So, you bought the Anthology.......

[classicstyxfan]

And so far, I havent...........to those that have it, I have a question.
Was it worth your money, or did you buy it just because you already own everything else they have released, so you had to have it ?

Since there is no new material, the main attraction to me is the remastered feature, but I want to know if it made a big difference or not ? I listen most often in my car, and my stereo isnt top of the line in the car, so I'm interested in hearing from you owners on this issue....is it worth my money, or should I just burn myself a CD with these songs in the same order as Anthology ?

-Classic

[spaceace02038]

if you're concerned whether or not its worth the money or not then just buy the autographed verison on www.towerrecords.com.if you spend $2.01 more its free shipping.most stores have it for over $20 anyway

its well worth it

[GaryS]

I would burn it... There are no new pics...No new songs... plus you know they are going to put out something else like it soon. I would burn one.

[classicstyxfan]

I'm really wondering if you can hear the difference between the re-mastered vs original release ?

[GaryS]

I can tell the difference but to be honest it isn't huge. When we had our cd mastered it took about 4 tries to get it right and the main difference was we wanted it to be louder. Meaning that when it goes into a cd player on shuffle with a bunch of other releases we wanted ours to be as loud (atleast) as everything else. Pick a cd from each year (like 89 to present) and listen to a bit from each and you will hear that as the years go on they get louder and clearer. I would dare to say that the best way to get a drastic improvement on the Styx catalougue would be to remix and then remaster each recording. If you have both of the Beatles Yellow Submarine discs you can hear a HUGE difference in clarity and volume. Every frequency is "present and accounted for". The trick is to keep ALL of the band members out of the room while it is being done. They would have to hire somebody to match the original mix whilst beefing them up. Not adding or taking away reverb or compression or trying to update them. Do it just like Yellow Submarine was done and I bet we would have some KILLER Styx cds. Personally I would LOVE to remix POE and Equinox. To make them sound the same but better is the goal.

[bugsymalone]

I do think you can tell the difference, as Gary says, when something has been remastered if the original recording truly is an old one.
I don't have the best playback equipment myself, but I certainly can hear the difference improved technology makes on a recording.

I would assume one could tell a difference when something as old as "Best Thing" is remastered with state of the art equipment.

Bugsy

[BlackWall]

This isn't a bad collection, but it misses the mark on too many important tracks.. Actually, I think if you take the two greatest hits volumes, you have a better retrospective of the group.. Yes, you lose the rca tracks, but.... outside of the original recording of lady, I don't think the ones they went with on here are really that essential..

Really, for this to have been done right, it should include at least a third disc of material.. Where are born for adventure, southern woman, queen of spades, these are the times? Not to mention the somewhat cookie cutter, but top ten don't let it end.. As for the sound, I'm sure it is better, but I think I'll be able to survive with the remastering done for the two greatest hits volumes..

[SuiteMadameBlue]

If you own this Anthology, did you look at the booklet? I enjoyed looking through the pictures (the sames I've seen before) and reading the history (which I've read before).

I know Styx has gone through a few line-ups, but why wasn't there a Styx group picture featuring Glen? There's a teeny tiny picture of Glen on the second last page of the booklet. Hmmm, interesting

[bugsymalone]

know Styx has gone through a few line-ups, but why wasn't there a Styx group picture featuring Glen? There's a teeny tiny picture of Glen on the second last page of the booklet. Hmmm, interesting

That seems to be the way of it with these guys. Marginalize and minimize the talents and contributions of former members of this ever-changing group called "Styx."

Bugsy

[Adam]

Yup, I agree. Did anyone see the booklet to the "Rockers" compilation? There's a live photo of the classic line up, way back when, and Dennis was cut out. They were selling vintage looking shirts with a composite shot of Chuck, John, Young and Shaw - as they looked in the late 70s. They'd CUT OUT Dennis. As if he was never in the band.

Ofcourse it's JY & Tommy who make these decisions. We all know JY does the interviews and has the most assertive tongue. But my guess is it's more the quiet guy whose really the passive-aggressive leader, trying to rewrite history at every turn, as it fits his ego.

Fans know who JC was. Fans won't forget John P. Or Burtnik. And certainly not DeYoung. These guys contributed alot.

Hardcore fans might eventually grow tired of Tommy Shaw's little denial parade year after year after year.

