Customer Reviews

Caught in the Act

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I first discovered Styx back in 1995, when I was 17..The first album I picked up was the greatest hits collection, while liking a few songs, I wasn't real impressed. One day I decided to pick up "Caught In The Act", just to get an idea how the group sounded live..This is where it all began for me. I took CITA with me on a ride one evening, and I was blown away..The energy and excitement that was in these live recordings..I loved the extra antics and sped up ending in "Too Much Time On My Hands"; DeYoung's held out vocal on "Suite Madame Blue"; the raw energy behind "Blue Collar Man" and "Fooling Yourself"; the uncertainty and agony expressed in "Crystal Ball"; hearing the audience go wild on "Come Sail Away", and for the first time, I felt the emotion in "The Best Of Times". From this point on, I was a Styx fan. This album gave life to so many of those songs that I felt were a little flat in their studio versions, not to say that every song here is better than the studio recordings, but there is just a certain power when you hear these songs live, and for the first time, I found myself really able to relate. Does this album have any faults? Not really, the only things I can think of are that "Lady", and "Renegade" aren't present, but as good as this is, that can be overlooked. "Music Time", the only studio track on the album, as "bubble gum" as it might be, is one fun song..What else can be said? Great album, not what introduced me to the group, but what made me appreciate them.

I've seen Styx twice in concert,and they were even better live then on there studio recordings.This CD is fantastic.My favorite Styx song is Tommy Shaws, "Crystal Ball."Styx plays all of there hits over the years,from "Babe," to "Rockin the Paradise." The difference between Shaw and DeYoung made Styx one of the greatest bands from the 70's and 80's.The rest of the band hated "Babe,"and "Lady," two of Dennis DeYoung songs, but these ballads brought Styx high on the record charts.Its ashame there touring without him.I would never see this concert without Dennis.It would be like "Wings" going on tour without Paul McCartney.

I was just nine years old when Styx embarked on their nine-year hiatus in 1984, so I was not privileged enough to be heavily exposed to them while growing up. However, years later, when it was more fashionable to listen to everything from Guns-N-Roses to Run DMC, this cassette remained in my tape deck for years after my older sister recommended I listen to it. Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw and James Young harmonized as well as any trio of singers in any rock band to date. A bold statement ... but one I stand by. That could not be more evident than listening to the live versions of Crystal Ball, Best of Times and Snowblind ... among others. Unfortunately, this album is inexplicably missing the stand-out singles Lady and Renegade. Nevertheless, I'd consider this to be the best modern day rock live album second only to Bruce Springsteen and the E. Street Band's "Live '75-'85." It's simply that good!

Most people want to compare this album to RTP. In my opinion this one has more energy, probably because Styx was still an active touring band and had been so for 15 years. My major complaint is the same one that others have voiced, they seem to have trimmed a number of songs from their show and considering that this is a double CD, this seems a bit "short". The album leads off with a studio track (Music Time) which even though it was a chart hit(#40) doesn't appear on greatest hits 1 or 2, so you will have to get it here. The actual concert kicks off with Mr Roboto which features Dennis "acting" out the song. You can hear his grunts as he "struggles" to remove the Roboto mask. Roboto has been given new life with the VW commercial but to me when it is taken out of context outside of the Kilroy concept it just doesn't work. Within Kilroy the song has meaning, on this cd it leads into Too Much time. That makes a lot of sense. I hear they are playing it on the current tour so I'm sure that it still has the same problem. Highlights of the cd include Rockin' the Paradise and Don't Let it End(with Babe ending). Unless someone digs deep in the vault and pulls out some more tapes this is the only live recording of Dennis, Tommy, JY, Chuck and John that you can legitimately purcahse.

When this came out back in 84, it was great because it was the only live Styx available. This album has not aged well. Good thing Styx recorded another live CD, one that is more inspired. If you want live Styx, stick with "Return To Paradise". The band is tighter, better and the song selection (while basically the same as Caught In The Act) contains older hit and 3 new songs. Take note that Caught In The Act is the only chance you'll have to hear John Panozzo live, so this is a must have for a Styx fan, although not as inspired as RTP.

