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The Grand Illusion (album)




  Type Album
  Artist Styx
  Cover Styx - The Grand Illusionjpg
  Released July 7 1977
  Recorded 1977 at Paragon Recording Studios, Chicago
  Genre Progressive Rock , Hard Rock
  Length 38:59
  Label A&M
  Producer Styx
  Last Album '' Crystal Ball ''<br />(1976)
  This Album ''The Grand Illusion''<br />(1977)
  Next Album '' Pieces Of Eight ''<br />(1978)


''The Grand Illusion'' is the seventh Album by Styx , released in 1977 (see 1977 In Music ).

The album's theme is the struggle to overcome self-deluding superficiality in order to affirm one's genuine value which Dennis DeYoung confirmed on the US radio show '' In The Studio With Redbeard '', which devoted an entire episode to ''The Grand Illusion''. DeYoung on this same interview revealed he had the title of ''The Grand Illusion'' dating back to the 1975 album '' Equinox ''.

The track "Miss America" was guitarist James Young's scathing attack on the Miss America pageants. JY on The Grand Illusion episode of In the Studio with Redbeard said the track came to him in the middle of the night and its riff was inspired by the Jethro Tull song "Minstrel in the Gallery".

''The Grand Illusion'' was the band's first Triple Platinum album, and spawned the Top 10 hit " Come Sail Away " and the Top 30 hit " Fooling Yourself ".


TRACK LISTING

#"The Grand Illusion" ( Dennis DeYoung ) – 4:36



  • ''Lead vocals and

  • ''

  • ''Lead Guitar: Tommy Shaw

  • #"Miss America" (Young) – 5:01

  • ''Lead vocals and lead guitar: James Young

  • #"Man in the Wilderness" (Shaw) – 5:49

  • ''Lead vocals and lead guitar: Tommy Shaw

  • #"Castle Walls" (DeYoung) – 6:00




PERSONNEL

  • Dennis DeYoung - Keyboards , Synthesizer , vocals

  • Chuck Panozzo - Bass , vocals

  • John Panozzo - Drums , Percussion , vocals

  • Tommy Shaw - acoustic and electric guitars, vocals

  • James Young - Guitars , vocals

  • Barry Mraz - Production Assistance, Engineer

  • Rob Kingsland - Engineer

  • Mastered by Mike Reese at the Mastering Lab, Los Angeles, California

  • Derek Sutton - Management and Direction

  • Jim Vose - Tour Manager

  • Jeff Ravitz - Lighting Designer

  • John "Tarkus" Schaefer - Stage Manager

  • Bob "Yaz" Jastrzembski - Equipment and Motorcycle Stunts

  • Judson Terry Phelps - Monitors

  • Roland Young - Art Direction

  • Jim McCrary - Photography

  • Chuck Beeson - Album Design

  • Kelly And Mouse - Album cover painting



MISCELLANEA

The album cover art is an homage to a painting by Rene Magritte entitled "Carte Blanche."

Released on 7/7/77, "The Grand Illusion" was Styx's 7th album release. This numbering trend continued with the release of their 8th album, " Pieces Of Eight ."


CHARTS

Album - Billboard (North America)

Singles - Billboard (North America)


SEE ALSO