| "The Best of Times" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
) | ||||
| Single by Styx | ||||
| from the album Paradise Theatre | ||||
| B-side | "Lights" | |||
| Released | January 1981 | |||
| Recorded | 1980 | |||
| Length | 4:17 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Dennis DeYoung | |||
| Styx singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"The Best of Times" is the first single release from Styx's 1981 triple-platinum album Paradise Theatre. It reached No. 1 in Canada on the RPM national singles chart, their second chart topper in that country, and No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in March and April 1981. In the UK, the song peaked at No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart.[1]
The basic melody line for "The Best of Times" is used in two other places on the album: As a bold greeting to the listener in "A.D. 1928", and a softer, more subdued version for the farewell track, "A.D. 1958".
Despite the song's success, the song has not been performed live by the band since singer Dennis DeYoung was dismissed in 1999. DeYoung, however, still performs the song regularly on his solo tours.
Personnel
- Dennis DeYoung - lead vocals, keyboards
- Tommy Shaw - lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- James Young - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Chuck Panozzo - bass
- John Panozzo - drums
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] | 23 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[3] | 52 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[4] | 26 |
| U.S. (Billboard Hot 100)[5] | 3 |
Year-end charts
| Year-end chart (1981) | Rank |
|---|---|
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[6] | 30 |
References
- ^ "STYX | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 299. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Styx – The Best Of Times". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Styx – The Best Of Times". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
- ^ https://www.billboard.com/music/styx/chart-history/HSI
- ^ "Number One Awards – Billboard's 1981 Year-End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 93 no. 51. December 26, 1981. p. YE-9. Retrieved 5 April 2020.