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Paradise Theatre, released by Styx on this day in 1981, is widely regarded as one of the band's most ambitious and commercially successful works. After three successful albums (The Grand Illusion, Pieces of Eight and Cornerstone), the band went in a different direction. The concept album centers around the rise and fall of a fictional theatre in Chicago called the Paradise Theatre, which serves as a metaphor for the state of American society at the time - the decline of culture and societal values, drawing a parallel between the crumbling theatre and the perceived fading of American ideals, optimism, and unity during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Musically, Paradise Theatre blends Styx's signature prog rock sound with elements of AOR, pop, and Dennis DeYoung’s theatrical arrangements. Songs like "The Best of Times" and "Too Much Time on My Hands" (my favorite on the album - and a Tommy Shaw written track) became major hits and the band used rich harmonies, dynamic instrumentation, and elaborate production techniques to bring the story of the Paradise Theatre to life.
The concept album format allows for a cohesive narrative flow, with the opening track "A.D. 1928" setting the stage for the theatre's grandeur and the closing track "A.D. 1958" symbolizing its eventual demise. Each song tells a part of the larger story, from the theatre’s heyday to its decay, mirroring the arc of societal decline. "Rockin' the Paradise", celebrates the excitement of the theatre's prime, while "Half-Penny, Two-Penny" captures the frustration of societal disillusionment and upheaval.
Beyond its narrative, Paradise Theatre was both a commercial and critical success. It reached number one on the Billboard 200 and solidified Styx's reputation as one of the era’s most successful rock bands. However, just like the theatre’s crumbling, the band also began to crumble during and after this album as Dennis DeYoung took the lead on a more theatrical feel for their music. But that doesn’t take away from my love of Paradise Theatre.
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