The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings
Encyclopedia
The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings is a 2-Disc set released by Styx
in 2005. The compilation contains remastered versions Styx's first four albums, Styx
, Styx II
, The Serpent Is Rising
, and Man of Miracles
, which were released by Wooden Nickel Records
. It also includes the rare outtake "Unfinished Song", which was previously released only on the 1980 reissue of Man of Miracles, (which was entitled Miracles), replacing the song "Best Thing", which also appeared on the first Styx album. The song "Lies" replaced "Unfinished Song" on later printings of the Man of Miracles
album.
The four albums contained in this compilation (plus Styx's fifth album, Equinox) were recorded with original singer/songwriter/guitarist John Curulewski and feature a harder, eclectic, and more progressive sound when compared to subsequent albums that included Curulewski's replacement, singer/songwriter/guitarist Tommy Shaw
.
Styx (band)
Styx is an American rock band that became famous for its albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Chicago band is known for melding the style of prog-rock with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and elements of American musical theater....
in 2005. The compilation contains remastered versions Styx's first four albums, Styx
Styx (album)
Styx is the self-titled debut album by Styx, released in 1972. It was reissued in 1980 under the title Styx I with new artwork.-Track listing:#"Movement for the Common Man" – 13:11#*"Children of the Land" #*"Street Collage"...
, Styx II
Styx II
Styx II is the second album by Styx, and was released in 1973 . After Styx moved to A&M Records and achieved national success in the United States, the album was reissued in 1980 by their prior label, Wooden Nickel, under the title Lady with new artwork—which is not to be confused with a Styx...
, The Serpent Is Rising
The Serpent Is Rising
The Serpent Is Rising is the third album by Styx, released in 1973. The album was reissued in 1980 with new artwork and a new title, Serpent. The band consider this to be their worst recording...
, and Man of Miracles
Man of Miracles
Man of Miracles is the fourth album by Styx, released in November 1974. Produced by John Ryan and Bill Traut, who had produced the band's first two albums, this would be the band's last original album on the independent Chicago-based label Wooden Nickel Records before moving to the major label...
, which were released by Wooden Nickel Records
Wooden Nickel Records
Wooden Nickel Records was an American independent record label started in 1971 by Bill Traut, Jim Golden and Jerry Weintraub as a successor to Dunwich Records. Most of Wooden Nickel's releases were by acts based in the Chicago area, including the Siegel-Schwall Band, Megan McDonough and Styx. The...
. It also includes the rare outtake "Unfinished Song", which was previously released only on the 1980 reissue of Man of Miracles, (which was entitled Miracles), replacing the song "Best Thing", which also appeared on the first Styx album. The song "Lies" replaced "Unfinished Song" on later printings of the Man of Miracles
Man of Miracles
Man of Miracles is the fourth album by Styx, released in November 1974. Produced by John Ryan and Bill Traut, who had produced the band's first two albums, this would be the band's last original album on the independent Chicago-based label Wooden Nickel Records before moving to the major label...
album.
The four albums contained in this compilation (plus Styx's fifth album, Equinox) were recorded with original singer/songwriter/guitarist John Curulewski and feature a harder, eclectic, and more progressive sound when compared to subsequent albums that included Curulewski's replacement, singer/songwriter/guitarist Tommy Shaw
Tommy Shaw
Tommy Roland Shaw is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the rock band Styx. In between his stints with Styx, he has played with the supergroup Damn Yankees and Shaw Blades, and has released several solo albums....
.
Disc one
- "Movement for the Common Man" – 13:11
- "Children of the Land" (James YoungJames Young (American musician)James "J.Y." Young is a guitarist, singer and songwriter, and member of the rock band, Styx. Young began playing keyboard and piano at the age of five. He attended Calumet High in Chicago and learned to play clarinet and guitar during those years.J.Y...
) - "Street Collage" (John Ryan)
- "Fanfare for the Common ManFanfare for the Common ManFanfare for the Common Man is a 20th-century American classical music work by American composer Aaron Copland. The piece was written in 1942 for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under conductor Eugene Goossens. It was inspired in part by a famous speech made earlier in the same year where vice...
