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Rating: The intent was to manufacture a product that would have commercial success: and the result did not disappoint expectations, perfectly achieving the set goal. But since hit parade almost never rhymes, as history teaches, with quality, in all honesty, this "Cornerstone" is lacking in many aspects to make the leap into the category of must-own records without hesitation. Even though the initial "Lights" and the following "Why Me" unmistakably bear the trademark of the "Styx" sound (for reference see "The Grand Illusion"), "Babe" is a love song of the tear-jerking kind that has the major flaw of being off-theme compared to the context it is part of: it is cloyingly pop and thanks to its success in the sales charts, it undeservingly becomes the piece for which the group is remembered up to this day.
Another questionable choice, but without falling again into the sensational, is the inconsequential "Never Say Never": with its impalpable presence it wins the prize for reaching the lowest point of the entire work on par with the previous one. Fortunately, there isn’t anything worse than one might expect. The last groove of side A, indeed, surprises us by giving us "Boat On The River," a simple melody that enchants with the melancholy of the mandolin: a leap of thousands of kilometers for a dive into Greek/Tzigane folk in a poignant vocal interpretation.
With "Borrowed Time" we return to the classic late '70s AOR lines and schemes to continue in the soft and slow rock of "First Time": with the guitar solo, we raise the flames of our Bic lighters high up to the furious hard rock of "Eddie," a choral test where there is room for everyone. The rule that the best is always at the end is also respected here: thus "Love In The Midnight" overall turns out to be the most complete and well-structured piece, with its epic pace supported by choruses in abundance in an atmosphere that surely makes an impact.
My judgment, in any case, is not negative because it is not a bad album. Excellently arranged, it wobbles and risks appearing at times predictable, perhaps because there’s no daring, slipping away without risks and without "malice," accompanied by slightly uninteresting and somewhat sappy lyrics for my taste.
Yet another lesson on how success changes people and things.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Why Me (03:56)
Written by Dennis DeYoung
Lead Vocals by Dennis DeYoung
I guess we used to be the lucky ones
Good fortune smiled on everyone
Stop
A voice said you best beware
Stop
Bad luck is everywhere
And sure enough the voice was right
My luck changed overnight
Stop
Please tell me what went wrong
Stop
I can't take these ups and downs
Hard times come, hard times go
And in between you hope and pray
The scars don't show
'Cause life is strange and so unsure
The days you hardly make it through
You swear that there's a curse on you
'Cause nothing seems to fit
And things won't go your way
You know you've had enough
You've got the right to say
Why me, why me
Rubelator
Stop
Here comes anxiety
Stop
Won't you please let me be, I need relief
Hard times come, hard times go
In between you hope and pray
The scars don't show
'Cause life is strange and so unsure
The days you hardly make it through
You're sure that there is a curse on you
If nothing seems to fit
And things won't go your way
You know you've had enough
You can't take another day
Where to go and what to do
You've got those bills to pay
You're really not alone you know
'Cause everybody says,
Why me
Why me
"Why me? That's what I want to know. You know what I mean? Huh. I don't know."
03 Babe (04:28)
Babe, I'm leaving, I must be on my way
The time is drawing near
My train is going, I see it in your eyes
The love, the need, your tears
But I'll be lonely without you
And I'll need your love to see me through
So please believe me, my heart is in your hands
And I'll be missing you.
You know it's you Babe
Whenever I get weary and I've had enough
Feel like giving up
You know it's you Babe
Giving me the courage and the strength I need
Please believe that it's true
Babe, I love you.
You know it's you Babe
Whenever I get weary and I've had enough
Feel like giving up
You know it's you Babe
Giving me the courage and the strength I need
Please believe that it's true
Babe, I love you.
Babe, I'm leaving, I'll say it once again
Somehow try to smile
I know the feeling we're trying to forget
If only for a while
But I'll be lonely without you
And I'll need your love to see me through
Please believe me, my heart is in your hands
And I'll be missing you
Babe, I love you.
04 Never Say Never (03:10)
Written by Tommy Shaw
Lead Vocals by Tommy Shaw
Never, never, never say never
Ne dis jamais jamais
Better, better believe in forever
And it can be that way
You think that you could never love again
The one time really tore you apart
So don't even try to touch your heart
You're never going to give it again
Never, never, never say never
Ne dis jamais jamais
Better, better believe in forever
And it can be that way
You think that too much joy can only bring pain
Before you know it, it can be gone
But give me a chance to prove you're wrong
You'll never say never again
Never, never, never say never
Ne dis jamais jamais
Better, better believe in forever
And it can be that way
Take time to smell the roses
Don't hold back your one chance
It hardly lasts, it hardly lasts
Better, better believe in forever
Out here I stand with my heart in my hand
My hopes on a wing and a prayer
I must have been born with a hole in my head
Cause I've never said these things before
Never, never, never say never
Ne dis jamais jamais
Better, better believe in forever
And it can be that way
05 Boat on the River (03:11)
Take me back to my boat on the river
I need to go down, I need to come down
Take me back to my boat on the river
And I won't cry out anymore
Time stands still as I gaze in her waters
She eases me down, touching me gently
With the waters that flow past my boat on the river
So I don't cry out anymore
Oh the river is wide
The river it touches my life like the waves on the sand
And all roads lead to Tranquillity Base
Where the frown on my face disappears
Take me down to my boat on the river
And I won't cry out anymore
Oh the river is deep
The river it touches my life like the waves on the sand
And all roads lead to Tranquillity Base
Where the frown on my face disappears
Take me down to my boat on the river
I need to go down, won't you let me go down
Take me back to my boat on the river
And I won't cry out anymore
And I won't cry out anymore
And I won't cry out anymore
08 Eddie (04:17)
Written by James Young Lead Vocals by James Young I woke up today, the paper spoke of a man we know 'Cause he's made of the stuff that first made our country grow He's living in style, you know he's traveling to distant lands Better hang tough, for now it's time to make your stand Can we ignore the basic facts of history Or deny what people say is destiny I think the message is ever so loud and clear Eddie, now don't you run You know you're a bootlegger's son And you saw just what it's done to the others Eddie, now don't you run It's the end of all your fun And you saw just what they done to your brothers Can we ignore the basic facts of history Or deny what people say is destiny First in the eighties, but last of the sons First in the eyes of his countrymen I think the message is ever so loud and clear Eddie, now don't you run You know you're a bootlegger's son And you saw just what it's done to the others Eddie, now don't you run It's the end of all your fun And you saw just what they done to your brothers Eddie, now don't you run You know you're a bootlegger's son And you saw just what they done to your brothers....
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Other reviews
By pier_paolo_farina
"Cornerstone is one of their best outings: extremely enjoyable music for those who appreciate star-spangled glamour."
"Dennis De Young must rightfully be considered one of the great and high AOR voices of America alongside Steve Perry and Brad Delp."
