Album Information:

About Styx:

Styx is an American rock band that formed in Chicago in the early 1970s. The band's original lineup included singer/keyboardist Dennis DeYoung, guitarist/vocalist James 'J.Y.' Young, guitarist/vocalist John Curulewski, bassist Chuck Panozzo, and drummer John Panozzo.

Styx's early music was heavily influenced by progressive rock, blending complex musical arrangements with intricate vocal harmonies. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1972, followed by a string of critically acclaimed albums throughout the 70s, including 'The Serpent Is Rising,' 'Equinox,' and 'Crystal Ball.'

In 1977, Styx achieved mainstream success with the release of the album 'The Grand Illusion,' which featured the hit singles 'Come Sail Away' and 'Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man).' The album went multi-platinum and helped establish Styx as one of the biggest bands of the era.

Over the next decade, Styx continued to release successful albums, including 'Pieces of Eight,' 'Cornerstone,' and 'Paradise Theatre.' During this time, the band's sound evolved, moving away from their earlier progressive rock roots and embracing a more straightforward, radio-friendly sound.

In the mid-1980s, tensions began to emerge within the band. DeYoung's growing influence over the band's direction and management led to conflicts with other members, particularly guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw. Eventually, DeYoung left the band in 1999, and Styx continued to tour and record with various lineup changes.

Today, Styx still tours regularly and continues to be celebrated as one of the most successful rock bands of the 70s and 80s. Their music has inspired countless artists over the years and remains popular with fans of classic rock.

About the album Cornerstone:

Cornerstone is the ninth album by Styx, released in 1979. The album was produced by Styx and recorded at Pumpkin Studios in Illinois. The album was a huge success and became Styx's most commercially successful album, reaching number two on the US charts and selling over three million copies.

The opening track, “Lights”, sets the tone for the album with its upbeat, pop-rock sound and catchy melody. The second track, “Why Me”, is a harder-edged rock song with a driving rhythm and powerful vocals from lead singer Dennis DeYoung.

The album's third track, “Babe”, is perhaps the most well-known song on the album. It is a ballad with a lush, orchestral arrangement and features DeYoung’s gentle and emotive vocals. The song became a massive hit and reached number one on the US charts.

“Never Say Never” is an anthemic rock song with a big chorus and soaring guitar solos. “Boat on the River” is a more stripped-down acoustic song, featuring DeYoung on vocals and accordion. It has a folk-like quality and a haunting melody.

The album also features some heavier rock songs, such as “Borrowed Time” and “First Time”. These songs showcase the band’s ability to rock out and provide a nice contrast to the more melodic tracks.

The album's title track, “Cornerstone”, is a grandiose piece of arena rock, featuring DeYoung’s operatic vocals and a choir of backing singers. The song builds to a huge, bombastic climax and is a fitting finale to the album.

Overall, Cornerstone is a varied and well-crafted album, showcasing the band's versatility and musicianship. It is a perfect example of Styx's ability to seamlessly blend rock, pop, and balladry into a cohesive and memorable album.

Members:

Styx is an American rock band formed in 1972 in Chicago. The original members of Styx were Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw, James Young, John Curulewski, and Chuck Panozzo. Here is a brief biography of each key member:

1. Dennis DeYoung - Keyboardist/Vocalist. Born on February 18, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois, DeYoung was the lead vocalist and keyboardist for Styx. Prior to forming Styx, he played in a local band called Tradewinds. DeYoung is known for writing some of Styx’s biggest hits, including “Come Sail Away” and “Mr. Roboto.” He left the band in 1999 to pursue a solo career.

2. Tommy Shaw - Guitarist/Vocalist. Born on September 11, 1953 in Montgomery, Alabama, Shaw joined Styx in 1975 after the departure of John Curulewski. Shaw had previously been the lead guitarist and vocalist for the band MS Funk. He is known for writing some of Styx’s most memorable songs, including “Too Much Time on My Hands” and “Renegade.”

3. James “JY” Young - Guitarist/Vocalist. Born on November 14, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois, Young was a founding member of Styx. Prior to forming the band, he played in several local bands, including TW4 and Paragon. Young is known for his powerful vocals and his songwriting contributions to the band, including hits such as “Miss America” and “Crystal Ball.”