" (Aaron CoplandAaron CoplandAaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
) - "Mother Nature's Matinee" (J. Young, Dennis DeYoungDennis DeYoungDennis DeYoung is an American singer, songwriter, musician and producer best known for being a founding member of the rock band Styx, a tenure that lasted from 1970 to 1999.-Early life:...
)
- "Children of the Land" (James Young
- "Right Away" (Paul Frank) – 3:40
- "What Has Come Between Us" (Mark Gaddis) – 4:53
- "Best ThingBest Thing"Best Thing" is the first single released by the band Styx from their self-titled debut album, Styx. It charted at #82 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was also included on the original release of the band's fourth album, Man of Miracles....
" (D. DeYoung, J. Young) – 3:13 - "Quick Is the Beat of My Heart" (Lewis Mark) – 3:49
- "After You Leave Me" (George ClintonGeorge Clinton (funk musician)George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
) – 4:00 - "You Need LoveYou Need LoveFollowing the success of the 1974 re-release of the single "Lady" from the album Styx II, "You Need Love" from that album was released as a follow-up single, written by Dennis DeYoung....
" (D. DeYoung) – 3:47 - "Lady" (D. DeYoung) – 2:58
- "A Day" (John Curulewski) – 8:24
- "You Better Ask" (J. Curulewski) – 3:55
- "Little Fugue In 'G'" (BachBạchBạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
) – 1:19 - "Father O.S. A." (D. DeYoung) – 7:10
- "Earl of Roseland" (D. DeYoung) – 4:41
- "I'm Gonna Make You Feel It" (D. DeYoung) – 2:23
- "Unfinished Song" (D. DeYoung) – 2:59
Disc two
- "Witch Wolf" (J. Young) – 3:57
- "The Grove of Eglantine" (D. DeYoung) – 5:00
- "Young Man" (J. Young, Rick Young) – 4:45
- "As Bad As This" (including hidden track "Plexiglas Toilet") – 6:10
- "Winner Take All" – 3:10
- (The track listing on the back of this CD set erroneously lists this song as "Winner Takes All")
- "22 Years" – 3:39
- "Jonas Psalter" – 4:41
- "The Serpent Is Rising" – 4:55
- "Krakatoa" – 1:36
- "Hallelujah Chorus" – 2:14
- "Rock & Roll Feeling" – 3:02
- "Havin' a Ball" – 3:53
- "Golden Lark" – 3:23
- "A Song for Suzanne" – 5:15
- "A Man Like Me" – 2:57
- "Lies" – 2:41
- "Evil Eyes" – 4:02
- "Southern Woman" – 3:10
- "Christopher, Mr. Christopher" – 4:02
- "Man of Miracles" – 4:55
Personnel
- John Curulewski - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, ARPARP Instruments, Inc.ARP Instruments, Inc. was an American manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, founded by Alan Robert Pearlman in 1969. Best known for its line of synthesizers that emerged in the early 1970s, ARP closed its doors in 1981 due to financial difficulties...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Dennis DeYoungDennis DeYoungDennis DeYoung is an American singer, songwriter, musician and producer best known for being a founding member of the rock band Styx, a tenure that lasted from 1970 to 1999.-Early life:...
- keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, ARP, vocals - Chuck PanozzoChuck PanozzoCharles Salvatore "Chuck" Panozzo is an American musician best known as the bass player for the rock band Styx. A longtime member of Styx, he founded the group with his fraternal twin brother, drummer John Panozzo, who died in July 1996, and singer Dennis DeYoung...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - John PanozzoJohn PanozzoJohn Anthony Panozzo was an American drummer best known for his work with rock band Styx.Panozzo grew up in the Roseland neighborhood, the south side of Chicago, Illinois, with his fraternal twin brother, Chuck . At age 7, the twins took musical lessons from their uncle in which John took an...
- percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals - James YoungJames Young (American musician)James "J.Y." Young is a guitarist, singer and songwriter, and member of the rock band, Styx. Young began playing keyboard and piano at the age of five. He attended Calumet High in Chicago and learned to play clarinet and guitar during those years.J.Y...
- guitar, vocals