Why Every List of Songs by Styx Tells a Tale of Two Bands

Styx is a weird band. Honestly, if you look at a list of songs by Styx from 1972 and compare it to one from 1983, you might think you’re listening to two completely different groups of people. One minute they’re doing twelve-minute prog-rock odysseys about moving to the country, and the next, they’re dressed as silver robots singing about the dangers of technology. It’s a mess. But it’s a beautiful, multi-platinum mess that defined the arena rock era.

Most people only know the hits. You know the ones—the songs that still get played at every Midwest wedding or during the fourth quarter of a football game. But the real story of their discography is the constant, often tense tug-of-war between the Broadway aspirations of Dennis DeYoung and the guitar-heavy rock instincts of James "JY" Young and Tommy Shaw.

The Early Years: When Styx Was Actually a Prog Band

Before they were selling out stadiums, Styx was signed to Wooden Nickel Records. This era is basically ignored by casual fans. If you dig into a list of songs by Styx from this period, you’ll find tracks like "Movement for the Common Man" or "Father OSA." It’s dense stuff.

"Lady" changed everything. It was originally on Styx II, released in 1973, but it didn't actually become a hit until 1975. It’s the blueprint for the power ballad. It starts with that lonely, echoing piano and builds into a soaring vocal harmony that feels like it’s trying to punch through the ceiling. Without "Lady," there is no Styx.

Then you have the weird stuff. Have you ever heard "The Serpent Is Rising"? It’s the title track of their third album and it’s arguably the most "prog" they ever got. It’s dark, moody, and sounds absolutely nothing like "Babe." This is the version of Styx that sounded like they were trying to out-Yes Yes.

The Golden Era: 1976 to 1981

When Tommy Shaw joined for the Crystal Ball album, the chemistry shifted. He brought a folk-rock sensibility and a grit that balanced DeYoung’s theatricality.

• The Grand Illusion (1977): This is the peak. The title track, "The Grand Illusion," warns listeners about the falseness of fame. It’s ironic considering they were about to become the biggest band in the world.
• Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man): That famous synthesizer intro? That’s Dennis DeYoung playing a Minimoog. It’s one of those songs that feels happy because of the melody, but the lyrics are actually kind of a lecture to a cynical friend.
• Come Sail Away: It starts as a piano ballad and ends with a synthesizer solo and lyrics about aliens. It shouldn’t work. It’s ridiculous. Yet, it’s one of the most recognizable songs in American history.

By the time Pieces of Eight dropped in 1978, they were leaning harder into the rock side of things. "Renegade" is the standout here. It’s Tommy Shaw’s masterpiece. That acapella opening—"Oh, Mama, I'm in fear for my life from the long arm of the law"—is iconic. It’s a staple for the Pittsburgh Steelers for a reason. It has teeth.

👉 See also: Eazy-E: The Business Genius and Street Legend Most People Get Wrong

Then came Cornerstone in 1979. This is where the cracks started to show. Dennis DeYoung wrote "Babe" as a birthday present for his wife, Suzanne. He didn't even intend for it to be a Styx song. But the label loved it. It became their only number-one hit. The problem? The rest of the band hated it. They felt like they were becoming a soft-rock act.

The Concept Albums and the Robot Meltdown

If you're looking at a list of songs by Styx, you can't skip the Paradise Theatre (1981) and Kilroy Was Here (1983) years.

Paradise Theatre was a massive success. It was a concept album about the rise and fall of a fictional Chicago theater, used as a metaphor for America. "Too Much Time on My Hands" is the classic Tommy Shaw track from this era—catchy, synth-driven, and very "80s." Meanwhile, "The Best of Times" served as the quintessential DeYoung ballad. They were firing on all cylinders, but the internal tension was boiling.

Then came Kilroy. Oh, Kilroy.

This is where the band famously flew off the rails. It’s a rock opera about a future where rock music is banned. "Mr. Roboto" is the song everyone remembers. It’s catchy as hell, but it essentially broke the band. The live shows involved long acting segments and films. JY and Tommy wanted to rock; Dennis wanted to do theater.

