BOAT ON THE RIVER

Styx has never really been among my favourite bands, but I have known (and to some extent, listened to) them since my teen years. Since no one has yet said anything about this single, here I go. 'Boat on the River' is one of the best known Styx songs, and it's on the 1979 album Cornerstone. It's a folky ballad written and sung by Tommy Shaw, whom I consider much better singer than Dennis de Young.

Especially for Finnish people this is a very familiar song: in 1993, a highly popular singer Riki Sorsa had a big hit with the Finnish language cover 'Joki' (= River) which is still occasionally played on the radio, sadly more so than the Styx original. But fewer Finns remember that Taiska, a popular female singer of the late 70's - early 80's schlager scene, made a cover already in 1980, called 'Aamulla yksin' (= Alone in the morning). It's no wonder the song was "adopted" to Finland, since its very accessible, melancholic and nature-loving mood somehow fits the Finnish personality like a glove to hand.

The B side has a shortened version of Dennis de Young's rock ballad 'Come Sail Away', originating from Grand Illusion (1977). I don't much like his tight and slightly syrupy voice in this song which isn't so great as a composition either, but it has a nice synth-centred instrumental section.