Customer Reviews

Ultimate Collection

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

DENNIS DEYOUNG THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION is a great collection of songs by the consummate singer Dennis DeYoung. His voice is distinctive and melodic and I always wished he had gone further into entertainment and music. Formerly the lead singer and the most prominent voice in the 80's rock band Styx - Dennis is by himself an incredible singer.

Technically the album is fantastic. The crispness of the recordings and the masterings are wonderful. The cleanness of each song is amazing.

The album includes most of the songs from his break-through solo album Desert Moon - including the song Desert Moon. There is also a grand version/rendition of the Styx classic `The Grand Illusion' as rearranged by movie composers Alan Silvestri

Some of my favorite songs are the ballad's Desert Moon, Dear Darling (I'll Be There), Call Me, The Grand Illusion and Harry's Hands are some of the best songs I have heard written. Contrary to that, the upbeat rhythms of Don't Wait For Heroes, Southbound Ryan and Warning Shot are fast passed rock'n'roll classic to me.

This is a good collection of songs by a very talented man. Get this and you love it! (9-2-02)

This "Ultimate Collection" by Dennis DeYoung is a great addition to your CD collection. It is a "greatest hits" from his 3 solo albums (from 1984 - 1988) with a newly recorded arrangement of "The Grand Illusion". This arrangement is majestic and bold, though it doesn't fit in with the other songs on this CD... it is far too powerful and complex.

The other songs are pop songs from the mid to late 80s when Styx was on hiatus. Four of these songs -- Desert Moon, Don't Wait for Heroes, This Is the Time, and Call Me -- are "hits" that got frequent radio play in the 80s. With Dennis singing these songs, you know they are pleasant to listen to, but they lack the substance and production of his Styx songs.

I do enjoy the lesser known songs on this collection like Warning Shot, Black Wall, Unanswered Prayers, Harry's Hands, and Beneath the Moon. To me, these songs are even better than his 4 "hits"! Be sure to check out "Harry's Hands" -- the closest thing to a Styx song on the entire CD!

I'm glad DeYoung decided to create this collection, as it is much better than his first solo effort "Desert Moon". It is worth adding this CD to your collection.

Being a big Styx fan, I love the sounds of Dennis Deyoung's solo CD. He was truly the talent behind early Styx. Though the continuation of Styxx without Dennis was a shock. I will still listen to both. If you love early Styx music you will love Dennis' Ultimate Collection since he was the sound of Styx.

Styx new album is great, but has a more classic rock sound.

Oh my God, that voice! Dennis DeYoung's voice can send someone to dizzying flights of ecstacy! This CD has everything: profound emotion filled songs like Black Wall, an ode to Vietman vets; whimsical moments like Gravity, {I love the wacky way this man's mind works}; and all out rockers like Southbound Ryan, which makes one want to cruise down the road with the windows down and the stereo blasting! It's hard to believe that most of these were never released as singles due to record company politics. What a shame! A dee-jay friend of mine couldn't understand why they never released Beneath the Moon as a single, since it is a great love song that could easily be a hit today. A great song is a great song forever...and DeYoung writes and performs GREAT songs! Just for the record, I, too, attended DeYoung's February concert with a 50 piece orchastra, flying from North Carolina to Chicago for the event. Simply the BEST concert that I have ever seen, and that includes seeing numerous Styx concerts over the past couple of decades.

DeYoung is a man of incredible talent...vocalist; keyboardist, writer. He does it all beautifully! I have had this CD for a month and a half and I have played it almost every day since. It has a great variety of songs for many moods...romantic, serious, and funny. The previous review is incorrect..."Warning Shot" IS included on this release. DeYoung's voice wraps around the listener, like a warm blanket on a cold day. The reason that I give this release 5 stars is because Amazon doesn't have the option of 10 stars. This is a must have!

Thank you Dennis DeYoung for releasing this CD! I can't get anywhere near a DeYoung CD on eBay. Hip-o records did NOT do the greatest job in promoting.

How great it is to hear all those wonderful songs and that beautiful voice. I still have my records of Dennis's solo projects but because I'm afraid of wearing them out, I don't play them very often. I now can introduce my children to my favorite singer. The new generation loves him too!

First off, I absolutely love Dennis DeYoung. In my opinion, he's the man, and he WAS Styx. He has such a rich, silky smooth voice that cannot be duplicated.
But to get to the heart of this review. There is one song here in particular that has touched me and changed my life, literally, but more about that in a moment.
All of the songs on this CD are very good.
My favorites are:

Track 1. This Is The Time ("- A song about careers and families. It was my attempt to communicate to my wife Suzanne how I viewed our relationship as it pertained to my career.") This is a really beautiful song which discusses coming a long way - together, sometimes despite what other people predicted. Very powerful. This would be great for a wedding, and an anniversary!

