- Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd: Though “Dark Side of the Moon”, and “The Wall” are undoubtedly the groups most iconic albums, die-hard fans often rank “Wish You Were Here” above them as the band’s finest work.
- Aja – Steely Dan: Despite being generally revered by Rock critics, Steely Dan’s albums are rarely mentioned amongst the all-time greats. Arguably, “Aja” stands out as being one of the bands most cohesive projects. Decades later, it sounds even better than when it was first released.
- Reggatta de Blanc – The Police: While “Outlandos d’Amour” was a great introduction to this talented trio, it was “Reggatta de Blanc” which provided the first glimpse of the band’s spectacular potential. It was a leap forward in style, songwriting, musicianship and production.
- Frontiers – Journey: On the heels of the phenomenally successful “Escape” album, the band released this gem, which combined the best of that previous record with a heavier, more rock based sound. While the former could be considered a pop record, with some rock underpinnings, the later was more of a rock record, with pop sensibilities.
- Bad Company – Bad Company: Formed from the remains of successful bands, “Free”, “Mott the Hoople” and “King Crimson”, Bad Company came out firing on all cylinders for their debut record. Though this album contained numerous rock radio staples (e.g. Bad Company, Can’t Get Enough, Ready for Love, Movin’ On) and featured one of rock music’s best vocalists (Paul Rodgers), it is rarely acknowledged amongst rock’s elite records.
- In Utero – Nirvana: There is no denying the massive impact the bands, “Nevermind” album had on the music industry, but in some ways that story has obscured the brilliance of their latter work. With “In Utero” the band began to show its range, both musically and emotionally. Tragically, their story was cut short before we got to see how far they could take it.
- One of These Nights – The Eagles: The extraordinary success of 1976’s “Hotel California” didn’t exactly come out of nowhere. 1975’s “One of These Nights” was a number one album, featuring three top ten smashes, “One of These Nights”, “Take it to the Limit” and “Lyin’ Eyes”, which were each sung by a different lead vocalist. Few records or groups have ever managed such a feat.
- Pieces of Eight – Styx: The dynamic tension between Dennis DeYoung’s over the top pension for musical theater, and Tommy Shaw/James Young’s hard rock dreams came into perfect balance for the album, “The Grand Illusion” and on its breakout single, “Come Sail Away”. But on the follow-up record, “Pieces of Eight” it was the duo of Shaw & Young who got to be the rock band they’d always wanted to be. Unfortunately, the phenomenal success of the single, “Babe” from their next album, “Cornerstone” brought DeYoung back to the forefront, and marked the beginning of the end of the band’s straight ahead rock sound.
- Love Over Gold – Dire Straits: Though it was not their best selling or highest charting album, “Love Over Gold” may be the band’s most artistically ambitious work. The plaintive “Love Over Gold”, the haunting “Private Investigations”, and the sprawling, “Telegraph Road” create a soundscape that rivals the film scores that Mark Knopfler would eventually become famous for.
- Houses of the Holy – Led Zeppelin: Though Led Zeppelin I, II & IV are most often featured on critics “best of” lists, “Houses of the Holy” features some of the bands strongest and most original work (e.g. The Rain Song, No Quarter, Over the Hills and Far Away, D’yer Mak’er).
Posts Tagged ‘Styx’
10 Underrated Classics
Posted in Entertainment/Music/Sports, tagged Aja, Bad Company, Dire Straits, Frontiers, Houses of the Holy, In Utero, Journey, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, One of These Nights, Pieces of Eight, Pink Floyd, Reggatta de Blanc, Steely Dan, Styx, The Police, Wish You Were Here on March 30, 2021| 2 Comments »
Hit Songs that Hurt Their Artists Credibility
Posted in Entertainment/Music/Sports, Lists, tagged America, April Wine, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, REO Speedwagon, Starship, Steve Miller Band, Stevie Wonder, Styx, The Grateful Dead on August 19, 2020| Leave a Comment »
- Babe – Styx: The release of the 1979 album “Cornerstone” came on the heels of the multiplatinum success of 1977’s, “The Grand Illusion” and 1978’s, “Pieces of Eight”. By that time, Styx had firmly established themselves as AOR and Arena Rock favorites. But things took a dramatic turn when its first single rocketed up the charts. Longtime fans were stunned by this frothy pop confection, and disappointed in the light weight sound of the album as a whole. Though it ushered in an era of Top 40 chart success for the group, their reputation as a rock band was forever diminished.
