Like the 50s were to jazz, the 70s for rock was a time of a gazillion good to very good groups that went under the radar due to the surfeit of creative forward thinking rock bands (is that an oxymoron? Not back then!). Styx, who’s fame first came with the “Plexiglass Toilet” song on Dr. Demento, got a bit more serious and released two very impressive progressive rock albums, ‘77s Grand Illusion and ‘78’s Pieces of Eight. This two disc set covers a 2010 concert in Tennessee that goes from start to finish on both albums, even to the point of vocalist Tommy Shaw telling the audience that it was time to “turn the album over.” Very cute!
Original members from those albums include Shaw, James Young/g and Chuck Panozzo/b, while Todd Sucherman/dr, Lawrence gowan/key and Ricky Phillips/g complete the exciting scene. Shaw’s voice holds up remarkably well, and the biggest thing you notice is that this group had and still has one of the best collection of male harmonic vocals around. No groaning or angst driven blurts, these guys present it loud and proud, yet the mix with the fervent voices make for a delightful evening. Don’t forget hits like “Come Sail Away” as well as sophisticated instrumentation on “Lords of the Ring” and “Sing For The Day.” Rocking with some grey matter!
In the same token, Eagle Vision has just put out a 4 dvd set of vintage Jethro Tull, titled Around the World Live that has ian Anderson and company performing material ranging from “Thick as a Brick” to “Nothing Is Easy. “ Gives a whole new meaning to the term “70s Rock”!
Eagle Rock Records