Styx are generally thought of as an album band with such "concept" efforts like Paradise Theater & Kilroy Was Here. While their albums are solid, all contain songs that you just assume not listen to more than once. Styx had the great sense to release their best songs as singles and Caught In The Act is a live greatest hits record. All the Styx anthems like "Come Sail Away", "Blue Collar Man", "Too Much Time On My Hands" and "The Best Of Times" are included. You would've have like to seen "Lady" and "Renegade" here, but you can't really complain with the overall selection. One great bonus is that this album is the only place where you get "Music Time" on cd. It is the only studio track on the album and is one of Styx's best songs. Some people may quibble that the performances are not the band's best, but to me, they sound pretty strong and the songs still stand up. The album is a must for any Styx fan as it captures the band in their commercial prime.

Styx released their first live album, the 2-disc Caught in the Act in April of 1984.
The double live album (and its off-shoot concert video (now on DVD)) was recorded (and filmed) in April of 1983 on the band's Kilroy Was Here tour at the Saenger Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana. Most Styx fans want to compare this album to 1997's Return to Paradise. Caught in the Act slightly has the edge as the band had more energy, were younger and were still an active touring band at the time.
The album leads off with the studio track "Music Time", which was a US charting hit peaking at #40 in the Spring of 1984 yet doesn't appear on either Greatest Hits 1 or 2 or the recently released Come Sail Away Anthology, so you will have to get the track here and a great song (when I first got the album on cassette when released in 1984, I used to crank this track up and set the tone for a great live album to come).
The actual concert kicks off with "Mr. Roboto" which features singer and keyboard player Dennis DeYoung acting out and singing the song live much better than the heavily processed vocals he did on the studio version (the band used the instrumental backing track as the band's equipment was hidden thanks to the props on-stage during the track). You can hear his grunts as he struggles to remove the Roboto mask (you can see this on the Caught in the Act video which was finally released on DVD in 2007). Roboto was given new life with the VW commercial in 1999 but when taken out of context outside of the Kilroy Was Here concept it doesn't work. Within Kilroy the song has meaning which many fans don't see.
The live album has songs that are not on the video/DVD ("Babe", a spirited "Suite Madame Blue", "Miss America", "Fooling Yourself" and "Crystal Ball") and vice versa (the Kilroy film, "Heavy Metal Poisoning", "Cold War" (with extra verses and a long Tommy Shaw guitar solo), "Renegade" (complete with band getting arrested and John Panozzo drum solo), "Haven't We Been Here Before" and the "Don't Let it End (Reprise)").
Other highlights on this album are "Too Much Time on My Hands", "Snowblind", "Rockin the Paradise", "Blue Collar Man", "Don't Let it End" (which is better than the studio version), "The Best of Times" and "Come Sail Away".
The album reached the US Top 40 in 1984 but quickly fell from sight as people didn't give the live album a chance which is a shame as it is one of the best live albums ever recorded (if it had been released during the 1984 Christmas period, either that or 1983 Christmas season then the album may have done better than it did).
Styx's Caught in the Act album turned out to be the final album the classic lineup of Styx would ever release and is a great testament to the classic lineup.
Highly recommended!

This is Styx's only live album with all of the 5 classic members of Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw, James Young, Chuck Panozzo, and John Panozzo. It is a very well done 2-disc album. With 7 songs on each disc this is a must have for every hard-core Styx fan. This is better than Return To Paradise and all the other live albums Styx has made with Lawrence Gowan. This was when Styx was at their peak and on the edge of their hiatus from 84 to 90. So seriously buy this album. My personal favorite on this album has to be Blue Collar Man (Long Nights). That song alone is worth the price of admission I mean the price of this album. This is really good music that you won't be able to find on today's music this style of talent + creativity = great music is most definetly gone. So buy this CD because you'll never hear music like this on an album or live ever again.

I have been a fan of Styx for a long time. I wasn't sure what I was in for when I bought this CD. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. Dennis and the gang's vocals sound great. They seem to have more energy live then they do on their studio albums. My only quibble is that they didn't include a lot of their hits, such as Renegade or the Grand Illusion.

Hey, Jose, sorry about your credit card problem, but what do you think about this CD?