Styx Pieces of Eight 1978 A&M Records Club Ed. Vinyl LP w/Insert Near Mint
$
30
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Description
Welcome to Classic Cadillac Records! I visually grade all my records as accurately as possible and will never grade anything above Near Mint unless it's still sealed. Please note that a visual grade can differ from a play grade, and am happy to spot check a record upon request. All orders are shipped within 1 business day (usually sooner) and packed with extra care to ensure fast, safe arrival. Please look closely at all pictures, read all relevant details and ask any questions you may have before buying. I offer a full 30-day return policy on everything I sell, so buy with confidence! And most importantly, thanks for looking!
Pieces of Eight Cover by Hipgnosis Studio album by Styx Released September 1, 1978 Recorded 1978 at Paragon Recording Studios in Chicago and St. James Cathedral (Chicago) Genre
- Progressive rock
- hard rock
(1977) Pieces of Eight
(1978) Cornerstone
(1979) Singles from Pieces of Eight
- "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)"
Released: August 1978 - "Sing for the Day"
Released: December 1978 - "Renegade"
Released: March 1979 (US)
Pieces of Eight is the eighth studio album by American progressive rock band Styx, released on September 1, 1978.
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 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" episode that he initially hated the cover but grew to like it as he got older.
Background
Some consider the album to be Styx' second concept album (1973's The Serpent Is Rising arguably being the first) 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".
Critical reception
Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic Christgau's Record Guide C– Rolling Stone (mixed) The Rolling Stone Album GuideMike 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." Contemporary Rolling Stone reviewer Lester Bangs was more critical of the album, however, saying 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."
The album peaked at #6 on the Billboard album chart, and like its predecessor would go triple platinum.
Track listing
Side one No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length 1. "Great White Hope" Young Young, DeYoung (Spoken Intro) 4:22 2. "I'm O.K." DeYoung, Young DeYoung 5:41 3. "Sing for the Day" Shaw Shaw 4:57 4. "The Message" DeYoung (instrumental) 1:08 5. "Lords of the Ring" DeYoung Young 4:33 Side two No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length 6. "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" Shaw Shaw 4:05 7. "Queen of Spades" Young, DeYoung DeYoung 5:38 8. "Renegade" Shaw Shaw 4:16 9. "Pieces of Eight" DeYoung DeYoung 4:44 10. "Aku-Aku" Shaw Shaw (Whisper Chant) 2:57price rating
