ContestsConcerts and EventsAdvertise

LISTEN LIVE

WCSX Classic Cuts : Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)

WCSX Classic Cuts Styx: “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” The Hook: Guitarist James Young gives all the credit to Tommy Shaw for making “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” a Styx…

NEWARK, NJ – JUNE 26: : Guitarist Tommy Shaw of Styx performs at Prudential Center on June 26, 2014 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

Credit: Dave Kotinsky / Gettyimages

WCSX Classic Cuts

Styx: "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)"

The Hook: Guitarist James Young gives all the credit to Tommy Shaw for making "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" a Styx classic.

Album: Pieces of Eight

Year: 1978

Writer: Tommy Shaw

Stats: Peaked at number-21 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Background: Singer-guitarist Tommy Shaw wrote all three singles on Styx's triple platinum eighth album, 1978's Pieces of Eight -- "Renegade," "Sing for the Day" and "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)." Guitarist James Young credits Shaw for the success of that last song, a concert staple for the band ever since.

Styx guitarist James “JY” Young on a Tommy Shaw song from the Pieces of Eight album that he loves. OC:…it’s great [Laughs] :12

“’Blue Collar Man.’ It rocks. He sings his butt off. Plays his butt of on guitar on that thing and it’s heavy rock. Buy it, it’s great. [Laughs]”