Man of Miracles
1974 studio album by Styx
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Man of Miracles is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Styx, released in October 1974. It entered the Billboard Album charts on November 9, where it reached No. 154.[3]
| Man of Miracles | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 1974 | |||
| Recorded | 1974 | |||
| Studio | Golden Voice Studios, South Pekin, IL | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 37:20 | |||
| Label | Wooden Nickel | |||
| Producer | John Ryan, Bill Traut | |||
| Styx chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [2] |
This would be the band's last original album on the independent Chicago-based label Wooden Nickel Records before moving to the major label A&M.
Background
The album had a diverse sound, it showcased the style of two band members and a pre-commercial sound: James "JY" Young songs were more straight ahead hard rockers, while Dennis DeYoung songs were more mellow ballads, classical, and prog rock songs.
The original issue contained the catchy upbeat cover of "Lies" by The Knickerbockers in 1965. A second release of Man of Miracles substituted this with "Best Thing", a song also contained on the first Styx album from 1972, as the opening track on side two. The album was again reissued in 1980 with new artwork and a newly abbreviated title, Miracles. This version started the second side with the ballad "Unfinished Song", which is sung by Dennis DeYoung.[4]
Artwork
The cover art was designed by Leon Rosenblatt, whose name is printed on the back credits as "Lee Rosenblatt."[5] The initials "LJR" are plainly visible in the wizard's beard, and were likely hidden there by the album's artist, Leon J. Rosenblatt.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals/Lead guitar | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rock & Roll Feeling" | James Young, John Curulewski | Young | 3:02 |
| 2. | "Havin' a Ball" | Curulewski, Young | Young | 3:53 |
| 3. | "Golden Lark" | Dennis DeYoung | DeYoung/Young | 3:23 |
| 4. | "A Song for Suzanne" | DeYoung | DeYoung/Young | 5:15 |
| 5. | "A Man Like Me" | Young | Young | 2:57 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals/Lead guitar | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Lies" | Buddy Randell, Beau Charles | DeYoung/Young | 2:41 |
| 7. | "Evil Eyes" | DeYoung | DeYoung/Young | 4:02 |
| 8. | "Southern Woman" | Young, Ray Brandle | Young | 3:10 |
| 9. | "Christopher, Mr. Christopher" | DeYoung | DeYoung/Young | 4:02 |
| 10. | "Man of Miracles" | Young, DeYoung, Brandle | Young | 4:55 |
Personnel
Styx
- Dennis DeYoung – vocals, keyboards
- James "JY" Young – vocals, guitars
- John Curulewski – vocals, guitars, synthesizers
- Chuck Panozzo – bass
- John Panozzo – drums, percussion
Production
- Producer: John Ryan for Chicago Kid Productions
- Engineer: Gary Loizzo
Charts
| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[6] | 154 |