A concept album, the album is a fictional account of Chicago's Paradise Theatre from its opening to closing (and eventual abandonment), used as a metaphor for America's changing times from the late 1970s into the 1980s. (Dennis DeYoung confirmed this in an episode of In the Studio with Redbeard which devoted an entire episode to the making of the album.) The album consists of four charted singles. "The Best of Times," written by Dennis DeYoung, went to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Too Much Time on My Hands," written by Tommy Shaw, went to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, Shaw's only top 10 hit for Styx. "Nothing Ever Goes as Planned," written by DeYoung, went to #54 on the US Pop Chart. "Rockin' the Paradise" written by DeYoung, Shaw and James Young went to #8 on the Top Rock Track Chart.
"A resounding success, Paradise Theater would become Styx's greatest commercial triumph; and in retrospect, it remains one of the best examples of the convergence between progressive rock and AOR which typified the sound of the era's top groups (Journey, Kansas, etc.)...Paradise Theater was truly the best of times."
- Eduardo Rivadavia - allmusic.com