- Ebony and Ivory – Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder: Given their stellar musical achievements, it was hard not to be excited by the idea of these two powerhouse performers coming together. Yet, despite the best of intentions, and the undeniably positive lyrical message, it was hard not to be disappointed with the results. Undoubtedly a career lowlight for both of them.
- Abracadabra – Steve Miller Band: Steve Miller entered the 1980’s on a roll. After earning a solid reputation as a blues guitarist in the late1960’s, he found chart success throughout the 1970’s (e.g. The Joker, Fly Like an Eagle, Book of Dreams) with his own brand of good time rock and roll. But his first release of the new decade, 1982’s “Abracadabra” had a markedly different sound; and while the MTV generation seemed drawn to the new look, it was a turn that many from his old fan-base couldn’t make.
- Muskrat Love – America: Expectations for America’s third album (1973”s “Hat Trick”) were high, as the band looked to build on a resume that already included two hit albums, three top ten singles, and a Grammy award. But when this quaint ode to rodent romance failed to resonate with fans, the album quickly faded as well. Though the band rebounded the following year with another hit album (“Holiday”) and two more top ten singles (“Tin Man” & “Lonely People”), this song stands out as one of the few missteps in the groups early career. Ironically, just a few years later, the Captain and Tennille took their version of this tune all the way to the Top Ten.
- We Built City – Starship: With the departure of two key members of the original group (guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bass player Jack Casady), band co-founder, Paul Kantner reimagined Jefferson Airplane, birthing Jefferson Starship in its place. Along with the changes in personnel came a reworked California rock sound, which largely abandoned the group’s Psychedelic roots. After years of success, the band weathered another significant change with the departure of lead singer, Marty Balin and the addition of singer, Mickey Thomas. Once again, the sound changed, this time to a more modern, straight forward rock style (e.g. “Jane”, “Find Your Way Back”…). By the early 1980’s Kantner had grown weary from battles over the band’s artistic direction, and quit the group. Legal proceedings necessitated that the band’s name once again be changed, eschewing any reference to “Jefferson”. “Starship” essentially looked like the same band, but the new music was pure pop. Though this record was a huge hit, it signaled the end of whatever credibility the group had in the rock community.
- Keep On Loving You – REO Speedwagon: Throughout the 1970’s REO toured the country, building a passionate fan base with their energetic live shows. The enthusiastic audience response to the band’s music can clearly be heard on 1977’s live album, “You Get What You Play For”. As the decade ended, AOR staples like “157 Riverside Avenue”, “Riding the Storm Out”, “Roll With the Changes” and “Time For Me to Fly” had earned them a reputation as a hard rocking outfit from the Midwest. But the phenomenal success of 1980’s “Hi-Infidelity” changed all of that. Though it contained a few rock songs, they were overshadowed by the remarkable popularity of the pop ballads, most especially this #1 smash hit. And while their live shows retained some of their foundational qualities, the band’s legacy has become tied to Prom/Wedding themes like “Keep On Loving You” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling”.
- Just Between You and Me – April Wine: Like previously mentioned bands Styx, and REO Speedwagon, April Wine spent years cultivating a following, first in Canada and then in the US. Relentless touring eventually earned them opening slots with acts like the Rolling Stones, Styx and RUSH. And when rock radio took notice of the 1978 track, “Roller”, they finally broke through in the US market. 1979’s album, “Harder…Faster”, breakout track, “I Like to Rock” and a high profile tour with Nazareth, all pushed them further into the rock stratosphere. Their 1981 follow-up, “The Nature of the Beast” was also a platinum seller, but the immense popularity of the single, “Just Between You and Me” seemed to put the band in a different light, and the building momentum seemed to quickly dissolve. Though they continued to record and tour, their name soon faded from rock radio’s vocabulary.
