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Pieces of Eight by ReleasedSeptember 1, 1978Recorded1978 at Paragon Recording Studios, , Length42:18 chronology
(1977)Pieces of Eight
(1978)
(1979) from Pieces of Eight ""
Released: September 1978 ""
Released: December 1978 ""
Released: January 8, 1979

Pieces of Eight is the eighth  by , released on September 1, 1978.

Like the band's previous album,  (1977), it managed to achieve triple platinum certification, thanks to the hit singles "", "" and "".

The band members produced and recorded the album (like their previous three efforts) at Paragon Studios in  with recording engineer Barry Mraz and mixing engineer Rob Kingsland. "I'm O.K." was recorded at Paragon and St. James Cathedral. This would be the last album to be produced at Paragon Studios.

Some consider the album to be Styx' second ,  (1973) arguably being the first, as well as the last Styx album with significant progressive rock leanings that characterized their previous albums. The theme of the album, as  explained on  which devoted an entire episode to Pieces of Eight, was about "not giving up your dreams just for the pursuit of money and material possessions".

Two of the album's ten tracks are instrumentals: the DeYoung synthesizer showcase "The Message" and 's closing "Aku-Aku" (although for the latter, there was one lyric spoken, the title of the song). "The Message" serves as a prelude for "Lords of the Ring", and "Aku-Aku" is a postlude for "Pieces of Eight".

The album's cover was done by . DeYoung stated in the same 1991 interview with Redbeard on the "In the Studio" episode that he initially hated the cover but grew to like it as he got older.

Critical reception Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRating(C-)(mixed)

Mike DeGagne of  has retrospectively praised the album, saying that the songs on the album "rekindle some of Styx's early progressive rock sound, only cleaner." Contemporary  reviewer was more critical of the album, however, saying that "What's really interesting is not that such  slop should get recorded, but what must be going on in the minds of the people who support it in such amazing numbers. Gall, nerve and ego have never been far from great rock & roll. Yet there's a thin but crucial line between those qualities and what it takes to fill arenas today: sheer self-aggrandizement on the most puerile level. If these are the champions, gimme the cripples."

The album peaked at #6 on the  album chart, and like its predecessor would go triple platinum.

Track listing Side One "Great White Hope" () – 4:22 Lead vocals and lead guitar: Young "I'm O.K." (, Young) – 5:41 Lead vocals, synthesizer solo and pipe organ: DeYoung Lead guitar:  "" (Shaw) – 4:57 Lead vocals, mandolin, all guitars: Shaw "The Message" (DeYoung) – 1:08 All synthesizers: DeYoung "Lords of the Ring" (DeYoung) – 4:33 Lead vocals and middle guitar solo: Young Ending guitar solo: Shaw Synthesizer solos: DeYoung Side Two "" (Shaw) – 4:05 Lead vocals and lead guitar: Shaw "Queen of Spades" (Young, DeYoung) – 5:38 Lead vocals: DeYoung Lead guitar: Young "" (Shaw) – 4:13 Lead vocals: Shaw Lead guitar: Young "Pieces of Eight" (DeYoung) – 4:44 Lead vocals: DeYoung Lead guitar: Shaw "Aku-Aku" (Instrumental) (Shaw) – 2:57 Lead guitar and whisper chant: Shaw