe' and 'First time'.

Its a great album except for that insipidly weak pussy-esque tune She Cares.

[gr8dane]

Yep.
Several left hooks,a couple of right hooks and rounding off with a few uppercuts.
Paradise Theatre is a great album.
And thankfully no wet noodle limpy wimpy ballads as 'Babe' and 'First time'.

Its a great album except for that insipidly weak pussy-esque tune She Cares.

It's funny to think that,with Dennis' 2 shitty songs,with one of those being #1 song,
kept Cornerstone of the #1 album spot.
Yet with Tommy's shitty song ,brought PT to the # 1 album spot.
Well done Tommy.

[Monker]

Oh....

I thought this thread was going to be about the Paradise Theatre album being caught using steriods. The Cornerstone album turned him in because, well, Cornerstone was being bullied by PT because he's such a wimp and he just couldn't take it any longer.

Is this your attempt at humor? If so, its a FAIL.

Oh, wow, Kilroy was just in the news that he was looking into his Crystal Ball and saw PT was arrested for spray painting some graffiti on the side of some building. Investigators found that it was written in some type of "rock code". When it was deciphered it was found PT was sending a secret message to his steroid dealer (aka "Man of Miracles") to meet him on State Street, and to bring someone named Sadie. Supposedly, Sadie really gets PT's "serpent" rising and he was in the need of a release.

Cornerstone was to scared to comment. In fact he was so scared he got sick and started barfing up enchiladas into his toilet and was screaming that he was living in some kinda illusion and was offering $1000 to anybody who would help him.

[masque]

good observation Toph......the songwriting on PT is incredible and it's one of my all time faves!

[BRETT5150]

Its my fave Styx album overall. The only weak link is "She cares" in which doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the album.
My top 5 Styx albums-
Paradise Theatre
The Grand Illusion
Equinox
Pieces of eight
Crystal ball

[Toph]

Yep.
Several left hooks,a couple of right hooks and rounding off with a few uppercuts.
Paradise Theatre is a great album.
And thankfully no wet noodle limpy wimpy ballads as 'Babe' and 'First time'.

Its a great album except for that insipidly weak pussy-esque tune She Cares.

It's funny to think that,with Dennis' 2 shitty songs,with one of those being #1 song,
kept Cornerstone of the #1 album spot.
Yet with Tommy's shitty song ,brought PT to the # 1 album spot.
Well done Tommy.

Seems to be great that there were 3 big songs on Paradise Theatre. Two of the Three written and sung by DDY. Oh, and last time I looked, DDY has writing credit on all but 3 songs on PT, not to mention coming up with the entire concept album and idea as well as producing the entire thing....Yeah, Tommy really carried the load on that one.....

[masque]

im all in on tommy and he is my fave but in the above argument I have to agree with toph on this one.....PT was carried by DDY in every way possible.......yes, tommy was a contributor and it wouldnt be the same without what he did add with his one great song, guitar playing and singing......but in many ways PT was as much a DDY led album as the wall by floyd was.

[yogi]

I disagree. Equinox which is my favorite Styx album was DDY's true baby.

All of the other albums were pretty much what Styx would always be once Tommy entered the band. Tommy shined on Too Much Time On My Hands, JY, Tommy & Dennis all shined on Snowblind. JY had one of his best moments on Half Penny/Two Penny& Tommy & Dennis both had their hands in a couple of clunkers in Lonely People( which at least fit the album) & Tommy's 'She Cares'( worst song on the album).

Paradise Theater was and still is a GREAT album but in my opinion its a true Styx album. They all shine on this one.

[Toph]

I disagree. Equinox which is my favorite Styx album was DDY's true baby.

All of the other albums were pretty much what Styx would always be once Tommy entered the band. Tommy shined on Too Much Time On My Hands, JY, Tommy & Dennis all shined on Snowblind. JY had one of his best moments on Half Penny/Two Penny& Tommy & Dennis both had their hands in a couple of clunkers in Lonely People( which at least fit the album) & Tommy's 'She Cares'( worst song on the album).

Paradise Theater was and still is a GREAT album but in my opinion its a true Styx album. They all shine on this one.

I would agree in the point that JY had his best moments on ANY Styx album on PT. But its a big time DDY influenced album IMO. Agree with you on Equinoz. In fact, here is how I'd make the statement for influence on each.

Equinox - DDY influence
CB - T Shaw influence
GI - ALL - Full band effort
Po8 - TS influence with substantial contributions from DDY/JY
Cornerstone - Shared DDY/TS influence; JY almost non existent
PT - DDY strong influence with contributions from JY/TS
Kilroy - Concept - DDY; Songs - shared
Edge - DDY/GB joint
BNW - TS strong influence with contributions from DDY/JY
Cyclorama - ALL - full band effort (among 4 singers)