Hidden Gems

[bugsymalone]

Looks like I have a little too much time on my hands, so here is a new list.

I call this one hidden gems. Songs from the Styx catalog that I THINK were really great songs that never got much recognition. Never made the Anthology or the major compilations. (Note: Rockers does NOT count). I would love to hear from others about some of these, or ones you feel are your personal favorites that got little notice.

The Early Years:
Father O.S.A. – Early brilliance from a young DeYoung. VERY timely for right now and way ahead of its time back then.
You Better Ask – I know what it is about, but a good tune from John C.
22 Years – What a cool, rocking exchange of powerhouse vocals from DDY and JY
Young Man – One of JY’s finest and has a killer keyboard break from DDY

Equinox:
Mother Dear – Great, great synth. song. One of the best Styx ever did.
Born for Adventure – What can I say? This was woefully ignored and still is.

Crystal Ball:
Put Me On – Awesome, airtight harmonies. Cool song.
This Old Man – Took me a long time to like this one. The factory sounds, created vocally by DDY, are inspired.

Grand Illusion:
Castle Walls - I think this is the best song on this album. At least DDY recognizes its value and is singing it in his solo shows. Thank you , Mr. DeYoung.

Cornerstone:
Love in the Midnight – Love the music and harmonies in this.

Paradise Theater:
Lonely People – This is a certifiable masterpiece of songwriting , musicianship, arrangement and vocals.
She Cares – A really nice, pleasant , one from Tommy Shaw.
Half Penny , Two Penny – Sometimes maligned. This is a good song and I love how it melds into the Best of Times and closes out the album.

Kilroy Was Here:
Just Get Through This Night – I think this is one of the best songs Tommy Shaw ever wrote and sang. Really, really beautiful song.
Double Life – This is, in my estimation, JY’s best song ever. His best vocal performance by far and such great lyrics and music in this one.

Edge of the Century:
World Tonight – “Girls wanna dance. Boys wanna fight.” Cool Glen song.
All in a Day’s Work – Nice vocal duet here. Great lyrics.

Brave New World:
I Will be Your Witness - Good Tommy song
Goodbye Roseland – Sad, longing, beautiful vocals.
While There’s Still Time – Ditto. Gorgeous harmony and acoustic guitar.

Carrot:
What? There was an album after these I've listed???

Bugsy

[piecesofeight]

Overall is has to be Castle Walls without any doubt at all!!!! I also think that Haven't We Been Here Before has such great harmonies with Tommy and Dennis, but Castle Walls-thank you Dennis for adding this.
I also cannot wait to hear POE live OMG!!!

[DamnYankee]

Jonas Psalter, Winner Take All, Serpent is Rising, Put Me On, Queen of Spades.

[Guest]

I love Heavy Metal Poisioning . Great song and it does rock. If I ever have kids I'm gonna have them listen to that song every day.

[BlackWall]

Let's see..

"What Has Come Between Us".. nothing that really stands out too much, but still quite an early vocal performance from Dennis.. His anguish sounds very sincere..

"You Better Ask".. I agree with this one, it's just a funny, catchy song, and the little "Strangers In The Night" tag at the end is hilarious..

"22 Years".. Again, I agree.. This song is a great rocker, great guitar, and the lead vocals are perfect, sounds like they had a lot of fun.. It probably could have been a single if the meaning wasn't quite so personal to J.C.'s situation..

"A Song For Suzanne".. I have to wonder if Dennis and her were having some problems during the writing for this album.. It's not a great song, but it's somewhat haunting, the guitar is cool, and once again, Dennis really carries off the expression in his vocal..

"Southern Woman".. If any song from the RCA years should have been a single, it's this one.. I don't know if maybe the lyrical content would have been considered a little too suggestive, but the music just rocks out, and what an awesome keyboard solo towards the end.. J.Y's vocals kick ass, too..

"Born For Adventure".. What else can be said, I just agree totally..

"Castle Walls".. I feel the same way, but as much attention as Dennis gears towards it, it's hard to think of it as really being left in the dark..

"Lights".. I know this one is actually on Volume II, but I still feel it doesn't get enough recognition.. It should have been a single, and Tommy really makes us feel his need for the "lights"..

"Sing For The Day".. kind of dorky, also on Volume II, but some really intelligent composing from Mr. Shaw..

"Nothing Ever Goes As Planned".. what could really be more true than that sentiment? I really feel that "Paradise Theatre" was nothing short of brilliance.. It really stretched the diversity of the band..

"Lonely People".. agree again..

"Just Get Through This Night".. yes, the ultimate Tommy lyrics..

"Haven't We Been Here Before?".. a much better song than "Don't Let It End", should have been the second single.. great vocals from DDY & Shaw..

"Double Life".. next to "Souther Woman" & "These Are The Times", this is my favorite J.Y. track.. It's not a brilliant song, but it's powerful, and J.Y.'s vocals really are so nasty that they work perfectly here.

"Not Dead Yet".. I know this isn't really a Styx song, but Dennis proves he can still sing a rock song here, and it's catchy as hell..

"I Will Be Your Witness".. The longing for what used to be really comes through on this one..

"Fallen Angel".. This song could have possibly been done a little better musically, but the lyrics really take it home, "They all look perfect to us, so rich and cool and bored, but hold the presses boy, they've checked into Betty Ford.." Dennis is just at his most cynical here, and it works brilliantly..

