Advice to Styx

[Toph]

Members of Styx -

As one who has not supported the new lineup with much (if any) enthusiasm, I do like the direction that you are going in doing the entire Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight album in concert. But let me give you some advice - instead of rerecording songs from your past, do all of us a favor and just remaster the 8 A&M albums, Equinox - Edge. I guarantee you'll sell more copies of those than you do a rehasing of the classic songs. Give us the classic 8 albums with a remastering and we'll be happy as a clam. Do that, and you might even get me to shell out the $89 to see you perform GI and Pieces of Eight in concert...

[froy]

Members of Styx -

As one who has not supported the new lineup with much (if any) enthusiasm, I do like the direction that you are going in doing the entire Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight album in concert. But let me give you some advice - instead of rerecording songs from your past, do all of us a favor and just remaster the 8 A&M albums, Equinox - Edge. I guarantee you'll sell more copies of those than you do a rehasing of the classic songs. Give us the classic 8 albums with a remastering and we'll be happy as a clam. Do that, and you might even get me to shell out the $89 to see you perform GI and Pieces of Eight in concert...

With all the software tools out there now just Remaster the 8 cds yourself, And forget about spending 89.00 to see Gowan butcher Dennis

[Everett]

Members of Styx -

As one who has not supported the new lineup with much (if any) enthusiasm, I do like the direction that you are going in doing the entire Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight album in concert. But let me give you some advice - instead of rerecording songs from your past, do all of us a favor and just remaster the 8 A&M albums, Equinox - Edge. I guarantee you'll sell more copies of those than you do a rehasing of the classic songs. Give us the classic 8 albums with a remastering and we'll be happy as a clam. Do that, and you might even get me to shell out the $89 to see you perform GI and Pieces of Eight in concert...

I agree but isn't the re mastering of the albums up to the label and not the band?

[styxfix]

All the A&M albums except EOTC, but inc Greatest Hits, have been remastered and released last year in Japan. http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... ight=japan

[Everett]

All the A&M albums except EOTC, but inc Greatest Hits, have been remastered and released last year in Japan. http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... ight=japan

That's in japan not the us

[Babyblue]

Members of Styx -

As one who has not supported the new lineup with much (if any) enthusiasm, I do like the direction that you are going in doing the entire Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight album in concert. But let me give you some advice - instead of rerecording songs from your past, do all of us a favor and just remaster the 8 A&M albums, Equinox - Edge. I guarantee you'll sell more copies of those than you do a rehasing of the classic songs. Give us the classic 8 albums with a remastering and we'll be happy as a clam. Do that, and you might even get me to shell out the $89 to see you perform GI and Pieces of Eight in concert...

Love that idea Fingers crosed it will happen next.

[Monker]

Members of Styx -

As one who has not supported the new lineup with much (if any) enthusiasm, I do like the direction that you are going in doing the entire Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight album in concert. But let me give you some advice - instead of rerecording songs from your past, do all of us a favor and just remaster the 8 A&M albums, Equinox - Edge. I guarantee you'll sell more copies of those than you do a rehasing of the classic songs. Give us the classic 8 albums with a remastering and we'll be happy as a clam. Do that, and you might even get me to shell out the $89 to see you perform GI and Pieces of Eight in concert...

I agree but isn't the re mastering of the albums up to the label and not the band?

Is this not the reason why Lady '95 had to be a rerecord...

How soon people forget such things.

[StyxCollector]

All the A&M albums except EOTC, but inc Greatest Hits, have been remastered and released last year in Japan. http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... ight=japan

We've already had threads on these.

Unfortunately, I do not think you will ever see remasters from Styx. That time has come and gone.

[StyxCollector]

Members of Styx -

As one who has not supported the new lineup with much (if any) enthusiasm, I do like the direction that you are going in doing the entire Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight album in concert. But let me give you some advice - instead of rerecording songs from your past, do all of us a favor and just remaster the 8 A&M albums, Equinox - Edge. I guarantee you'll sell more copies of those than you do a rehasing of the classic songs. Give us the classic 8 albums with a remastering and we'll be happy as a clam. Do that, and you might even get me to shell out the $89 to see you perform GI and Pieces of Eight in concert...

I agree but isn't the re mastering of the albums up to the label and not the band?

Is this not the reason why Lady '95 had to be a rerecord...

