Styx-

Crystal Ball-1976 (C-)



Crystal Ball, the title track off of Tommy Shaw's debut with Styx. The title track is a classic. But the rest of the CD doesn't hold up as near as well. Put Me On, is an interesting rocker, sung by JY, and a good song to start the CD off with. Mademoiselle has good harmony with a good guitar lick played through it. Jennifer and This Old Man by DeYoung are nowhere near his best work. The former has some interesting sound effects in the song, but nothing that helps the song out. While Jennifer is almost unlistenable . Tommy's other song, Shooz, tries to rock hard. but to me it is stale. For the most part this whole CD is pretty stale. Who would know,that this would be the superstar line, by listening to this CD?


The Grand Illusion-1977 (A+)


This is it, the greatest Styx cd, and one of the best cds in rock history. Not a bad or weak song on this disk. And it shows Styx at their best, as a group, and this is a group effort, from the opening title track, to the last. The first track, The Grand Illusion, is a heavy metal anthem on the illusions of life, for the rich or poor, the common man or the superstar. Come Sail Away, is the best track, about looking back on life, about your dreams. This is my favorite song period!! As it slowly builds from its piano opening, to its rocking ending, this song as you singing along with. Dennis also has two other songs on this disk, the mystical, and haunting Castle Walls (love the keyboard work in the middle of the song, have it for one of my ring tones), and the Grand Finale, which brings this great CD to a close. Tommy, also has some his best work, Man in the Wilderness, has a great guitar solo in the middle, and Fooling Yourself, with acoustic guitar and keyboards, makes for an interesting get up off your butt and sing along song. Superstar, is the only song that really doesn't hold up to rest, but it's still good. JY's one song, the rocking Miss America, is his best work, and the song that he is best know for. Blazing guitars, a sea of keyboards, and a wall of harmonies, all hidden behind lyrics about life, this makes for a awesome concept album. The songs, all fantastic, listened to by their selves, or on the radio, cannot do the album the justice, of sitting down and cranking it up, from start to finish. MY Favorite CD by Styx or anyone....


Pieces Of Eight-1978 (A-)


Pieces of Eight, is the hard rocking follow up to their 1977 heavy metal, prog rock cd, The Grand Illusion. And what a follow up it is. Like their previous cd, their is not a bad song on this outing. Most bands, now a days,would crack under the pressure, of having to record a follow up, to a highly successful cd. Plus the pressure of doing this in just over a year of their last release. Pieces starts off rockin, with The Great White Hope, a song written and sung by JY. This song deals with the success that the band was going thru, and how one minute your on top of the world, and the pressure you are under to stay on top. I'm Okay, is a brilliant song by Dennis, with a great organ solo in the middle, love the way the song starts too. But every one of us at one time or another has felt the way this song is singing about, am I really different, is it okay to be this way? Sing For the Day, a Tommy Shaw song, is very good and is one of four songs of his on this cd. Even though this cd is named after a Dennis song, Tommy is the hero on this outing, this is some of his best work, with Renegade, and Blue Collar Man, being two his greatest songs. Aku-Aku, is the ending song, and the weakest on this set. Queen of Spades, is a rocker, with a good beat. The title track is a haunting number, with a good piano part. The Message a keyboard instrumental, leads into the Lord of the Rings. JY handles vocals on Lords, this is a good song, with good guitar work in it, but JY's vocals are little too nasal in it. A great cd, from a great band, and one their last albums that seemed like a group effort, instead of individual efforts.


Cornerstone-1979 (A-)




