Pieces of Eight
{{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:For Template:More citations needed {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |Template:Short description|noreplace}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=The Grand Illusion1977Cornerstone1979studioPieces of EightStyx - Pieces of Eight.jpgCover by HipgnosisStyxSeptember 19781978*Paragon, Chicago
- St. James Cathedral, ChicagoTemplate:Hlist42:18A&MStyxx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}
Pieces of Eight is the eighth studio album by American progressive rock band Styx, released in September 1978.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Like the band's previous album, The Grand Illusion (1977), it managed to achieve triple platinum certification, thanks to the hit singles "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" and "Renegade".
The band members produced and recorded the album (like their previous three efforts) at Paragon Studios in Chicago with recording engineer Barry Mraz and mixing engineer Rob Kingsland. "I'm O.K." was recorded at Paragon and St. James Cathedral. This would be the last Styx album to be produced at Paragon Studios.
The album's cover was done by Hipgnosis. Dennis DeYoung stated in the 1991 interview with Redbeard on the In the Studio with Redbeard episode that he initially hated the cover but grew to like it as he got older.
BackgroundEdit
The record is considered by some<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to be Styx's most obvious concept album, as well as the last Styx album with significant progressive rock leanings. The theme of the album, as Dennis DeYoung explained on In the Studio with Redbeard which devoted an entire episode to Pieces of Eight, was about "not giving up your dreams just for the pursuit of money and material possessions".
ReceptionEdit
Template:Album ratings Rolling Stone reviewer Lester Bangs was critical of the album, writing that "what's really interesting is not that such narcissistic slop should get recorded, but what must be going on in the minds of the people who support it in such amazing numbers. Gall, nerve and ego have never been far from great rock & roll. Yet there's a thin but crucial line between those qualities and what it takes to fill arenas today: sheer self-aggrandizement on the most puerile level. If these are the champions, gimme the cripples."<ref name="RS">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Globe and Mail noted that "when Styx strays too far from its rock and roll foundations ... as on the Gothic-pretentious numbers by Dennis De Young like 'Lords of the Ring', it starts getting less credible."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Mike DeGagne of AllMusic has retrospectively praised the album, saying that the songs on the album "rekindle some of Styx's early progressive rock sound, only cleaner."<ref name="allmusic" />
The album peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard album chart, and like its predecessor would go triple platinum.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Track listingEdit
Template:Track listing Template:Track listing
PersonnelEdit
StyxEdit
- Dennis DeYoung – vocals, keyboards
- James "JY" Young – vocals, guitars
- Tommy Shaw – vocals, guitars, mandolin, autoharp
- Chuck Panozzo – bass
- John Panozzo – drums, percussion
ProductionEdit
- Producer: Styx
- Engineers: Rob Kingsland, Barry Mraz
- Assistant engineer: Harry Andronis
- Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, NYC
- Cover by Hipgnosis
ChartsEdit
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
Weekly chartsEdit
Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia Albums (Kent Music Report)<ref name=aus>Template:Cite book</ref> | 70 |
Year-end chartsEdit
Template:Albumchart| Chart (1978) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
29 |
| Chart (1979) | Position | |
| US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 7 |
CertificationsEdit
Template:Certification Table Top Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Bottom
SinglesEdit
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" | US Pop Singles | 21 |
| 1979 | "Sing for the Day" | 41 | |
| "Renegade" | 16 |