The Worst Rock Videos Ever: Styx, "Music Time"

[Baron Von Bielski]

Recognizing when someone has not done his best work is not "bashing." If I say that What If is the most embarrassing solo album ever recorded by a major-name musician from a Seventies supergroup, is that bashing, or is it true? It doesn't mean I don't like Tommy Shaw. But I defy anyone to name an album by any member of Journey, Kansas, Queen, Yes or any other band from that period that contains two songs as bad as "Friendly Advice" or "True Confessions." That doesn't mean Tommy sucks, but that's not an example of his best work . . . just as "Music Time" is not for Dennis.

I guess JY isn't really Tommy Shaw, but his Out on a Day Pass album is the worst piece of recorded shit in the history of music... ever.... ever.... ever.

From the first note to the last, it was pure, unmitigated trash... and that is being mean to trash.

Funny, I was cleaning out my CDs last night after a home disaster of sorts. That was one that I held in my hand and almost threw out. Eh, couldn't do it.

Musically, and this is from memory, there are decent song skeletons there. But vocally... man! JY is a big part of the Styx harmony sound. He's got a super high head voice (or did at the time of that release). WHY did he not get some coaching before doing that album? Seriously, how can he listen to that and not go "wow, I really need some vocal help". His pitch is good. But his delivery and vibrato are just out of control. The screams on it are just laughable (Sorry Jy!). One thing I do like on it are the harmonies. Those harmonies sound more Styxish than any of the solo albums to me. But it's the lead vocals that are embarrassingly bad. Especially strange when he comes from a great vocal act like Styx.

Having said that, I did like the JY GROUP album. Thought it was decent.

His solo alnums really bring out his weakness as an artist. For a guy who was influenced by the likes of Hendrix and wanted to be such a "hard rocker" to use a drum machine on his album is pathetic. He is a good artist to collaborate with but on his own it leaves one thinking "This guy was a member of Styx?".

If you go on that Hear Rock City bootleg site, they have JY's City Slicker available there and it even has some part of an interview he did where he was asked when the material was written. His response was "some of the material were ideas that were too hard-edged for Styx, that had been submitted through the years, but were rejected". It just caught me as a ridiculous statement because it has been said to be an extremely poor album and in his mind the reason they didn't make it on a Styx record is because they rock too hard or something. Maybe he should have written for Iron Maiden.

Even Iron Maiden would reject that stuff. It's been a long time since I listened to that album but I remember thinking that it sounded like some unknown artist's first attempt at making an album. I don't think that JY can tell when he writes something good or something that is crap. His ego makes him blind and unable to censor himself.

I was being sarcastic about him writing for Iron Maiden. It was just a dig at him for claiming he's so hard edged.

[Ash]

If I correctly remember, 'Chain Me Down' from City Slicker actually WAS submitted as a Styx tune for Grand Illusion. Dennis talked about it. He put it in at the same time as Miss America. Dennis, correctly so, identified Miss America as the superior song - and rejected Chain Me Down. I can't remember where I saw it, but I do remember that story.

And while I actually *do* like some of the songs on City Slicker (title track, Something to Remember You By and Running out of Time) there are some really weak moments. I lets not forget that JY collaborated on City Slicker with Jan Hammer (Miami Vice theme - can't you hear the same drums on the miami vice theme that you hear on the song City Slicker?)

[SuiteMadameBlue]

If I correctly remember, 'Chain Me Down' from City Slicker actually WAS submitted as a Styx tune for Grand Illusion. Dennis talked about it. He put it in at the same time as Miss America. Dennis, correctly so, identified Miss America as the superior song - and rejected Chain Me Down. I can't remember where I saw it, but I do remember that story.

And while I actually *do* like some of the songs on City Slicker (title track, Something to Remember You By and Running out of Time) there are some really weak moments. I lets not forget that JY collaborated on City Slicker with Jan Hammer (Miami Vice theme - can't you hear the same drums on the miami vice theme that you hear on the song City Slicker?)

You probably seen the information here - I posted it a couple times in the past (2010 & 2004)

Here is some information on "Chain Me Down"........

First from StyxCollector:

5. The Styx version of "Chain Me Down", which was at least demoed (and is rumored to have been multitracked) for Grand Illusion, but dropped for "Miss America". "Chain" was later re-recoreded and released on James Young's first solo album, City Slicker.


