Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

Music Monday – Styx: Paradise Theater

April 26, 2011

Paradise Theater by Styx is one of the best rock albums of all time. Of course one of the reasons it IS so good is that it was released in January 1981 – I turned 18 and was getting ready to graduate that spring. It was a great year for good music! The obvious reason it stands out is that the songs were all excellent. Well, most of them.

This was a concept album and it was based on Chicago’s Paradise Theater. The album cover art shows a thriving theater on the front side, and the same theater now closed and abandoned on the back. I remember that the actual record had Styx laser etched onto it – very cool and making it highly collectible as well. Which is probably why it is so very hard to find in used record stores. However, my oldest son does own a copy! Lucky.

Now I’d like to take us through the music and my thoughts on the songs.

1. A.D. 1928 – To me this is just the introduction to Rockin’ the Paradise. :-) It recollects the beginning days of the theater – as an emcee would greet the theater guests to come in and enjoy the show.

2. Rockin the Paradise – I love the rock melody and the words to this song which I think still resonate with stuff going on today as much as it did in 1981. Simply fantastic!

3. Too Much Time On My Hands – A song about the horrible situation of having lots of money, lots of time, but nothing substantial to do with either. Love, love this song! My favorite memory? Being at a church dance and this was the first song they played – it has the word “damn” in it. A few people audibly sucked their breath in. *snicker*

4. Nothing Ever Goes As Planned – Actually, this is probably one of the only songs I don’t like on here. Apparently, it didn’t do real well when it was released either. Talk about ironic!

5. The Best of Times – I think this could be categorized as a power ballad of sorts. I think the lyrics talking about this age being the best of times and worst of times, is timeless. I mean, didn’t Charles Dickens write that in Tale of Two Cities? There are always decades, centuries even, when things have gone real well and things that have been bad. But, As long as we have each other, we’ll do all right. I think there is truth in that too – having someone to lean on in good and bad times does help.

6. Lonely People – Again, not a favorite of mine. Well, you know, even really good albums have the occassional song you don’t like.

7. She Cares – My absolute favorite song on this whole album!! It is a song about a young man and his wife as they go through changes in their lives and how, through it all, she remains faithful to him against all the odds. In turn, he can’t seem to forgive himself the indiscretions he has had, but accepts the love that she offers because he knows no matter what she’ll be there. I also think he changes his wayward ways as well. Okay, I know it’s only a song, but let’s face it, it’s also life too.

8. Snowblind – A song about the ugliness of drug addiction – specifically cocaine addiction. In a time when cocaine addiction was out of control especially with teens, this was a welcome song. Any kind of addiction starts out innocent enough – you think you can master it, but, of course it masters you and then you can’t get out. Naturally, some idiot thought there were messages on this song if you played it backwards. Yeah, who has time to think about this stuff?? Oh, see song #3.

9. Half Penney Two Penney – I liked the music to this and the words, but now that I’m looking over and wondering if it’s about having it all and then having nothing. Or maybe that money doesn’t guarantee happiness. Interesting song worth mulling over. Hmm. Will have to listen to it through again. Hey Matt – can I borrow your record?

10. A.D. 1958 – The Paradise Theater has closed and this wraps up the album with I guess the ending to A.D. 1928. “Tonight can always last as long as we keep alive the memories of Paradise” – indeed!!

11. State Street Sadie – A cool 1920’s type of song – the kind of song you would hear in a speakeasy maybe or a non talkie movie theater. They used to play the piano as the background music to the movie. Hehe – such a far cry from the way things are now!

Okay – so that’s my take on Paradise Theater. If you have it and haven’t listened to it in a while, take it from the shelf, dust it off and give it a listen. Ah, good times!

2 comments
Comments

On April 26, 2011 at 3:03 AM, dxprog said:

I did listen to that album a crap ton in college, along with Boston, Rio and Turn of a Friendly Card. I believe I animated to them. Good stuff.
Too Much Time on My Hands is probably my favorite from the album, though Rockin' the Paradise is pretty kickin' too.

On April 26, 2011 at 2:11 PM, java_queen said:

All good albums!! Yeah, I probably listened to Paradise Theater as much as I did Hi Infidelity back in the day. Practically wore them out!

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» Music Monday – Styx: Paradise Theater » Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

Music Monday – Styx: Paradise Theater

April 26, 2011

Comments

On April 26, 2011 at 3:03 AM, dxprog said:

On April 26, 2011 at 2:11 PM, java_queen said:

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