Label: Universal Music (Japan), UICY-77883
Style: Rock, Pop Rock, Progressive Rock
Country: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Time: 34:50
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 232 Mb
Charts: US #58. US: Gold; CAN: Platinum.
After
dropping four poorly-received prog-driven studio slabs, the
Chicago-birthed brigade, Styx, were rescued from the bottom rungs of
rock’s tour circuit overnight when their 1973 album cut, “Lady,” became a
surprise international smash in the spring of 1975. In short order, the
five-piece combo graduated from the indie Wooden Nickle label and
signed to music giant, A&M Records.
Styx benefited immediately
from newfound major label resources. But while not a bona fide
blockbuster, their fifth album, Equinox, certainly helped break the band
on a larger scale. And along with the classic Led Zeppelin set,
Physical Graffiti, it ranked quickly as one of my personal top two
stoner 8-tracks when it arrived in stores worldwide. That was a very
long time ago - 45 years ago next week, to be exact.
The last Styx
effort to feature co-founding guitarist, John Curulewski, the
self-produced eight-song LP was the gateway to the group’s unimaginable
future, with fresh-faced 22-year-old Alabama guitar ace, Tommy Shaw,
soon joining their ranks, just in time for the ensuing tour. Simply put,
Equinox revealed the stylistic blueprint for what would define the
band’s impeccable decades-long brand. And it sounded as big as the
arenas they soon would be headlining.
“Light Up” set the stage
perfectly as a mighty record opener. A high-energy, coliseum-caliber
sing-along, the tune was brought to life by the iconic lead vocals of
Dennis DeYoung and his magnificent, Mainstreet Electrical
Parade-flavored keyboard work. The combination of Chuck Panozzo’s
throaty bass chug and his brother, John Panozzo’s iron-pumping drum work
lit up not only “Light Up,” but also provided the backbone for the
entire record. DeYoung’s transparent lyrics more than adequately
conveyed the song’s good-time, party-hearty message. As a result, the
intro’s joint-toking sound effect and the outro’s “smoke it – smoke it”
mantra both were gratuitous and kinda silly.
Crisp and catchy,
“Lorelei” was the second Styx single to crash Casey’s Countdown - an
upbeat, radio-friendly rocker that provided the crunchier yin to the
softer “Lady” yang. Another noteworthy standout, “Mother Dear” was a
delightful sonic cocktail - mixing psychedelia-soaked vocals with “Karn
Evil”-inspired keys and stadium-sized guitars.
Bursting with
ferocious riffs and wailing vocals, the James “JY” Young-penned,
“Midnight Ride” was a white-knuckled excursion. Young’s soon-to-be
signature guitar sound was like clanging sheets of metal - like two of
Detroit’s finest colliding at a previously undiscovered intersection.
Highlighted
by Curulewski’s masterful acoustic guitar work, DeYoung’s
heart-stopping six-and-a-half-minute opus, “Suite Madame Blue,” would
become a staple at Album Oriented Rock (AOR) FM radio. One of the band’s
all-time greatest achievements, it remains a much-loved fan favorite.
Prior
to arriving at a place of pop prominence as platinum purveyors of prom
night provolone, Styx were an authentic hard-hitting rock act with
plenty of street cred to spare. And 45 years later, Equinox stands tall
as an important entry in their impressive catalogue - serving as a vivid
snapshot of the band’s golden era.
(v13.net/2020/11/styx-equinox-retro-album-review/)
01. Light Up (04:24)
02. Lorelei (03:23)
03. Mother Dear (05:30)
04. Lonely Child (03:55)
05. Midnight Ride (04:22)
06. Born For Adventure (05:16)
07. Prelude 12 (01:24)
08. Suite Madame Blue (06:33)
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