Cornerstone Songs Ranked
Cornerstone is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Styx, released in 1979. Styx’s third straight multi-platinum selling album, Cornerstone was Styx’s first album to earn a Grammy nomination, which was for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group. Like the four previous Styx albums, the band produced the album themselves. Styx recorded the album at Pumpkin Studios in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Cornerstone is best known for including the group’s only #1 Billboard Hot 100 Single, the power ballad “Babe”. The album also includes the folk-rock song “Boat on the River”, which was a hit in Europe, though it failed to chart in the United States. Cornerstone became Styx’s first US Top 5 album, peaking at #2 on the Billboard album chart. Here are all of the Cornerstone songs ranked.
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9. Boat on the River
“Singer/guitarist/songwriter Tommy Shaw’s “Boat on the River” was a great folk song which showed Tommy was not just full of rock music (like he claimed on Behind the Music) and could have been written by a European folk performer and the song almost didn’t get released as band manager Derek Sutton said the song was deplorable but Dennis DeYoung told Tommy Shaw let’s record it and it became the band’s biggest European hit to this day.”
8. Love in the Midnight
“The closing epic “Love in the Midnight” which started as a “Crystal Ball” part two with acoustic guitars and Fender Rhodes piano but turns into one of the best Styx tracks ever with a blazing JY solo and haunting orchestrations at the end.”
7. Never Say Never
“I was always a little bit unsure of this albums quality, based on reviews. But when I finnaly picked it up, it turned out to be fantastic. So what if it has a ‘different sound.’ The fact is some of the best songs came out of this album…borrowed time anyone? Don’t put this down because of firt time, even that is a good track if you gave it a chance.”
See more: Styx Albums Ranked
6. Eddie
“Guitarist James “JY” Young wrote the scathing hard rocker “Eddie” about famed Massachusetts senator Edward Kennedy, the last surviving of the Kennedy sons.”
5. Why Me
“Led by Babe as well as the following Top 40 single, Dennis’ classic about one’s worries “Why Me” (which should have been Nancy Kerrigan’s theme song from her attack at the hands of Tonya Harding), introduced us to a poppier sounding Styx (fellow prog rock band Genesis had changed their sound at that time as well yet no one complained).”
4. First Time
“Dennis also contributed the ballad “First Time”, which would have been a huge hit had if Tommy not complained like a 2-year old by threatening to walk out if it was released. First Time would have been a #1 if released.”
See more: Styx Songs Ranked
3. Lights
“Another great song is ‘Lights.’ John’s drum intro is superb, and the lyrics are meaningful and powerful at the same time. It is definitely a must-listen for any Styx fan.”
2. Borrowed Time
“The hard rocking “Borrowed Time” (music by Tommy, lyrics from Dennis) which had Dennis on vocal and one of his best rock vocals ever and was the opening song on the Cornerstone/Grand Decathlon tour in 1979/80 and serve as first encore on the band’s 1981/82 tour.”
1. Babe
“The album is best remembered for singer/keyboard player/chief songwriter Dennis DeYoung’s musical love-letter to his wife called “Babe”. This song was Styx’s first and only No. 1 hit and it helped the band get their third album in a row to Triple Platinum status and the first Top 3 charting album for the band peaking at #2 and it wouldn’t be their last.”