"The Grand Illusion" is the seventh studio album by American rock band Styx, released on July 7, 1977. It was the record that truly catapulted Styx into the mainstream of album-oriented rock, viewed as a breakthrough album for the band.
The album concept was influenced by the contemporary trend of concept albums in rock music, drawing inspiration from the idea of life as a theater, noting that what one sees might not coincide with reality. The album art, reflecting this theme, features a slightly adorned version of a common theater "trick" - optical illusion.
Styx explored a variety of musical styles in this album, including hard rock, progressive rock, and pop rock, with a strong thematic focus on disillusionment and the loss of innocence. Some of its most popular songs include "Come Sail Away" and "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)."
"The Grand Illusion" peaked at No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Top Pop Album Chart and was certified multi-platinum in the U.S., with over 3 million copies sold, confirming it as Styx's most commercially successful album. It marked a key turning point in the band's career, setting the stage for their subsequent success in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The compositions maintain their appeal decades after their initial release, offering timeless commentary on the human condition via catchy, well-executed rock music.
