STYX ON WHEELS

This was the coolest thing ever in 1979.



[Via The Cult Of Ray]

Well, possibly. But yes, children, at one time Styx really were huge enough to rate a contest like this.

And I should know. I was a fan.

It seems funny now, but Styx really seemed bad-ass when I was in junior-high school. “Renegade” was the big hit on the main rock stations, and sure, they followed that up with “Babe”, but still, a lot of their album cuts were pretty heavy. Also, they were the first band I ever saw live (the Paradise Theatre tour, even – “no opening act”, the ticket said).

And for all that, of all the bands I loved during that time, Styx is the one I haven’t really reconciled myself with yet. I’ll wear my love for Electric Light Orchestra and Wings on my sleeve, but I don’t talk about Styx much.

I’m not sure why.  I haven't really listened to them since I graduated from high school, apart from whatever of their hits get played in the background (usually “Babe” or “Come Sail Away”), but in my head, at least, Styx hasn’t aged well as a band. Certainly the lyrics haven't – good as Dennis DeYoung and Tommy Shaw were at writing hit songs, their lyrics often veered between corny and pretentious on any given song. Which works when yr 15, but not when yr 47. 

Still, nice van.

PRODUCTION NOTE #1: Notice that the ad is for record store retailers, not Styx fans. I think the idea was to use the van as a promotional tool, or possibly a giveaway.

PRODUCTION NOTE #2: Notice also the “Beta-format Videotape units”.

Oh what a giveaway,

This is dF

LISTEN TO IT #85: PEOPLE DON’T DO LIKE THEY USED TO DO NO MORE

It’s not often I get music recommendations from a label newsletter. 

But it happened recently when I got an email from Yep Roc offering a special promotion for the new album from The Relatives (digital download for only $4.00!).

The Relatives, if you don’t know, are a funk gospel group from Dallas who cut a few records in the early 70s in the spirit of The Temptations (circa “Ball Of Confusion”), but never found a national audience. Then some influential hipsters rediscovered them a few years ago, and now they’re enjoying a comeback – or at least the remaining three original members who are still able to perform. And they’ve cut a new album produced by Jim Eno of Spoon.

Listening to it, the debt to The Temptations and The Four Tops is pretty obvious, but it’s also pretty authentic, since these guys come from that era. And they can still sing great. It helps too that they’re backed up by a couple of members of The Honeybears (Black Joe Lewis’ back-up band).

As for funk gospel – yes, there is such a thing. The “gospel” part might put some people off, but some of the best soul music is spiritual – and funk allows you to dance to it.

Listen.

"The Relatives - "Things Are Changing"" (Watch on YouTube)

Also available: psychedelic gospel.

"The Relatives - Bad Trip" (Watch on YouTube)

Things are changing,

This is dF