A new CD, and a new direction, for STYX. Not only did this CD contain the #1 smash Babe, but it contained, some of the finest writing to date for the group. Borrowed Time, and Lights, were both co-written by Dennis and Tommy. And both are good songs, with the first having a great opening, but the lyrics, are a little dated today, (talking about here comes the 90's). Babe is the ultimate power ballad, before the term power ballad game into being. This song changed STYX and their musical direction. The First Time, another slow song, contains stringed instruments, and I'm not talking guitars. Why Me, a song dealing with, why does everything go wrong with me. It is also one of the first, if not the first Styx song to feature horns for the band. Yes, a new direction. Boat on the River, by Tommy, is simply beautiful, a peaceful song, that, if you close you eyes, you can imagine, that you are on a river bank, on a spring night ( I know that sounds corny, but hey..) Eddie, is your typical JY rocker, this seems to be the typical type of song for JY on each CD, and it getting a little old... Eddie rocks, but never really goes anywhere. Never Say Never Again, a mid tempo song, is the weak song on this outing. Love in the Midnight, with it's three part harmonies, and rockin interlude, brings this disk to a close.This CD is good, very good, but, it's the beginning of the end for STYX. Even though it has two songs co-written by Dennis and Tommy, it seems to be a Dennis CD, which there is nothing wrong with that, but STYX is a group. And has a group, it needs to be a group effort, or each member needs to take turns, being in charge of the direction of the album. Dennis was in charge of this disk, and the next two, Paradise, and Kilroy. Personally, Dennis, in my opinion, was the mastermind behind most of the hits, and is a brilliant keyboardist, an outstanding vocalist, and an underrated songwriter. But, STYX is a group, and Tommy and JY are excellent singers and songwriters too. I hope Tommy remembers this has STYX heads into the future with its new line up. But for this year that this CD was released, STYX was on top of he world, with their third straight smash CD.


Best Of Styx 1971 to 1975 -1980 (B)


When this album was released in 79, the line up that appeared on it had already changed. John C. had been replaced with Tommy. Plus the group was well on their way to superstar status by then. So wooden nickel released a best of record, from the four albums that STYX had recorded with them, before changing over to A&M records. This album contains the top ten hit Lady, and that's the only hit that is on this release. But that should not rule it out as a good cd, since it does a good job picking the better songs from that era of the band. Witch wolf, Man of Miracles, Southern Woman, Rock and Roll Feeling, and Lady are some of the songs on the cd. As a eleven track CD, it could have included a few more songs, but back when this was released, there were no Cd's, and album space was limited. So some better songs, by JY were left off, like Young Man. And not even represented, are JC's songs like A Day, The Serpent is Rising, or As Bad as This. But, this a good CD to start you the Wood Nickel years with.



Paradise Theater-1980 (A)

Paradise Theater is a work of art, a labor of love, from vocalist, keyboardist, Dennis Deyoung. From the opening piano note, of A.D. 1928, to the closing note of A.D. 1958, Paradise will hold you in awe. Not since the Grand Illusion, has STYX made an album this good. It all starts with A.D. 1928, which goes into Rockin the Paradise, and that is what this CD does, ROCKS. It's not the heavy metal / prog rock, of Grand Illusion, or the hard rock of Pieces of Eight, but it comes over strong, even on the slow songs. With the fist pumping anthems of Rockin the Paradise, a song about America needing to stand up and be counted, to Half Penny; Two Penny, which deals with the decay of the American dream. The Best of Times, and the disco-rock flavored Too Much Time on my Hands, have sing-a-long choruses, that has you humming along with them all day. Snowblind, is a rock radio classic, written by Dennis and JY, and sung by JY and Tommy. This song deals with substance drug abuse, and JY's singing on the beginning of it, is very haunting. The song was also accused of having backward satanic messages on it. My question who sits and plays a record backwards anyway. The lesser known songs on this disk, Nothing Ever Goes as Planned, and She Cares, are both very good, and deserve repeated listening, as does this whole CD. This is the last "true" Styx classic, with the line up of Dennis, Tommy, JY, John, and Chuck. There would be other STYX Cd's with this line-up, and different line-ups, but no other CD this great, has come out since.


