We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
Bill Traut was the head of Wooden Nickel Records based in Chicago. His regional label had a national distribution deal with RCA. He had been looking for a band that could tap into the current trend of what was called “progressive rock” coming out of England. His answer was a group of Chicago youngsters thaqt had been gigging around the city. They called themselves The Tradewinds and featured the Panozzo Brothers, Chuck and John on bass and drums and keyboard whiz Dennis DeYoung. They added classically trained guitarist John Curulewski and rocker James Young the band and became Styx. They released their first LP in 1972.
The album shows some of the things that would become staples of the group through their hitmaking days of the 70s. Tight harmonies, blasts of rock& roll guitar and DeYoung’s swooping and swirling keyboards. This LP still shows them rough around the edges although you can hear the potential.
Most of side one is taken up by the swollen “Movement for the Common Man” which includes DeYoung riffing on the Copland classic. But, it also includes the ridiculous “Street Collage” which is a collection of recordings of people on the streets of Chicago ragging on hippies and long haired freaks.
The best cuts for me are the single “Best Thing”, which I’m surprised didnt do better on the charts and the track “What Has Come Between Us” which has some really good harmonies.
It’s a band showing that they have the chops to become the polished hit machine that shows up a few years later. Just not there yet.
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