Pieces of Eight is the eighth studio album by Styx, released on September 1, 1978.
Like the band’s previous album, The Grand Illusion (1977), it managed to achieve triple platinum certification, thanks to the hit singles “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” and “Renegade”.
The band members produced and recorded the album (like their previous three efforts) at Paragon Studios in Chicago with recording engineer Barry Mraz and mixing engineer Rob Kingsland. “I’m O.K.” was recorded at Paragon and St. James Cathedral. This would be the last album to be produced at Paragon Studios.
The album’s cover was done by Hipgnosis. DeYoung stated in the 1991 interview with Redbeard on the “In the Studio” episode that he initially hated the cover but grew to like it as he got older.
Some consider the album to be Styx’ second concept album (1973’s The Serpent Is Rising arguably being the first) as well as the last Styx album with significant progressive rock leanings. The theme of the album, as Dennis DeYoung explained on In the Studio with Redbeard which devoted an entire episode to Pieces of Eight, was about “not giving up your dreams just for the pursuit of money and material possessions”.
Take a listen to the title track, Pieces of Eight below:
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