It all seems so immature and childish the way these guys are running down the band, surely and steadily.

Oh well. It's STILL a great band.

[classicstyxfan]

The Rockers photo thing would be funny....if it weren't so sad.

I think it would be hysterical if Dennis were to take the same photo, white out all of the other members, ( but have the outline of them ) and show it in the sleeve of his next CD with the caption "Here's a picture of Styx in their heyday..."

Then he should e-mail Shaw and Young an advance copy....

Hell, even if he didnt release it to the public that way, it would be a great gag !

[GaryS]

The t shirts had Dennis' inage omitted because the can't sell his image without his written permission. That is the law...
However the photo in a cd booklet is a different issue.

[Adam]

Yeah, okay maybe it's "the law" (even though it still requires attorneys to go after such unethical business practices, and even then, good luck getting things so they're "fair") but that T-shirt bespoke a larger issue.

Bad taste.

Not that Styx was ever hailed for being taste-makers, but that T-shirt was just a bad idea. And so was the compilation photo sans DeYoung. And now without Burtnik. If someone's music is being used, why not face up to it?

Yes, I suppose the answer would be the two blondes are in the buisiness of promoting their band - the current Styx.

Still, it strikes me as an indication of juvenile jealousy, fear and poor taste - even if we are only discussing a shirt and the umpteen compilations.

That's been my observation.

[classicstyxfan]

It's gotta be tough on them...on the one hand, they want to wish DDY right out of the Band's history.......yet, they want ( need ? ) the money that comes with including DDY penned Styx songs on the compilations. What a blow to the ego's involved.

Too bad for them they cant have it both ways, and still be taken seriously by the groups core fans.....on the other hand, they probably dont care about the core fans, they are typically not the people who buy compilations anyway.

Cash in while you can.......this seems to be standard operating procedure.

[bugsymalone]

Yep. It seems that DDY's enduring music -- and the money it brings in --always comes up to bite the two guitar players on the butt every time they try to take total control.

And the irony of their trying to reach a new audience is that those very people are buying the Greatest Hits and now the Come Sail Away Anthology, where Dennis' work and voice are heavily featured.

Bugsy

[rollnrocker]

i got the new Styx Anthology too. It's worth it because it's 2 1/2 hours of Styx with music from all but one of their albums. I've been researching them while working at UMG. They work from their fist LP wooden nickle and move on in chronological order throughout the album. They're also on tour. One of my coworkers went to their concert and said it was one of the best he's seen.

[DeeJaySTYX]

Hey Adam,


Good assessment...It puts a whole new meaning on the phrase;


"It's Not The Music That's In Question,

It's Their Freedom Of Expression"...


Do you think deep down that Dennis actually wrote "High Time" in response to his feelings toward JY and Tommy and their perception on ballads???" The Mind Police Are Coming"....


DeeJay....

[Adam]

Well, perhaps DeYoung felt inhibited by the blonde guitarists. But it's also well documented that they too felt censored by DeYoung's ego-driven, overpowering conceptualizations.

What we're talking about here are young men who became successful while receiving public adulation and special treatment. Egos run wild in such delicate situations. I suspect there is arrested developement abounding in most such rock tales (see Axel Rose for instance).

(Not to mention how each guy's wife/girlfriend is whispering into his ear how the band would be nothing without him, that he IS the band.)

And the instant one of these big babies is met with resistance regarding something he wants to do, all hell breaks loose. They divorce and act like full-blown idiots the rest of their careers.

I portend both sides of the Styx saga have lived up to this formula, by the way.

[sadie65]

While I agree with the arrested development theory, I find it incredibly sad that these men cannot embrace their history without denegrating each other in the process. There are always leaders and egos in any group setting. Fact of life. Sadly, I think with all the sniping, bickering, and childish petty attacks being lobbed, I think they greatly reduce their impact on the music world. And that's a shame, because collectively they made some really great music together.

Sadie

[kiddo]

Sadly, I think with all the sniping, bickering, and childish petty attacks being lobbed

Perhaps the very thing Dennis tried to curb all those years.

kiddo

[Adam]

Perhaps the very thing DeYoung might've been trying to avoid...but I suspect it was just as likely - if not moreso - it was the OTHERS who were constantly taking the task of covering up for the most boisterous/unstable/ego dominating member in public.

