Tag Archives: Paragon Recording Studios

The Siegel–Schwall Band: 953 West

In December 1973, “Wooden Nickel” label released “953 West”, the seventh Siegel–Schwall Band (The) album. It was recorded at in August 1973, at “Paragon Recording Studios” in Chicago, and was produced by Barry Mraz, Corky Siegel, Jim Schwall, Rollo Radford and Shelly Plotkin.

Personnel:

  • Corky Siegel – vocals, piano, harmonica
  • Jim Schwall – vocals, guitar
  • Rollo Radford – vocals, bass
  • Shelly Plotkin – drums, percussion
  • Barry Mraz – engineer
  • Bill Traut – supervision
  • Eddie Balchowsky – cover art, poem

Track listing:

  1. I’d Like to Spend Some Time Alone with You Tonight My Friend – Corky Siegel
  2. Traitor from Decatur – Patrick Garvey
  3. Good Woman – Shelly Plotkin
  4. Just Another Song About the Country Sung by a City Boy – Danny Glicken, Corky Siegel
  5. When I’ve Been Drinkin’ – Big Bill Broonzy, with additional lyrics by Jim Schwall
  6. Old Time Shimmy – Rollo Radford
  7. Off to Denver – Corky Siegel
  8. I Think It Was the Wine – Jim Schwall
  9. Reed Zone (Psychiatric Institution Blues) – Corky Siegel
  10. Blow Out the Candle – Jim Schwall

Styx: Equinox

On December 1, 1975, “A&M” label released “Equinox”, the fifth Styx studio album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Paragon Recording Studios” in Chicago, and was produced by Dennis DeYoung, James Young, John Curulewski, Chuck Panozzo and John Panozzo.

Personnel:

  • Dennis DeYoung – vocals, keyboards, remix
  • James “JY” Young – vocals, electric guitars, remix
  • John Curulewski – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, synthesizers, remix
  • Chuck Panozzo – bass guitar, backing vocals, remix
  • John Panozzo – drums, percussion, remix
  • Barry Mraz – engineer, remix, production assistant
  • Rob Kingsland – engineer assistant
  • Doug Sax – mastering
  • Roland Young – art direction
  • Chuck Beeson, Junie Osaki – design
  • Chris Micoine – photography

Track listing:

  1. Light Up – Dennis DeYoung
  2. Lorelei – Dennis DeYoung, James Young
  3. Mother Dear – John Curulewski, Dennis DeYoung
  4. Lonely Child – Dennis DeYoung
  5. Midnight Ride – James Young
  6. Born for Adventure – Dennis DeYoung, John Curulewski, James Young
  7. Prelude 12 – John Curulewski
  8. Suite Madame Blue – Dennis DeYoung

Styx: Crystal Ball

In October 1976, “A&M” label released “Crystal Ball”, the sixth Styx album. It was recorded in 1976, at “Paragon Recording Studios” in Chicago, and was produced by Dennis DeYoung, James Young, Tommy Shaw, Chuck Panozzo and John Panozzo.

Personnel:

  • Dennis DeYoung – vocals, keyboards
  • James “JY” Young – vocals, electric guitars
  • Tommy Shaw – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
  • Chuck Panozzo – bass guitar
  • John Panozzo – drums, percussion
  • Barry Mraz, Rob Kingsland – engineer

Track listing:

  1. Put Me On – James Young, Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw
  2. Mademoiselle – Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw
  3. Jennifer – Dennis DeYoung
  4. Crystal Ball – Tommy Shaw
  5. Shooz – Tommy Shaw, Dennis DeYoung
  6. This Old Man – Dennis DeYoung
  7. Ballerina – Dennis DeYound, Tommy Shaw

REO Speedwagon: You Can Tune a Piano, bit You Can’t Tuna Fish

On March 16, 1978, “Epic” label released “You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tuna Fish”, the seventh REO Speedwagon studio album. It was recorded 1977–1978 at “Sound City Studios, Los Angeles, CA, vocals recorded at “Record Plant Studios” in Los Angeles, and “Paragon Recording Studios” in Chicago, and was produced by Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Paul Grupp and John Boylan.

Personnel:

  • Kevin Cronin– lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
  • Gary Richrath– lead and rhythm guitars
  • Neal Doughty– piano, Hammond organ, Moog synthesizer
  • Bruce Hall– bass
  • Alan Gratzer – drums
  • Lon Price – saxophone
  • Angelle Trosclair, Denise McCall, Denny Henson, Tom Kelly– backing vocals
  • Paul Grupp – engineer
  • John Boylan– executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Kevin Cronin, except where noted.