Kilroy Was Here -1983 (B)





I remember buying this cd the day it came out, I don't remember making it past Mr. Roboto, the first day. The next day at high school, I was singing the song, all day, to anyone who would, or wouldn't listen. Later, I played the rest of the CD. I thought it was good, very good. Now as I listen to the cd, Kilroy, I find that it really doesn't really stand up to the test of time, or even other Styx Cd's. Mr Roboto, is still awesome, but its one of those songs that you crank up at home, but in public, you turn it down, and hope that no one hears you, but thanks to the Volkswagen commercial, a few years back, its now hip again to crank this song up in public. Don't Let End, is you typical Dennis Deyoung song, your typical good Dennis Deyoung song. The sing along chorus, and catchy beat of this song will, having you singing it all day. Cold War, suffers alot over time, seems very dated now, but the keyboard work in this song is very good. And the live version, of this song (see Caught in the Act video), really rocks. Tommy's other two songs , Haven't We Been Here Before, and Just Get Thru This Night, are both very good, with the latter, being very textured, a very pleasing song to listen, and relax to. Dennis' other song, High Time, is not a good song, its tied into the Kilroy concept, and that seems to bring it down. Even though Dennis ties a good beat to this song, it wobbles as bad as a Roboto. JY's two songs, are Double Life, and Heavy Metal Poisoning. Double Life, is a good song, and a little on the slow side for JY, one of the things that makes it an even better song. Heavy Metal Poisoning, is the most disappointing song on the CD. Just the name of the song promises, a get down, head banging, in your face song, but .... it's a song from the point of view of, Dr Righteous, the "bad guy" of the concept CD. So instead of this great hand pumping get down song, we get this slowed down song that sags under its own overblown weight. And JY's singing on it, is boring beyond tears. But I have to say JY does a great job of tying the song it with the Kilroy concept. The CD closes with Don't Let it End (reprise), a waste of space, it's an attempt to bring the concept to a close. It tries to tie a couple songs together, like the Grand Finale did for the Grand Illusion, but it never gets off the ground. If you don't take this CD serious,for the concept it is suppose to be, and you just sit back and listen to it, you'll find some good songs. But what this CD really needs is rocking song or two added to it..


Caught In The Act-1984 (B-)

Caught in the Act came out in 1984, just after the breakup of STYX. At the time it was the only live cd by the group. The disk is 14 songs, one of them is a new studio track, Music Time. Music Time is a fun light hearted song, not to be taken too seriously, and not to be mistaken as a good Styx song. It's not one of their best by far, but not near their worst. The live songs, are a mixed treat. Some songs come across flat, and boring, Babe, and Don't Let it End, Mr Roboto, all very good studio songs, are missing something on the live tracks, Fooling Yourself, tries very hard to rock, and almost does, but it misses the mark. Crystal Ball, seems uninspired. The Best of Times, holds its own, as does Come Sail Away. Blue Collar Man, Snowblind, And Rockin the Paradise, do just that Rock. Too Much Time on My Hands, is a pleasant surprise, no longer does it sound like a rocked up disco song, but a good rock and roller, with more guitar, and a more lively beat, plus the song ends better. But the true star of this cd is JY's Miss America. This song kicks some serious [...]. On the studio version, it's a great song, on a great cd, The Grand Illusion. On this cd, it sticks out, above and beyond the rest. As far as this cd goes, compared to their other live cds, it's the weak one. But still it's good.
Oh, I did I mention no Lady or Renegade on the cd!!!


CLASSICS-1987 (A-)







Classics came out in 1987 and as all the basic hit Styx songs. Missing is Lady (recorded on a different label)







Edge Of The Century-1990 (B)

Glen Burtnik, steps into Tommy Shaw's place on this cd. And does a fine job, better than Tommy did on his first Styx cd, Crystal Ball. From the opening track, Love is the Ritual, you know that STYX is in capable hands with Glen. Two of his other songs, Edge of the Century , and World Tonite, are both great rockers, but he misses the mark, with the ballad, All in a Days Work. Dennis, is still Dennis, turning out slow songs, like the moving Show Me the Way, Carrie-Ann, and Love at First Sight. Good instrumental on Back to Chicago, and a good song, but it doesn't feel like a STYX song, more like one of his solo songs. And the rocker Not Dead Yet, shows that Dennis can still sing a rock song, even if he doesn't write them any more. JY's one song is Homewrecker, a standard JY song, good keyboard playing in it, but it still feels like songs by the numbers. Over all not a bad start, for the new line up. Glen proved he could write for STYX, and after seeing him in concert with STYX, that he could sing Tommy's songs. The group proved they were not dead yet.


