There are those who don't give a second glance to albums where the artist take on other people's songs. Well, in this case that would be a big mistake. I would have to say, given the title of the album, that really this disc is meant to be more of an homage to some of the music that Styx holds dear. They have tapped pretty heavily into a number of definite rock classics (and a couple that are a little less well known) and come out with a healthy taste of music that is both true to it's roots, but also distinctively Styx. That's a great thing. And with the familiarity of much of this music, it's really sure to be an easy one to grow on you. They also include a new (very different) version of "Blue Collar Man" that features an awesome arrangement and a guest appearance by Koko Taylor. While I hope they don't do anymore cover albums - this one is just right - I hope the band manage to keep this smoking sound. It works well for them, and I think most (if not all) the originators of these sounds would be very happy with Styx' rendition. What a great way to reaffirm the band!

The CD opens with The Beatles' song "I Am The Walrus," and if you've heard only one song from this, that's the one. They do smoking rendition. As they make their way through the repertoire of various acts they also touch on The Who, Steve Winwood, The Allman Brothers, Jethro Tull, Jimi Hedrix and a lot of others. While every cut works fairly well, some certainly stand out. Their version of Winwood-penned "Can't Find My Way Home" is definitely one of those. Depending on the day I would have to say that I prefer Styx rendition to the original. The Willie Dixon anti war song "It Doesn't Make Sense (You Can't Make Peace)" is another standout feeling like it could have fit into the harder edged portion of the band's classic era. Their take on Procol Harum's "A Salty Dog" is another that stands out for me, but then again, I've always been a sucker for that song.

In case you hadn't realized it, Styx is going to be bringing their show to Beloit's Riverfest on Saturday the 15th of July. I'm betting they'll be doing some of the material from this album. That would seem to be a great reason to pick this one up. Truth be told, though, the disc itself is reason enough. This one is a great slice of both the Styx sound and classic rock history. Don't miss it and don't miss their show.