Pieces of Eight
In some ways, Styx was America's answer toQueen. The Chicago quintet never ascended to the ranks of rock-and-roll royalty, as did their English counterparts, nor are they held in as high a regard today. Nevertheless, Styx fulfilled a Midwestern American hunger for high-flown fantasy typified onPieces of Eightwith songs like Dennis DeYoung  and James Young's "I'm Okay" and "Lords of the Rings," with their elaborate arrangements, soaring vocal harmonies, and lyrical pretensions. In quite another direction, guitarist Tommy Shaw writes about basic human needs and working-class values in "Blue Collar Man," while his song "Sing for the Day" is a pleasant air, and "Renegade" a hard-charging rocker. Styx may have seemed somewhat schizophrenic onPieces of Eightbut their legions of fans diminished not a whit, making the album the band's second multiplatinum effort in a row, followingThe Grand Illusion.--Daniel Durchholz