Second from an interview with JY:

RS: When was the material for City Slicker written?
YOUNG: Some of the material were ideas that were too hard-edged for Styx, that had been submitted through the years, but were rejected. To me, 'Chain Me Down,' and 'Wild Dogs' are like fun-type hard rock and roll songs, and I really thought they were clever and powerful musical statements - but the other guys didn't see it my way. Those things were written a few years back. The title track, 'City Slicker,' was written with my collaborator, Steven A. Jones. We had always talked about writing a song, but had never gotten around to it. Then we got a chance to work on it, and we went into the studio, and I really liked what came out of it. So, some of the stuff is from the past, and some of the stuff is brand new.

RS: Is 'City Slicker' autobiographical?
YOUNG: To a certain degree. I'm a person who grew up on the South side of Chicago, so I very much have an urban state of mind, although I will say that some of the best parties I've ever been to have been held by people out in the rural areas, who really know how to get down. I'm basically a city dweller; I like the buzz and excitement that happens in all the great cities of the world. So I'm a 'City Slicker' in some regards - but the song is a bit tongue-in-cheek, and of course the delivery is a bit over the top. It's that way on a couple of the songs. On 'Chain Me Down' I get into this weird, wild persona. I sorta get my therapy that way, because hey, I'm normally a nice guy, you know - me and Ozzy Osbourne. We're both mild-mannered, but of course I haven't been to the Betty Ford Center yet, so he's got one over me. But on stage - and on record - the wild beast that is in all of us comes out of me, and it's really healthy to have that happen.

[Boomchild]

If I correctly remember, 'Chain Me Down' from City Slicker actually WAS submitted as a Styx tune for Grand Illusion. Dennis talked about it. He put it in at the same time as Miss America. Dennis, correctly so, identified Miss America as the superior song - and rejected Chain Me Down. I can't remember where I saw it, but I do remember that story.

And while I actually *do* like some of the songs on City Slicker (title track, Something to Remember You By and Running out of Time) there are some really weak moments. I lets not forget that JY collaborated on City Slicker with Jan Hammer (Miami Vice theme - can't you hear the same drums on the miami vice theme that you hear on the song City Slicker?)

You know when you want to make that hard rockin' album you pick that hard rocker Jan Hammer. One other interesting fact is that Glen Burtnik was in one of Jan Hammer's bands back in the day.

[Boomchild]

Recognizing when someone has not done his best work is not "bashing." If I say that What If is the most embarrassing solo album ever recorded by a major-name musician from a Seventies supergroup, is that bashing, or is it true? It doesn't mean I don't like Tommy Shaw. But I defy anyone to name an album by any member of Journey, Kansas, Queen, Yes or any other band from that period that contains two songs as bad as "Friendly Advice" or "True Confessions." That doesn't mean Tommy sucks, but that's not an example of his best work . . . just as "Music Time" is not for Dennis.

I guess JY isn't really Tommy Shaw, but his Out on a Day Pass album is the worst piece of recorded shit in the history of music... ever.... ever.... ever.

From the first note to the last, it was pure, unmitigated trash... and that is being mean to trash.

Funny, I was cleaning out my CDs last night after a home disaster of sorts. That was one that I held in my hand and almost threw out. Eh, couldn't do it.

Musically, and this is from memory, there are decent song skeletons there. But vocally... man! JY is a big part of the Styx harmony sound. He's got a super high head voice (or did at the time of that release). WHY did he not get some coaching before doing that album? Seriously, how can he listen to that and not go "wow, I really need some vocal help". His pitch is good. But his delivery and vibrato are just out of control. The screams on it are just laughable (Sorry Jy!). One thing I do like on it are the harmonies. Those harmonies sound more Styxish than any of the solo albums to me. But it's the lead vocals that are embarrassingly bad. Especially strange when he comes from a great vocal act like Styx.

Having said that, I did like the JY GROUP album. Thought it was decent.

His solo alnums really bring out his weakness as an artist. For a guy who was influenced by the likes of Hendrix and wanted to be such a "hard rocker" to use a drum machine on his album is pathetic. He is a good artist to collaborate with but on his own it leaves one thinking "This guy was a member of Styx?".