How soon people forget such things.

Sort of. A&M wanted to use Lady (the original, not the remake), but Bill Traut at the time apparently wanted too much money, so they re-recorded it. The new re-records are, like Squeeze's Spot the Difference, an attempt to gain more control over the licensing of the songs so the band gets the money directly. Dennis will still get paid for songs on Regeneration like "Come Sail Away" through mechanical royalties.

[Ash]

All the A&M albums except EOTC, but inc Greatest Hits, have been remastered and released last year in Japan. http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... ight=japan

We've already had threads on these.

Unfortunately, I do not think you will ever see remasters from Styx. That time has come and gone.

I thought the SHM discs were pretty good (those that were remastered anyway). Definitely better than the original masters and a lot better EQ/Resolution at the same time IMO.

[StyxCollector]

All the A&M albums except EOTC, but inc Greatest Hits, have been remastered and released last year in Japan. http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... ight=japan

We've already had threads on these.

Unfortunately, I do not think you will ever see remasters from Styx. That time has come and gone.

I thought the SHM discs were pretty good (those that were remastered anyway). Definitely better than the original masters and a lot better EQ/Resolution at the same time IMO.

I'd say for the most part they were better (as you say, where they were remastered). Louder, so if that isn't your cup of tea you'll hate 'em. If I only got one it'd be CITA.

I've got a spare set I'll most likely sell.

[Boomchild]

All the A&M albums except EOTC, but inc Greatest Hits, have been remastered and released last year in Japan. http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... ight=japan

That's in japan not the us

Not to mention that most places you can get the Japan re-masters want an arm and a leg for them. I have seen them offered for $30+. I don't mind pating a little extra for an import but that is just too much cost per disc.

[StyxCollector]

All the A&M albums except EOTC, but inc Greatest Hits, have been remastered and released last year in Japan. http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... ight=japan

That's in japan not the us

Not to mention that most places you can get the Japan re-masters want an arm and a leg for them. I have seen them offered for $30+. I don't mind pating a little extra for an import but that is just too much cost per disc.

You do realize that is the actual price for them, right? The single disc ones are 2800 yen in Japan, which is about $30. It's not like they're the equivalent of $10 in Japan.

BTW one clarification - GH was not part of the remasters. It was not released as part of the series. The Greatest Hits on SHM was released in 2008 and just uses the same mastering job as the original 1995 one, just on SHM.

[Boomchild]

All the A&M albums except EOTC, but inc Greatest Hits, have been remastered and released last year in Japan. http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... ight=japan

That's in japan not the us

Not to mention that most places you can get the Japan re-masters want an arm and a leg for them. I have seen them offered for $30+. I don't mind pating a little extra for an import but that is just too much cost per disc.

You do realize that is the actual price for them, right? The single disc ones are 2800 yen in Japan, which is about $30. It's not like they're the equivalent of $10 in Japan.

BTW one clarification - GH was not part of the remasters. It was not released as part of the series. The Greatest Hits on SHM was released in 2008 and just uses the same mastering job as the original 1995 one, just on SHM.

Good Lord, no I did not. To rich form ny blood. It's too bad that it seems they won't release a US version of those. I find it interesting that they did those SHM re-masters to begin with. The market for Styx's back catalog must be better over there then here.

[Toph]

All the A&M albums except EOTC, but inc Greatest Hits, have been remastered and released last year in Japan. http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... ight=japan

We've already had threads on these.

Unfortunately, I do not think you will ever see remasters from Styx. That time has come and gone.

I realize this and it really blows my mind. How can you not remaster these? Here is what I want and I don't think this is too much to ask - do what Journey did (twice I might add) - remaster all your classic albums - it will re-energize your fan base and support your new regeneration tour. How expensive could this really be? I mean Wooden Nickle remastered the first four albums and what did they sell in total? - not even a million copies (and at least 500,000 of that was Styx II). A&M has at least (and I might be rounding up slighty here) 19-20 million sold across these 8 albums plus GH (check my math - Equinox 750K, CB 500K, GI 4M, Po8 3M, CS 3M, PT 4M, KWH 1M, Edge 600K, GH 2.5M). If you get an increase of 50,000 in sales for each album, that is another 450,000 in records sold. What is that $4.5 million to A&M in revenue? How much does it cost to remaster something? Certainly not nearly that much. What am I missing here? It seems like a slam dunk business proposition.

