"The Best of Times" is a song by American rock band Styx, released as the first single from their tenth album Paradise Theatre. It reached No. 1 in Canada on the RPM national singles chart, their second chart-topper in that country, and No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in March and April 1981. In the UK, the song peaked at No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart.[1]

"The Best of Times"
Single by Styx
from the album Paradise Theatre
B-side	"Lights"
Released	January 1981
Recorded	1980
Length	4:17
Label	A&M
Songwriter(s)	Dennis DeYoung
Styx singles chronology
"Lights" (1980) "The Best of Times" (1981) "Too Much Time on My Hands" (1981)

Despite the song's success, the song has not been performed live by the band since singer Dennis DeYoung was dismissed in 1999.^{[citation needed]} DeYoung, however, still performs the song regularly on his solo tours.

Lyrics and music

The title "The Best of Times" is somewhat ironic since the lyrics often state that these are the worst of times.[2]

Allmusic critic Eduardo Rivadavia described the song as having a "deliberate, marching rhythm."[3] The basic melody line for "The Best of Times" is used in two other places on the album: As a bold greeting to the listener in "A.D. 1928", and a softer, more subdued version for the farewell track, "A.D. 1958".

Reception

Rivadavia called "The Best of Times" "one of the more improbable Top Ten hits of the decade," adding that "somehow it just works."[3]

Personnel

• Dennis DeYoung - lead vocals, keyboards
• Tommy Shaw - lead guitar, vocoder, backing vocals
• James Young - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Chuck Panozzo - bass
• John Panozzo - drums

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References