- The Girl Is Mine – Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson: This playful ditty (and its accompanying video) certainly didn’t harm anyone, but it was well below the standards set by both of these mega talents.
- Touch of Grey – The Grateful Dead: Though their place in rock history is secure, the top ten single, “Touch of Grey” is a chapter that many “Dead-Heads” would like to forget. For those not familiar with the band or its music, it had to make them wonder what all the fuss was about.
10 Gifted Artists Who Greatly Benefited Through Collaboration
Posted in Entertainment/Music/Sports, Lists, Opinions, tagged Art Garfunkel, Benjamin Orr, Blind Faith, Cream, Crosby, David Crosby, David Gilmour, David Lee Roth, Dennis DeYoung, Derek & the Domino's, Eddie Van Halen, Elliot Easton, Elton John Bernie Taupin, Eric Clapton, Freddie Mercury, James Young, JJ Cale, John Lennon, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Lennon & McCartney, Nash & Young, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Queen, Ric Ocasek, Roger Waters, Sammy Hagar, Simon & Garfunkel, Stills, Styx, The Beatles, The Byrds, The Cars, The Yardbirds, Tommy Shaw, Van Halen on June 28, 2010| 2 Comments »
1. Art Garfunkel (Simon & Garfunkel): Undoubtedly Art Garfunkel possessed one of the most distinctive voices in popular music; but despite his moderate success as a solo artist, it was really his collaboration with Paul Simon that allowed his gifts to be fully realized. Simon’s amazing songwriting and his deft vocal interplay were the perfect vehicle for Garfunkel to shine. While Simon’s career continued to soar as a solo artist, Garfunkel never again scaled the heights he visited in this partnership.
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2. David Crosby (The Bryds, Crosby Stills Nash & Young): Like Art Garfunkel, David Crosby possessed a truly unique and beautiful voice. Though he was also an able songwriter and musician, it was his collaborations with people like Roger McGuinn (The Byrds), Gene Clark (The Bryds), Graham Nash (The Hollies), Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield) and Neil Young that created a lasting impact.
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3. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen): Eddie Van Halen is not only a tremendous guitar player, but a multifaceted musician and the creative force behind the band “Van Halen”. Yet despite his ample talent, it is unlikely that he would have ever achieved the same level of success without finding someone to be the face and voice of his band. Needless to say, he found two of rock’s most memorable showmen in David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar.
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4. Freddie Mercury (Queen): Almost the polar opposite of Eddie Van Halen, Freddie Mercury was a quintessential showman, in need of collaborators to create the proper setting to showcase his talent. He found that in Brian May and the other members of the band Queen. This highly underrated group of musicians provided an accessible context and added valuable substance to Mercury’s eccentric persona.
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5. Ric Ocasek (The Cars): Undoubtedly the quirky pop genius of Ric Ocasek was the driving creative force behind the music of “The Cars”. And while it seems unlikely that they would have had been noticed without him, the band’s best work occurred when Elliot Easton’s edgy guitar and Benjamin Orr’s emotive vocals were allowed to balance out his off beat lyrics and synth-pop sensibilities.
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6. Dennis DeYoung (Styx): Like Ric Ocasek of the Cars, Dennis DeYoung of the band “Styx” was the pop visionary behind their most successful music. His creative flourishes fueled the concept albums and stage productions that distinguished the band from its peers. But at its core, Styx worked best as a rock band and in those moments, Tommy Shaw and James Young were essential in balancing DeYoung’s more theatrical sensibilities. Neither DeYoung nor the remaining members of Styx (who perform without him), have been as compelling since they parted company.
