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GREATEST HITS PART 2

Styx

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Styx Greatest Hits Part 2 album cover
3.27 | 7 ratings | 3 reviews | 14% 5 stars

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Boxset/Compilation, released in 1996

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. A.D. 1928 (1:07)
2. Rockin' The Paradise (3:34)
3. Light Up (4:17)
4. Sing For The Day (4:57)
5. First Time (4:23)
6. Mademoiselle (3:55)
7. Snowblind (4:58)
8. Boat On The River (3:10)
9. Borrowed Time (4:58)
10. Lights (4:37)
11. Queen Of Spades (5:38)
12. Love At First Sight (4:33)
13. Haven't We Been Here Before (4:04)
14. Superstars (3:59)
15. Little Suzie (4:49)
16. It Takes Love (3:26)

Total Time: 66:35

Line-up / Musicians

- Dennis DeYoung / keyboards & vocals
- Tommy Shaw / guitars & vocals
- James "JY" Young / guitars & vocals
- Chuck Panozzo / bass
- Todd Sucherman / drums & percussion

Releases information

A&M 31454-0550-2

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
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STYX Greatest Hits Part 2 ratings distribution


3.27
(7 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of rock music(14%)
14%
Excellent addition to any rock music collection(29%)
29%
Good, but non-essential (43%)
43%
Collectors/fans only (14%)
14%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

STYX Greatest Hits Part 2 reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Ivan_Melgar_M
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars STYX is probably the most disrespected band by progheads, I'm sure many members would rather not see them listed here (even when in secret have some of their albums) but that's unfair, it's true that they were never in the same level of Progressiveness as the classic groups, but they are really good. Less pretentious than most of the bands, solid keyboard, vocals and incredible chorus is a strong enough formula.

People always attacks STYX making us remember that they were from USA (Something unforgivable for many) or that mixed some Prog leanings with pure Rock and AOR, but seem to forget that the band always managed to keep a balance between quality and popularity (At least until the infamous "Kilroy Was Here") and honestly I'm not ashamed of liking good part of their music.

This strong compilation (Not a greatest hits thanks to God) is focused in their later albums like Cornerstone, Pieces of Eight and Paradise Theater, which presented some of their best stuff mixed with some poor tracks that mostly are avoided in this album.

I rarely recommend people to get compilations, instead I suggest to stick with the original releases but in the case of "Styx Greatest Hits Part 2" it's a good option because it presents some of their best songs avoiding mediocre hit singles as "Babe"..

Some of this tracks are among my favorites in STYX career and want to focus this review in the songs that I consider the best.

The album opens wit "AD 1928" and "Rockin' the Paradise" the first one a melancholic introduction for the track that gave the name to the Paradise Theater album, a song where Dennis De Young really rocks, good chorus excellent piano and solid rhythm section by the Panozzo brothers, not Prog' but a heavyweight opener for any Rock album.

Track four, "Sing for the Day" is a typical Tommy Shaw song who adds his characteristic vocals and an evident but light prog' approach, again Dennis de Young does an excellent job with the keyboards and accordion, not a virtuoso but really knows how to get the best possible sound and a solid guitar work by JY and Shaw..

"Snowblind" is one of the most controversial songs by STYX, they were accused of including satanic backward messages, something that was denied by JY who sings it with Tommy Shaw, another solid track with great keyboards.

Immediately after comes a very peculiar track from Cornerstone called "Boat on a River", again with Tommy Shaw singing who also plays mandolin or balalaika (Not sure which one) and Dennis de Young who uses accordion, a beautiful track with a characteristic Russian or Greek ethnic sound provided by the selection of instruments.

Of course couldn't end the review without mentioning my all time favorite STYX song, "Lights" from the album Cornerstone, a track that has everything but overall the best chorus ever played by STYX, IMO almost in the same level than any vocal work done by Queen, the most Progressive moment of all the album.

I believe it's not necessary to talk about the rest of the songs because all have been commented in the albums in which they were originally released, it's enough to add that they didn't selected any weak or cheesy song, something hard in a band like STYX that has a good share of those ones.

If you are not embarrassed to listen some good Rock with light Prog moments without having to program your CD player to skip any filler, this compilation should be more than adequate, 3.5 average but not having this chance will have to qualify it with 3 very solid stars being that even when it's a very good album, "Greatest Hits Part 2" is not essential from a Progressive Rock perspective.

Latest members reviews

3 stars Styx Greatest Hits part the Second from 1996. Contains other "hits" than their original hits package of a few years before. Nothing groundbreaking or new, really although a few better songs like "Boat on a River" are here. I would stick to the earlier classic albums like PIECES OF EIGHT, THE GRAND I ... (read more)

Report this review (#733605) | Posted by mohaveman | Friday, April 20, 2012 | Review Permanlink

4 stars I'm not sure that the title "Greatest Hits II" applies to this album, as it is really a CD of the best "album cuts" Styx had to offer. That's not to say it isn't a fantastic album...especially for fans who haven't yet explored their other works...as it shows how some of Styx "non-hit songs" sound.. ... (read more)

Report this review (#17450) | Posted by | Friday, December 26, 2003 | Review Permanlink

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