[StyxCollector]

All the A&M albums except EOTC, but inc Greatest Hits, have been remastered and released last year in Japan. http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... ight=japan

We've already had threads on these.

Unfortunately, I do not think you will ever see remasters from Styx. That time has come and gone.

I realize this and it really blows my mind. How can you not remaster these? Here is what I want and I don't think this is too much to ask - do what Journey did (twice I might add) - remaster all your classic albums - it will re-energize your fan base and support your new regeneration tour. How expensive could this really be? I mean Wooden Nickle remastered the first four albums and what did they sell in total? - not even a million copies (and at least 500,000 of that was Styx II). A&M has at least (and I might be rounding up slighty here) 19-20 million sold across these 8 albums plus GH (check my math - Equinox 750K, CB 500K, GI 4M, Po8 3M, CS 3M, PT 4M, KWH 1M, Edge 600K, GH 2.5M). If you get an increase of 50,000 in sales for each album, that is another 450,000 in records sold. What is that $4.5 million to A&M in revenue? How much does it cost to remaster something? Certainly not nearly that much. What am I missing here? It seems like a slam dunk business proposition.

Heck, Journey has had two sets of remasters (but in the second set, some did use the remasters from the mid-90s) - not including gold discs and stuff on SACD.

In 1995/6 when remasters were quietly announced as coming after the release of GH, that was the time to capitalize on the hype as well as you were squarely in the midst of the CD era. They would have sold. In 2010, there really is very little business case to release an extensive remaster campaign. COst-wise, it depends who does it and ho wmuch time is spent. I assume they'd use Bob Ludwig (who did confirm to me when I interviewed him that the tapes were in good shape), who wouldn't be cheap, but let's say it costs them five digits. Then they need to press them, do (minimal) marketing, etc. It will take a long time for them to see that back. So I'd say at a minimum they're in for $50,000 - $100,000 initially. Assuming they're not going to do expanded albums and just straight remastered reissues which would be budget line, let's say thet make $5/disc. They would need to sell 20,000 discs to break even. No offense, but Styx is not selling in those volumes today. They'd sell in the thousands in total, with albums like GI and PT selling the most.

Now, what Universal did with the Wooden Nickel stuff DID make sense because the whole Styx catalog pre-1991 would be in one place (meaning "Lady" could be on the same disc with "Come SAil Away"). So I see that as a business move. I don't think they thought the 2CD reissue of that material would sell a lot.

In my estimation, this really doesn't make sense from a business standpoint in 2010. Univeral Japan does small runs so things are very controlled and things like mini-LP sleeves appeal to a certain market. Plus, over there, the Styx catalog has largely been out of print for nearly 20 years. Here, it's all been in print in one form or another since the mid-80s.

Is it a missed opportunity? Yes, but it was missed so many years ago. Now it'd be largely irrelevant.

Styx would have been better served if they had somehow been able to reacquire their masters and release remasters themselves. Although look at Chicago - they acquired their back catalog, released and sold it themselves (didn't remaster), but gave up the ghost and it all went to Rhino. If a label like RHino had the Styx catalog you may have a chance at limited runs a la the Warner Brothers Rod Stewart albums. Hip-O Select is somewhat like Rhino, but nowhere near as good.

[bugsymalone]

Definitely a boat that has, sadly, long ago sailed away.

There have been so many lost opportunities in the Styx saga one begins to lose count.

Bugsy

[froy]

Definitely a boat that has, sadly, long ago sailed away.

There have been so many lost opportunities in the Styx saga one begins to lose count.

Bugsy

Your right Bugs the STYX story is all but over. When Dennis was sandbagged out of the band they lost all credibility.
To think they could just go on like nothing has happened playing the ignore game is simply foolish.
Shaw, Panazzo, Young and Brusco are all to blame. They could have done 2 tours in the last 11 years and made more money with Dennis in the band.
Instead they are chasing there tails.

[Don]

Does Styx even get played on the radio anymore? I hear Journey and Foreigner but music from Styx and even REO is rarely played in my neck of the woods (L.A.).

