Best Thing: Styx Signs With Wooden Nickel

The band hit the big time when they sealed their contract with Wooden Nickel Records on February 22, 1972.

by Mike Mettler

One of the most important events in Styx history happened 44 years ago today, when Styx signed its first official record contract with Wooden Nickel Records on February 22, 1972.

Styx proceeded to make four albums with Wooden Nickel — Styx (1972), Styx II (1973), The Serpent Is Rising (1973), and Man of Miracles (1974) — before joining the A&M Records roster with 1975’s Equinox.

“Within 14 months of my joining the band, we had our first recording contract,” recalls cofounding guitarist/vocalist James “JY” Young. “And if we can make it that long, I’d like to celebrate the 50th anniversary of that event with a show on 2.22.22.” (And what a perfectly symmetrical date that is — one that instantly recalls the 7.7.77 release date for The Grand Illusion!) Fingers crossed, everybody — we’ve only got 6 more years to go…

Oh, and in case you were wondering, the members of Styx at the time of that label signing, as seen in the above vintage of-era photo, were, from left to right: bassist Chuck Panozzo, drummer John Panozzo, guitarist/vocalist John “J.C.” Curulewski, keyboardist/vocalist Dennis DeYoung, and JY.

Two other notable Styx-related milestones also happened on this day:

• On February 22, 1983, Styx released Kilroy Was Here. The album spawned a large-scale concept-oriented tour, went platinum, and reached #3 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart.

• On February 22, 1990, Damn Yankees released its self-titled debut, which was certified double platinum and reached #13 on the album charts. The supergroup consisted of guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw, Night Ranger bassist/vocalist Jack Blades, guitarist Ted Nugent, and drummer Michael Cartellone.

Two of that album’s songs, “Coming of Age” and “High Enough,” were re-recorded by the current Styx lineup and appear on 2011’s Regeneration: Volume II. “High Enough” has also appeared on numerous Styx set lists over the years. And, on occasion, Shaw will sing a good bit of Damn Yankees’ FM radio hit “Come Again” before going into “Crystal Ball.”