The Best of Times (song)

For other uses, see The Best of Times (disambiguation).

"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
"Borrowed Time" (1980) "The Best of Times" (1981) "Too Much Time on My Hands" (1981)

"The Best of Times" is the first single release from Styx's 1981 triple-platinum album Paradise Theatre. It reached No. 1 in Canada on the RPM national singles chart, their second #1 in that country, and #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks. In the UK, the song just missed the Top 40, peaking at #42 on the UK Singles Chart.

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".

The song was featured in the 1999 movie Big Daddy, in which Adam Sandler's character, as well as Sandler himself, is a Styx fan.

Despite the song's enormous success along with Show Me The Way, Don't Let it End and Babe, it has not been performed live by the band since singer Dennis DeYoung was dismissed in 1999. DeYoung, however, still performs the song regularly on his solo tours.

Personnel

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

Charts

Year-end chart (1981)	Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)	30