Greatest Hits, import,-1992 (A)


Good selection over CLASSICS above and more up to date. Includes songs from Classics and from Edge of the Century which wasn't out, when Classics was released. Love is the Ritual a song by Glen Burtnick is a nice welcome, since this is the only hits cd it is on, or that Glen sings lead on period. Since this is an Import Lady is included, but mastering is off and you have to turn the volume up on the song to make it as loud as the others. Another minus, Babe, Blue Collar MAn,Mr. Roboto are edited to make all the songs fit on one cd.


Greatest Hits- 1995 (A)





Greatest Hits 1995 included all the songs from Classics, minus Light Up, Added instead is Lorelei. Plus a newly recorded Lady, with Tommy Shaw playing on the song. This is the best of the hits cds




Greatest Hits part 2-1996 (A-)





Has all the other hits not on the above cds. These songs didn't really score on the charts, but did get radio airplay and are concert favorites. Plus two new songs, "It Takes Love" and "Little Suzie" Both are Glen Burtnick songs and both are pretty good. Suzie is a good rocker with Tommy singing lead . On Love Dennis has lead and the song has a snappy beat to it. Both songs while good do not quite hold up to the classic Styx songs.

The Best Of Times; The Best Of Styx-1997 (A)



The Best of Times; The Best of Styx 1997 is an import that combines the songs off of the 95 and 96 cds, plus the new songs. The only bad point is that it is one cd, so a lot of the songs are not on here, that were hits in America. It takes the hits from across the seas.








Return To Paradise-1997 (B+)

RETURN TO PARADISE, features three new studio recordings, plus two classic songs sung live, that were not on CAUGHT..., Renegade, and Lady. For the most part, the songs are equal to, the original studio versions, and way better than their last live versions. The only song that comes up short on this outing, when compared to its last live recording, is Miss America. It's a good recording on this disk, but on CAUGHT, it is awesome. Grand Illusion, is the big winner on this disk, the way they have reworked the song is great, it was a rocker before, but now it blows the original one away. Snowblind, and Too Much Time on My Hands, which were good last time, still rock. Dennis also does better on this CD, his song Babe, which was stale last time, comes across fresh. Crystal Ball which last time, was uninspired, now seems to be robust. Suite Madame Blue, Lady, Regenade, Rocking the Paradise, Blue Collar Man, Fooling Yourself, Come Sail Away, all rock, equal too or better than the original. Lorelei even comes on stronger. Show Me the Way, Best of Times, and Boat on the River, are good but are the weakest of the set. The new songs are good, but don't rank up there with the STYX classics. Paradise, is another Dennis ballad. Tommy's On My Way, is a rocker that could easily been on Cornerstone, or one of their Cd's from that time. Dear John, is a moving tribute to their drummer John Panozzo, who died a year earlier.RETURN TO PARADISE, is better than CAUGHT IN THE ACT, and the following live cds released up to 2001. So start here, for a great live CD.


Lady -1998 (C-)





This is the Best of Styx 1971 to 1975 minus one song. And also the tracking is off stops one song in the middle and starts another.






Brave New World-1999 (C)