If you go on that Hear Rock City bootleg site, they have JY's City Slicker available there and it even has some part of an interview he did where he was asked when the material was written. His response was "some of the material were ideas that were too hard-edged for Styx, that had been submitted through the years, but were rejected". It just caught me as a ridiculous statement because it has been said to be an extremely poor album and in his mind the reason they didn't make it on a Styx record is because they rock too hard or something. Maybe he should have written for Iron Maiden.

Even Iron Maiden would reject that stuff. It's been a long time since I listened to that album but I remember thinking that it sounded like some unknown artist's first attempt at making an album. I don't think that JY can tell when he writes something good or something that is crap. His ego makes him blind and unable to censor himself.

I was being sarcastic about him writing for Iron Maiden. It was just a dig at him for claiming he's so hard edged.

Yes i know. It must have been frustrating for JY when pitching those albums to record labels. To be in a successful band such as Styx and not be able to have any label want to release your solo work at that time has got to be a smack in the face.

[sniper16]

havnt listened to either of those in a long time, remember liking some of city slicker, but the james young band cd is very good ,and very styxish
as for the solo recordings, dennis' are the best because he is the strongest writer , tommy needs someone to flesh out with ie the damn yankees stuff

[ManOfMiracles]

I will confess as well to liking most of Raised by Wolves. It was more of a collaboration album, which probably helped a lot, but it was pretty good. That being said, back to the original topic... Music Time still remains a favorite Styx tune of mine. I don;t hate it because it was different... I kinda like it because it was different. And the video was just fun, nothing more nothing less.

[Boomchild]

I will confess as well to liking most of Raised by Wolves. It was more of a collaboration album, which probably helped a lot, but it was pretty good. That being said, back to the original topic... Music Time still remains a favorite Styx tune of mine. I don;t hate it because it was different... I kinda like it because it was different. And the video was just fun, nothing more nothing less.

Which I think further proves that JY is at his best when collaborating with others and not doing things solo. Of course you have those that feel he was the mastermind in Styx lurking in the shadows.

[Monker]

If I correctly remember, 'Chain Me Down' from City Slicker actually WAS submitted as a Styx tune for Grand Illusion. Dennis talked about it. He put it in at the same time as Miss America. Dennis, correctly so, identified Miss America as the superior song - and rejected Chain Me Down. I can't remember where I saw it, but I do remember that story.

And while I actually *do* like some of the songs on City Slicker (title track, Something to Remember You By and Running out of Time) there are some really weak moments. I lets not forget that JY collaborated on City Slicker with Jan Hammer (Miami Vice theme - can't you hear the same drums on the miami vice theme that you hear on the song City Slicker?)

You know when you want to make that hard rockin' album you pick that hard rocker Jan Hammer. One other interesting fact is that Glen Burtnik was in one of Jan Hammer's bands back in the day.

yeah, Neal Schon made a huge mistake on those two albums.

[Boomchild]

If I correctly remember, 'Chain Me Down' from City Slicker actually WAS submitted as a Styx tune for Grand Illusion. Dennis talked about it. He put it in at the same time as Miss America. Dennis, correctly so, identified Miss America as the superior song - and rejected Chain Me Down. I can't remember where I saw it, but I do remember that story.

And while I actually *do* like some of the songs on City Slicker (title track, Something to Remember You By and Running out of Time) there are some really weak moments. I lets not forget that JY collaborated on City Slicker with Jan Hammer (Miami Vice theme - can't you hear the same drums on the miami vice theme that you hear on the song City Slicker?)

You know when you want to make that hard rockin' album you pick that hard rocker Jan Hammer. One other interesting fact is that Glen Burtnik was in one of Jan Hammer's bands back in the day.

yeah, Neal Schon made a huge mistake on those two albums.

Maybe your right, it must have been just the pathetic work of JY that made those albums a joke.

[Monker]

If I correctly remember, 'Chain Me Down' from City Slicker actually WAS submitted as a Styx tune for Grand Illusion. Dennis talked about it. He put it in at the same time as Miss America. Dennis, correctly so, identified Miss America as the superior song - and rejected Chain Me Down. I can't remember where I saw it, but I do remember that story.

And while I actually *do* like some of the songs on City Slicker (title track, Something to Remember You By and Running out of Time) there are some really weak moments. I lets not forget that JY collaborated on City Slicker with Jan Hammer (Miami Vice theme - can't you hear the same drums on the miami vice theme that you hear on the song City Slicker?)

