BEST OF STYX

Even without the recent reissue CD of "The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings", this "best-of" collection was dubious at best. Since the reissue, it is completely useless. The Wooden Nickel Records era included the first four albums released by Styx, all with their original guitarist John Curulewski. The band during this period was markedly different than the Tommy Shaw era band, though those who mistakenly write off the early era are missing out on some great stuff. The Styx of this era was a mixture of progressive rock, hard rock, and several other styles presented in interesting songs, the albums made more colorful by having three strong-willed songwriters with varied tastes.

The specific problem with this set is not the music itself, but as usual, the choices someone made on what to exclude. How could anyone call this set the best of the Wooden Nickel era? Missing is their debut epic "Movement for the Common Man," Curulewski's classic "A Day," "The Serpent is Rising," and DeYoung's classy "Golden Lark/Song for Suzanne." Not mention leaving off the plexiglass toilet song. C'mon Wooden Nickel, get with it! "Lady" was their big hit of this era and the album was basically a last ditch attempt of this label to capitalize on the superstar status the band reached in 1977, by which time they were at A&M.

Just ignore this one and find the complete CD reissue and you will have the best possible presentation of the formative early band.

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