When the word was out that STYX was recording a new CD, I was ready. My favorite rock group, was back, after recording some new songs on two greatest hits cds, and a live CD. But upon hearing it I was disappointed. What we got was a STYX cd without Dennis, and we got a Dennis solo CD. Both good, in their own right, but both a MAJOR let down, when put together. As a STYX CD, it rocks, really rocks. JY and Tommy both put out some good songs on this CD. Where Dennis is I don't know. He isn't heard on background vocals, and his keyboards are almost non-existent. I Will be Your Witness, sounds like a classic STYX song. Brave New World, also, could belong on any 70's STYX CD. Everything is Cool, is the best STYX song on this CD, this is the song that should have started the CD off. Heavy Water is one of STYX' hardest rockin songs in years. JY also does good on What Have They Done to You. Number One tries hard to rock, but falls short. And on the STYX part of the CD, Just Fell In, should have JUST BEEN LEFT OFF, it's the worst song on the CD, sounds like Tommy, doing CHEAP TRICK, doing Elvis. On the Dennis solo part, his songs sound like they could have come off any of his 80 cds (DESSERT MOON, BACK TO THE WORLD, and BOOMCHILD). All three good to great cds. Goodbye Roseland, is his best song in many years, it's a touching and moving song. High Crimes and Misdemeanors, is a jab at both government officials, and rappers. While There's Still Time, is good, but a standard Dennis ballad, and you can hear Tommy in the vocals, just enough to let you know, that this is a STYX CD and not a solo. Fallen Angels, is a look at being in the lime light, and that we shouldn't look to "stars" to be a guide in our lives. Great Expectations, is a clunker, even though the message is good. All songs on the Dennis part are ballads, or slow tempo songs, sure wish Dennis would rock again. Another thing that hurt was the order of the songs. Not having the same producer for the two different parts didn't help either. Must say I like Dennis's production better. But lean toward the STYX part more. Over all a very very disappointing Styx cd!!!!

Styx the early years

Styx is my favorite rock group. One of the reasons I have like the band is because it is hard to put their music into anyone category. Rock-n-Roll, pop, hard rock, soft rock, new wave. The band has had hits in all these feilds too. At any time in the bands history, they have had 3 vocalists. Dennis DeYoung (keys), Tommy Shaw (guitar), James Young (guitar), John Curuleswski(guitar), Lareance Gowan (keys) , and Glen Burtnik (guitar). Plus the band has had Todd Sucherman and John Paanozzo on drums. Also on bass was original bass man Chuck Panoozzo, and now Ricky Phillips. But no matter the line-up or the year, the band has made good music and put on great concerts.
The early years of Styx was Dennis, John C., John P, JY and Chuck, this was up until the Equniox cd, which would be John C's last.

Styx-1972 (C-)

The first cd by Styx is the most un Styx like of all the cds. 2 or 3 songs on the cd are written by the members of the band, the rest of the cd is covers. Not that the covers are bad, they just are not that good. Styx would not have a good covers cd till about 30 years later. My favorite cover song, which is my favorite song on the cd, is Quick Is The Beat Of My Heart. Best Thing is my favorite Styx written song. But I would not buy this cd if I were not a Styx fan, any of their best of cds from this era 2 of the 3 good songs on the cd. By the way, the cover show is from the 1980 re-releases, this not the original.

Styx 2-1973 (C+)

After a lackluster start, Styx came back with their follow up CD, Styx 2. This time writing their own songs, and John C. singing on the two songs that he wrote, A Day, and You better ask. A Day is a good song, containing a very good instrumental in the middle. You Better Ask is one of the two weak songs on the CD, a song about VD and pregnancy and the problem it causes. But the star of this CD is Dennis. Writing five of the six songs, and handling vocals on three of them. Dennis started it all right here, with a song called Lady. Not a hit at first, but a couple years after the release of this CD, it would be a top ten hit, their first of many. Father O.S.A. one of the other songs that Dennis has lead vocals on is a prelude of songs to come for the group (Madame Blue, etc). JY isn't to be counted out, handling vocals on You Need Love and the rocker I'm Gonna Make You Feel It, which is a great closer for the CD. Styx showed life on this CD, long before anyone really knew them. Earl Of Roseland is my least liked song on the cd, Dennis' voice is grating.

Serpent is Rising -1973 (D+)