I do think there were some good ones on Cyclorama, but the ones I like are basically the ones that have been hyped the most.. "These Are The Times", "Yes I Can"..

[yogi]

What about Golden Lark? Dennis never sounded better. The lyrics and melody are sooo haunting. GREAT GREAT early song!!!!!!!! I also thought What Has Come Between Us was a really good song, even if it was a remake. Besides Roseland, I really liked Heavy Water, Everything Is Cool, and What Have They Done To You off of Brave New World. Some of that CD was pretty good.

[bugsymalone]

Interesting choices.

Yogi, I almost included Golden Lark on my list, but I have never thought those were up to the level of great lyrics by DDY. The melody and the performance of it are really lovely, though.

I so much enjoy listening to all the Classic Styx albums in their entirety and hearing the songs that just really never got radio or concert play and never made it to any compilations.

Bugsy

[gr8dane]

What if there were some long forgotten live tapes lurking around from the old Wooden Nickel days.?I wonder?/
Is there such thing????Now,that would be a hidden gem.
If there is such thing,,don't be shy and let me know.

[styxfanNH]

In an interview a year ago, Tommy and JY said they had seen some tapes in the warehouse, but they didn't know what they were or what was on them. I think it was on a Rockline show where they were asked if there were any alternative versions of songs. My memory is a little fuzzy on the show, but I am sure on the answer. Nothing has been said since then that I know of. Might be a good question to ask Dennis, he might know more if anyone gets a chance.

[Guest]

I also like Half-Penny Two-Penny.

[ek88]

Still familiarizing myself with the Wooden Nickel stuff . . .

Equinox:
Mother Dear: nice harmonies, good representation of the pre-Cornerstone Styx era.

Crystal Ball:
Put Me On: does a nice job of running the gambit of the Styx sound.
Jennifier: in a word, catchy!

The Grand Illusion:
Might as well just be truthful and say every song on the album is great, whether it got much notice or not.

Pieces Of Eight:
See Grand Illusion comment

Cornerstone:
Never Say Never: a classic Shaw acoustic/electric mix. He really has a talent for this, IMHO.
Lights: See BlackWall's comment.

Paradise Theater:
Lonely People: never been able to put a finger on why I like this song so much, I just do!
She Cares: one of my favorite Tommy non-hits, but I sense that the majority of fans aren't very taken in by this song.
Half-Penny Two-Penny: my favorite JY song, much better than Miss America (IMO). I am also a big fan of the ending, like Bugsy!

Kilroy Was Here: (please note, I'm about to say something nice about this album--you will rarely get that from me )
Double Life: my second favorite JY song.
Haven't We Been Here Before: I LOVE how DDY and TS sing the chorus. It's too bad they never explored this more. More of this back then and I'd probably be more receptive to the ballads these days.

Edge Of The Century:
Love Is The Ritual - favorite Burtnik tune. Love the Styxworld version; the worst part of Glen leaving is this one won't make it back to the setlist.

Brave New World:
Everything Is Cool - my favorite flat-out rocker since Blue Collar Man. I'd love to see this one back in the setlist!
Fallen Angel - not really on my list, I just wanted to say that I would like to have seen how this one would've turned out had Tommy and JY gotten a chance to rock it up a bit or add some punch to it.
Brave New World - to me, the most Styx-sounding song on the album.

Cyclorama:
Waiting For Our Time - I know it was the single, but let's face it, it got little or no attention. Even though it's a big fave of mine now, it took a long time to grow on me, for whatever reason.
Yes I Can - very Shaw-Blades, which I like very much. Also, sometimes I like songs that don't have the best harmony in the world. It gives a song a rougher and more raw edge. (Probably explains why I like Van Zandt and Springsteen "harmonies" so much )
Not going to overdo it and list more songs, but I think the whole album is great and of course, it go no attention.

[/u]

[swwskj]

Rock "n' Roll Feeling
22 Years
Mother Dear
Jennifer
Castle Walls
Lord of the Rings
Never Say Never
Lonely People
Back to Chicago

I'm not including anything past EOTC, 'cause lets face it, nobody's heard any of it.

Scott

[DeeJaySTYX]

Bugsy, I Pretty much like your list, but I didn't care for "World Tonight"...Sorry ...Here are some additions to your list ,


"The Earl Of Roseland"- The Life and times of Dennis Deyoung at the age of 15 and the happenings of the community of Roseland and the formation of the band...

"What Has Come Between Us"- Arguably The best Styx song written by a someone other than a band member....

"Golden Lark"

"Southern Woman"- Great Rocker

"Man Of Miracles" Again Great Rocker

"The Grove Of Eglantine"

"Jennifer"

"Ballerina"- Awesome guitar dual between JY and Tommy

"Man In The Wilderness"- One Of Tommy's Best

"Great White Hope"- One Of JY's best

"I'm O.K."- Classic Writing

"Queen Of Spades"

"Pieces Of Eight"

"Lights"- Great Tune

"Why Me"- Great Back-up vocals..Great writing equal to "Nothing Ever Goes As Plan"

"Eddie"- Hey Eddie, don't run for President or you will be shot like your brothers...

"Nothing Ever Goes As Plan"- Like "Why Me" on the difficulties of life..

" Haven't We Been Here Before"

I know most of you will disagree with me on this next one,

"Homewrecker"- Talking about Lust and how it can destroy lives and relationships..

As For Cyclorama, too new even though I like the majority of the album....


Some of these songs were on compilations but I feel that they didn' t get enough recognition...


DeeJay....