For A New Fan What's A Good Album To Start With?

[Everett]

While baby sitting for my half brother i have successfully converted him into a styxter. All it took was one listen to blue collar man and that was it. So what's a good album to start him off with? I was thinking grand illusion but anyone else have any thoughts? Anything but kilroy

[pinkfloyd1973]

While baby sitting for my half brother i have successfully converted him into a styxter. All it took was one listen to blue collar man and that was it. So what's a good album to start him off with? I was thinking grand illusion but anyone else have any thoughts? Anything but kilroy

I would say "The Grand Illusion", and mebbe "Paradise Theatre" also


Robin

[chowhall]

You can't go wrong with TGI and a pair of headphones.

[Everett]

You can't go wrong with TGI and a pair of headphones.

Amen to that

[Jodes]

Grand Illusion, followed by Pieces of Eight, then Equinox. Then if he's still really into them, drop Paradise Theater in there.

Crystal Ball and Cornerstone after he's been cemented by those four.

Once thats all said and done, get him into the live stuff.. start with Caught In The Act, then blow him away with Return To Paradise..

He'll be hook, lined and sinkered!

[hurricane #1]

equinox

[Everett]

Grand Illusion, followed by Pieces of Eight, then Equinox. Then if he's still really into them, drop Paradise Theater in there. Crystal Ball and Cornerstone after he's been cemented by those four. Once thats all said and done, get him into the live stuff.. start with Caught In The Act, then blow him away with Return To Paradise.. He'll be hook, lined and sinkered!

I think you forgot to include the cyo as well

[kansas666]

CYCLORAMA!!

[Zan]

CYCLORAMA!!

LOL...that was my answer too.
Although, if we're going for classic Styx, I would have to say GI as well.
(even tho Kilroy was my favorite - I know...JY would hang his head in shame.)

[Everett]

Thanks for all of your input's guys. It's amazing at how many differen't opinions/p.o.v.'s everyone has. I think i'll start with the fab four and go from there. Now my step mom hates me cause i'm getting him into "devil's music" she's kidding of course but i'm thinking devil's music? He hasin't even listened to snowblind yet

[Jodes]

Honestly, the CD of the CYO show pales in comparisson to the DVD.. I think because of the mix, etc.

RTP is the best live Styx CD out there, period..

Plus, I was focusing on the "classics"..

[Higgy]

Well my first taste of Styx was "Kilroy Was Here" and it is still my favorite.

...and those of you saying Cyclorama - are you really serious? You really think that would be a good album to start with? Even if you think new Styx is the most amazing thing on the planet, you really think that Cyclorama is a good place to start? Why not just say, "What If" or "City Slicker"? How about "Raised by Wolves"? In fact lets throw the real Styx out all together and say that you should start with "Cat Scratch Fever".

[Higgy]

Honestly, the CD of the CYO show pales in comparisson to the DVD.. I think because of the mix, etc.

RTP is the best live Styx CD out there, period..

Plus, I was focusing on the "classics"..

I'm not sure I would include RTP as a classic. I mean, its after the real Styx era. And the new songs on it are complete piles of shit.

[Everett]

Honestly, the CD of the CYO show pales in comparisson to the DVD.. I think because of the mix, etc.

RTP is the best live Styx CD out there, period..

Plus, I was focusing on the "classics"..

I'm not sure I would include RTP as a classic. I mean, its after the real Styx era. And the new songs on it are complete piles of shit.

Really? On my way is pretty good. Dear john is ok I don't think it was really meant to be a song.

[StyxCollector]

For the "classic" lineup I'd start with the 1 disc Greatest Hits from 1995. I wouldn't necessarily start with an album. From that you should be able to tell what they like more or less.

If you DO want to start with albums, Grand Illusion and Paradise Theater are no brainers.

After that, it's a toss up for me. I like them all (A&M years stuff) for different reasons, some more than others.

Although Cornerstone wouldn't be near the top for a first intro to Styx.

[StyxCollector]

Honestly, the CD of the CYO show pales in comparisson to the DVD.. I think because of the mix, etc.

RTP is the best live Styx CD out there, period..

Plus, I was focusing on the "classics"..

Actually, the best Styx live albums are some of the boots. The Japan '80 show and Mantra Studios are some of the best representations. Mantra Studios especially. The unreleased from '78 is also very good (it has shown up on boots as well).

RTP is better than CITA in many ways (but I like CITA better, oddly enough) - less futzed with, better recording - but I think RTP just misses something for me that I just can't put my finger on. It's not that it's Todd on drums because I think it adds a nice twist.

As for CITA, the Westwood One tapes (unfutzed with) which are the radio shows and basis for the album are better than CITA itself (i.e. you can hear DDY's keys esp. the organ better).

[KWH17]

CYCLORAMA!!

