Styx - Blue Collar Man

Scott_Abene

Scott_Abene

Resident Noodge
So I was listening to Styx Blue Collar Man this morning and I have to say that JY's solo on this tune is just perfect. His technique, attack and tone is just godly.

Why is that this guy is so underrated?

Has anybody on this forum transcribed or covered this song or solo?

 
I think Styx reputation as a formula Dad rock band has obscured the talent in the band guitar wise. Both JY and Tommy Shaw are very good players and their differing styles work well with each other. I got to see them live at the peak of their popularity (right after Pieces Of Eight came out) and they were one of the best live bands out there at the time.
 
We play it, but I don't play the solo note for note. I capture the vibe for most of it, then improv at the end.
 
Styx made some horrible music, just want to gouge my ears out when Babe comes on. They also made some of the greatest music. I just try really hard to forget the bad stuff, and be thankful for the good stuff.

This is why guitars were invented:

 
I swear, we've had a Styx resurgence here lately... I've been in bars hearing bands and jukeboxes playing Styx and I've got students frequently asking me to learn BCM or Renegade. What a strange world where the young and old alike enjoy Dad Rock. :confused:
 
I saw them two years ago on your with Yes. I didn't care anything about seeing Styx.
But, despite the high school philosophy songwriting, they put on a great live show. Tommy's guitar collection is awesome. But the phony wall of Marshall stacks was kinda silly.
 
REO was scheduled to play at my high school graduation dance night. They canceled so this largely unknown local band was substituted. They called themselves STYX. I didn't go (disappointed). Right after that I joined the service and stayed at a fairly close base to Chicago. My #2 crewman was Dennis DeYoung's cousin and all I ever freaking heard him talk about was STYX. I personally thought the band was a bit too glossy. I mean, what was with the taffeta neckerchiefs and oh so fancy togs? Anyway, this cousin would not FSU about the band and his cousin. I still have his pimply faced image jabberin' on about DeYoung in my head when the band name comes up. Oh, and he was a lazy SOB, too.

Tommy was okay. He attempted a country switch a couple years back if memory serves. Odd for him. I don't think it caught on.
 
Dennis DeYoung was both the best and worst thing about that band. Unfortunately these days, they are pretty much at "official tribute" band status, but whatever. I will agree, though, that between TGI, POE and the better parts of Cornerstone, there is some damn good stuff there. They started to lose me at Paradise Theater, and really down the toilet with Kilroy (thanks, Dennis :facepalm: ).
 
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Covered that song waaay back in the day..I did all the rhythm as we had this hotshot soloist at the time. Always liked that song.
 
I had "Renegade " on my playlist on my cell once and a co-worker asked who it was. Almost shit when I said Styx. She really didn't believe me for a minute. :gah:
 
I saw them on the Kilroy Was Here tour, complete with stage get-up, acting between songs for the story line, etc, and it was a great show. I went with 5 friends, and we all agree even today that show was one of the better concerts any of us have seen.
 
CBHScott said:
Dennis DeYoung was both the best and worst thing about that band. Unfortunately these days, they are pretty much at "official tribute" band status, but whatever. I will agree, though, that between TGI, POE and the better parts of Cornerstone, there is some damn good stuff there. They started to lose me at Paradise Theater, and really down the toilet with Kilroy (thanks, Dennis :facepalm: ).
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Yup, DDY really ruined the whole thing for me. Paradise Theater was the beginning of the end and Kilroy was, just... ugh...
:tongue:puke:



A friend of mine at work was saying how great DDY was and all the great songs he wrote and I asked him... "Which songs do you think are his best" and he responded with "Lady, Blue Collar Man, Renegade, Fooling Yourself, and Too Much Time on My Hands are all great!" I had to tell him... "Dude, DDY only wrote one of those songs, the rest are Tommy Shaw songs.

Gotta edumacate the young-uns sometimes!

I actually auditioned for a Styx tribute band and had to learn Blue Collar Man and Too Much Time. It was fun, didn't get the job but the band never formed so I didn't feel so bad.
 
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