Crystal Ball (Styx album)

Crystal Ball is the sixth album by Styx, released in 1976.

Crystal Ball
Studio album by
Styx
ReleasedOctober 1976
Recorded1976
StudioParagon Recording Studios, Chicago
Genre
Length34:45
LabelA&M
ProducerStyx
Styx chronology
Equinox
(1975)		 Crystal Ball
(1976)		 The Grand Illusion
(1977)
Singles from Crystal Ball
  1. "Mademoiselle"
    Released: November 1976 (US)[1]
  2. "Jennifer"
    Released: February 1977[2]
  3. "Crystal Ball"
    Released: June 1977

This album marked the recording debut of new guitarist Tommy Shaw. The track "Mademoiselle" was Tommy Shaw's vocal debut and the album's Top-40 hit.

The album's title track would become a concert staple for the band, as it was performed on every subsequent Styx tour with which Shaw was involved.

Claude Debussy's classical piece "Clair de Lune" served as the intro to the album's closing ballad, "Ballerina". The version of "Clair de Lune" on Crystal Ball features only DeYoung on piano, with the key changed from D flat to C, as the next track ("Ballerina") begins in C minor.

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [3]
Rolling Stone(favorable) [4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide [5]

Crystal Ball lacked the commercial strength and chart performance of its predecessor Equinox or its follow up Grand Illusion. It peaked at #66 on the Billboard album chart, the lowest of any of the Styx A&M releases. It was certified gold in 1984, 8 years after its release.

Daevid Jehnzen of AllMusic rated Crystal Ball three-and-a-half out of five stars. He stated that it was better than Styx's previous album, Equinox (1975), although it was not as successful. He also said that the album showcases "Styx's increased skill for crafting simple, catchy pop hooks out of their bombastic sound."[3] Alan Niester of Rolling Stone also found the album favorable, stating that "although Styx is based in Chicago, the group has its English scam down pat". He also stated that the instrumentation "always seems on the verge of going out of control, giving the whole album an extra surge of excitement."[4]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Put Me On"
  • Young
  • DeYoung
4:56
2."Mademoiselle"
  • DeYoung
  • Shaw
Shaw3:57
3."Jennifer"DeYoungDeYoung4:16
4."Crystal Ball"ShawShaw4:32
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Shooz"
  • Shaw
  • Young
Shaw4:44
2."This Old Man"DeYoungDeYoung5:11
3."Clair de Lune"
"Ballerina"		Claude Debussy
  • DeYoung
  • Shaw
—
DeYoung		1:05
5:53
Total length:34:45

Personnel

Styx

Production
  • Producer: Styx
  • Engineers: Barry Mraz and Rob Kingsland

Charts

Album – Billboard (United States)

Year Chart Position
1976 Pop Albums 66

Singles – Billboard (United States)

Year Single Chart Position
1976 "Mademoiselle" Pop Singles 36

References
  1. "Great Rock Discography". p. 798.
  2. Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 798. ISBN 9780862415419.
  3. Jehnzen, Daevid. Styx: Crystal Ball at AllMusic. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  4. Niester, Alan (January 13, 1977). "Styx - Crystal Ball". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  5. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 789. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone styx album guide.
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