I remember when I first got his album (CD), I put it on and cranked it up. I was totally blown away by the opening track, Witch Wolf, JY had created an awesome rocker. But things didn't awesome for long. The Grove of Eglantine, by Dennis falls flat, one of my least liked songs by Dennis. I do not like the way it is sang, arranged, I just don't care for it. But JY, again saves the CD with the third track, Young Man. This track has a meaning behind it, and can still be sung today as easily as when the Vietnam war was going on. And this song kicks butt. JC, enters the game with a good As Bad As This, but by the time the track is over, a non listed song pops up, Plexiglass Toilet. This has to be the worst Styx song in history. Its a embarrassment to listen to, when I play the CD now, I have to hit the skip button. It's hard to keep listening to the CD after hearing this song, most of the time, I'm able to move on to the next song. But since its a "hidden" song its tacked onto the end of As Bad As This, and you can't program your player to skip "Plexi"without skipping "As bad as.." The next song is Winner Takes All, a good message, but Jy voice is whiny, and the CD never really recovers with the following tracks.The CD really tries to rock, and at points it really does. Witch Wolf, and Young Man are two of JY's finest. Dennis writes three songs and sings vocals on two, one of witch is a duet with JC. As a concept CD, which it tries to be, it comes up very short with its dark message. Basically it is some songs (most of them poorly produced and written) with a very very thin theme in some of them.

Man of Miracles-1974 (B-)

Their 1974 release, starts off with the rocking Rock and Roll Feeling and ends with the metal title track Man of Miracles. And this CD contains some very good songs, even though they never got any air play, Lady from Styx 2 was starting to be picked up ath the time of this release .This CD contains other rockers besides the two mentioned above, Southern Woman the 3rd sung and written by JY, shows that he could carry a STYX CD. He also sings A Man Like Me, Havin' a Ball, and shares vocals with Dennis on Lies. Having written or, co-written about half the tracks on this outing, JY made what would be his best STYX CD. He would later be reduced to one to two songs a CD, as the Tommy and Dennis pair would take over the writing chores on later Cd's.Dennis made his presence know this time, on the last CD (SERPENT) he was almost unnoticed. But this time he showed his style, that would later develop into his superstar writing pattern.Here he as the songs Golden Lark, A Song for Suzanne,both good, the haunting Evil Eyes, the lackluster Christopher, Mr.Christopher. And if you were lucky you may have the CD with the hidden track Unfinished Song, which besides Lady is his best song up to this date. JC didn't sing on this outing, and he only co-wrote three songs. Rest of the band Chuck and John, show a growing connection in the playing together, the whole group appears to be coming together. only leave Havin' a Ball, which keeps repeating itself, is the weakest song this time, followed by DeYoung's Christoper song .Over all not a bad album.

Equniox-1975 (B+)

Styx starts off their new CD with a one two punch, Light up, and Lorelei. Both songs sung by Dennis show the growing range of his vocals, and the range of his keyboards. The former was written with JY (which he now sings lead vocals on in concert). The CD is very keyboard driven, and very well produced. Both songs, along with this Cd's Suite Madame Blue are Styx' classics. Suite Madame Blue is one of my all time favorite songs, the live versions of this song stand out above just about any song on radio or in concert today. Lonely Child is your typical Dennis song. Midnight Ride is a classic JY song, and one of his best ever. Mother Dear would be JC's last song for Styx (he would leave the group before they would start this tour), and other than some good keyboard work, this song falls flat. Born for Adventure, is a good rocker.Overall not a bad start with their new record label, and it stands up well to the test of time. Over the past couple of years this CD has grown on me even more.

DENNIS DEYOUNG-Music of Styx: Live With Symphony Orchestra

Dennis' 2 cd set is 23 live songs and 3 new studio songs. This cd adds a symphony orchestra to his music, to great results. Released in 03, four years before Styx would release their live symphony cd. Were Styx used the orchestra to rock up the songs, Dennis uses them to add the arrangements. Dennis' songs were always written to have an orchestra added to them. Just listen to the original version of The Best Of Times, and tell me you can't hear this song without an orchestra in it. And Dennis has other songs that have the same feel to them.

The cd starts off the Bombastic Grand Illusion, and you can tell that this cd is going to be great! This song was great before, now it is even better. And it keeps going, Lady the next song up, has an extended instrumental in it. And some of the songs lead off or have in it, classical songs blended into them, and this seems like a natural extension of the song.

The vocaled Show Me The Way is awesome. Black Wall, which is not one of the DeYoung songs that I like, sounds great with an orchestra. I have always liked the message, but for some reason the music on it seemed flat. But here is full and sharp.

