Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)

"Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" is the first single that Styx released from the Pieces of Eight album. Released in 1978, the single came in two 7" vinyl formats: one with the b-side "Superstars" (a track from The Grand Illusion) and a second single with the instrumental album track "Aku-Aku" as the b-side. Some printings of the single were also issued in a translucent blue vinyl, which are now highly sought after collectors items. As read in a Circus magazine (or the like) of the time, the song was composed by Tommy Shaw after hearing the sound of his motor boat engine when it failed to start. He said it sounded like a good riff to a song. The song reached No. 21 in the United States, and spent two weeks at No. 9 on the Canada RPM Top 100 Singles chart.^[1]

A promo video for this song was filmed by director Bruce Gowers of the band performing on a soundstage. Videos were also shot for "Sing for the Day" and "I'm OK".

The song is in D natural minor, with moments of D harmonic minor due to the use of the V chord, A major.^[2]

It was featured on the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati on the episodes "Fish Story" and "Johnny Comes Back". A re-recorded version has been released as downloadable content for the Rock Band video game.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Canada^[3]	9
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[4]	21
U.S. Cash Box Top 100^[5]	20

Year-end charts

Chart (1978)	Rank
Canada^[6]	99
U.S. (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)^[7]	139

Personnel

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

Sources

↑ "Styx: Billboard Singles". All Music Guide. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
↑ Stephenson, Ken (2002). What to Listen for in Rock: A Stylistic Analysis, p.89. ISBN 978-0-300-09239-4.
↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
↑ "Lorelei" Billboard Hot 100 Chart history. Billboard.com, Accessed May 27, 2012.
↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-12-19. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
↑ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
↑ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.

External links

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Styx

Chuck Panozzo James "J.Y." Young Tommy Shaw Todd Sucherman Lawrence Gowan Ricky Phillips Dennis DeYoung John Panozzo John "J.C." Curulewski Glen Burtnik

Studio albums	Styx Styx II The Serpent Is Rising Man of Miracles Equinox Crystal Ball The Grand Illusion Pieces of Eight Cornerstone Paradise Theatre Kilroy Was Here Edge of the Century Brave New World Cyclorama Big Bang Theory

Live albums	Caught in the Act Return to Paradise Arch Allies: Live at Riverport Styx World: Live 2001 At the River's Edge: Live in St. Louis 21st Century Live One with Everything: Styx and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra

Compilations	Best of Styx Lady Styx Classics Volume 15 Greatest Hits Styx Greatest Hits Part 2 Extended Versions Styx Yesterday & Today Rockers Come Sail Away – The Styx Anthology The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings Regeneration: Volume I & II

Songs	"Best Thing" "Lady" "You Need Love" "Lorelei" "Mademoiselle" "Crystal Ball" "Come Sail Away" "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" "Sing for the Day" "Renegade "Babe" "Why Me" "Boat on the River "Borrowed Time" "The Best of Times" "Too Much Time on My Hands" "Nothing Ever Goes as Planned" "Rockin' the Paradise "Snowblind" "Mr. Roboto" "Don't Let It End" "High Time" "Heavy Metal Poisoning" "Music Time" "Love Is the Ritual" "Show Me the Way" "Love at First Sight" "Paradise"

Related articles	Discography

Book Category

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