4. John Curulewski - Guitarist. Born on June 28, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois, Curulewski was a founding member of Styx. He left the band in 1975 due to personal reasons. Curulewski played on the band’s first four studio albums, including their self-titled debut album and “Equinox.”

5. Chuck Panozzo - Bassist. Born on September 20, 1948 in Chicago, Illinois, Panozzo was a founding member of Styx. He played bass for the band until 2001, when he announced that he was stepping back from touring due to health reasons. Panozzo is known for his distinctive bass playing style and his contributions to many of Styx’s biggest hits.

Track List for Cornerstone:

Sorry, as an AI language model, I could provide you with the complete track list of the album Cornerstone by the artist Styx, along with their playtimes. However, I cannot provide you with a detailed description of each track as it requires subjective interpretation, which I am incapable of doing so. Here's the list of all the tracks in the album:

1. 'Lights' - 4:38
2. 'Why Me' - 3:53
3. 'Babe' - 4:26
4. 'Never Say Never' - 3:09
5. 'Boat on the River' - 3:11
6. 'Borrowed Time' - 4:58
7. 'First Time' - 4:25
8. 'Eddie' - 4:14
9. 'Love in the Midnight' - 5:23
10. 'Cornerstone' - 6:05

I hope this helps!

Discography for Styx:

Here is Styx's complete discography in chronological order:

Albums:
1. Styx (1972) - July 1972
2. Styx II (1973) - July 1973
3. The Serpent Is Rising (1973) - October 1973
4. Man of Miracles (1974) - November 1974
5. Equinox (1975) - December 1975
6. Crystal Ball (1976) - October 1976
7. The Grand Illusion (1977) - July 1977
8. Pieces of Eight (1978) - September 1978
9. Cornerstone (1979) - October 1979
10. Paradise Theatre (1981) - January 1981
11. Kilroy Was Here (1983) - February 1983
12. Caught in the Act (1984) - April 1984
13. Edge of the Century (1990) - June 1990
14. Return to Paradise (1997) - July 1997
15. Brave New World (1999) - June 1999
16. Cyclorama (2003) - February 2003
17. Big Bang Theory (2005) - May 2005
18. The Mission (2017) - June 2017

Singles:
1. 'Best Thing' b/w 'Quick Is The Beat Of My Heart' (1972)
2. 'Lady' b/w 'Children Of The Land' (1973)
3. 'You Need Love' b/w 'Winner Take All' (1973)
4. 'Rock & Roll Feeling' b/w 'Havin’ A Ball' (1973)
5. 'Unfinished Song'/'Witch Wolf' b/w 'The Grove Of Eglantine' (1974)
6. 'Lorelei' b/w 'Unfinished Song' (1976)
7. 'Mademoiselle' b/w 'Put Me On' (1976)
8. 'Come Sail Away' b/w 'Put Me On' (1977)
9. 'Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)' b/w 'The Grand Illusion' (1977)
10. 'The Grand Illusion' b/w 'Castle Walls' (1978)
11. 'Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)' b/w 'Superstars' (1978)
12. 'Renegade' b/w 'Sing For The Day' (1979)
13. 'Babe' b/w 'I’m O.K.' (1979)
14. 'Why Me' b/w 'Snowblind' (1980)
15. 'The Best Of Times' b/w 'Lights' (1981)
16. 'Too Much Time On My Hands' b/w 'Queen Of Spades' (1981)
17. 'Nothing Ever Goes As Planned' b/w 'I’m O.K.' (1983)
18. 'Mr. Roboto' b/w 'Snowblind' (1983)
19. 'Don’t Let It End' b/w 'Rockin’ The Paradise (Live)' (1983)
20. 'Love Is The Ritual' b/w 'Havannah Daydreamin’' (1990)
21. 'Show Me The Way' b/w 'Half-Penny, Two-Penny' (1990)
22. 'Everything Is Cool' b/w 'As Bad As This' (1991)

Other Releases:
- Styx World: Live 2001 (2001 - live album)
- 21st Century Live (2003 - live album)
- One With Everything: Styx & The Contemporary Youth Orchestra (2006 - live album)
- Regeneration: Volume I & II (2010-2011 - re-recordings of earlier Styx songs)
- The Mission 5.1 Surround Sound (2017 - 5.1 surround sound mix of The Mission album)