Crystal Ball (Styx album): Difference between revisions

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			{{Infobox album
	{{unreferenced\|date=June 2008}}
			\| name = Crystal Ball
	{{About\|the ] album\|the album '''Crystal Ball''' by ]\|Crystal Ball (Prince album)}}
			\| type = studio
	{{Infobox Album \| <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Albums -->
	\| ~~Name~~ = ~~Crystal~~ ~~Ball~~		\| artist = ]
	\| ~~Type~~ = ]		\| cover = Styx - Crystal Ball.jpg
	\| ~~Artist~~ = ]		\| alt =
	\| ~~Cover~~ = ~~Styx - Crystal~~ ~~Ball.jpg~~		\| released = October 1976
	\| ~~Released~~ = ~~October~~ ~~1, 1976~~		\| recorded = 1976
			\| venue =
	\| Recorded = 1976 at Paragon Recording Studios, ]
	\| ~~Genre~~ = ], ]		\| studio = Paragon, ]
			\| genre = {{hlist\|]\|]}}
	\| Length = 34:45
	\| ~~Label~~ = ]		\| length = 34:45
	\| ~~Producer~~ = ]		\| label = ]
			\| producer = ]
	\| Reviews =
			\| prev_title = ]
	* ] {{Rating\|3.5\|5}}
			\| prev_year = 1975
	*'']'' (favorable)
	\| ~~Last album~~ = '']~~''<br/>(1975)~~		\| next_title = ]
			\| next_year = 1977
	\| This album = '''''Crystal Ball'''''<br/>(1976)
			\| misc = {{Singles
	\| Next album = '']''<br/>(1977)
			\| name = Crystal Ball
			\| type = studio
			\| single1 = ]
			\| single1date = November 1976 (US)<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro/page/798/mode/2up\|title=Great Rock Discography\|page=798}}</ref>
			\| single2 = Jennifer
			\| single2date = February 1977<ref>{{cite book\|url=https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro/page/798/mode/2up\|title=The Great Rock Discography\|year=1995\|page=798 \|isbn=9780862415419 \|last1=Strong \|first1=Martin Charles }}</ref>
			\| single3 = ]
			\| single3date = June 1977
			}}
	}}		}}

	'''''Crystal Ball''''' is the sixth ] by ], released in 1976 ~~(see ])~~.		'''''Crystal Ball''''' is the sixth ] by ], released in 1976.

	This album marked the recording debut of new guitarist ]. The track "]" was Tommy Shaw's vocal debut and the album's Top 40 hit.		This album marked the recording debut of new guitarist ]. The track "]" was Tommy Shaw's vocal debut and the album's Top-40 hit.

	The album's title track would become a concert staple for the band as it was performed on every subsequent Styx tour ~~that~~ Shaw was involved ~~with~~.		The album's title track would become a concert staple for the band, as it was performed on every subsequent Styx tour with which Shaw was involved.

			]'s classical piece "]" served as the intro to the album's closing ballad, "Ballerina". The version of "Clair de Lune" on ''Crystal Ball'' features only DeYoung on piano, with the key changed from D flat to C, as the next track ("Ballerina") begins in C minor.
	"Shooz" was co-written by Shaw and James Young. The bluesy rocker had Shaw on slide guitar while Young contributed a Hendrix-like solo to the middle of the track after Shaw's slide solo.

