The Grand Illusion (album)

The Grand Illusion
Studio album by Styx
Released	July 7, 1977
Recorded	1977 at Paragon Recording Studios, Chicago
Genre	Progressive rock, art rock, hard rock
Length	38:59
Label	A&M
Producer	Styx
Styx chronology
Crystal Ball (1976) The Grand Illusion (1977) Pieces of Eight (1978)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Rolling Stone	(favorable)
This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information.

The Grand Illusion is the seventh studio album by Styx, released on July 7, 1977 (7/7/77). It became the band's first Triple Platinum album, and spawned the Top 10 hit "Come Sail Away" and the Top 30 hit "Fooling Yourself".

According to lead singer Dennis DeYoung, the album's theme was the struggle to overcome self-deluding superficiality in order to affirm one's genuine value. This theme was reflected in the lyrics of the album's title track:

so if you think your life is complete confusion

'cause your neighbor's got it made

just remember that it's a grand illusion

and deep inside we're all the same

The title of The Grand Illusion had been considered dating back to the 1975 album Equinox.

The track "Miss America" was guitarist James Young's scathing attack on the Miss America pageant. The idea for the song came to him in the middle of the night. Its sole riff was inspired by the Jethro Tull song "Minstrel in the Gallery".

Track listing

1. "The Grand Illusion" (Dennis DeYoung) – 4:36
   • Lead vocals: Dennis DeYoung
   • First guitar solo and guitar fills: Tommy Shaw
   • Second guitar solo: James Young
2. "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" (Tommy Shaw) – 5:29
   • Lead vocals and guitar: Tommy Shaw
   • Synthesizer solos: Dennis DeYoung
3. "Superstars" (DeYoung, Shaw, James Young) – 3:59
   • Lead vocals and lead guitar: Tommy Shaw
   • Soliloquy: Dennis DeYoung
4. "Come Sail Away" (DeYoung) – 6:07
   • Lead vocals and synthesizer solo: Dennis DeYoung
   • ARP Odyssey: James Young
   • Lead Guitar: Tommy Shaw
5. "Miss America" (Young) – 5:01
   • Lead vocals and lead guitar: James Young
6. "Man in the Wilderness" (Shaw) – 5:49
   • Lead vocals and lead guitar: Tommy Shaw
7. "Castle Walls" (DeYoung) – 6:00
   • Lead vocals: Dennis DeYoung
   • Guitar fills and harmony fills: Tommy Shaw
   • Guitar solo: James Young
8. "The Grand Finale" (DeYoung, Shaw, Young) – 1:58
   • Lead vocals: Dennis DeYoung
   • Guitar fills and first guitar solo: Tommy Shaw
   • Melodic Guitar Lead: James Young

Album Cover

The album cover art is an homage to a painting by René Magritte entitled "Le Blanc-Seing". It features a photo of vocalist Dennis DeYoung on the body of a horse.

Personnel

Styx

• Dennis DeYoung – Keyboards, Synthesizers, Vocals
• Chuck Panozzo – Bass, Vocals
• John Panozzo – Drums, Vocals
• Tommy Shaw – Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Vocals
• James Young – Guitar, Keyboards,Vocals

Production

• Barry Mraz - Production Assistance, Engineer
• Rob Kingsland - Engineer
• Mastered by Mike Reese at the Mastering Lab, Los Angeles, California
• Derek Sutton - Management and Direction
• Jim Vose - Tour Manager
• Jeff Ravitz - Lighting Designer
• John "Tarkus" Schaefer - Stage Manager
• Bob "Yaz" Jastrzembski - Equipment and Motorcycle Stunts
• Judson Terry Phelps - Monitors
• Roland Young - Art Direction
• Jim McCrary - Photography
• Chuck Beeson - Album Design
• Kelly and Mouse - Album cover painting

Charts

Album

Chart (1977)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard 200	6

Singles

Name	Chart (1977)	Peak position
"Come Sail Away"	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	8
"Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)"		29