I know DeYoung likes to come off like the grown up (he's been singing and writing for a soft-rock adult audience - as if he's Paul Anka - for 20 years). But I recall him calling up newspaper journalists, demanding stories be changed, publicly griping about what kind of venues Styx were playing, sermonizing (as he does) about principles and integrity, all back in 1999. The way I see it, it was DeYoung who took the pissing contest to the public first. Which fueled the fire leading up to his sueing the band (which he settled out of court - so much for "principle").

Maybe you disagree. If you do, you probably prefer DeYoung's music. If you agree with my assessment, you might prefer the "rocking" side of Styx. It's always been a matter of musical taste, we fans tend to stubbornly take the sides that fit our musical preferences. (Unrealistic, sometimes even delusional).

Nevertheless, they all look a bit more human, a bit more money-hungry, a bit more flawed and a bit more ridulous to me.

Again, I say the music is what counts.

[sadie65]

Adam, with all due respect, I do not necessarily agree with your assessment. If you look at all the interviews any of these men did up until 1999, there was never any of the sniping or bickering or belittling that has since taken place. I don't think the other men were covering for Dennis in public given the fact that he wasn't saying anything negative about them or the band up to that point in time.

Yes, Dennis did call journalists and was pretty vocal in his displeasure. I could see why. If you are being misrepresented and something that was such a part of your life (be it personal or business related) I would think I would want to get my end of the story out there as well. Was the way he did it correct...perhaps not. But yes, it made him human. And has he continued it in print? I haven't seen anything in the last 2 years to suggest he has.

The other men have had 5 years to put this behind them. They've chosen to continue to sniping, bikering, and belittling of their former band mate. Why? Even if every thing they say is 100% true, what's the benefit? Shouldn't they be focusing their energies on their new music and all of their concerts and publicity stops? If, as both Jy and Tommy have said they want to climb the mountain again, I would think it would be pretty easy to say something to the effect of "we've moved on from Dennis. We'd rather tell you about our great new music and keep that topic closed". Arrested development indeed.

Whether I prefer Dennis' music or "Styx" music has very little impact on my thoughts in this matter. It's how the people involved carried themselves. Some may find these men showing restraint and class. I simply disagree. I think we should agree to disagree here. LOL.

I do agree. It does make them look a little more flawed and human.

Peace,

Sadie

[SuiteMadameBlue]

I agree with everything Sadie has written, especially this quote from her:

If, as both Jy and Tommy have said they want to climb the mountain again, I would think it would be pretty easy to say something to the effect of "we've moved on from Dennis. We'd rather tell you about our great new music and keep that topic closed".

Just for you information, Dennis was not the only one from the music world that has called up a newspaper journalist to have a story changed or a quote changed. This is the same from the entertainment and even sports world. It happens daily. Believe me, there were some pretty bad blow-outs with different major music artists. You can call any entertainment editor from any major newspaper and a few of them can go "on record" with their stories. If you ever get a chance to talk to Tommy, you should ask him if he or his manager had to call a newspaper to have a story or quote changed that he said.

I prefer Dennis' music to the current Styx, that's just my opinion, but I'm sure by now you already know that

[kansas666]

The other men have had 5 years to put this behind them. Why? Even if every thing they say is 100% true, what's the benefit? Shouldn't they be focusing their energies on their new music and all of their concerts and publicity stops?

JY seems to be the primary spokesman for the band in the press these days. He gets up early to do drive time interviews for radio and it seems that he is doing quite a lot to promote the most recent efforst of STYX. The reason the other stuff comes up is because it is NEWS! It's what people want to hear. Sure it is 5 years old. But if it weren't news this board would be pretty dead - wouldn't it? My instinct is that JY would rather not talk about the old stuff. He would rather everyone went to the concerts and bought their most recent product. But he gets asked about it in EVERY interview.

[rollnrocker]

The Anthology is worth the money. It has a lot of the same songs as the other two greatest hits albums (it is afterall a compliation) BUT instead of two completely different CDs... its just one compilation album.

A lot more people, I'm finding out, really enjoyed the concert :D

[sadie65]

Of course Tommy, JY, and Dennis get asked about it in every interview. Dennis will, like it or not, always be associated with the band. As I said, if Jy wanted to focus on the new material, he could simply state what I suggested. it would give him more of an opportunity to promote his latest product. I didn't mean to suggest that he didn't promote their new products. I have seen many interviews with him, as well as heard several on the radio. Yes he pushes the product. But at the same time, he chooses to leave the door open for the sniping and bickering. And that is something he can control.