[Monker]

Members of Styx -

As one who has not supported the new lineup with much (if any) enthusiasm, I do like the direction that you are going in doing the entire Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight album in concert. But let me give you some advice - instead of rerecording songs from your past, do all of us a favor and just remaster the 8 A&M albums, Equinox - Edge. I guarantee you'll sell more copies of those than you do a rehasing of the classic songs. Give us the classic 8 albums with a remastering and we'll be happy as a clam. Do that, and you might even get me to shell out the $89 to see you perform GI and Pieces of Eight in concert...

I agree but isn't the re mastering of the albums up to the label and not the band?

Is this not the reason why Lady '95 had to be a rerecord...

How soon people forget such things.

Sort of. A&M wanted to use Lady (the original, not the remake), but Bill Traut at the time apparently wanted too much money, so they re-recorded it. The new re-records are, like Squeeze's Spot the Difference, an attempt to gain more control over the licensing of the songs so the band gets the money directly. Dennis will still get paid for songs on Regeneration like "Come Sail Away" through mechanical royalties.

Well, motivation was not the question.

The comment was made that Styx should remaster this and that. The question is that is it not labels who remaster and release albums?

Your answer is that it is up to whoever 'owns' the master tapes...and if the band can, and is willing, to pay for their use, along with paying for somebody to 'remaster' them, and pay to have it packaged, and pay to have it distributed. I doubt very much that Styx would be willing to pay so much to do this on their own.

[Monker]

All the A&M albums except EOTC, but inc Greatest Hits, have been remastered and released last year in Japan. http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... ight=japan

That's in japan not the us

Not to mention that most places you can get the Japan re-masters want an arm and a leg for them. I have seen them offered for $30+. I don't mind pating a little extra for an import but that is just too much cost per disc.

ALL Japan imports are like this. This is the reason Japan releases come out first, and/or have extra songs. The US release is cheaper as an import to Japan and is actually competition to the Japan release.

[Monker]

All the A&M albums except EOTC, but inc Greatest Hits, have been remastered and released last year in Japan. http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... ight=japan

We've already had threads on these.

Unfortunately, I do not think you will ever see remasters from Styx. That time has come and gone.

I realize this and it really blows my mind. How can you not remaster these? Here is what I want and I don't think this is too much to ask - do what Journey did (twice I might add) - remaster all your classic albums - it will re-energize your fan base and support your new regeneration tour.

Oh, please. Journey did this for the TBF reunion. There were huge displays at retail for the remasters and TBF as well. This was a SONY project. This will NEVER happen with Styx, even if Dennis came back....because Styx would not be on A&M. The time for Styx to do this was during BNW...but, of course, that was not on A&M so there was not really any coordination going on between the two labels.

If A&M were to remaster, they should do it as LRB did...and include 'extra' songs on each album. If there ARE any tidbits of unreleased things, I could see A&M doing this...Otherwise, I don't see any real incentive for A&M to do it.

[Boomchild]

Members of Styx -

As one who has not supported the new lineup with much (if any) enthusiasm, I do like the direction that you are going in doing the entire Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight album in concert. But let me give you some advice - instead of rerecording songs from your past, do all of us a favor and just remaster the 8 A&M albums, Equinox - Edge. I guarantee you'll sell more copies of those than you do a rehasing of the classic songs. Give us the classic 8 albums with a remastering and we'll be happy as a clam. Do that, and you might even get me to shell out the $89 to see you perform GI and Pieces of Eight in concert...

I agree but isn't the re mastering of the albums up to the label and not the band?

Is this not the reason why Lady '95 had to be a rerecord...

How soon people forget such things.

Sort of. A&M wanted to use Lady (the original, not the remake), but Bill Traut at the time apparently wanted too much money, so they re-recorded it. The new re-records are, like Squeeze's Spot the Difference, an attempt to gain more control over the licensing of the songs so the band gets the money directly. Dennis will still get paid for songs on Regeneration like "Come Sail Away" through mechanical royalties.

Well, motivation was not the question.

The comment was made that Styx should remaster this and that. The question is that is it not labels who remaster and release albums?

Your answer is that it is up to whoever 'owns' the master tapes...and if the band can, and is willing, to pay for their use, along with paying for somebody to 'remaster' them, and pay to have it packaged, and pay to have it distributed. I doubt very much that Styx would be willing to pay so much to do this on their own.

Weel maybe, if they could dub Gowan's vocals over Dennis' on those original recordings.

