Styx (album)

"Styx" is the debut album by the American rock band Styx, released in 1972. The album marked the beginning of the band's career and features a mix of progressive rock and hard rock influences.

Styx is the debut album by the American rock band Styx, released in 1972. The band started as a cover band performing at weddings and birthday parties under the name The Tradewinds in 1961. The original lineup included 12-year-old fraternal twins Chuck and John Panozzo, who played bass guitar and drums, respectively, and their neighbor Dennis DeYoung on keyboards, accordion, and vocals. They later became TW4 after adding college friend John Curulewski in 1968 and James "J.Y." Young in 1970 as guitarists, songwriters, and singers.

The debut album showcased Styx as a progressive-art rock and '60s garage rock act. It featured the 13-minute piece "Movement for the Common Man" and the rock song "Children of the Land." Other highlights included John Panozzo's percussion solo, "Street Collage," and a symphonic rendition of "Fanfare for the Common Man." The prog-folk track "Mother Nature's Matinee" was sung by DeYoung and co-written by Young & DeYoung. The album's single "Best Thing," co-written by DeYoung and Young, peaked at No. 82 on the charts.

The remaining songs were cover versions suggested by the record label, which the band members were unfamiliar with. The album was reissued in 1979 under the title Styx I with new artwork and was re-released in 2012 for CD and digital download alongside Styx II (1973), The Serpent Is Rising (1973), and Man of Miracles (1974).