No Styx A&M Re-Masters Planned

[rajah2165]

And I recall Dennis saying once in an interview that record companies always wanted to release material in multiple collections/greatest hits etc. packages under the Styx name. And the band had sole control of when and what was released. And he purposely restricted the use of the record company ever putting out Styx compilations.

Best Of Styx (1977) - Wooden Nickel - styx did not own the rights to those songs. Wooden Nickel could repackage anyway they wanted to.

So, not so much with the "sole control" in that instance.

Caught In The Act (1984) - Legitimate live album (first ever for the band)

No more "legit" than any other (in fact, less so, depending on how strict we want to to be with the definition of a "live album," but that's neither here nor there.) If post-99 live albums are fair game, so's this.

A&M Classics (1987) - One time A&M special release - only greatest hits album at that point

So the "purposely restricted the use of the record company ever putting out Styx compilations" decree was put into place after this one, then?

Styx Greatest Hits (1995) - Agreed to updating of Classics by including Lady, adding SMTW, and replacing Light Up with bigger hit Loreiei

Oh, I guess not. Still a compiltaion, and a largely repackaged version of one already existing at that. Still out there on the market. Still "diluting the brand."

Styx Greatest Hits II (1996) - Per the article I mentioned (don't know the source but someone here must) Dennis was AGAINST this album being released, but was voted down by Tommy and JY.

And CP/JP, if in fact it came to a vote...but since you have no cite (what was that about "doing research?") we're going to call this hearsay for the time being. If/when you can ever prove it's true, we'll go on to discuss how it contradicts the "purposely restricted the use of the record company ever putting out Styx compilations" bit. (On a side note, it's both amusing and appropriate that if the story is true, this would be the compilation that he would choose to bellyache about.)





[quote="rajah2165}

Dear Idiot who makes things up -

Please read the attached interview given by Dennis to A. Hirt in 1999.

AH: Moving onto Styx ... last time I interviewed you in '96 for Keyboard, when I mentioned to you that A&M put out a June sampler with "While There's Still Time" on it
DDY: Yeah
AH: You got a little perturbed and you said you would talk to A&M, and then about a week later - I know this really happened - the sampler itself was recalled because my friend worked in a record store that had received it.
DDY: Yeah - that was never supposed to happen.
AH: So they had it recalled, but why did you have a change of heart and re-release it on Brave New World. And to me - in listening and comparing the two versions - it almost seems like the same backing tracks on some level.
DDY: It is! It's the same track! I mean, I added some stuff to it.
AH: I hear the echoing "time" at the end and a few keyboard things here and there.
DDY: Yes. The reason I retracted it was simple: I knew A&M didn't give a flying hoot about us. Not a hoot!
AH: Right
DDY: We gave them that, um, the what the hell's ... I was against the Greatest Hits Part 2 being released. I was against it - because I thought it was foolish. I was outvoted, and "It Takes Love To Make Love", to me, it's a hit record. I always thought it was a hit record. And I knew in my heart that A&M was not going to lift one finger - okay - to promote that record. They just want to get control of the catalog, because our contract read that they could not arbitrarily release stuff - which was the greatest thing. You know what I'm saying.
AH: Yes
DDY: Like RCA, with Wooden Nickel, they can do whatever the hell they want because that's what that contract said. But A&M couldn't arbitrarily release things. So I said don't give them control of the catalog because I knew the people involved didn't give a hoot about anything, so at the last minute I just said, "Get that outta there!" I don't want A&M to have control ... see, I didn't want them to have artistic control of that piece of property, so I took it away. Because "It Takes Love To Make Love" was written by Glen Burtnik and somebody else, and "Little Suzie" was on there, wasn't it?
AH: Yeah
DDY: And that was written by Burtnik and somebody else. I did not want A&M to have one more chance to control my songs. And that's why I took it off.
[Note: This is proof positive I created the June Sampler rarity, and I haven't been lying for 3 years!]
AH: It makes sense. Actually, "It Takes Love To Make Love" was the only song to survive from the demo sessions between Edge Of The Century and when Hits 2 was released.

[rajah2165]

And I recall Dennis saying once in an interview that record companies always wanted to release material in multiple collections/greatest hits etc. packages under the Styx name. And the band had sole control of when and what was released. And he purposely restricted the use of the record company ever putting out Styx compilations.

Best Of Styx (1977) - Wooden Nickel - styx did not own the rights to those songs. Wooden Nickel could repackage anyway they wanted to.