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7. Elton John: Without question, Elton John is a tremendously gifted musician, singer and performer in his own right; but it is through his 40+ year songwriting collaboration with Bernie Taupin that his most memorable work has been produced. It is difficult to know what his career would have been without Mr. Taupin’s contributions.
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8. Roger Waters (Pink Floyd): Certainly Roger Water’s dark cynicism and disdain for standard musical conventions were at the heart of Pink Floyd’s most memorable recordings, but without the balancing contributions of his band mates (most especially David Gilmour), his solo work has been erratic and far less compelling. Considering his sizable contributions to the band’s collective identity, the remaining members have made some surprisingly worthwhile music without him.
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9. Eric Clapton: Though Eric Clapton has enjoyed a long and successful career as a solo artist, his most notable moments have almost always come through his collaboration with other artists. His contributions to bands like “The Yardbirds”, “John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers”, “Cream”, “Blind Faith” and “Derek & the Domino’s” were legendary and even much of his most memorable solo work showcased other songwriters like J.J. Cale (After Midnight), Robert Johnson (Crossroads) and Bob Marley (I Shot the Sheriff).
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10. Lennon & McCartney (The Beatles): While inferring that either one of these musical legends wasn’t talented enough to stand alone would amount to sacrilege in the minds of most people, I would submit that both benefited greatly from their collaboration. Though they each created some classic music on their own, neither consistently produced anything that rivaled their work together.
Bjcorbin's Blog 
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2018)
Posted in Commentaries, Opinions, tagged America, Bad Company, Black Sabbath, Blind Faith, Boston, Chaka Khan, Cheap Trick, Deep Purple, Def Leppard, Devo, Doobie Brothers, Foreigner, Janet Jackson, John Prine, Journey, MC5, Radiohead, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ronnie James Dio, Steve Winwood, Stevie Nicks, Styx, The Cure, The Guess Who, The Scorpions, The Zombies, Todd Rundgren, Traffic on October 11, 2018| 3 Comments »
OK, so I’m not losing sleep over who gets into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but the latest batch of nominee’s reminded me of how haphazard this process can be. This year voters get to pick from a wide variety of artists, which includes overlooked bands like The Zombies and MC5, singer/songwriters like Todd Rundgren and John Prine, genre pioneers like Kraftwork, and Rage Against the Machine, 80’s phenoms like The Cure and Devo, dancefloor divas like Chaka Khan, and Janet Jackson, or popular favorites like LLCoolJ, Stevie Nicks and Def Leppard. It’s not that I have a big issue with any of these artists, it’s that there are so many other deserving candidates who seem to have been forgotten. USA Today ran an article in recent days naming what they considered to be artists that were “snubbed” (e.g. Blink-182, Bone Thugs N-Harmony, Jane’s Addiction?), and while they did name a few I hadn’t thought of (e.g. Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, Snopp Dogg, Kate Bush), they left off what I considered to be the more obvious choices. Four groups that jump to my mind are the Doobie Brothers, Boston, America, and The Guess Who. Each one of those bands produced at least a half dozen classic songs that are still being played on the radio 40+ years later. Their credentials are far superior to many of the other artists who are already in the hall.
In many cases, members of popular bands are also enshrined for their individual careers (e.g. Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, John Lennon…). Along those lines, I believe that a singer like Paul Rodgers should be admitted for his work in bands like Free, Bad Company, The Firm, and Queen. Similarly, Sammy Hagar (Montrose, Van Halen, solo career), Ronnie James Dio (Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio) and Steve Winwood (Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith) should qualify for their stellar careers. With bands like Journey and Cheap Trick already recognized, it’s hard to understand the exclusion of bands like Foreigner and Styx. Similarly, if Deep Purple was worthy, so is Bad Company, and if Bon Jovi belongs, so do The Scorpions. I don’t mind newer acts like Radiohead being nominated, but I don’t want to see some of these classic acts forgotten. If you need further proof for the artists I mentioned, listen to the following:
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