Editorial Review:

Album Description:
Japanese-only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) paper sleeve pressing of this album. SHM-CDs can be played on any audio player and delivers unbelievably high-quality sound. You won't believe it's the same CD! Universal. 2009.

Amazon.com:
If Styx didn't do enough to endear itself to a generation of prom-goers with its 1975 slow-dance classic "Lady," they closed the deal a few years later with Cornerstone's premiere hit, "Babe." Perhaps the prototypical I-love-you-but-I-just-gotta-go power ballad, the song was Styx's first No. 1 hit, and it propelled the album to platinum-plus status. Led by that track as well as "Why Me," another Top 40 hit, Cornerstone is Styx at their most accessible and melodic. The album experiments with some new sounds as well, with horns added to the mix on Dennis DeYoung's "Borrowed Time" and "Why Me" and mandolin on Tommy Shaw's "Boat on the River." If their album sales didn't offer the final word on the band's popularity at the close of the '70s, a 1979 Gallup poll did the trick: The group was named America's most popular rock band. It's you babe, indeed. --Daniel Durchholz

Conrnerstone meaning strength, so The Cornerstone of Cornerstone is clearly the ballads. Even without the ballads, several things stand out about this album. First, "Borrowed Time" and "Why Me" demonstrate that STYX is still in touch with its roots. Second, "Lights" and "Never say Never" show a new and interesting feel to the group's style. Third, "Eddie" is a fabulous rocker. Most of all, Tommy Shaw really showed why STYX brought him in with his unique and wonderful "Boat on the River". While not as good as Pieces of eight and Grand illusion , this overall is a very good album.

Average Rating:

Rating: - CONERSTONE
Conrnerstone meaning strength, so The Cornerstone of Cornerstone is clearly the ballads. Even without the ballads, several things stand out about this album. First, "Borrowed Time" and "Why Me" demonstrate that STYX is still in touch with its roots. Second, "Lights" and "Never say Never" show a new and interesting feel to the group's style. Third, "Eddie" is a fabulous rocker. Most of all, Tommy Shaw really showed why STYX brought him in with his unique and wonderful "Boat on the River". While not as good as Pieces of eight and Grand illusion , this overall is a very good album.

Rating: - Styx - The Ballad Era Begins, But Still A Lot Of Good Stuff To Be Found Here
I have a bit of a soft spot for this album. In late 1979 I started working for a small Midwest radio station and this album came out the same week that I started. The very first song I ever played on the radio was the leadoff track from this album a Tommy Shaw tune called "Lights". I still like the song a lot to this day. Overall though "Cornerstone" was a mixed bag of an album. Dennis Deyong struck it big with his ballad "Babe" which would become a number 1 single. To many Styx fans (and to some of the Styx members) hitting it big with a sappy ballad was not their idea of what this band was all about. There are still a lot of good songs to be found here however and although a lot of Styx fans don't agree I like this one better than the previous album "Pieces Of Eight". Along with "Lights" other good songs include "Never Say Never", Tommy Shaw's acoustic ditty "Boat On The River", "Borrowed Time" , "Eddie", and "Love In The Midnight". Most of the band's progressive rock tendencies are missing on this album, but the songs are still there and most of them are good. All in all I rate this a good, but not great Styx album.

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Rating: - Styx Cornerstone cd
This is a great cd! I had it on vinyl for years, and just now got it on cd! It sounds even better than before! Thanks for a great product!

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Rating: - A good Styx record for many reasons
1979's 'Cornerstone' is often panned and put down by Styx fans. True, it is very different from the Wooden Nickel-era Styx that released 'Lady' in 1972 and the early A&M years Styx that put out 'Equinox' and 'The Grand Illusion,' to name a few, but this isn't a bad Styx record at all.

In fact, I think it's well worthy of five stars. Sure, many people buy this for 'Babe,' the band's first and only #1 hit, but there is far more to 'Cornerstone' than just that one song.

For example, 'Borrowed Time' is a superb rocker from Styx. It starts off as somewhat of a melodic song, with some catchy keyboard lines from Dennis, and than the guitar riffs from J.Y. and Tommy start to kick in. It's one of my all-time favorite Styx songs.

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.

While this is not as good as 'The Grand Illusion,' 'Equinox' and 'Pieces of Eight' or maybe one of their earlier Wooden Nickel masterpieces such as 'The Serpent Is Rising,' it's still worth your time.

Styx could make ballads and rock and roll songs, and 'Cornerstone' proves it. If you've never checked out this record or your too afraid to, don't be. This record features many great tunes besides 'Babe.'

Overall, this is highly recommended for any Styx fan. The whole record is great.

Highly recommended. Not their best record, but still great.

ENJOY!!!

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Rating: - A great mess.
LOVE IN THE MIDNIGHT, LIGHTS, BOAT ON THE RIVER, EDDY (Ted Kennedy), and BABE are incredible songs. Everything else is forgettable. STYX fell apart during this album... and the scars never truly healed. Dennis' ego could not accept the "sea change" within STYX and this album reflected what became two bands in one... the Dennis DeYoung band and the Tommy Shaw band. This album has some great songs but no cohesiveness. Every other album that followed was similar in fractured structure (including the Number One album PARADISE THEATRE) until CYCLORAMA (Dennis was no longer in the band.)

So be forewarned, this album has some great songs... but no album cohesiveness.

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Related Items:

Pieces of Eight

The Grand Illusion

Paradise Theater

Equinox

Crystal Ball