Castle Walls was haunting on the Grand Illusion cd, and here it even seems like it is something out of the middle ages. Makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Suite Madame Blue and Desert Moon are just awesome. With Every Heartbeat which was another song that could have been better on the original cd, is stunning here.

The only song that does not hold up with an symphony is Rockin The Paradise. It just doesn't rock. The horns kill it.

A very good live cd, well worth the money!

As for the new songs, it is a mixed bag.

Goodnight My Love is the weak song of the bunch. It is not a bad song, but it is not good. Typical of Dennis here lately. I think Dennis has forgotten how to rock. He can write a ballad with eyes closed and his ears plugged up, and it would still be a good song. Goodnight is a good song, but for Dennis, good is not good enough.

My God Can Beat Up Your God, is a rock song, but here again it just doesn't have the punch it needs. Again it is still a good song, but Dennis seems to be saying I need a rock song so here you go. Both songs have good lyrics, but just misses the mark on the music level.

Hello God is awesome, lyrically and musically. This is the Dennis I know. He pushed hisself on this song and the result was great.

All I can say is BUY THIS CD!!!!

Grade A-

DENNIS DEYOUNG-The Ultimate Collection

I don't if I would call it that, but it is not far off. This cd pull heavy from Dennis' first two cds DESERT MOON and BACK TO THE WORLD. It pulls 6 of 8 songs off each cd. But only pulls 3 of 8 from BOOMCHILD. The problem I have with that, I think BOOMCHILD and DESERT MOON are far superior to BACK TO THE WORLD. And the weakest of that cd is even more evident hear when compared to the other two cds.
It does contain one new song, if you want to call it new. The Grand Illusion is rerecorded here with Dennis and his band, along with a symphony orchestra. The new recording comes off good, but shame on the shortened guitar solo. Also shame nothing from 10 ON BROADWAY is on this cd. Over all a good start if you don't have any of his solo cds.
Grade B+

DENNIS DEYOUNG-10 On Broadway

I must be honest, I know I don't know much about this type of music, and to be honest, I have never really cared for this music gene. So when I heard that Dennis was doing a show tune cd, I was not happy. I mean show tunes, YUCK!!!!
I must say this is one of the best cds I have ever let my ears listen to. Dennis picked the right songs for his voice. One The Street Where You Live, Memory, Bring Him Home, and It's In Everyone of Us are Fantastic songs, and the rest are pretty good too. Don't think you like this type of music? Then give this a listen.
Grade A

DENNIS DEYOUNG-Boomchild

After a disappointing 2nd cd, Back To The World, Dennis returns to form with his 3rd cd Boomchild. One of the big improvements this time around is the production, which is again crisp and clear, and not dense like his last offering. Also nice to hear, his the return of the piano this time a round. Only one song had it last time around, this time it is on over half the songs. And from the first note of the piano on the opening Beneath The Moon, you can't but help smile, for Dennis his back where he is best, playing the ivories.

Beneath the Moon slowly builds though out the song to a great ending. It is never past paced, but the vocals raise with intensity as the song goes on about retuning to love after being away. The closer he gets, the more the urgency.

The Best IS Yet To Come has some keyboard work, and tells us no matter what you where on what you do, it is still you underneath.

What A Way To Go, is a desert moon type song about growing up, but instead of the acoustic guitar, you get a wonderful piano played song. Another great vocal performance by DeYoung.

Harry's Hands is the most Styx sounding song on the cd. A man named Harry who has worked all his life is facing unemployment and uncertainty in today's society of small cars and vcrs. Good guitar solo in the song. The song ends as it begins with Harry.

Boomchild is a more rocked of version of We Didn't Start The Fire by Billy Joel. Like the Fire song it deals with coming of age in today's world, "from the hippies to the Yuppies.." Song as a nice beat throughout

Who Shot Daddy is a funky whacked out song, about drug abuse.

Outside Looking In Again is my least liked song on the cd. At times I find the song ok, and other times I just skip it. The vocal performance is ok, but it is the music I do not like. Boring.

Won't Go Wasted, is a slow tempo song, that really has a good vocal too it, but the music never really seems to inspire to the vocals.

Great production and some very good songs this time around for Dennis.

