Listen to the Podcast:
Hey it’s 2022! I’ve got two problems. I’ve got more than two problems. But I’ve got two problems to address here. One is mostly trivial: Over the last two years I’ve bought nearly 100 vinyl records. I have a rule that I won’t file them until I’ve listened to them at least once. Consequently, my “unfiled” record crate has now become two full crates. I just haven’t kept up with listening to them.
Problem 2: I’m 45 (age, not RPM), and I’m not in great shape. My health could be worse but I figure it’s only a matter of time before that happens. I need to be more active in 2022. It’s not a resolution. It’s just a fact.
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A picture of our fitness room with vinyl listening station. [/caption]
The solution I’ve identified is as follows: I put a turntable in our fitness room. I’m going to listen to one record per workout. That’s 3 records (and thus, 3 workouts) per week. Then I’m going to come here and review it. This won’t be an in-depth review of production or guitar tone or song structure. It’s going to be a review of how the record works for a workout.
I should also mention that my workouts aren’t meant for the elite athlete, or even the regular, in-shape gym-goer. You probably have a playlist of high tempo, energetic music that keeps you moving at a high intensity. I’m not a fan of physical fitness, so mainly I just want something that keeps me engaged long enough to get a reasonable workout in for a person of my age, weight, and fitness level.
I decided to start with a record I had in my crate that I was pretty familiar with, and that I knew would keep me pretty interested. That’s Styx’s 1977 masterpiece, The Grand Illusion. Let’s start with a track by track breakdown:
Styx: The Grand Illusion
Side 1
The Grand Illusion
- Tempo: Moderate
- Energy: High
- Workout Rating: 9
- Notes: Upbeat, bombastic, dramatic. A great way to start an album and great way to start a workout.
Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man)
- Tempo: Moderate
- Energy: Moderate
- Workout Rating: 8
- Notes: “Why must you be such an angry young man?” Tommy Shaw is the greatest.
Superstars
- Tempo: Moderate to High (varies through song)
- Energy: Upbeat and Happy
- Workout Rating: 5
- Notes: It’s not a bad song, but it didn’t quite hold my interest like the other heavy hitters on this side.
Come Sail Away
- Tempo: Variable from quite slow to upbeat
- Energy: Varies from slow and quiet to big, dramatic, and bombastic
- Workout Rating: 8
- Notes: How can you not be motivated by this song? At least in private.
Side 2
Miss America
- Tempo: Fast
- Energy: High and intense
- Workout Rating: 8
- Notes: Fast, frenzied, and intense. A classic from James Young.
Man in the Wilderness
- Tempo: Slow to moderate
- Energy: Pleasant
- Workout Rating: 6
- Notes: Shaw’s vocals keep you interested even though it’s not the greatest song for exercising.
Castle Walls
- Tempo: Variable from slow to moderate
- Energy: Variable from a little boring to kind of exciting
- Workout Rating: 4
- Notes: It’s not one of my favorites from this album. Kind of a slog to get through. The keyboard and drum fills in the middle save it.
The Grand Finale
- Tempo: Moderate
- Energy: Big and dramatic
- Workout Rating: 7
- Notes: A solid ending, pulling in some themes and lyrics from The Grand Illusion.
The Bottom Line:
This is the first time I’ve owned Styx’s The Grand Illusion on vinyl, and I’m glad I bought it. It’s a classic album from a great band. I just got to see them last summer and they’re still very good live.
Overall Workout Rating: 6.9
I don’t have a benchmark for rock and roll vinyl albums that you can workout to, but I suspect this rating will set the bar pretty high. Listen to The Grand Illusion on vinyl, or you can stream it on Spotify, Apple Music, or your favorite streaming service.