So, not so much with the "sole control" in that instance.

Caught In The Act (1984) - Legitimate live album (first ever for the band)

No more "legit" than any other (in fact, less so, depending on how strict we want to to be with the definition of a "live album," but that's neither here nor there.) If post-99 live albums are fair game, so's this.

A&M Classics (1987) - One time A&M special release - only greatest hits album at that point

So the "purposely restricted the use of the record company ever putting out Styx compilations" decree was put into place after this one, then?

Styx Greatest Hits (1995) - Agreed to updating of Classics by including Lady, adding SMTW, and replacing Light Up with bigger hit Loreiei

Oh, I guess not. Still a compiltaion, and a largely repackaged version of one already existing at that. Still out there on the market. Still "diluting the brand."

Styx Greatest Hits II (1996) - Per the article I mentioned (don't know the source but someone here must) Dennis was AGAINST this album being released, but was voted down by Tommy and JY.

And CP/JP, if in fact it came to a vote...but since you have no cite (what was that about "doing research?") we're going to call this hearsay for the time being. If/when you can ever prove it's true, we'll go on to discuss how it contradicts the "purposely restricted the use of the record company ever putting out Styx compilations" bit. (On a side note, it's both amusing and appropriate that if the story is true, this would be the compilation that he would choose to bellyache about.)

The Best Of Times: The Best Of Styx (1997) - Canada and European release of Greatest Hits - not released in the US. Their version of GH.

I didn't know we were only caring about US releases. Nevertheless, still exists. Still readily available. Still "diluting the brand."

Return To Paradise (1997) - Live album celebrating the reunion with 3 new songs. Different songs than Caught In The Act and a better version.

And StyxWorld has different songs than this one. Again, either all live albums are fair game or none are.

Now since DDY has left....

Extended Versions
Gold
Yesterday and Today
Arch Allies
20th century Masters
At The Rivers Edge
21st Century Live
Styxworld live 2001
Rockers

That would be 9 pieces of crap released since he is gone and 9 albums that are in the Styx section and replace the studio classics.

So, it's a numbers game, then? 9 is two more than 7, I'll grant you that. But all the rest of your excuses basically boil down to "the others were Ok because DDY was in the band at the time," which perhaps is what you should have just said in the first place instead of...you know, the other thing.

And again, none of this changes the fact that all of the original albums in the Styx discography are still in print, still widely available, and not in danger of being supplanted any time soon.

I hope you aren't a lawyer because you can't put together a logical arguement to save your life.

No its not a numbers game idiot like 9 to 7. And your numbers don't even make sense - I am not going to go through each one. But trying to equate a Greatest Hits version that is only available in Europe with what they are putting out today is ridiculous. Here are the facts (I know its hard to not let a few facts get in the way of a good emotional argument - oh Tommy is sooooo cute!!!) Its a fact that these guys have put out compilation after compilation and they did not when Dennis was in the band. He did not water it down like that. They put out 2 fucking live albums in 23 years. These guys have put out 6 live albums in 7 years. They have put together stupid compilations like "Rockers". Go into a Borders or Barnes and Noble and go to the Styx section. You don't find Paradise Theatre. You don't find Grand Illusion. You find StyxWorld Live 2001. That is pathetic. They have replaced good studio albums with crap in the Styx bins. They are playing 1/3 filled ampitheatres with the lights on for 30 minutes as an opening act to an opening act. They have watered down their brand immensely. I have the facts. You don't. But you can continue to stick your nose up their butts and say that nothing has changed, but you and the other 6 bathwater drinkers here are the only people that believe it. This band is a joke. They are worse than Spinal Tap. They need to give it up and go home.

[Zan]

Rajah said:

"Dear Idiot..."
"And let's not forget Chuck. Who is paying for those AIDS treatments?"
"Uh, first of all moron"
"The album sucked big time"
"maybe next time you can share how your morning bowel movement went "
"No its not a numbers game idiot "
"It sucked. "
"that's the biggest load of crap I've heard all week"
"You are certainly full of it."
"And Zan I see you are as big of a bitch as ever"
"I would prefer to edit JY out of every album since he didn't contribute shit to the band in the entire 30 years of its existence."
"I am willing to stop the insults if other are."
"No, both of those albums suck big time."
"Hey Idiot - "
"So, shut up and go back to your bong..."
Yeah but if he grew up and stop creating reasons for the animosity, all would be better off. He is just really immature I suppose."
"JY is a TOTAL COKE HEAD. I bet he still is.
Who snorted more Coke? JY or Tommy Shaw?
Who did more heroin? JY or Tommy Shaw?
Who did more LSD? JY or Tommy Shaw?"
"You Tommyfans really aren't that bright are you."
"Well if you would get your nose out of Zan's smelly behind..."
"You are full of it"
"Tommy Shaw IS A LIAR!"
"The denseness here amazes me"
"Chuck's a crappy bassist."
"That's a load of crap."
"YOU HAVE NEVER SAID ANYTHING POSITIVE ABOUT DDY. PERIOD. YOU GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO SLAM HIM WITH LITTLE SNIDE COMMENTS THAT ARE SUBTLE ENOUGH THAT IF YOU GET CALLED ON IT, YOU CAN EASILY BACKTRACK. YOPU ARE TRULY PATHETIC."
"Speaking of defective chromosomes, how bout a drink, Zan?"
"So quit bad-mouthing Dennis and abide by the old saying of if you can't say something nice..."

"I love it when idiots who have no information try to post with an air of authority. "
"My point was you have no contacts in the band..I DO. "

Your words speak volumes.

LOL...

[rajah2165]

Rajah said:

"Dear Idiot..."
"And let's not forget Chuck. Who is paying for those AIDS treatments?"
"Uh, first of all moron"
"The album sucked big time"
"maybe next time you can share how your morning bowel movement went "
"No its not a numbers game idiot "
"It sucked. "
"that's the biggest load of crap I've heard all week"
"You are certainly full of it."
"And Zan I see you are as big of a bitch as ever"
"I would prefer to edit JY out of every album since he didn't contribute shit to the band in the entire 30 years of its existence."
"No, both of those albums suck big time."
"Hey Idiot - "
"So, shut up and go back to your bong..."
Yeah but if he grew up and stop creating reasons for the animosity, all would be better off. He is just really immature I suppose."
"JY is a TOTAL COKE HEAD. I bet he still is.
Who snorted more Coke? JY or Tommy Shaw?
Who did more heroin? JY or Tommy Shaw?
Who did more LSD? JY or Tommy Shaw?"
"You Tommyfans really aren't that bright are you."
"Well if you would get your nose out of Zan's smelly behind..."
"You are full of it"
"Tommy Shaw IS A LIAR!"
"The denseness here amazes me"
"Chuck's a crappy bassist."
"That's a load of crap."
"YOU HAVE NEVER SAID ANYTHING POSITIVE ABOUT DDY. PERIOD. YOU GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO SLAM HIM WITH LITTLE SNIDE COMMENTS THAT ARE SUBTLE ENOUGH THAT IF YOU GET CALLED ON IT, YOU CAN EASILY BACKTRACK. YOPU ARE TRULY PATHETIC."
"Speaking of defective chromosomes, how bout a drink, Zan?"
"So quit bad-mouthing Dennis and abide by the old saying of if you can't say something nice..."

"I love it when idiots who have no information try to post with an air of authority. "
"My point was you have no contacts in the band..I DO. "

Your words speak volumes.

LOL...

Wow that took a lot of work and quite a lot of time to search through all those posts and come up with that list. You must be very proud of yourself. I bet you can sit back and say..well what did I accomplish today? Well I managed to spend 2 hours going through reams of posts from total stranger and post them on-line. Yes, I certainly was succesful today. I accomplished a lot! Well done Zan. Quite a contribution to society you've made today.

[Zan]

Wow that took a lot of work and quite a lot of time to search through all those posts and come up with that list. You must be very proud of yourself. I bet you can sit back and say..well what did I accomplish today? Well I managed to spend 2 hours going through reams of posts from total stranger and post them on-line. Yes, I certainly was succesful today. I accomplished a lot! Well done Zan. Quite a contribution to society you've made today.

LOL Actually, it only took me about 15 minutes! There are gems in justabout every post you make. I am, however, amused by the fact that you make THIS same kind of comeback statement every time I call you out on some hilarious remark you've managed to spew under the guise of appearing intelligent.

"Your words speak volumes..." What a cracker!
Funny stuff, man.

I mean, are you SERIOUS when you write shit like that? Never mind, I know you can't incriminate yourself by answering it honestly.

And speaking of contributions to society, Raj...what exactly do YOU contribute here? Judging by your posts, I'd say not much.

By the way, the PM you sent informing me that you "saw my post" was unneccesary, as you just replied to it. I was able to figure it out through deductive reasoning.