			==Reception==
	"This Old Man" was a song that DeYoung wrote for his father and the impact his dad had on his life.
			{{Album ratings
			\| rev1 = ]
			\| rev1Score = {{Rating\|3.5\|5}} <ref name="AllMusic">{{AllMusic \| class=album \| id=crystal-ball-mw0000194772 \| title=''Styx: Crystal Ball'' \| first=Daevid \| last=Jehnzen \| accessdate=April 29, 2020}}</ref>
			\| rev2 = '']''
			\| rev2Score = (favorable) <ref name="RollingStone">{{cite magazine\|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/crystal-ball-19770113 \|title=Styx - ''Crystal Ball'' \|last=Niester \|first=Alan \|magazine=] \|publisher=] \|date=January 13, 1977 \|access-date=June 20, 2011 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507165244/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/crystal-ball-19770113 \|archive-date=May 7, 2016 \|url-status=live }}</ref>
			\| rev3 = '']''
			\| rev3Score = {{Rating\|1\|5}} <ref>{{cite book\| last = Brackett \| first = Nathan \|author2=Christian Hoard \| title = The Rolling Stone Album Guide \| publisher = Simon and Schuster \| year = 2004 \| location = New York City, New York \| page = \| isbn = 0-7432-0169-8 \| url = https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac\| url-access = registration \| quote = rolling stone styx album guide. }}</ref>
			}}

			Crystal Ball lacked the commercial strength and chart performance of its predecessor ''Equinox'' or its follow up ''Grand Illusion''. It peaked at #66 on the Billboard album chart, the lowest of any of the Styx A&M releases. It was certified gold in 1984, 8 years after its release.
	Debussy's classical piece "Clair De Lune" was served as the intro to the album's closing track Ballerina. The version of "Clair De Lune" on Crystal Ball just had DeYoung on piano and changed the key from D flat to C as the next track ("Ballerina") started in C minor.

			Daevid Jehnzen of ] rated ''Crystal Ball'' three-and-a-half out of five stars. He stated that it was better than Styx's previous album, ''Equinox'' (1975), although it was not as successful. He also said that the album showcases "Styx's increased skill for crafting simple, catchy pop hooks out of their bombastic sound."<ref name="AllMusic" /> Alan Niester of '']'' also found the album favorable, stating that "although Styx is based in Chicago, the group has its English scam down pat". He also stated that the instrumentation "always seems on the verge of going out of control, giving the whole album an extra surge of excitement."<ref name="RollingStone" />
	Although the album stalled at #66 upon its 1976 release, it would go platinum in 1978 after the success of the next album '']''.

	==Track listing==		==Track listing==

	#"Put Me On" (DeYoung, Shaw, Young) – 4:56
			{{Tracklist
	#*''Lead vocals: ] (verse), ] (bridge after guitar solo), lead guitar: James Young
			\| headline = Side one
	#"]" (DeYoung, Shaw) – 3:57
			\| extra_column = Lead vocals
	#*''Lead vocals: ], harmony lead guitar solos: Tommy Shaw and James Young
			\| title1 = Put Me On
	#"Jennifer" (DeYoung) – 4:16
			\| writer1 = {{hlist\|]\|]\|]}}
	#*''Lead vocals: Dennis DeYoung, lead guitar: James Young
			\| extra1 = {{hlist\|Young\|DeYoung}}
	#"]" (Shaw) – 4:32
			\| length1 = 4:56
	#*''Lead vocals and lead guitar: Tommy Shaw, synthesizer solo: Dennis DeYoung
			\| title2 = ]
	#"Shooz" (Shaw, Young) – 4:44
			\| writer2 = {{hlist\|DeYoung\|Shaw}}
	#*''Lead vocals and slide guitar: Tommy Shaw, second guitar solo in middle of song: James Young
			\| extra2 = Shaw
	#"This Old Man" (DeYoung) – 5:11
			\| length2 = 3:57
	#*''Lead vocals: Dennis DeYoung, lead guitar: Tommy Shaw
			\| title3 = Jennifer
	#"Clair de Lune/]" (]/DeYoung/Shaw) – 7:09
			\| writer3 = DeYoung
	#*''Instrumental/Lead vocals: Dennis DeYoung, lead guitar solos: James Young (wah-wah induced solos) and Tommy Shaw
			\| extra3 = DeYoung
			\| length3 = 4:16
			\| title4 = ]
			\| writer4 = Shaw
			\| extra4 = Shaw
			\| length4 = 4:32
			}}
			{{Tracklist
			\| headline = Side two
			\| extra_column = Lead vocals
			\| title1 = Shooz
			\| writer1 = {{hlist\|Shaw\|Young}}
			\| extra1 = Shaw
			\| length1 = 4:44
			\| title2 = This Old Man
			\| writer2 = DeYoung
			\| extra2 = DeYoung
			\| length2 = 5:11
			\| title3 = ]"<br>"Ballerina
			\| writer3 = ] {{hlist\|DeYoung\|Shaw}}
			\| extra3 = —<br>DeYoung
			\| length3 = 1:05<br>5:53
			\| total_length = 34:45
			}}

