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Styx II

Styx - Styx II Audio CD

A fair review of the Styx "Styx II" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Styx reviews here, or go back to the Styx tabs.

Band: Styx
Title: Styx II
Rating:

Release Date: 1990-10-05
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: You Need Love 2: Lady 3: Day 4: You Better Ask 5: Little Fugue in "G" 6: Father O.S.A. 7: Earl of Roseland 8: I'm Gonna Make You Feel It

America's early 1970's answer to YES and E.L.P.
I vividly recall having the Styx II album played for me at college in late 1973. It's interesting to listen to this collection of embrionic Styx again. Anyone that was enamoured by early 70's British prog-rock like Yes and ELP liked Styx when they first heard them. In 1973, many FM radio stations in the Midwestern United States gave airplay to three tracks from Styx II. . . . . . "I'm Going To Make You Feel It", "Little Fugue in G / Father O. S. A" and of course the beautiful ballad "Lady". Listeners in the Midwestern states heard "Lady" on the radio about five years before it became a huge hit across the U. S. in the late 70's. .

Their Best Wooden Nickel Album
But As I Look At The Reviews Here I See That None Of You Know Why John Curulewski Left. I Love This Stuff And I Am A Huge Fan Of Styx Both The Early And Later Stuff. JC Left To Family Problems He Wanted To Save His Family And His Marriage And He Is A Good Man For Doing That.

Anyway STYX II was Styx's sophmore album and they are really comin together. If you listen to all the Styx album in order you can constantly hear them making little steps to superstardom. My favorite songs on here are definetly "Lady", "You Need Love", and "I'm Gonna Make You Feel It". All the other songs on this are great too especially "Father O. S. A. ", "A Day", and "You Better Ask. "

This is a great album to end your collection with I suggest you buy it. It really is some great music to won. And if you really are a music lover you will buy this album.

Styx - 'Styx II' (RCA)
Remember,guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw had not joined the band as of yet. Originally released in 1973, as ' Styx II ' was the band's second effort. This considered by most fans to be decent '70's album rock. Tunes I was semi-impressed with were "You Need Love",their first top ten hit single "Lady","Father Of O. S. A. " and "I'm Gonna Make You Feel It". Ironically,all four of those cuts were penned by Dennis DeYoung. Wanted to mention something here,I don't care WHO says that "Lady" was one of the wimpiest,lamest or worse power ballads ever written. Personally,I've ALWAYS liked this tune.

BRILLIANT ALBUM
It's diverse and it's great. This is one of my favoruite Styx albums.
Every track is a winner. 'You need love' is Beatlesque pop with a southern-rock flavour, 'I'm gonna make you feel it', 'You better ask' and 'Earl of Roseland' (my favourite on here) are great rock songs. Then there's the psychedelic ballad 'A day' and the epic 'Little Fugue in G + Father OSA', plus Lady is a brilliant song too. I read an article about Styx and apparently Dennis was so upset about this albums original commercial failure that on the next two albums he deliberately wrote songs that were of a different persona to his usual one (being himself). The difference of persona from this album to Man Of Miracles amazed me. On Man Of Miracles he's a hopeless romantic while on this album he's an upright man making social statements, a person who resurfaced on 'Equinox'.
Unlike the albums that followed, this one is a lot 'softer', it's not hard-rock, it's more classic rock with a psychedelic flavour.

One of their BEST albums
See, he replaced John Curulewski the original guitarist with James Young. I think the reason i dont like Tommy Shaw that much. Tommy Shaw seems so arrogant. Aside from that, it was the first Styx release i ever heard. On my fathers old 8-track. This was one of my favorite 8-tracks to listen to.

Even though there are only 8 songs. Quality over Quantity.

You Need Love: One of the singles. One of the heaviest songs on the album. Some KILLER lead guitar work on this song!

Lady: The original version that you hear on the radio. Not that remake they did for the greatest hits album.

A Day: Actually this seems like it is 2 songs. The ballad, which takes about 5 minutes of the song. and the rocking instrumental solo part which takes up about 3:20 in the middle of the song. I have this on a very rare 45 white label promo. (I actually own 2 copies) Apparently it was considered for single release. The song is split into the 2 parts (soft and inst. heavy)
I always thought that women were singing this one. As if maybe someone in the band lost a bet and their wives got to record a song.

You Better Ask: also released as the flip to you need love. I always like songs when the drummer does a good cowbell beat.
I also (if you have read other reviews you will know) LOVE lyrics. This one has another of my faves:

"You know what you gotta do
Theres no one else to blame but you
Nobodys gonna tell you so next time you just had better ask"

Little Fugue In G/Father OSA: The first part is just over a minute long and sounds like a church hymn on the organ. (or horror music) It segues into a WONDERFUL rocker called Father OSA. What OSA means is anyones guess. However, the last 2-3 minutes has some classic Styx Instrumental action. Frenetic drumming by the dear departed John Panozzo. Plus some dual guitarwork that would have made the Allman Brothers jealous.

Earl Of Roseland: Another great rocker. More great guitars and drumming. (makes me wonder why Curulewski left, they had some great promise)

I'm gonna make you feel it: The third single. Sounds like a trademark Styx song from the later periods.

This CD is essential listening if you are a classic rock fan and ESPECIALLY if you are a Styx fan. This cd is JUST as essential as Rubber Soul, A Night At The Opera, Abbey Road, The Wall Etc. . . .

PS, yes, little fugue in G has about 1/2 a second chopped off of the first note. It doesnt sound bad but if you want that 1/2 second. Spend over $10 more for the import. TRUST ME, as a fan of this album, it doesnt make THAT much of a difference. The only other complaint is a little tape hiss in the quiet parts. Otherwise it is perfect.

You can see a complete list of all Styx discography, or go back to the Styx tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.