As for it being news, well, perhaps a few years ago. But we're talking 5 years ago now. Not really NEWS anymore. It's how each one of these men chooses to conduct themselves which determines their place in history. Isn't that true of all of us?

Peace,

Sadie

[ek88]

A lot more people, I'm finding out, really enjoyed the concert

This seems to be a strong point of the current lineup. It seems that most people who do attend tend to enjoy the show. I've heard many positive remarks from people in my area who attended one or more of the 5 local shows in the past few years. On a sidenote, in most cases the people I've talked to are not hard core Styx fans, but just classic rock fans in general. I've heard very little about the lineup. I think it's safe to say that the average person going to see Styx these days is either unconcerned with or unaware of the lineup change. I'm sure there's also some newer and younger fans in attendance, the majority of whom are basically ignorant about Styxtory and the recent dirty laundry.

[bugsymalone]

I think it's safe to say that the average person going to see Styx these days is either unconcerned with or unaware of the lineup change. I'm sure there's also some newer and younger fans in attendance, the majority of whom are basically ignorant about Styxtory and the recent dirty laundry.

That is likely very true. However, if any of these people decide to buy something from the Styx catalog, say Greatest Hits or the Anthology, they are going to get a whole lotta Dennis.
I always wonder what they think of this and do they wonder who that guy is and what happened to him.

I know if I were a new, or even casual, fan, and purchased one of their classic lineup CD's, I certainly would wonder about who he was and why he was no longer in the lineup. He is just too prominent on those recordings to ignore.

And then again, maybe they are just not discerning enough to know the difference.

Bugsy

[styxfanNH]

I think fans in general are used to the revolving members of many bands today. So it is not as much of an issue for them.

Personally, I miss dennis's contributions in the past and even wish the current line up would add a few more to the set.

I have come to terms with what the band was and is.

But for those that "unknowingly" buy the cd and find they like dennis's contributions. Good for them. He is an important part of their past.

And if they are casual fans, I doubt that they will wonder why he is no longer in the lineup other than that they may have the understanding that lineups change; like so many others have.

[styxfanNH]

On another note,

Here is a copy of the review that classicrockrevisited.com did on the anthology. It has a different perspective about the cd.

Styx - Come Sail Away | The Styx Anthology
A&M & UTV Records
www.styxworld.com
Rating: B

The Good
This anthology is two discs and 35 tracks and does a great job of showcasing the different eras and individual talents of everything that is Styx. It is in chronological order meaning that you get the more rare and hard rock stuff on Disc One and the pop sap on Disc Two. The first CD will appeal to most readers of CRR as Styx goes way back to the beginning with “Best Thing,” “You Need Love” and the show stopping “Winner Take All.” “Lady” still sounds good after all of these years. Disc One also includes “Light Up,” Lorelei,” “Suite Madame Blue,” Crystal Ball,” “The Grand Illusion,” “Fooling Yourself,” “Come Sail Away,” “Miss America” and “Man In The Wilderness.” Disc Two starts off with the Pieces of 8 album including “Blue Collar Man,” “Renegade” and the title track. Two cool additions are the songs “Rockin’ The Paradise” and “Borrowed Time.”

The Bad
The wussies of the world are going to yell at us but included here are the songs that eventually ripped the band to shreds, “Mr. Roboto” and “Babe.” Other sappy ballads include “The Best Of Times,” “Sing For The Day,” “Boat On The River,” and “Show Me The Way.” Great songs left off include “I’m Okay,” “Midnight Ride,” “Castle Walls” and “Superstars.” So, what we are trying to say is that there will be some skipping around on this cd and you will still have to buy Grand Illusion to get all of the best of Styx.

The Bottom Line
The early songs remind one of how Styx was very much like Kansas in the fact that they were melding pop and progressive music. The latter music shows how they became a show tune band. Now, they are back on the road and featuring all the rocking songs that had been dropped from the set list in last of the DeYoung era. The bottom line is that this collection is the best representation of the band and will provide Styx fans with hours of both entertainment and debate amongst themselves of which era was the true Styx.