Styx GOLD

Styx: Tommy Shaw (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin, keyboards, synthesizer); John Curulewski (vocals, guitar, synthesizer); Glen Burtnick (vocals, guitar, bass); James Young (vocals, guitar); Dennis DeYoung (vocals,keyboards, synthesizer); Lawrence Gowan (vocals, keyboards); Chuck Panozzo (vocals, bass); Todd Sucherman, John Panozzo (vocals, drums, percussion).
Includes liner notes by Martin Huxley.
Personnel: John Curulewski (vocals, guitar, synthesizer); Glen Burtnik (vocals, guitar, bass guitar); James Young (vocals, guitar); Tommy Shaw (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, synthesizer); Dennis DeYoung (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer); Larry Gowan (vocals, keyboards); Chuck Panozzo (vocals, bass guitar); John Panozzo, Todd Sucherman (vocals, drums, percussion).
Audio Mixers: Dennis DeYoung; Gary Loizzo; James Young ; John Ryan ; Phil Bonanno; Rob Kingsland; Styx; Tommy Shaw; Barry Mraz.
Recording information: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA; Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, IL; Golden Voice Studios, South Pekin, IL; Paragon Recording Studios, Inc., Chicago, IL; Pumpkin Studios, Oak Lawn, IL; The S.H.O.P, Los Angeles, CA; The White Room; Trax East, South River, NJ.
Photographers: Jim McCrary; Mike Powell ; Rick Diamond; Mark Hanauer.
Arranger: Styx.
There have been several Styx anthologies over the years, and the surplus of hits in the band’s catalogue certainly warrants such treatment. COME SAIL AWAY, however, provides the most in-depth sonic Styx scrapbook one could want. Though the arrival of Tommy Shaw in 1976 helped push the band toward superstardom, this two-disc collection doesn’t shy away from the oft-neglected pre-Shaw days, including not merely the archetypal power ballad “Lady,” but also such obscurities as the thumping riff-rocker “Best Thing” and the joyous, harmony-laden “You Need Love.”
From there, we chart Styx’s ascension to AOR glory on the wings of prog-rock-tinged epics such as “Come Sail Away” and “Pieces of Eight.” Along the way, little-known gems are unearthed, like the moody, acoustic ballad “Boat on the River,” before we launch into the synth-bedecked swan song of the original lineup, “Mr. Roboto” from the ’83 concept album KILROY WAS HERE. Latter-day versions of the band are represented towards the end, but this collection makes it clear that the Styx equation depended upon Dennis DeYoung’s dewy-eyed balladry, James Young’s rock & roll ferocity, and Tommy Shaw’s pop-rock craftsmanship in equal measure.

• Released: 2006-09-19
• Format: CD
• Genre: Rock