CAUGHT IN THE ACT LIVE

I listened to this album in 1986 or in 1987, being broadcasted in Stereo by a FM Radio station in my city, now defunct and called "Rock 101". This very missed radio station was the best choice for Rock listeners here. They broadcasted in those years (between 1984 and 1995) special programmes dedicated to very different styles of music, including Progressive Rock (with series of programmes dedicated to the discographies of YES, Genesis, ELO, etc.), Heavy Metal, Rock Oldies, Christian Rock, Reggae, and even music not related to Rock, like Afro-American music! They also broadcasted, almost at midnight some days, complete live albums like this Styx album. I recorded it on a cassette because I liked some parts of it (maybe I`m going to buy the CD one day).

Despite not being a fan of Styx`s music, I think that this band has some quality in their playing and in some of their compositions. I think that Dennis DeYoung, in particular, is a very good keyboard player and singer, and he deserves to be considered as the "main force" in this band. While some of his music is mellow, some other songs like "Come Sail Away" are very good. The live version of this song included in this album, is very good, with the audience singing along with DeYoung, and with a very good guitar solo at the end of the song. Guitarists Tommy Shaw and James Young brought a balance to DeYoung`s style, playing and singing energetic Rock songs like "Miss America". "Crystal Ball" is also a very good live version, one of my favourites from this album. "Babe" is one example of DeYoung`s mellow ballads which some Styx`s Fans like. A real bad song is, IMO, "Mr. Roboto", which was also played a lot in the Radio.

This is a good live album to listen even if you are not a Fan of Styx. The recording and mixing are good too.