And please...don't feel sorry for me, I actually *enjoy* reminding you what a flake you are.

[stabbim]

Styx Greatest Hits II (1996) - Per the article I mentioned (don't know the source but someone here must) Dennis was AGAINST this album being released, but was voted down by Tommy and JY.

And CP/JP, if in fact it came to a vote...but since you have no cite (what was that about "doing research?") we're going to call this hearsay for the time being. If/when you can ever prove it's true, we'll go on to discuss how it contradicts the "purposely restricted the use of the record company ever putting out Styx compilations" bit. (On a side note, it's both amusing and appropriate that if the story is true, this would be the compilation that he would choose to bellyache about.)

Dear Idiot who makes things up -

Always the charmer, you.

Please read the attached interview given by Dennis to A. Hirt in 1999.


DDY: We gave them that, um, the what the hell's ... I was against the Greatest Hits Part 2 being released. I was against it - because I thought it was foolish. I was outvoted, and "It Takes Love To Make Love", to me, it's a hit record. I always thought it was a hit record. And I knew in my heart that A&M was not going to lift one finger - okay - to promote that record. They just want to get control of the catalog, because our contract read that they could not arbitrarily release stuff - which was the greatest thing. You know what I'm saying.
AH: Yes
DDY: Like RCA, with Wooden Nickel, they can do whatever the hell they want because that's what that contract said. But A&M couldn't arbitrarily release things. So I said don't give them control of the catalog because I knew the people involved didn't give a hoot about anything, so at the last minute I just said, "Get that outta there!"

Good job on backing up your statement with a quote. Seriously.

Now please to be pointing out anything said in this interview excerpt which demonstrates that I am "making things up" in my quote above.

But trying to equate a Greatest Hits version that is only available in Europe with what they are putting out today is ridiculous.

I'm sorry, only available where?

Its a fact that these guys have put out compilation after compilation and they did not when Dennis was in the band. He did not water it down like that.

So the presence of DDY was, according to you, the only thing standing in the way of this current glut of compilations? Despite the fact that, as his own account of the GH2 situation makes clear, the rest of band could have outvoted him any time?

Go into a Borders or Barnes and Noble and go to the Styx section. You don't find Paradise Theatre. You don't find Grand Illusion. You find StyxWorld Live 2001. That is pathetic. They have replaced good studio albums with crap in the Styx bins.

Apart from the definition of "crap" being subjective, I suppose my response would be...so what? Again, the albums are not out of print. Anyone who is interested in them (and lives in the 21st Century, where record bins are not especially relevant anymore) can purchase them.

But you can continue to stick your nose up their butts and say that nothing has changed, but you and the other 6 bathwater drinkers here are the only people that believe it.

Look, you can sit there and hurl nonsensical boilerplate insults at me all day if it makes you happy, but I am certainly not defending the current lineup here. Of course I think this flood of compilations, re-packagings and whatnot is crass and lame and pointless. I just don't care. I decline to purchase said items, then I shrug and move the fuck on. It doesn't affect me. I don't know why it should affect anyone.

The only points I am contesting here are A) the opinion that these releases "hurt" the band in some way that those released under DDY's tenure with the band did not, B) the implication that DDY was singlehandedly stopping such releases from coming out with more frequency beforehand, and C) the rather silly notion they are doing this deliberately, in an attempt to deflect public attention away from their back catalog &/or somehow reduce DDY's royalty payments.

[AnnieOprah]

Wow that took a lot of work and quite a lot of time to search through all those posts and come up with that list. You must be very proud of yourself. I bet you can sit back and say..well what did I accomplish today? Well I managed to spend 2 hours going through reams of posts from total stranger and post them on-line. Yes, I certainly was succesful today. I accomplished a lot! Well done Zan. Quite a contribution to society you've made today.

LOL Actually, it only took me about 15 minutes! There are gems in justabout every post you make. I am, however, amused by the fact that you make THIS same kind of comeback statement every time I call you out on some hilarious remark you've managed to spew under the guise of appearing intelligent.

"Your words speak volumes..." What a cracker!
Funny stuff, man.

I mean, are you SERIOUS when you write shit like that? Never mind, I know you can't incriminate yourself by answering it honestly.

And speaking of contributions to society, Raj...what exactly do YOU contribute here? Judging by your posts, I'd say not much.

By the way, the PM you sent informing me that you "saw my post" was unneccesary, as you just replied to it. I was able to figure it out through deductive reasoning.