You know when you want to make that hard rockin' album you pick that hard rocker Jan Hammer. One other interesting fact is that Glen Burtnik was in one of Jan Hammer's bands back in the day.

yeah, Neal Schon made a huge mistake on those two albums.

Maybe your right, it must have been just the pathetic work of JY that made those albums a joke.

I wouldn't know....I was never dumb enough to listen to them as it seems you and many others on this forum were.

[Boomchild]

If I correctly remember, 'Chain Me Down' from City Slicker actually WAS submitted as a Styx tune for Grand Illusion. Dennis talked about it. He put it in at the same time as Miss America. Dennis, correctly so, identified Miss America as the superior song - and rejected Chain Me Down. I can't remember where I saw it, but I do remember that story.

And while I actually *do* like some of the songs on City Slicker (title track, Something to Remember You By and Running out of Time) there are some really weak moments. I lets not forget that JY collaborated on City Slicker with Jan Hammer (Miami Vice theme - can't you hear the same drums on the miami vice theme that you hear on the song City Slicker?)

You know when you want to make that hard rockin' album you pick that hard rocker Jan Hammer. One other interesting fact is that Glen Burtnik was in one of Jan Hammer's bands back in the day.

yeah, Neal Schon made a huge mistake on those two albums.

Maybe your right, it must have been just the pathetic work of JY that made those albums a joke.

I wouldn't know....I was never dumb enough to listen to them as it seems you and many others on this forum were.

Well, I was looking to support the man at the time and give him a shot, like I did for Dennis and Tommy. Plus at the time of those albums release you didn't have pirate copies of it all over the net to listen to before buying. I didn't think it was going to be as good as what Tommy and Dennis did but what a let down they were.

[Monker]

If I correctly remember, 'Chain Me Down' from City Slicker actually WAS submitted as a Styx tune for Grand Illusion. Dennis talked about it. He put it in at the same time as Miss America. Dennis, correctly so, identified Miss America as the superior song - and rejected Chain Me Down. I can't remember where I saw it, but I do remember that story.

And while I actually *do* like some of the songs on City Slicker (title track, Something to Remember You By and Running out of Time) there are some really weak moments. I lets not forget that JY collaborated on City Slicker with Jan Hammer (Miami Vice theme - can't you hear the same drums on the miami vice theme that you hear on the song City Slicker?)

You know when you want to make that hard rockin' album you pick that hard rocker Jan Hammer. One other interesting fact is that Glen Burtnik was in one of Jan Hammer's bands back in the day.

yeah, Neal Schon made a huge mistake on those two albums.

Maybe your right, it must have been just the pathetic work of JY that made those albums a joke.

I wouldn't know....I was never dumb enough to listen to them as it seems you and many others on this forum were.

Well, I was looking to support the man at the time and give him a shot, like I did for Dennis and Tommy. Plus at the time of those albums release you didn't have pirate copies of it all over the net to listen to before buying. I didn't think it was going to be as good as what Tommy and Dennis did but what a let down they were.

A friend of mine sent me a video which contained, among a lot of other things, the video for one of the songs, maybe the title song. I watched a few moments of it and thought it was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard or saw...and I was not interested anything JY solo after that.

Obviously, JY must provide you all with some sadistic pleasure, or something bizzar like that, or you wouldn't go on and on about it like this.

[Abitaman]

I guess JY buOut on a Day Pass album is the worst piece of recorded shit in the history of music... ever.... ever.... ever.

From the first note to the last, it was pure, unmitigated trash....

AGREED

[Abitaman]

Mustic Time the song-C-
The vid D

[Blue Falcon]

Maybe he should have written for Iron Maiden.

Funny, Iron Maiden is certainly doing much better than Styx these days. They could teach Stynx a thing or two about how to make a comeback, stay relevant, and sell out stadiums with no other bands on the bill.

Maiden experienced a downturn from 1991 or so until their 'classic' lineup reformed in 2000. All the metal groups were down in the 1990s, but Maiden didn't help themselves with some poor material and the loss of Bruce Dickinson. They tried to replace him with a soundalike, and it didn't work (for reference, see: Priest, Judas).

However, since 2000 they have returned to their 1980s-level of success. They continue to stay relevant by putting out new material and playing it live, rather than just giving the fans a rundown of the hits like certain other bands I could name. I saw them last summer and they only played four songs from the pre-2000 era...some didn't like it, but there were 20K fans there anyway.

