Crystal Ball

"Crystal Ball" would be the first Styx album without the original lineup. John Curluiski would leave the band prior to the album's recording to be replace by guitarist, vocalist, songwriter Tommy Shaw. For many Styx fans this is considered the classic lineup for the band and would be the group that would have by far the most commercial success. Shaw has an excellent voice and basically gave the band 3 lead singers. His songwriting prowess was also given free reign right from the start giving the band 3 strong songwriters as well. In my opinion "Crystal Ball" is one of the band's best albums. There really is not a bad song on it as Shaw, Deyoung and Young all shine here. Deyoung had not yet slipped into sappy ballad land yet and still knew how to rock. Shaw brought in a folk-ish element and Young gave the band a metallic edge. The formula would go on to sell millions of records, and create a unique dichotomy within the band that made Styx sound like no one else. Of this lineup of the band I think that "Crystal Ball" is second only to "The Grand Illusion" in terms of quality. This one is a must own for fans.

The album was spotless and in excellent condition. Virtually new.

This is my favorite band and one of my favorite albums by them. I enjoy all the songs on it. They are from an era when you had to have talent; not like the new formula bands.

Styx's 1976 offering is unique in many ways. It was the first album where Tommy Shaw contributed to songwriting. Shaw had already joined the band before recording this album to tour for the previous record EQUINOX. On CRYSTAL BALL they continued the art-rock aesthetic that they had always followed, but Shaw contributed a new organic feel that had not been present before and also brought in a rock factor that rivaled JY (the other lead guitarist/singer). The title song is a prime example of this and one of the band's best songs ever. Shaw is a natural when it comes to creating melodies and acoustic arrangements. He is a well-above average singer and lead guitar player too. He also contributed the two hits on this album; Mademoiselle and Crystal Ball. They're both catchy and at the same time artsy. Check out the Ahhh, Tsss, sounds on This Old Man. It's a song about DeYoung's (Founding member/keyboardist/lead vocalist) father and the sounds are a reference to printing presses (his father owned a print shop). This was the thing about Styx that was so appealing. They were creative, they rocked, they wrote catchy melodies and the songs were never boring. (Unless you're not into the artsy sort of thing). They were a true progressive rock fusion band and one of the best to combine prog with pop. Dennis DeYoung was a music major and the musical director for the band. He is famed for being a control freak, but if you listen to all of Styx albums from STYX I and on; if you listen to the songs written by DeYoung, it becomes clear that he was the main architect of the Styx sound. He was not greater than the sum of their parts, but his style is the one the prevailed and carried on through their best work. Of course the rest of the band also contributed greatly, but I'm talking about the underlying style that is Styx. This album is hugely underrated, and althoughbombastic and sometimes silly (Put Me On), these were the things that were a big part of the Styx charm. They were many times called America's answer to Queen. I don't think that it was a conscious effort on their part but in many ways it is correct.SHM MasteringThis version of CRYSTAL BALL is the best that I've heard. It's much better than the 2006 BGO remaster. It's fuller, clearer and there's more midrange. The sounds are overall bigger. The only drawback is that it's a little loud but not excessively. There's also better instrument separation. The packaging on these SHM editions is impeccable. Very nice.

great

Replaced older and well used copy of this. Always good to listen to the "old" music.......from back when there were actual lyrics and decent tunes involved in music. How long has it been since YOU listened to some STYX??

well I had to repurchase this again I had the eight track and cassette so I needed the cd also and it is great I enjoy styx tremendously and crystal ball is maybe my favorite styx song not sure

The first album with Tommy Shaw, and the beginning of the classic Styx sound.This will always be one of the sounds of my youth.