Cornerstone - Styx
Dennis DeYoung – vocals, keyboards, accordion
James "JY" Young – vocals, electric guitars
Tommy Shaw – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, autoharp
Chuck Panozzo – bass guitar
John Panozzo – drums, percussion
Steve Eisen – saxophone on "Why Me"
Arnie Roth – strings on "First Time" and "Love in the Midnight"
Ed Tossing - Horn arranger
Arnie Roth - String arranger
Ed Tossing – horn
1LP, gatefold jacket
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : Black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : RTI
Label : Friday Music
Original Label : Columbia
Recorded in 1979 at Pumpkin Studios, Oak Lawn, Illinois
Engineered by Rob Kingsland, Gary Loizzo
Produced by Styx
Mastered by Joe Reagoso, Kevin Gray
Originally released in 1979
Reissued in 2012
Tracks:
Side A:
- Lights
- Why Me
- Babe
- Never Say Never
- Boat On The River
Side B:
- Borrowed Time
- First Time
- Eddie
- Love In The Midnight
Reviews:
“Presenting radio with one of the best rock ballads ever, Cornerstone gave Chicago's Styx their big break with the number one single "Babe," which held that spot for two weeks in October of 1979. "Babe" is a smooth, keyboard-pampered love song that finally credited Dennis De Young's textured vocals. While this single helped the album climb all the way to the number two spot on the charts, the rest of the tracks from Cornerstone weren't nearly half as strong. "Why Me" made it to number 26, and both "Lights" and "Boat on the River" implement silky harmonies and welcoming choruses, yet failed to get off the ground. De Young's keyboards are effective without overly dominating the music, and the band's gritty rock & roll acerbity has been slightly sanded down to compliment the commercial market. The songs aren't as tight or assertive as their last few albums, but Shaw's presence can be felt strongly on most of the tracks, especially where the writing is concerned. Outside of "Babe," Cornerstone tends to sound a tad weaker than one would expect.” AllMusic Review by Mike DeGagne
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4.17 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.43 / 5