STYX – Babe : The Collection (2011)
For the first time in UK, STYX is releasing a local Greatest Hits Collection which mainly covers the band’s classic and golden era from February 1976’s ‘Equinox’ album (represented by “Lorelei”) and ending exactly seven years later with the release of ‘Kilroy Was Here’ (“Mr Roboto” and “Heavy Metal Poisoning” being the album’s showcases) after which (one live album aside) the band splintered and wasn’t heard of again until 1990.
The reformation album ‘Edge Of The Century’ is given a nod in the shape of the melodic power ballad “Show Me The Way” and from the very early days comes ‘Lady’, albeit here in its 1995 re-recording, only available in the USA.
Styx have always been masters at what they do, and so “Babe The Collection” is a comprehensive compilation and really hard to fault.
“Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” and “Renegade” from the excellent ‘Pieces Of Eight’ will always be up there in my book, and songs like “Come Sail Away” and “Too Much Time On My Hands” are so contagious they should be quarantined.
I was quite taken with Malcolm Dome’s booklet notes, and the assertion that US pomp rock was a fusion of English prog and US AOR. It’s a good point well made.
Also with the statement that the band’s most famous song; “Babe”, “showcases how you should write and record such a ballad with it not becoming too cloying”.
Styx never really meant that much in the UK (although “Babe” hit No. 6 and the heavily promoted ‘Paradise Theater’ album broke into the Top 10) but were spectacularly massive back home in America.
More recently though they’ve won a new audience in Britain, and it’s great to see them being appreciated at last. You see, there’s no such thing as ‘too late’…
Styx are touring in support of Foreigner and Journey this summer.
This excellent compilation covers the band’s early (and best) years, and for people who missed Styx first time round and want the hits on one album, this is the real deal, it’s a very cheap CD (£ 3.75 ~ 4.75) .
This is American pomp rock of the highest order, with an equal mix of ballads and rockers, and it lets newbies hear what all the fuss was about.
UK only release – All tracks remastered.
Essential.
01 – The Best Of Times
02 – Too Much Time On My Hands
03 – Babe
04 – Boat On The River
05 – Come Sail Away
06 – Mr. Roboto
07 – Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
08 – Lady ’95
09 – Crystal ball
10 – Renegade
11 – Lorelei
12 – Mademoiselle
13 – Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
14 – Heavy Metal Poisoning
15 – Shooz
16 – Snowblind
17 – Show Me The Way
18 – A.D. 1928
19 – Rockin’ The Paradise
Dennis DeYoung – Vocals, keyboards, accordion
Tommy Shaw – Vocals, guitars, mandolin, autoharp, talkbox
James “J.Y.” Young – Vocals, guitars, keyboards
Chuck Panozzo – Bass guitar, bass pedals
John Curulewski – guitars, vocals, autoharp, synthesizer
John Panozzo – drums, percussion
tinyurl.com/asda-entertainment-STYX
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IF YOU LIKE IT, BUY IT !