And please...don't feel sorry for me, I actually *enjoy* reminding you what a flake you are.

Rajah and Zan -

Please spare the rest of us. Take your arguements offline or better yet, just stop talking to each other. I'm sick of both of you!

[Zan]

Rajah and Zan -

Please spare the rest of us. Take your arguements offline or better yet, just stop talking to each other. I'm sick of both of you!

I can see that. However, Andrew insists on allowing Rajah to continue to post here, knowing full-well that he is incapable of exchanging civilized banter with anyone or following directions. That is his decision. Unfortunate for the rest of us, but sometimes life is unfair.

Incidentally, are you ok with Rajah calling other, unprovoking members of this board "idiots," "morons," and "asshole?" Because it would seem everyone is OK with it until I get involved. Then, magically, people start to speak up. Or is it just easier to appear diplomatic when you can yell at 2 people?

[shaka]

I love it when idiots who have no information try to post with an air of authority.

So it would seem.

Note everyone - Zan slams me in her sarcastic way. Its not just a one way street.

Here, allow me to do it in my non sarcastic way for ya: You are a cyber cockroach. You are the very thing you so vehemently "protest." You are a whiner, a tattle-tale, a nuisence, a proverbial fly hovering over the picnic of life. You sir, are your own parody, a joke, a farce. You are matter and anti-matter at the same time. It's a wonder you don't spontaeously combust.

Your words speak volumes.

Well Zan, at least Rajah, errrrr Dee the haberdasher agrees with you!

[Higgy]

You guys are right! It is the JOURNEY fans with the mental problems!
Rock on Styx board!

[Jazz]

So Best Of Styx, A&M Classics Volume 15, Styx Greatest Hits (Cdn), Styx Greatest Hits Volume 1, Styx Greatest Hits Volume 2, Styx Extended Versions and not to mention all of those "compilations" released in other countries weren't released when Dennis WAS IN THE BAND?

Last time I checked all of those albums were released when Dennis was still in the band making decisions..

Oh and here in Edmonton, I could go to Best Buy, Future Shop, or HMV and find not only GH packages, but Said Grand Illusion, Equinox, Paradise Theater, hell I can even find the Early 90's Canada only Greatest Hits collection..

I agree, Jodes. There seems to be a good selection here.

Jo

[Abitaman]

When did the Journey board reopen? -ERIC

[Abitaman]

Zan, in all honesty, I have to agree with you. But what he does is tame to some of the stuff that goes on on the Journey board, so I don't think he is going away. One of the reasons I have posted a lot lately (other than working a lot) is the fact of some people stirring up trouble. I don't mind if someones view is different, but someone who doesn't agree with that point of view is a stupid.? Maybe he will go away?-ERIC

[Blue Falcon]

Can't we all just get along? Folks, we need to get back on topic here, which is "Why Styx Continues to Disregard Their Back Catalog And Continues To Suck."

[pinkfloyd1973]

Wow that took a lot of work and quite a lot of time to search through all those posts and come up with that list. You must be very proud of yourself. I bet you can sit back and say..well what did I accomplish today? Well I managed to spend 2 hours going through reams of posts from total stranger and post them on-line. Yes, I certainly was succesful today. I accomplished a lot! Well done Zan. Quite a contribution to society you've made today.

LOL Actually, it only took me about 15 minutes! There are gems in justabout every post you make. I am, however, amused by the fact that you make THIS same kind of comeback statement every time I call you out on some hilarious remark you've managed to spew under the guise of appearing intelligent.

"Your words speak volumes..." What a cracker!
Funny stuff, man.

I mean, are you SERIOUS when you write shit like that? Never mind, I know you can't incriminate yourself by answering it honestly.

And speaking of contributions to society, Raj...what exactly do YOU contribute here? Judging by your posts, I'd say not much.

By the way, the PM you sent informing me that you "saw my post" was unneccesary, as you just replied to it. I was able to figure it out through deductive reasoning.

And please...don't feel sorry for me, I actually *enjoy* reminding you what a flake you are.

Rajah and Zan -

Please spare the rest of us. Take your arguements offline or better yet, just stop talking to each other. I'm sick of both of you!

More like, get a room


Robin

[Grotelul]

Can't we all just get along? Folks, we need to get back on topic here, which is "Why Styx Continues to Disregard Their Back Catalog And Continues To Suck."

Because one member decided he didn't want to come out and play anymore. The rest said okay...see ya...end of story.