[Boomchild]

All the A&M albums except EOTC, but inc Greatest Hits, have been remastered and released last year in Japan. http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... ight=japan

We've already had threads on these.

Unfortunately, I do not think you will ever see remasters from Styx. That time has come and gone.

I realize this and it really blows my mind. How can you not remaster these? Here is what I want and I don't think this is too much to ask - do what Journey did (twice I might add) - remaster all your classic albums - it will re-energize your fan base and support your new regeneration tour.

Oh, please. Journey did this for the TBF reunion. There were huge displays at retail for the remasters and TBF as well. This was a SONY project. This will NEVER happen with Styx, even if Dennis came back....because Styx would not be on A&M. The time for Styx to do this was during BNW...but, of course, that was not on A&M so there was not really any coordination going on between the two labels.

If A&M were to remaster, they should do it as LRB did...and include 'extra' songs on each album. If there ARE any tidbits of unreleased things, I could see A&M doing this...Otherwise, I don't see any real incentive for A&M to do it.

It's my understanding from what little DDY and others have said on the subject, there is very, very little if anything that Styx recorded and never released. So maybe that is another reason we haven't seen re-mastered releases with extras. I could be wrong though.

[Babyblue]

Does Styx even get played on the radio anymore? I hear Journey and Foreigner but music from Styx and even REO is rarely played in my neck of the woods (L.A.).

They play them on our stations here all the time.

[Everett]

Members of Styx -

As one who has not supported the new lineup with much (if any) enthusiasm, I do like the direction that you are going in doing the entire Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight album in concert. But let me give you some advice - instead of rerecording songs from your past, do all of us a favor and just remaster the 8 A&M albums, Equinox - Edge. I guarantee you'll sell more copies of those than you do a rehasing of the classic songs. Give us the classic 8 albums with a remastering and we'll be happy as a clam. Do that, and you might even get me to shell out the $89 to see you perform GI and Pieces of Eight in concert...

I agree but isn't the re mastering of the albums up to the label and not the band?

Is this not the reason why Lady '95 had to be a rerecord...

How soon people forget such things.

Sort of. A&M wanted to use Lady (the original, not the remake), but Bill Traut at the time apparently wanted too much money, so they re-recorded it. The new re-records are, like Squeeze's Spot the Difference, an attempt to gain more control over the licensing of the songs so the band gets the money directly. Dennis will still get paid for songs on Regeneration like "Come Sail Away" through mechanical royalties.

Well, motivation was not the question.

The comment was made that Styx should remaster this and that. The question is that is it not labels who remaster and release albums?

Your answer is that it is up to whoever 'owns' the master tapes...and if the band can, and is willing, to pay for their use, along with paying for somebody to 'remaster' them, and pay to have it packaged, and pay to have it distributed. I doubt very much that Styx would be willing to pay so much to do this on their own.

Weel maybe, if they could dub Gowan's vocals over Dennis' on those original recordings.

They've done it and put it on an album called regeneration vol.1 through ??? oh crap i've said too much

[froy]

Does Styx even get played on the radio anymore? I hear Journey and Foreigner but music from Styx and even REO is rarely played in my neck of the woods (L.A.).

They play them on our stations here all the time.

Really Styx ? what songs?

[Monker]

Does Styx even get played on the radio anymore? I hear Journey and Foreigner but music from Styx and even REO is rarely played in my neck of the woods (L.A.).

They play them on our stations here all the time.

Really Styx ? what songs?

I hear Renegade, Blue Collar Man, Crystal Ball, Too Much Time, Come Sail Away, Lady and occasionally even Suite Madame Blue and Snowblind.

[froy]

Does Styx even get played on the radio anymore? I hear Journey and Foreigner but music from Styx and even REO is rarely played in my neck of the woods (L.A.).

They play them on our stations here all the time.

Really Styx ? what songs?

I hear Renegade, Blue Collar Man, Crystal Ball, Too Much Time, Come Sail Away, Lady and occasionally even Suite Madame Blue and Snowblind.

Thats classic Styx they were talking about Current

[StyxCollector]

It's my understanding from what little DDY and others have said on the subject, there is very, very little if anything that Styx recorded and never released. So maybe that is another reason we haven't seen re-mastered releases with extras. I could be wrong though.

So the rumor goes