Track 2. Desert Moon ("- 'Desert Moon' represents a time and place we all wish we could return to.")

Track 3. Call Me ("- I had some friends who were breaking up. I imagined myself in that position, and wrote about it.") Such a beautiful song!

Track 4. Don't Wait For Heroes ("- This is what I believe in - in life. My philosophy, if you will; 'Winners are losers who got up and gave it one more try.'") A very encouraging, uplifting song when you're feeling discouraged and blue!

Track 5. Warning Shot ("- This is about missed communication between parents and children or between generations. There was a lot of news then about teenage drug use, anger, suicide - there still is - but this is what this song is about - separation and differences and understanding.") This is a very powerful and touching song, with a kick a** guitar solo and accompaniment which I think most teenagers today will thoroughly enjoy -- and a very powerful and important message to them: Sound a warning shot. Don't just run away. Love is on the way! It will makes sense when you listen to it. It is truly awesome!

Track 9. Black Wall ("- In 1986 I was asked to participate in a Vietnam Veterans tribute parade in Chicago. The parade and concert in which I participated were the most awe-inspiring moments of my professional career. Overwhelming feelings for these guys. I had friends and relatives who served. I did not.")

***Now for the song that has profoundly changed me:
Track 10. Unanswered Prayers ("- This is a song about self pity. And not wallowing in it.") I listened to this song for the first time at 3 AM, being unable to sleep because of my own tears of losing my ex and four children in a terrible tragedy. I'd been grieving for over eight months, and I cannot say truthfully, that I am over that, but when I listened to this song for the first time, I was so moved by the lyrics because it really hit me right where it counts. There are so many dreams that I've either given up or have yet to see them come true, and have therefore shed quite a few tears over them. And you guessed it, had my share of pity parties, though I didn't think of them as that, at that time. Now I see differently. This is such a powerful and rousing yet beautiful song and it so resonates within me. I am truly ready now "to dry up my wasted tears, stop feeling sorry for myself, these tears ain't gonna help this time." This is a TRIUMPHANT song, especially if you struggle with depression or grief, as well as disappointents in your life. It lifts my spirit and soul every time I listen to it. It has become the anthem for my life. It is my favorite song on this CD as it is the most personal one at the present time. And I no longer feel nearly as depressed in general now. *THANK YOU* and God bless you always, {{{{Dennis}}}}, if you're reading this. You have given me my life back. I've loved listening to your music and your incredible, amazing voice since I was little. I never would have imagined that you would one day write and record a song that would change my life as a man and a human being. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU RICHLY, once again.

Track 15. The Grand Illusion ("- I would have to say that participating in this version is the thrill of a lifetime! To be working with someone who has the stature and reputation of film composer Alan Silvestri, who not only conducted, but arranged this song for accompanying symphony orchestra, was inspiring. I've always thought of this song in symphonic terms - with Styx as the orchestra. Now 23 years later I have that orchestral version and it is spectacular.") I couldn't possibly agree more with Dennis.

This is the best $14 I've spent in a very long time, especially for that wonderful song alone, Unanswered Prayers. I highly recommend this to you, especially if you are depressed, suicidal, sad, etc. And if you're a teen, you'll really like the powerful song, Warning Shot. Do yourself a favor and order this CD today. Peace and Blessings.

My brother and I recently bought this album and we enjoyed it from the first time we listened to it. We are both big Styx fans and both agree that Dennis DeYoung is the best member of the band! To me, he is more than just a great singer, he is a GREAT philosopher! There have been quite a few songs that we heard that showed us how to deal with difficult situations, such as breaking up with best friends, being picked on at school, and all that. So, we'd like to say "Domo Arigato, Dennis DeYoung, for giving us something to believe in! Dreams DO come true!"

This is the cd to buy, containing songs from his three rock cds, DESSERT MOON (5 stars), BACK TO THE WORLD ( 3 stars), and BOOMCHILD (4 stars), plus an excellent re-recording of the Grand Illusion. It's a shame that it is not a double disk, because there are some good songs left off. Buy this if your a STYX fan, buy this if your a DENNIS fan, buy this if you don't know who STYX or DENNIS is, but your a fan of great songs powered by outstanding vocals. Not a bad song on this disk, it is really is an ultimate collection. And if you get a Chance pick up Dennis' new live cd THE MUSIC OF STYX. It's 5 stars, two cds of Styx, and solo songs, plus 3 new songs.

This is a must have album for all Styx Ballad lovers. It's vintage DeYoung at his best. Every song has a story behind it, and an inspiration in each song.