Pieces of Eight: Difference between revisions
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|rev2 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|Christgau's Record Guide]]'' | |rev2 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|Christgau's Record Guide]]'' | ||
|rev2Score = C−<ref name="CG">{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]|publisher=[[Ticknor & Fields]]|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: S|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=S&bk=70|access-date=March 13, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}</ref> | |rev2Score = C−<ref name="CG">{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]|publisher=[[Ticknor & Fields]]|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: S|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=S&bk=70|access-date=March 13, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}</ref> | ||
| | |rev3 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'' | ||
| | |rev3score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book |last=Brackett |first=Nathan |author2=Christian Hoard |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2004 |location=New York City, New York |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/789 789] |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac|url-access=registration |quote=rolling stone styx album guide. }}</ref> | ||
|rev4 = [[Sputnikmusic]] | |||
|rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/81535/Styx-Pieces-Of-Eight/</ref> | |||
}} | }} | ||
''[[Rolling Stone]]'' reviewer [[Lester Bangs]] was critical of the album, writing that "what's really interesting is not that such [[narcissistic]] slop should get recorded, but what must be going on in the minds of the people who support it in such amazing numbers. Gall, nerve and ego have never been far from great rock & roll. Yet there's a thin but crucial line between those qualities and what it takes to fill arenas today: sheer self-aggrandizement on the most puerile level. If these are the champions, gimme the cripples."<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/pieces-of-eight-19781228 |title=Styx - ''Pieces of Eight'' (1978) album review |last=Bangs |first=Lester |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |publisher=[[Wenner Media]] |date=December 28, 1978 |access-date=June 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710184803/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/pieces-of-eight-19781228 |archive-date=July 10, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' noted that "when Styx strays too far from its rock and roll foundations ... as on the Gothic-pretentious numbers by Dennis | ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' reviewer [[Lester Bangs]] was critical of the album, writing that "what's really interesting is not that such [[narcissistic]] slop should get recorded, but what must be going on in the minds of the people who support it in such amazing numbers. Gall, nerve and ego have never been far from great rock & roll. Yet there's a thin but crucial line between those qualities and what it takes to fill arenas today: sheer self-aggrandizement on the most puerile level. If these are the champions, gimme the cripples."<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/pieces-of-eight-19781228 |title=Styx - ''Pieces of Eight'' (1978) album review |last=Bangs |first=Lester |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |publisher=[[Wenner Media]] |date=December 28, 1978 |access-date=June 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710184803/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/pieces-of-eight-19781228 |archive-date=July 10, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' noted that "when Styx strays too far from its rock and roll foundations ... as on the Gothic-pretentious numbers by Dennis DeYoung like 'Lords of the Ring', it starts getting less credible."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gilday |first1=Katherine |title=Styx |work=The Globe and Mail |date=25 Oct 1978 |page=F9}}</ref> | ||
Mike DeGagne of [[AllMusic]] has retrospectively praised the album, saying that the songs on the album "rekindle some of Styx's early progressive rock sound, only cleaner."<ref name="allmusic" /> | Mike DeGagne of [[AllMusic]] has retrospectively praised the album, saying that the songs on the album "rekindle some of Styx's early progressive rock sound, only cleaner."<ref name="allmusic" /> | ||
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* [[Dennis DeYoung]] – vocals, keyboards | * [[Dennis DeYoung]] – vocals, keyboards | ||
* [[James Young (American musician)|James "JY" Young]] – vocals, guitars | * [[James Young (American musician)|James "JY" Young]] – vocals, guitars | ||
* [[Tommy Shaw]] – vocals, guitars, mandolin, autoharp | * [[Tommy Shaw]] – vocals, guitars, [[mandolin]], autoharp | ||
* [[Chuck Panozzo]] – bass | * [[Chuck Panozzo]] – bass | ||
* [[John Panozzo]] – drums, percussion | * [[John Panozzo]] – drums, percussion | ||
Latest revision as of 02:23, 18 November 2025
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Pieces of Eight is the eighth studio album by American progressive rock band Styx, released in September 1978.[1]
Like the band's previous album, The Grand Illusion (1977), it managed to achieve triple platinum certification, thanks to the hit singles "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" and "Renegade".
The band members produced and recorded the album (like their previous three efforts) at Paragon Studios in Chicago with recording engineer Barry Mraz and mixing engineer Rob Kingsland. "I'm O.K." was recorded at Paragon and St. James Cathedral. This would be the last Styx album to be produced at Paragon Studios.
The album's cover was done by Hipgnosis. Dennis DeYoung stated in the 1991 interview with Redbeard on the In the Studio with Redbeard episode that he initially hated the cover but grew to like it as he got older.
Background
The record is considered by some[2][3] to be Styx's most obvious concept album, as well as the last Styx album with significant progressive rock leanings. The theme of the album, as Dennis DeYoung explained on In the Studio with Redbeard which devoted an entire episode to Pieces of Eight, was about "not giving up your dreams just for the pursuit of money and material possessions".
Reception
Template:Music ratings Rolling Stone reviewer Lester Bangs was critical of the album, writing that "what's really interesting is not that such narcissistic slop should get recorded, but what must be going on in the minds of the people who support it in such amazing numbers. Gall, nerve and ego have never been far from great rock & roll. Yet there's a thin but crucial line between those qualities and what it takes to fill arenas today: sheer self-aggrandizement on the most puerile level. If these are the champions, gimme the cripples."[4] The Globe and Mail noted that "when Styx strays too far from its rock and roll foundations ... as on the Gothic-pretentious numbers by Dennis DeYoung like 'Lords of the Ring', it starts getting less credible."[5]
Mike DeGagne of AllMusic has retrospectively praised the album, saying that the songs on the album "rekindle some of Styx's early progressive rock sound, only cleaner."[6]
The album peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard album chart, and like its predecessor would go triple platinum.[7]
Track listing
Template:Track listing Template:Track listing
Personnel
Styx
- Dennis DeYoung – vocals, keyboards
- James "JY" Young – vocals, guitars
- Tommy Shaw – vocals, guitars, mandolin, autoharp
- Chuck Panozzo – bass
- John Panozzo – drums, percussion
Production
- Producer: Styx
- Engineers: Rob Kingsland, Barry Mraz
- Assistant engineer: Harry Andronis
- Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, NYC
- Cover by Hipgnosis
Charts
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Weekly chartsTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart
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Year-end chartsTemplate:Album chart
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Certifications
Template:Certification Table Top Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Bottom
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" | US Pop Singles | 21 |
| 1979 | "Sing for the Day" | 41 | |
| "Renegade" | 16 |
References
External links
- Styx - Pieces of Eight (1978) album review by Mike DeGagne, credits & releases at AllMusic.com
- Styx - Pieces of Eight (1978) album releases & credits at Discogs.com
- Styx - Pieces of Eight (1978) album to be listened as stream at Spotify.com
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