	==Personnel==		==Personnel==
			===Styx===
	*] – ], ], ]
	*] – ]~~, vocals~~		* ] – vocals, ]
			* ] – vocals, electric guitars
	*] – ], ], vocals
	*] – ], ~~], vocals~~		* ] – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
	*] – guitar~~, vocals~~		* ] – bass guitar
			* ] – drums, percussion

	==Production==		===Production===
	*Producer: Styx		* Producer: Styx
	*Engineers: Barry Mraz and Rob Kingsland		* Engineers: Barry Mraz and Rob Kingsland

	==Charts==		==Charts==
			{\| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
	'''Album''' – ] (North America)
	{\| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width="550px"
	!align="left"\|Year
	!align="left"\|Chart
	!align="left"\|Position
	\|-		\|-
			! scope="col"\| Chart (1976–1977)
	\|align="left"\|1976
			! scope="col"\| Peak<br />position
	\|align="left"\|Pop Albums
	\|align="left"\|66
	\|-		\|-
			{{album chart\|Canada\|21\|artist=Styx\|album=Crystal Ball\|chartid=5145a\|rowheader=true\|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
	\|}

	'''Singles''' – Billboard (North America)
	{\| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width="550px"
	!align="left"\|Year
	!align="left"\|Single
	!align="left"\|Chart
	!align="left"\|Position
	\|-
	\|align="left"\|1976
	\|align="left"\|"]"
	\|align="left"\|Pop Singles
	\|align="left"\|36
	\|-		\|-
			{{album chart\|Billboard200\|66\|artist=Styx\|rowheader=true\|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
	\|}		\|}

			==Certifications==
			{{Certification Table Top}}
			{{Certification Table Entry\|artist=Styx\|title=Crystal Ball\|type=album\|region=Canada\|award=Gold\|relyear=1976\|certyear=1977}}
			{{Certification Table Entry\|artist=Styx\|title=Crystal Ball\|type=album\|region=United States\|award=Gold\|relyear=1976\|certyear=1978}}
			{{Certification Table Bottom\|nosales=yes}}

			==References==
			{{Reflist}}

			== External links ==
			* at ]
			* at ]
			* as stream at ]

	{{Styx}}		{{Styx}}

			{{Authority control}}

	]		]
	]		]
	]		]

Latest revision as of 20:47, 16 November 2024

1976 studio album by Styx

Crystal Ball

Studio album by Styx

Released

October 1976

Recorded

1976

Studio

Paragon, Chicago

Genre

Length

34:45

Styx chronology

Equinox
(1975)

Crystal Ball
(1976)

Best of Styx
(1977)

Singles from Crystal Ball

"Mademoiselle"
Released: November 1976 (US)
"Jennifer"
Released: February 1977
"Crystal Ball"
Released: June 1977

Crystal Ball is the sixth album by Styx, released in 1976.

This album marked the recording debut of new guitarist Tommy Shaw. The track "Mademoiselle" was Tommy Shaw's vocal debut and the album's Top-40 hit.

The album's title track would become a concert staple for the band, as it was performed on every subsequent Styx tour with which Shaw was involved.

Claude Debussy's classical piece "Clair de Lune" served as the intro to the album's closing ballad, "Ballerina". The version of "Clair de Lune" on Crystal Ball features only DeYoung on piano, with the key changed from D flat to C, as the next track ("Ballerina") begins in C minor.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Rolling Stone	(favorable)
The Rolling Stone Album Guide

Crystal Ball lacked the commercial strength and chart performance of its predecessor Equinox or its follow up Grand Illusion. It peaked at #66 on the Billboard album chart, the lowest of any of the Styx A&M releases. It was certified gold in 1984, 8 years after its release.