The list of songs by Styx from the Kilroy tour included:

✨ Don't miss: Drunk on You Lyrics: What Luke Bryan Fans Still Get Wrong

1. "Mr. Roboto" (The big tech-heavy hit)
2. "Don't Let It End" (A massive ballad)
3. "Heavy Metal Poisoning" (JY's satirical take on the PMRC-style censorship of the era)
4. "Double Life"

The tour was a disaster behind the scenes. They broke up shortly after.

The Post-DeYoung Era: Styx in the 21st Century

A lot of people think Styx ended in 1983 or maybe after their brief 90s reunion. Not true. Since 1999, Lawrence Gowan has been the keyboardist and primary vocalist for the DeYoung-penned tracks.

The modern list of songs by Styx includes surprisingly strong material. If you haven't listened to The Mission (2017) or Crash of the Crown (2021), you're missing out. They went back to their prog-rock roots. "Gone Gone Gone" is a high-energy rocker that sounds like classic 70s Styx, while "Crash of the Crown" features three different lead singers in less than four minutes.

It’s a different band now. It’s more cohesive. They’ve embraced the "classic rock" label while still pushing forward. They play "Renegade" and "Blue Collar Man" every night because they have to, but they play them with a level of precision that few bands from that era can match.

Deep Cuts You Probably Missed

If you’re building a playlist and only have the hits, your list of songs by Styx is incomplete. You need the deep cuts to understand the range.

• "Castle Walls" (The Grand Illusion): This is spooky, atmospheric, and features some of the best bass work Chuck Panozzo ever recorded.
• "Man in the Wilderness" (The Grand Illusion): A lonely, introspective track from Tommy Shaw that showcases his guitar phrasing.
• "Queen of Spades" (Pieces of Eight): A warning about gambling that features a frantic, driving rhythm.
• "Snowblind" (Paradise Theatre): A dark look at drug addiction. It’s one of the heaviest songs they ever did, featuring a blistering solo from JY.
• "Suite Madame Blue" (Equinox): Written for the U.S. Bicentennial, it starts as a melancholic tribute and explodes into a hard-rock anthem.

Why This Catalog Still Matters

Styx is often the "punchline" band for critics who hated 70s arena rock. They called them overblown. They called them pretentious. But here’s the thing: people still listen.

🔗 Read more: Dragon Ball All Series: Why We Are Still Obsessed Forty Years Later

Their music has a sincerity that’s hard to find. Whether it’s Dennis DeYoung pouring his heart out in "The Best of Times" or Tommy Shaw singing about the working man in "Blue Collar Man," there’s no irony. They meant every note.

The longevity of a list of songs by Styx is due to the craftsmanship. These weren't just tossed-off pop songs. They were meticulously arranged. The harmonies are tight—thanks in large part to the Panozzo brothers' rhythm section and the vocal blend of Shaw, DeYoung, and Young.

Actionable Insights for the Aspiring Styx Fan

If you want to actually dive into this discography without getting overwhelmed by the sheer volume of "Best Of" compilations, follow this path:

• Start with The Grand Illusion. It is the definitive Styx experience. If you don't like this album, you won't like the band.
• Skip the first two albums initially. Unless you are a die-hard prog nerd, Styx I and Styx II (aside from "Lady") can be a tough hang.
• Listen to The Mission (2017). It’s a concept album about a trip to Mars. It sounds more like "classic" Styx than almost anything they did in the 80s.
• Watch a live performance of "Renegade" from the last five years. Seeing how they handle those harmonies today will give you a new respect for their musicianship.
• Contrast "Babe" with "Heavy Metal Poisoning." Listen to them back-to-back. It will help you understand why the band eventually imploded. It’s the sound of two different musical philosophies colliding.

Styx is a band of contradictions. They are the "Mr. Roboto" guys, but they’re also the "Renegade" guys. They are Broadway and they are the garage. That’s why their music sticks around. It’s too weird to die.

Next Steps for Deepening Your Styx Knowledge:

1. Listen to the album Equinox in its entirety to hear the transition from their early prog sound to the polished arena rock of the late 70s.
2. Compare the vocal styles of Tommy Shaw and Lawrence Gowan on live versions of "Blue Collar Man" to see how the band's energy has evolved over forty years.
3. Explore the solo discography of Dennis DeYoung, particularly Desert Moon, to understand the specific theatrical influence he brought to the band's peak years.