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Cornerstone

by Styx

Released: October 08, 1979

Pop rock, soft rock, progressive rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

"Cornerstone" is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Styx, released in 1979. The song's success contributed greatly to the album's popularity and solidified Styx's status as prominent figures in the rock music scene of the late 1970s. The album remains a significant milestone in Styx's career, highlighting their ability to blend rock, ballads, and folk influences into a cohesive and successful musical package.

Inside the Recording

Produced by the band themselves, it was recorded at Pumpkin Studios in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

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Essential Tracks

Boat On The River

Another notable track from "Cornerstone" is "Boat on the River," a folk rock song that achieved considerable success in Europe but did not chart in the United States.

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Explore the Album

Styx - Cornerstone

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Then

Reception

The album marked a significant commercial success for Styx, becoming their third consecutive multi-platinum selling album. One of the standout tracks from "Cornerstone" is "Babe," a power ballad that became Styx's first and only No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Another notable track from "Cornerstone" is "Boat on the River," a folk rock song that achieved considerable success in Europe but did not chart in the United States.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Cornerstone" is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Styx, released in 1979. Produced by the band themselves, it was recorded at Pumpkin Studios in Oak Lawn, Illinois. The album marked a significant commercial success for Styx, becoming their third consecutive multi-platinum selling album.

One of the standout tracks from "Cornerstone" is "Babe," a power ballad that became Styx's first and only No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song's success contributed greatly to the album's popularity and solidified Styx's status as prominent figures in the rock music scene of the late 1970s.

Another notable track from "Cornerstone" is "Boat on the River," a folk rock song that achieved considerable success in Europe but did not chart in the United States. Despite this, "Cornerstone" itself became Styx's first album to reach the US Top 5, entering the Billboard 200 chart on October 13, 1979, and peaking at No. 2 by late November of the same year.

The critical and commercial success of "Cornerstone" not only boosted Styx's popularity but also earned them their first Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group. The album remains a significant milestone in Styx's career, highlighting their ability to blend rock, ballads, and folk influences into a cohesive and successful musical package.