The year was 1981, and Chicago Supergroup released a thematic album called "Paradise Theatre" which spawned 2top ten Singles. The first was "Too much time on my Hands" written by Alabama Native Tommy Shaw, and the second was Keyboard and lead vocalist Dennis Deyoung's "The Best of times" who came up with the concept and theme. He based Paradise theatre around the Chicago Theatre called "Paradise Theatre" which was on the city's South side which had fallen on bad times in the 40's and 50's. Built in 1928 it endured the Great depression and World War II but suffered financially untill 1958 when it was destroyed. Deyoung used that Theatre's demise to represent a changing America. The album spent 3 weeks on Bilboard's top 10 charts at #1. To this day Band Members Tommy Shaw, and James Young and Styx still play singles from This Album. Dennis Deyoung, Now departed from his bandmates, plays songs he either co-wrote with JY or Tommy or songs he wrote himself from that album when he tours. That Album was was the highlight of Styx's career and always will be one of my personal favorites other than Kilroy was here

That was a great album!

That is still the best Styx album :thumb:

'The Best of Times' hit #1 in Canada (and #3 in the U.S.)
'Too Much Time on My Hands' hit #3 in Canada (and #9 in the U.S.)
'Nothing Ever Goes As Planned' hit #12 in Canada (and #54 in the U.S.)

What can you say about that album that hasn't already been said. It is indeed a masterpease. That's why it spent so long at number 1. And I'm with you on Kilroy Was Here. Especially Mr. Roboto. What a classic. Now that Dinis has left the group I wonder if they're still as good. He was so powerful, and dinamic in his own right.

i remember the album well. it had lazer etching on the disc

I've always found the cover of that album to be the most touching where on one side you see the theater being the most popular place on Earth and on the other side you see it dirty and forgotten.

It's very original.