Equinox (Styx album)

Equinox
Studio album by Styx
Released December 1, 1975
Recorded 1975 at Paragon Recording Studios, Chicago
Genre Progressive rock
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
Source Rating
AllMusic [1]
The Daily Vault B[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 unexpected success of the 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 Return to Paradise tour, 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.

Track listing

  1. "Light Up" (D. DeYoung) – 4:17
  2. "Lorelei" (D. DeYoung, J. Young) – 3:19
  3. "Mother Dear" (J. Curulewski, D. DeYoung) – 5:25
  4. "Lonely Child" (D. DeYoung) – 3:47
  5. "Midnight Ride" (J. Young) – 4:17
  6. "Born for Adventure" (D. DeYoung, J. Curulewski, J. Young) – 5:12
  7. "Prelude 12" (J. Curulewski) – 1:21
    • Instrumental
  8. "Suite Madame Blue" (D. DeYoung) – 6:30

Personnel

Styx
Production

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1976 Pop Albums 58

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1976 "Lorelei" Pop Singles 27

References

  1. ↑ DeGagne, Mike. Equinox (Styx album) at AllMusic. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  2. ↑ Ray, Benjamin (2005-03-17). "The Daily Vault Music Review : Equinox". 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