Customer Reviews

Extended Versions

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This CD is a re-release of several songs from 1997's STYX Return To Paradise. The disc is entitled EXTENDED VERSIONS, however after comparing the length of the songs to their counterparts on Return To Paradise I found them to be exactly the same. These cuts are not any different or longer than those on Return To Paradise. The track list is as follows: Blue Collar Man (4:34), Lady (3:29), Fooling Yourself (5:55), Renegade (6:02), Show Me The Way (5:11), Lorelei (4:04), Babe (4:50), Too Much Time On My Hands (5:43), Come Sail Away (8:34), The Best Of Times (7:42). If you are a STYX completist then you may want this disc. The cover has a picture of the band that I have not seen before (Todd, Chuck, JY, Tommy, Dennis).I was looking forward to some sweet jammed out takes on these tunes by STYX but these are just the same ones that came out in 1997. Oh well it's still STYX, just nothing new.

If you already Own "Return to Paradise" don't Waste your time & money on this one. As the previous reviewer points out the tracks are the exact same length as those tracks found on the complete 2 CD "Return to Paradise" because they are indeed the exact same tracks. Another example of record company chislers trying to squeeze the last dime out of an artist by repackaging an existing release and confusing their fans with titles such as "Encore Collection: Extended Versions" when they should have called it "Return to Return to Paradise" so us Styx fans know what we are getting into. A good choice for the casual fan if you don't want to pony up for the 2 CD version. Check out the new "Arch Allies" 2 CD release for some fresh live Styx & Reo from the 2000 tour. I was in the 4th row at that show when they filmed and recorded it at Riverport and it kicked.

I only bought this CD as a collectors item, it is exactly the same as the REO disk in the STYX/REO Arch Allies CD, but with the addition of a video of 157 Riverside Ave. for PC.
Overall a great low cost live CD for any rock fan and a collector's item for any REO fan.

Reo Speedwagon's entry of BMG's extended versions series is one of the best that I have heard. The extended versions series consists of versions of live albums released through CMC, with a few of the songs lopped off to make a budget price cd. Reo's Extended Versions contains music from "Live Plus" minus Keep Pushin', That Ain't Love, and Tough Guys, so if you own "Live Plus" there is no point in purchasing this, but if you are an Reo fan this is worth purchasing if you can't find Live Plus. The music is from a concert in St.Louis, Missouri recorded in 2000. Reo turns out great performances of some of their biggest hits and concert staples such as 157 Riverside Ave, and Music Man, as well as hits such as Keep on Loving You and Ridin' the Storm Out. If you are an Reo Speedwagon fan or a rock n roll fan this is great stuff.

THIS IS A SLEAZY RECORD COMPANY TRICK. I THINK IT IS A VERY DISHONEST MEANS TO STEAL YOUR MONEY.

BMG record company released a whole series of these "Extended Version" CD's. What they do is take some of the songs off of a previously released live album and make it look like a new CD. They don't even have the courtesy to include all of the songs. Plus, the packaging is very cheap with no liner notes.

In this case, these songs come off of Styx's Return to Paradise CD. And the title is very misleading, because most of the songs are not much longer than the studio versions.

Be very cautious when considering buying antything from BMG Special Products. It is probably a rip off.

No wonder music fans are so upset with record companies and feel justified trading music.

Dennis was already out, when this was released, so the picture on the cover was a little misleading. Plus all the songs on this cd are the exact same songs off of RETURN TO PARADISE. The record company knew that STYX fans would by this, thinking that with the picture of Dennis on front, we would either think Dennis was back in, and this was a new recording of their songs, or this was some live songs that never made it to the light of day.
If you don't have RETURN TO PARADISE, this would be a good live cd to start with. Minus one star for tricking fans, and minus one star for this material already being in print. Still worth the money.

This CD has 10 songs on it every one is from RETURN TO PARADISE. You really should get that one because it has 17 live songs, 2 discs, as well as some new songs the most important being the song to the late great drummer John Panozzo in "Dear John" so yeah tis is a great CD but buy Return Paradise instead. Trust me you'll be happy that you did.

I am very happy with this CD, though I'm sure I'd feel differently if I already owned the 2-CD Return To Paradise from which these songs were taken. The sound quality is terrific for a low-budget collection and the performances are top notch -- Dennis and Tommy are both in excellent voice throughout. There are only ten songs but they are all keepers (Crystal Ball and Suite Madame Blue are missed somewhat, but thankfully there's no Mr. Roboto!!), and the CD still clocks in at close to an hour. Definitely recommended for those who don't already have Return To Paradise.

It may not be the same but hey it's Styx any Styx CD always deserves at least 4 stars. My favorite's off of here are all the songs. from track 1 Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) to track 10 The Best Of Times. If you have nothing else to buy and you feel like waisting money go ahead buy this CD. It's worth it.

These guys must have been made for live performances. their album stuff was great, but hearing them rocking out in live concerts on this disc is a whole other animal. they really have the audience in a frenzy on this disc, especially how they involve the audience, and the extended versions of the songs flat out rock in a way the originals well...didnt. The songs sound much more full of life here, and roll with the changes and riding the storm out just completely rock out. all in all, this set of 10 songs is a definite recommendation!
157 riverside avenue is really catchy too.