Styx/IL, USA 1983

In 1983, STYX was on the verge of collapse, even though their sci-fi story concept album “KILROY WAS HERE” reached number 3 in the US. A new excavated live album that conveys the scene is now available. What is recorded in this work is “April 26, 1983 Chicago Performance”. This is an exquisite audience recording. Recently, Chicago recordings from the early 1980s by various bands/artists have been unearthed, shocking enthusiasts around the world. The Peter Gabriel edition, Phil Collins edition, and ROXY MUSIC edition are very popular, but this work is the latest edition and the best live album that is the STYX edition. I’m concerned about the quality, but first of all, the position of the show. Let’s look back at the overall picture of “KILROY WAS HERE TOUR” which was the last of the golden era. [“KILROY WAS HERE” released on February 22nd] ・March 11th-April 10th: North America #1 (16 performances) ← *Official edition ・April 25th-29th: Chicago (5 performances) ←★ Coco★・May 11th – July 31st: North America #2 (35 performances) ・August 16th – October 23rd: North America #3 (28 performances) This is STYX in 1983. There was no Europe or Japan, only North America. This tour is also left on the official version “CAUGHT IN THE ACT”, but it is the last day of “North America #1”. On the other hand, this work was a concert that was the second performance of five consecutive performances in Chicago about two weeks later. This work recorded at such a show is a truly exquisite beautiful recording. The Chicago recording series that is currently being talked about is all characterized by a soundboard-like vivid feeling, and this work is no exception. Although it is definitely an audience recording that inhaled raw applause, that is the extent to which it feels like a guest recording. The powerful core with no sense of distance, the delicate details down to the single note of the dancing synths make it hard to believe that it’s an audience, and the snare sound, which tends to be sparse, is also full of density. It is a super direct recording that is comparable to most FM broadcasts. What is depicted with such a straight-forward sound is a full show full of famous songs that sum up the golden age. As mentioned above, it is two weeks apart from “CAUGHT IN THE ACT”, but the sets are similar and different. Let’s compare and organize them here. 70’s (8 songs)・EQUINOX: Suite Madame Blue・CRYSTAL BALL: Crystal Ball・THE GRAND ILLUSION: Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)/Miss America/Come Sail Away・PIECES OF EIGHT: Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) /Renegade (★)・CORNERSTONE: Babe PARADISE THEATER (4 songs)・Rockin’ the Paradise/Snowblind/Too Much Time on My Hands/The Best of Times (★) KILROY WAS HERE (5 songs + α)・Don’t Let It End / Heavy Metal Poisoning (★) / Cold War (★) / Haven’t We Been Here Before (★) / Don’t Let It End (Reprise) / Twist and Shout (★) Others・Great Balls of Fire ( ★: Jerry Lee Lewis) *Note: Songs marked with a “★” cannot be heard on the official version of “CAUGHT IN THE ACT.” …and it looks like this. It’s a huge album with 7 songs that can’t be heard on the official live album. Actually, there is a video version of “CAUGHT IN THE ACT” with a different song selection, but “The Best of Times” and “Great Balls of Fire” cannot be listened to even with that. Not only does it give a general sense of the comprehensive selection of all the Tommy Shaw era works + “EQUINOX”, but the delicious new songs of “KILROY WAS HERE” (although it can’t be helped, they play “Mr. Roboto”) It’s such a shame that I haven’t!) None of them were played even after the restart, and it is a repertoire that has only been played on this tour afterwards and before. Although the passionate performance is close to the official version “CAUGHT IN THE ACT”, it even exceeds the taste of the full set that summarizes the heyday. This is such a masterpiece of a live album. One where you can experience the last glow of the 80’s with great sound. Live at Chicago Auditorium, Chicago, IL, USA 26th April 1983 ULTIMATE SOUND Disc 1(47:39) 1. Kilroy Was Here 2. Guitar solo 3. Rockin’ the Paradise 4. Blue Collar Man 5. MC 6. Fooling Yourself 7 . MC 8. Babe 9. MC 10. Snowblind 11. MC 12. Too Much Time on My Hands 13. Too Much Time (reprise) 14. MC 15. Don’t Let It End 16. Heavy Metal Poisoning Disc 2(76 :28) 1. MC 2. Acoustic Solo 3. Crystal Ball 4. MC 5. Suite Madame Blue 6. MC 7. Cold War 8. MC 9. The Best of Times 10. Miss America 11. Piano Intro 12. Great Balls of Fire 13. MC 14. Come Sail Away 15. Renegade 16. MC 17. Haven’t We Been Here Before 18. Don’t Let It End (Reprise) / Twist and Shout Dennis DeYoung – vocal, keyboards Tommy Shaw – guitar , vocals James Young – guitar, vocals Chuck Panozzo – bass John Panozzo – drums, percussion