Styx

Well Rob, I believe Supertramp's earlier albums like Crime of the Century, Crisis What's Crisis or Even in the Quietest Moments are much closer to prog' than Breakfast in America.

A Soapbox Opera, School, Crime of the Century  and Fool's Overture are is  wonderfull and 100% prog tracks.

But I agree BIA is not remotely progressive.

Iván

I believe people is unfair with STYX, because in the best of the cases they were the simples possible form of art rock musicians, always played at the border that divides Prog from plain pop, later albums are more prog oriented than later ones, so you can't compare a light weight as STYX (In prog' terms) with Heavyweights like Yes, Genesis or even ELP.

When John Curulewsky was replaced by Tommy Shaw, almost all the hopes of being aprog' band left with him, but what they lost in proggieness they gained in sound.

If you listen them forgetting they are barely prog', you'll find they have soome great stuff.

The Grand Illusion has only one remotely prog' track (Fooling Yourself), but the album is outstanding in musical terms, all the tracks are good and they don't have a single filler. I'm not ashamed to admit I still enjoy some of their  stuff  ubtil Cornerstone (Except Babe) very much when I'm in the right mood.

Iván

When StyX makes album such as Grand Illusion and Crystal Ball , they are great - not very prog but great.

Their earlier (first four)and proggier are patchy at best and sloppy at worst.

After Pieces of Eight (excellent radio-friendly FM rock), Cornerstone was not that bad but held the horrible Babe. Paradise Theater was  not a bad concept but they were much too pompous.

And then their major mistake came and discredited them for many years to come and it even brought the band to break up. Loyal fan base fled but other came mainly though the MTV videoclip. Mr. Lobotto  has done permanent damage on their career. Stynx

I was actually surprised they had a career in the 90's. I spent my youth in Canada but moved to Europe at the end of the 80's and Styx was never big or even well-known. If you can believe that they opened concert for Saga in the 80's on the continent, this was hard to belive for Northern Americans.

Nothing personal and this bashing thing is good-natured or else they would not be on the site.

Now please do not go bash Mariah if you want to make friends in this forum.

I think Styx may be regarded progressive because many people think that synths=prog. When there's really a bit more to it than that

maani wrote: Reed Lover: Absolutely among the most brilliant skits in any Marx Bros. film.  By the way, although I never went as far as becoming a lawyer (i.e., going to law school and taking the Bar exam), I spent over a decade as a legal assistant (somewhere between a paralegal and an Associate), primarily in contract law.  I also served for 15 years as an Advocate in Manhattan Civil Court, including litigating in tenant-landlord, small claims and civil cases. Peace.

And with that paragraph it shows!

maani wrote:   Ultimately though, however I - or any individual member - might personally define "progressive," the only definition that "counts" at ProgArchives is the "official" one created by the site's webmasters.  I, and others, can "agree to disagree" about that definition.  However, where the site is concerned - and what bands are included, and what bands are not - that decision is at the sole and exclusive discretion of the webmasters.  They have chosen to include Styx on the site, and although I disagree with that decision, I nevertheless respect it. Peace.

Bloody hell Maani,you been a lawyerin a past life? Reminds me of the Sanity Clause sketch from the Marx Brothers "Animal Crackers"

Otis B. Driftwood (Groucho):Fiorello (Chico)

Driftwood: Says, "The party of the first part shall be known in this contract as the party of the first part."

Fiorello: Sounds a little better this time.

Driftwood: Well, it grows on you...Would you like to hear it once more?

Fiorello: Ah...Just the first part.

Driftwood: What do you mean, the party of the first part?

Fiorello: No. The first part of the party of the first part.

Driftwood: Alright it says the umm..."The first part of the party of the first part shall be known in this contract as the first part of the party of the first part, shall be known in this contract...LOOK...why should we quarrel about a thing like this. We'll take it right out eh? (Tears off sections of contract.)

Fiorello: Ha ha, it's too long anyhow! (rip rip) Now what do we got left?

Driftwood: Well, I've got about a foot and a half. Now it says, "The party of the second part shall be know in this contract as the party of the second part."

Fiorello: Well I don't know about that.

Driftwood: NOW what's the matter?

Fiorello: I don't like the second party either.

Driftwood: Well you should have been at the first party, we didn't get home till around four in the morning...I was blind for three days.

Fiorello: Ay...Look, why can't the first part of the second party be the second part of the first party? Thena you got something!

Driftwood: Well look...ah...Rather than go through all that again, what do you say? (Tears off another section.)

Fiorello: Fine.

Driftwood: Now...ah...Now I've got something here you're bound to like. You'll be crazy about it.

Fiorello: No, I don't like it.

Driftwood: You don't like what?

Fiorello: Whatever it is, I don't like it.

Driftwood: Well let's not break up an old friendship over a thing like that! Ready?

Fiorello: Okay. (rip) Now the next part I don't think you're gonna like.

Driftwood: Well your word's good enough for me...Now then, is my word good enough for you?

Fiorello: I should say not.

Driftwood: Well that takes out two more clauses. (rip) Now the party of the eighth part...

Fiorello: No. Nooo. (rip)

Driftwood: No? The party of the ninth...

Fiorello: No, that's no good too. (rip) Hey, how is it my contract is skinnier than yours?

Driftwood: I dunno, you musta been out on a tear last night. But anyhow we're all set now, aren't we?

Fiorello: Ah, sure.

Driftwood: Now just eh...(hands Fiorello a pen) Put your name right down there and then the deal is eh...Then the deal is legal.

Fiorello: Eh, I forgot to tell you. I can't write.

Driftwood: (shaking the pen) Well that's okay, there's no ink in the pen anyhow. But listen, it's a contract, isn't it?

Fiorello: Oh sure. You bet.

Driftwood: We've got a contract, no matter how small it is!

Fiorello: Hey wait, wait! What does this say here? This thing here?

Driftwood: Oh that. Oh that's the usual clause...that's in every contract. That just says...eh...it says...eh..."If any of the parties participating in this contract are shown not to be in their right mind, the entire agreement is automatically nullified."

Fiorello: Well, I don't know...

Driftwood: It's alright, that's in every contract! That's what they call a "sanity clause."

Fiorello: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...you can't fool me. There ain't no sanity clause!

Oh,suit yourelves-I like it!

Marillion, Genesis, Styx, Mariah Carey, Boyzone, Andy Williams, Judy Garland, Westlife, Radiohead, ELP.

That lot should get the whole village cursed!