Styx-Crystal Ball (1976)

When Styx burst onto the rock scene, they created a new way of understanding it, transforming its style with grandiose arrangements and theatrical ornamentation. This led to a succession of highly successful albums, especially in the North American market, where they were acclaimed and revered by the public. "Crystal Ball" is a crucial album for the band, following several years and their more progressive releases, including their debut "Styx" (1972), their second album "Styx II" (1973), and subsequent albums such as "Serpent Is Rising" (1973) and "Man of Miracles" (1974). After their fifth album, "Equinox" (1975), guitarist John Curulewsky left the band and was replaced by Tommy Shaw (guitar and vocals). Despite his sex symbol image and appeal to female audiences, Shaw had an interest in progressive rock, while Dennis De Young (keyboards and vocals) became increasingly interested in AOR. The rest of the band consisted of the Panozzo brothers, Chuck on bass and John on drums, and James Young on second guitar. Tommy Shaw provided the balance between creativity and commercial success that the band needed and was responsible for some of the best songs they would release in the following years. From the bombastic "Put Me On" to the dramatic "Clair de Lune/Ballerina", a series of irresistible tracks followed, such as the symbolic "Mademoiselle", the powerful ballad "Jennifer", the brilliant "Crystal Ball", the latter a track that would define the band's later sound and the dark and surprising “This Old Man”, “Crystal Ball” was the group’s first artistically solid album, achieving great chart success after many years in the shadow of their contemporaries. They would soon cease to be a local phenomenon in Chicago and its surrounding areas, becoming one of the iconic American bands.