Garage Sale Vinyl: Styx
Pieces of Eight / A&M / September 1978
by Christopher Long
It could be argued that 1978 was the apex of the white-hot, classic lineup Styx era: an impressive four-record streak running from 1975-1978 that included Equinox, Crystal Ball, Grand Illusion, and Pieces of Eight. Sure, the Chicago-birthed brigade would drop another THREE multi-platinum-selling sets, Cornerstone, Paradise Theatre, and Kilroy Was Here, but by then, they’d transitioned from FM album rock crusaders to, well, you know.
Of course, as a rock-crazed teenage connoisseur in those days, I snatched up the Pieces of Eight LP on day one. I’d also pick it up on 8-Track (for late-night, pot-smoking Chevy excursions) and later on CD. However, up until very recently, I only (still) owned my iTunes copy.
Then, a few weeks ago, I received a massive love parcel from a special friend who shipped me her entire vintage vinyl collection, for FREE. Along with a slew of chart-busting titles from the likes of Frampton, Heart, and “Diamond” Dave was a shockingly pristine copy of Pieces of Eight. Truth be told, when I spotted that one, I may have let out an actual audible noise, similar to the sound my GF made, that time I told her I’d bought us Loretta Lynn concert tickets. But I digress.
Simply put, Pieces of Eight was a bona fide banger. From the tippy, the self-produced set hit hard with the opening double-whammy of guitarist James “J.Y.” Young’s high-octane “Great White Hope” and “I’m O.K.,” the turbo-charged collab between Young and frontman / keyboardist Dennis DeYoung. Even Tommy Shaw’s sunnier-sounding “Sing for the Day” was a stinger. Young and DeYoung also teamed up on “Queen of Spades,” the sneaky standout that first feels like a seduction, but pivots into a full-on assault.
While Pieces of Eight was a spectacular ten-track tour de force, it’s known best and (likely) loved most for its two Top 40 hits, “Blue Collar Man” and “Renegade.” These arena-sized, Tommy Shaw-penned masterworks not only remain classic rock radio staples, but also still serve as faithful showcases for the band’s “secret sauce,” the brutal rhythm section of bassist Chuck Panozzo and drummer John Panozzo.
At the end of the day, it’s all about songs. And Pieces of Eight owned some doozies. Nearly 50 years following its official release, the songs still sound fresh. In fact, in recent years, Styx has continued performing Pieces of Eight live on stage, from start to finish, in its entirety — and the songs still pack a punch, resonating with longtime fans, as well as with their fans’ grandkids. The timeless power of rock and roll.
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pieces of Eight Track List
SIDE ONE
1. Great White Hope (J. Young) 4:21
2. I’m O.K. (D. DeYoung, J. Young) 5:42
3. Sing for the Day (T. Shaw) 4:56
4. The Message (D. DeYoung) 1:08
5. Lords of the Ring (D. DeYoung) 4:31
SIDE TWO
1. Blue Collar Man (T. Shaw) 4:03
2. Queen of Spades (J. Young, D. DeYoung) 5:38
3. Renegade (T. Shaw) 4:13
4. Pieces of Eight (D. DeYoung) 4:45
5. Aku-Aku (T. Shaw) 3:00
