Styx: Lady

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Used in a 2002 commercial for California Happy Cows, our TV Thursday special is provided by Styx from their 1973 second album, which was appropriately titled “Styx II.” The song “Lady” eventually became a national hit in 1974 after much airplay by WLS’ Dick Biondi. Eventually after a re-release of the single, the band’s first hit charted at #6.

Styx’s first four albums were released by Wooden Nickel Records, which signed artists from its home base, the Greater Chicago area. Wooden Nickel, playing on its name, did not have Sides 1 and 2 of an album or the A & B sides to the singles; the sides were known as “Heads” and “Tails.”

“Styx II” did very well by charting at 20 and was their highest charting album until their seventh release, “The Grand Illusion,” peaked at #6 in 1977.

In 1995, several members of Styx reunited to re-record “Lady” so that it might appear on A&M Records compilation “Styx: Greatest Hits.” The new version, named “Lady 95,” is surprisingly close to the original and is the version that is generally found on YouTube. The selection below is the original single release.