Pieces of Eight

Background

The record is considered by some to be Styx's most obvious concept album, as well as the last Styx album with significant progressive rock leanings. The theme of the album, as Dennis DeYoung explained on In the Studio with Redbeard which devoted an entire episode to Pieces of Eight, was about "not giving up your dreams just for the pursuit of money and material possessions".

Reception

Rolling Stone reviewer Lester Bangs was critical of the album, writing that "what's really interesting is not that such narcissistic slop should get recorded, but what must be going on in the minds of the people who support it in such amazing numbers. Gall, nerve and ego have never been far from great rock & roll. Yet there's a thin but crucial line between those qualities and what it takes to fill arenas today: sheer self-aggrandizement on the most puerile level. If these are the champions, gimme the cripples." The Globe and Mail noted that "when Styx strays too far from its rock and roll foundations ... as on the Gothic-pretentious numbers by Dennis DeYoung like 'Lords of the Ring', it starts getting less credible."

Mike DeGagne of AllMusic has retrospectively praised the album, saying that the songs on the album "rekindle some of Styx's early progressive rock sound, only cleaner."

Classic Rock included Pieces of Eight on their list of the 20 best rock albums from 1978.

The album peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard album chart, and like its predecessor would go triple platinum.

Track listing

Personnel

Styx

• Dennis DeYoung – vocals, keyboards
• James "JY" Young – vocals, guitars
• Tommy Shaw – vocals, guitars, mandolin, autoharp
• Chuck Panozzo – bass
• John Panozzo – drums, percussion

Production

• Producer: Styx
• Engineers: Rob Kingsland, Barry Mraz
• Assistant engineer: Harry Andronis, Gary Geppert
• Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, NYC
• Cover by Hipgnosis

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Singles

References

References

1. "Great Rock Discography".
2. "Styx singles".
3. "How Styx Kept Getting Bigger with 'Pieces of Eight'".
4. (3 December 2015). "Styx and Their Long Fall from Grace".
5. DeGagne, Mike. "''Styx: Pieces of Eight''".
6. Christgau, Robert. (1981). "[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]". [[Ticknor & Fields]].
7. Brackett, Nathan. (2004). "The Rolling Stone Album Guide". Simon and Schuster.
8. https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/81535/Styx-Pieces-Of-Eight/
9. Bangs, Lester. (December 28, 1978). "Styx - ''Pieces of Eight'' (1978) album review".
10. (25 Oct 1978). "Styx". The Globe and Mail.
11. https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-20-best-rock-albums-of-1978
12. Moseley, Willey. (November 13, 2010). "Concert Review: The Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight Tour - Atlanta, GA".
13. Kent, David. (1993). "Australian Chart Book 1970–1992". Australian Chart Book.
14. "RPM Top 100 Albums of '78".
15. (2 January 2013). "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1979".