  1. Roll With the Changes
  2. Time for Me to Fly
  3. Runnin’ Band – Debbie Mackron, Gary Richrath
  4. Blazin’ Your Own trail Again
  5. Sing to Me – Gary Richracht
  6. Lucky for You – Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath
  7. Do You Know Where Your Woman is Tonight – Gary Richrath
  8. The Unidentified Flying Tuna Trot – Gary Richrath
  9. Say You Love Me or Say Goodnight – Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath

Ohio Players: Honey

In August 1975, “Mercury” label released “Honey”, the seventh Ohio Players studio album. It was recorded February–June, 1975, at “Paragon Recording Studios” in Chicago, Illinois, and was produced by James Williams, Clarence Satchell, Leroy Bonner, Marshall Jones, Ralph Middlebrooks, Marvin Pierce, William Beck.

Personnel:

  • Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner – lead and backing vocals, guitars
  • Billy Beck – lead and backing vocals, piano, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes piano, RMI electric piano, clavinet, ARP Odyssey, ARP string ensemble, percussion
  • Marshall “Rock” Jones– electric bass
  • James “Diamond” Williams – lead and backing vocals, drums, timbales, congas, percussion
  • Clarence “Satch” Satchell – tenor saxes, bariton sax, flute
  • Marvin “Merv” Pierce – trumpets, flugelhorn
  • Ralph “Pee Wee” Middlebrooks – trumpets
  • Barry Mraz, Gilbert Kong – engineer
  • Marty Linke, Steve Kusiciel, Rob Kingsland, Paul Johnson – tape operators
  • Jim Ladwig – art direction
  • Joe Kotleba – design
  • Richard Fegley– photography

Track listing:

All tracks by James Williams, Clarence Satchell, Leroy Bonner, Marshall Jones, Ralph Middlebrooks, Marvin Pierce and William Beck.

  1. Honey
  2. Fopp
  3. Let’s Love
  4. Ain’t Givin’ Up No Ground
  5. Sweet Sticky Thing
  6. Love Rollercoaster
  7. Alone

Styx: Styx II

In July 1973, “Wooden Nickel Records” released “Styx II”, the second Styx album. It was recorded 1972 – 1973, at “Paragon Recording Studios” and  “St. James Cathedral” in Chicago, and was produced by John Ryan.

Personnel:

  • James Young – vocals, guitar
  • John Curulewski – vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Dennis DeYoung– vocals, keyboards
  • Chuck Panozzo– bass
  • John Panozzo– drums
  • Marty Feldman, Barry Mraz – engineer
  • Bill Traut – executive producer

Track listing:

Side “Heads”

  1. You Need Love – Dennis DeYoung
  2. Lady – Dennis DeYoung
  3. A Day – John Curulewski
  4. You Better Ask – John Curulewski

Side “Tails”

  1. Little Fugue in G – Johan Sebastian Bach
  2. Father O.S.A. – Dennis DeYoung
  3. Earl of Roseland – Dennis DeYoung
  4. I’m Gonna Make You Feel It – Dennis DeYoung

Styx: Same

In March 1972, “Wooden Nickel” label released the debut, self-titled Styx album. It was recorded in 1971, at “Paragon Recording Studios” in Chicago, and was produced by John Ryan and Bill Traut.

Personnel:

  • Dennis DeYoung – vocals, keyboards
  • James Young – vocals, guitar
  • John Curulewski – vocals, guitar
  • Chuck Panozzo- bass
  • John Panozzo- drums
  • Barry Mraz – engineer. mixing
  • Marty Feldman – engineer
  • John Ryan – mixing

Track listing:

  1. Movement for the Common Man – Dennis DeYoung, John Ryan, Aaron Copland
  • Children of the Young
  • Street Collage
  • Fanfare for the Common Man
  • Mother Nature’s Matinee
  1. Right Away – Paul Frank
  2. What Has Come Between Us – Mark Gaddis
  3. Best Thing – James Young, Dennis DeYoung
  4. Quick is the Beat of My Heart – Lewis Mark

Styx: The Grand Illusion

Styx-The Grand Illusion

On July 7, 1977, “A&M” released “The Grand Illusion”, the seventh Styx studio album. It was recorded in 1977, at “Paragon Recording Studios” in Chicago, and was produced by Dennis DeYoung, James Young, Chuck Panozzo and Tommy Shaw. The album cover was an homage to a painting by René Magritte “Le Blanc-Seing”, and was designed by Alton Kelley and Stanley Mouse. The album was certified 3 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Dennis DeYoung – vocals, keyboards, synthesizers
  • James Young – vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Tommy Shaw – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars
  • Chuck Panozzo – bass guitar
  • John Panozzo – drums
  • Barry Mraz – production assistance, engineer
  • Rob Kingsland – engineer
  • Mike Reese – mastering
  • Roland Young – art direction
  • Chuck Beeson – design
  • Jim McCrary – photography

Track listing:

  1. The Grand Illusion – Dennis DeYoung
  2. Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) – Tommy Shaw
  3. Superstars – James Young, Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw
  4. Come Sail Away – Dennis DeYoung
  5. Miss America – James Young
  6. Man in the Wilderness – Tommy Shaw
  7. Castle Walls – Dennis DeYoung
  8. The Grand Finale – Dennis DeYoung, James Young, Tommy Shaw