Grade B+

DENNIS DEYOUNG-Back To The World

Dennis DeYoung's second solo cd, like Tommy Shaw's, is a disappointment. Like Tommy's, Dennis' cd suffers from ok song writing to production. This of Dennis' "rock cds" is also the least Styx sounding, which isn't a bad thing. It is that after an awesome debut solo cd with Desert Moon, Back To The World is a big let down.

The first song, This IS The Time, is a great showcase for Dennis and his vocal powers. He sings this song like it is the last song you will ever hear from him. But by the end of the song, the song grows weary of its own redundancy.

Warning Shot, has a great opening keyboard, and some good guitar work on it. The song is about not giving up, that before you have had enough, get our attention and let us know. But something just doesn't fit right with song, the song has a very heavy (not in heavy metal) feel to it, for lack of a better word the production feels thick, or dense. It doesn't fit the song to me.

Call Me, is an updated Babe or Don't Let It End. Cut from the same cloth, with an adult contemporary jazz feel to it. It works.

Unanswered Prayers is another good song. The music fits the lyrics to a tee on this song, and the extended piano ending is great, I would have like two or three more minutes of the ending. Always nice to hear Dennis on the ivories.

Black Wall is good lyrical song about the vietnam vets. But musically I have never liked this song. But I will give this song credit and say it comes off a lot better on Dennis' live cd THE MUSIC OF STYX. Maybe it is the production on this cd that kills this song for me. But it is good to hear a song for the vets.

Southbound Ryan, Yuck. I can not stand the drums in this song. The sound hollow and fake. This song tries so hard to rock, and it comes off as a song trying so hard to rock, but it falls flat. Also the vocal does not fit the song at all. Again I thing Dennis is over trying to rock.

I'll Get Lucky is a good song with a unique quirkiness to it. Some great lyrics in this song, and some great playing too. Never heard this song live, shame.

Person to Person is another song that tries so hard to rock, and missed the mark. Again with the awful sounding drums and the thick production. I like the message of the song, but the music to me just doesn't fit.

Over all an poor cd for DDY. Over produced, rock songs that try to hard to hard and miss the mark, and songs that just don't jell right.

GRADE C

DENNIS DEYOUNG-Desert Moon

A Great first CD by Styx front man, keyboardist, singer, songwriter. This CD has, outstanding vocals, excellent production, fantastic songs, and good playing all around from Dennis and his band. Dennis seems like a man on a mission, to prove that he can make it without Styx. Desert Moon would be Dennis's biggest CD and have his highest charting single (top 10) with the title track. Maybe one of the reasons it did so well, is it is the closest sounding Styx song on the CD. It has the Crystal Ball meets Babe feel to it.

Don't Wait For Heroes also could have been a Styx song, with it's up lifting anthem, of doing things yourself, and not depending on others to make it for you. The only minor (very minor) complaint I had for the song, was the middle, which I like. But back in the day when this was on the radio, a lot more than once, the disk jockey would start a new song in the middle bridge thinking the song was over. But I have to wonder if it would had a more rocking bridge, if it would not have done better on the charts

Suspicious has a bluesy jazzy feel to it that works very good for DDY. and the song was also a minor hit for him. Love the keyboard work on this song.

Also really like the boards on Gravity, which is a very lighthearted song with a funky groove to it.

You would not find the next two songs on a Styx cd because of the girls singing on it. Please is a rocker about a breakup over a misunderstanding. Like the way the voices play it out on the last part of the song and the extended chorus. And Boys will Be Boys is the guys answer to Cindy's Girls Just Want To have Fun. This to is very light , playfull song that brings a smile to my face every time I hear it.

Fire rocks. This is a very tight hard rock remake to Jimi Hendrix's song. Tom, DDY axeman smokes on this song. Can't help but think if Styx had done this song with Shaw and JY playing off each other and DDY belting out the words, how much better (if that is possible) this song could have been.

Dear Darling is the weak song on the CD, very sugar coated lyrics, and very light (but good) keyboard work, save the song from being a washout.

Over all an excellent start for Dennis back in 84.

Grade A-