[Boomchild]

Maybe he should have written for Iron Maiden.

Funny, Iron Maiden is certainly doing much better than Styx these days. They could teach Stynx a thing or two about how to make a comeback, stay relevant, and sell out stadiums with no other bands on the bill.

Maiden experienced a downturn from 1991 or so until their 'classic' lineup reformed in 2000. All the metal groups were down in the 1990s, but Maiden didn't help themselves with some poor material and the loss of Bruce Dickinson. They tried to replace him with a soundalike, and it didn't work (for reference, see: Priest, Judas).

However, since 2000 they have returned to their 1980s-level of success. They continue to stay relevant by putting out new material and playing it live, rather than just giving the fans a rundown of the hits like certain other bands I could name. I saw them last summer and they only played four songs from the pre-2000 era...some didn't like it, but there were 20K fans there anyway.

I think the reason they are able to do stadium venues is the fact that they do not tour as much as the current Styx does. But I would agree that it seems they have a much larger fan base then Styx does. Both in US and Europe.

[Monker]

Maybe he should have written for Iron Maiden.

Funny, Iron Maiden is certainly doing much better than Styx these days. They could teach Stynx a thing or two about how to make a comeback, stay relevant, and sell out stadiums with no other bands on the bill.

Maiden experienced a downturn from 1991 or so until their 'classic' lineup reformed in 2000. All the metal groups were down in the 1990s, but Maiden didn't help themselves with some poor material and the loss of Bruce Dickinson. They tried to replace him with a soundalike, and it didn't work (for reference, see: Priest, Judas).

However, since 2000 they have returned to their 1980s-level of success. They continue to stay relevant by putting out new material and playing it live, rather than just giving the fans a rundown of the hits like certain other bands I could name. I saw them last summer and they only played four songs from the pre-2000 era...some didn't like it, but there were 20K fans there anyway.

Please name the 90min set of Iron Maiden top 40 'hits' that everybody DEMANDS to hear?

Metal bands typically don't have hits. They have a few songs they are known for, but not a dozen or so mainstream hits like Styx, Journey, foreigner, REO, etc. They are performing to a different audience who buy the tickets with a different expectation.

[Blue Falcon]

Maybe he should have written for Iron Maiden.

Funny, Iron Maiden is certainly doing much better than Styx these days. They could teach Stynx a thing or two about how to make a comeback, stay relevant, and sell out stadiums with no other bands on the bill.

Maiden experienced a downturn from 1991 or so until their 'classic' lineup reformed in 2000. All the metal groups were down in the 1990s, but Maiden didn't help themselves with some poor material and the loss of Bruce Dickinson. They tried to replace him with a soundalike, and it didn't work (for reference, see: Priest, Judas).

However, since 2000 they have returned to their 1980s-level of success. They continue to stay relevant by putting out new material and playing it live, rather than just giving the fans a rundown of the hits like certain other bands I could name. I saw them last summer and they only played four songs from the pre-2000 era...some didn't like it, but there were 20K fans there anyway.

Please name the 90min set of Iron Maiden top 40 'hits' that everybody DEMANDS to hear?

Metal bands typically don't have hits. They have a few songs they are known for, but not a dozen or so mainstream hits like Styx, Journey, foreigner, REO, etc. They are performing to a different audience who buy the tickets with a different expectation.

I wasn't talking about Top 40 hits, but here's the 2008 setlist:

1. Aces High
2. Two Minutes To Midnight
3. Revelations
4. The Trooper
5. Wasted Years
6. Number Of The Beast
7. Run To The Hills
8. Rime Of The Ancient Mariner
9. Powerslave
10. Heaven Can Wait
11. Can I Play With Madness
12. Fear Of The Dark
13. Iron Maiden
14. Moonchild
15. The Clairvoyant
16. Hallowed Be Thy Name

And here's their 2010 setlist:

The Wicker Man
Ghost of the Navigator
Wrathchild
El Dorado
Dance of Death
The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg
These Colours Don't Run
Blood Brothers
Wildest Dreams
No More Lies
Brave New World
Fear of the Dark
Iron Maiden
The Number of the Beast
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Running Free

They could have rested on their laurels and just played the same 2008 setlist over and over and over every tour until they dropped dead from irrelevance...something Stynx is well on its way to doing.