LOL...that was my answer too.
Although, if we're going for classic Styx, I would have to say GI as well.
(even tho Kilroy was my favorite - I know...[b]JY would hang his head in shame.) [/b]

I get what you mean, but I gotta say that one of his best songs appears on that album. Two guesses, and it's not the one where he's "in character".


Personally, after I first discovered the band through their 1995 Greatest Hits album, I listened to whatever I could find online, and then finally bought and listened to Grand Illusion. Though I really like Serpent, I can't say I'd recommend that for "beginners".

[Toph]

Grand Illusion, followed by Pieces of Eight, then Equinox. Then if he's still really into them, drop Paradise Theater in there. Crystal Ball and Cornerstone after he's been cemented by those four. Once thats all said and done, get him into the live stuff.. start with Caught In The Act, then blow him away with Return To Paradise.. He'll be hook, lined and sinkered!

I think you forgot to include the cyo as well

Not if you want him to like the band...

[Toph]

CYCLORAMA!!

Puke

[Toph]

Honestly, the CD of the CYO show pales in comparisson to the DVD.. I think because of the mix, etc.

RTP is the best live Styx CD out there, period..

Plus, I was focusing on the "classics"..

Actually, the best Styx live albums are some of the boots. The Japan '80 show and Mantra Studios are some of the best representations. Mantra Studios especially. The unreleased from '78 is also very good (it has shown up on boots as well).

RTP is better than CITA in many ways (but I like CITA better, oddly enough) - less futzed with, better recording - but I think RTP just misses something for me that I just can't put my finger on. It's not that it's Todd on drums because I think it adds a nice twist.

As for CITA, the Westwood One tapes (unfutzed with) which are the radio shows and basis for the album are better than CITA itself (i.e. you can hear DDY's keys esp. the organ better).

Weren't they in Japan in 1982? That was the end of the Paradise Theatre tour wasn't it? Or did they go durng the Cornerstone tour as well?

[G.I.Jim]

I would just get the Greatest Hit's cd. That way you hear all of the hits, and you also get to hear the only songs they play live!

[Don]

Start him off with Paradise Theater. Add Escape, Hi Infidelity and Foreigner 4 into the mix also. I was in High School when all those came out , and with MTV just starting up, I was in hog heaven. What great couple of years music wise.

[BlackWall]

I actually agree about starting with the greatest hits CD. I mean, the bulk of "Grand Illusion" is on there anyway. Next I would get "CITA". The song selection is better on "RTP", but as Styx Collector mentioned, there's just something about "CITA". I guess it might be a combination of the energy of the band and the fact that it was at their prime(not to mention the best version ever of "Snowblind"). In my opinion, one of Styx's greatest attractions have always been there live performances, and any new fan has got to get a dose of this to fully appreciate them.

Next, either go for "Paradise Theatre", or- if it's still in print anywhere, get "Greatest Hits Part II". I think this disc, combined with the above mentioned greatest hits, works really well to tell the band's story.

[classicstyxfan]

wrong wrong wrong wrong and WRONG !!!! its just GOTTA be "Styx Rockers" !!!!

[Everett]

God help us i've created another froy (sort of) stay tuned....

[Toph]

I'd do it in this order, depending on musical taste - from the greatest hits, you should be able to determine whether this is more of a hard rocker styx fan or one that is more into the pop orientation of the band. But all of these provide a good overview of the band.

Greatest Hits Volume 1
Greatest Hits Volume 2
The Grand Illusion
Paradise Theatre
Kilroy Was Here
Equinox
Cornerstone
Pieces of Eight
Edge of the Century
Crystal Ball
Return To Paradise or Caught In The Act - if looking for a live version of the band
The Complete Wooden Nickle Collection (only if the person is becoming a die hard)

Avoid at all costs
Brave New Flop
Cyclorama
Any of the individual wooden nickles (with the exception of Styx II)
Gold (instead of GH v1 and 2)
Yesterday and Today
Contemporary Youth Orchestra
Arch Allies
Styxworld
Rockers!
Extended Versions
Big Bang Theory

[Everett]

Ok i quess your wondering how i sorta created another froy. Well let's just say he's a HUGE dennis fan and his favorite song is.... :sigh: roboto but crystal ball comes in at #2. As for larry he's not a super fan but he likes his keyboard work than his voice but he does like a criminal mind. He also thinks larry is the superior keyboardist. Not bad for a 9 year old eh?

[BlackWall]

What has he heard Larry do?

[Everett]

What has he heard Larry do?

I let him use some of my boots so he could get the gist of how he sounds. Like i said earlier more of a fan of his keyboard work than his voice can't please them all i quess.

[Higgy]

You actually have a 9 year old comparing keyboard techniques? You should do a reliability test and have him listen to Keith Emerson versus Neil Dougherty - just to make sure he knows his stuff. If he likes the REO crap, never pay for piano lessons!