Daevid Jehnzen of AllMusic rated Crystal Ball three-and-a-half out of five stars. He stated that it was better than Styx's previous album, Equinox (1975), although it was not as successful. He also said that the album showcases "Styx's increased skill for crafting simple, catchy pop hooks out of their bombastic sound." Alan Niester of Rolling Stone also found the album favorable, stating that "although Styx is based in Chicago, the group has its English scam down pat". He also stated that the instrumentation "always seems on the verge of going out of control, giving the whole album an extra surge of excitement."

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Put Me On"	James Young Dennis DeYoung Tommy Shaw	Young DeYoung	4:56
2.	"Mademoiselle"	DeYoung Shaw	Shaw	3:57
3.	"Jennifer"	DeYoung	DeYoung	4:16
4.	"Crystal Ball"	Shaw	Shaw	4:32

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Shooz"	Shaw Young	Shaw	4:44
2.	"This Old Man"	DeYoung	DeYoung	5:11
3.	"Clair de Lune" "Ballerina"	Claude Debussy DeYoung Shaw	— DeYoung	1:05 5:53
Total length:				34:45

Personnel

Styx

Dennis DeYoung – vocals, keyboards
James "JY" Young – vocals, electric guitars
Tommy Shaw – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
Chuck Panozzo – bass guitar
John Panozzo – drums, percussion

Production

Producer: Styx
Engineers: Barry Mraz and Rob Kingsland

Charts

Chart (1976–1977)	Peak position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)	21
US Billboard 200	66

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)	Gold	50,000
United States (RIAA)	Gold	500,000
Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

"Great Rock Discography". p. 798.
Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 798. ISBN 9780862415419.
^ Jehnzen, Daevid. Styx: Crystal Ball at AllMusic. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
^ Niester, Alan (January 13, 1977). "Styx - Crystal Ball". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 789. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone styx album guide.
"Top RPM Albums: Issue 5145a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
"Styx Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
"Canadian album certifications – Styx – Crystal Ball". Music Canada.
"American album certifications – Styx – Crystal Ball". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

v t e Styx
Chuck Panozzo James "J.Y." Young Tommy Shaw Todd Sucherman Lawrence Gowan Will Evankovich Terry Gowan John "J.C." Curulewski Dennis DeYoung John Panozzo Glen Burtnik Ricky Phillips
Studio albums	Styx Styx II The Serpent Is Rising Man of Miracles Equinox Crystal Ball The Grand Illusion Pieces of Eight Cornerstone Paradise Theatre Kilroy Was Here Edge of the Century Brave New World Cyclorama Big Bang Theory The Mission Crash of the Crown
Extended plays	Regeneration: Volume I Regeneration: Volume II
Live albums	Caught in the Act Return to Paradise Arch Allies: Live at Riverport Styx World: Live 2001 At the River's Edge: Live in St. Louis 21st Century Live One with Everything: Styx and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra
Compilations	Best of Styx Lady Styx - Classics, Volume 15 Styx Greatest Hits Greatest Hits Part 2 Extended Versions Styx Yesterday & Today Rockers Come Sail Away – The Styx Anthology The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings
Songs	"Best Thing" "Lies" "Lady" "You Need Love" "Lorelei" "Mademoiselle" "Crystal Ball" "The Grand Illusion" "Come Sail Away" "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" "Sing for the Day" "Renegade" "Babe" "Why Me" "Boat on the River" "Borrowed Time" "The Best of Times" "Too Much Time on My Hands" "Nothing Ever Goes as Planned" "Rockin' the Paradise" "Snowblind" "Mr. Roboto" "Don't Let It End" "High Time" "Music Time" / "Heavy Metal Poisoning" "Love Is the Ritual" "Show Me the Way" "Love at First Sight" "Paradise" "I Am the Walrus"
Related articles	Discography Kilroy Was Here
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