Equinox (Styx album)

Equinox
Studio album by Styx
Released December 1, 1975
Recorded 1975 at Paragon Recording Studios, Chicago
Genre
Length 34:32
Label A&M
Producer Styx
Styx chronology
Man of Miracles
(1974)		 Equinox
(1975)		 Crystal Ball
(1976)
Singles from Equinox
  1. "Light Up"
    Released: 1975
  2. "Lorelei"
    Released: March 1976
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Daily VaultB[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]

Equinox is the fifth album by Styx, released in December 1975.

The album was the band's first release for A&M Records (with whom they signed earlier in 1975, after the late unexpected success of the 1972 single "Lady").

The album also marked the final appearance of original Styx guitarist John Curulewski who left the band[4] abruptly following the release of Equinox. The band went into a frantic search to find a replacement for their upcoming tour to support Equinox. Soon after, they found Tommy Shaw.

The album's biggest hit was the track "Lorelei", which was Styx's second US Top 30 hit. Another well-known song in the album was "Suite Madame Blue" (the title of which has a play on the word "sweet" to refer to the musical term of "suites", i.e. unrelated instrumental successions) which was written about the upcoming Bicentennial of the US. The track became a staple for all Styx tours with Dennis DeYoung. It's a rare example of a Styx song that (briefly) requires four voice parts; during the Paradise Theater tour in 1981 and again on the Return to Paradise tour in 1996, the "America" bridge would be sung by DeYoung, Shaw, James Young and the usually silent Chuck Panozzo.

Although Equinox stalled at #58, it went Gold in 1977 shortly before the release of The Grand Illusion (1977).

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Light Up"Dennis DeYoungDeYoung4:17
2."Lorelei"DeYoung, James YoungDeYoung3:19
3."Mother Dear"John Curulewski, DeYoungCurulewski, DeYoung5:25
4."Lonely Child"DeYoungDeYoung3:47
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Midnight Ride"YoungYoung4:17
2."Born for Adventure"DeYoung, Curulewski, YoungDeYoung5:12
3."Prelude 12"Curulewski(instrumental)1:21
4."Suite Madame Blue"DeYoungDeYoung6:30

Personnel

Styx

Production

  • Producer: Styx
  • Engineer: Barry Mraz
  • Assistant engineer: Rob Kingsland
  • Remixing: Barry Mraz, Styx
  • Mastering: Doug Sax
  • Production assistant: Barry Mraz
  • Design: Chuck Beeson, Junie Osaki
  • Art direction: Roland Young
  • Photography: Chris Micoine

Charts

Album - Billboard (United States)

Year Chart Position
1976 Pop Albums 58

Singles - Billboard (United States)

Year Single Chart Position
1976 "Lorelei" Pop Singles 27

References

  1. ↑ DeGagne, Mike. Equinox at AllMusic. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  2. ↑ Ray, Benjamin (2005-03-17). "The Daily Vault Music Review: Styx - Equinox (1975)". The Daily Vault. Retrieved 2013-02-09.
  3. ↑ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 789. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  4. ↑ VH1's: Styx Behind The Music
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