Search - Dennis Deyoung :: Music of Styx: Live With Symphony Orchestra

MUCH better than I was expecting!

Allen Chapman | STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT USA | 10/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw this CD advertised in a music magazine, the concept is hardly a new one, Elton John, Metallica, KISS and Meat Loaf have all released symphonic albums. I really like the combination of rock with an orchestra, so this album of Dennis Deyoung singing the hits of Styx was of interest. Usually when a former lead singer releases an album without the band that made them famous, the results can be less than stellar. However, Dennis Deyoung has pulled this off incredibly. His voice hasn't aged at all the songs sound just a good now as they did in the 70's and 80's. To be honest, you don't miss the other guys in the band! The set list is a mixture of mostly Styx songs along with some solo material. The orchestrations are incredible, a perfect match. For fans of Styx you will want this CD it may not BE Styx, but it may as well be! The cool thing about his performance of the Styx songs is that he sings them as if it IS Styx up there on stage with him, he knows the people love these songs and he clearly loves them as well.

A great collection and a great performance and a great marriage of classic rock and symphony."

The Original Lead Voice of Styx

Jeffrey T. Munson | Dixon, IL | 12/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a huge fan of Styx music for well over twenty years, and I especially liked the songs written by Dennis DeYoung. His melodic tenor voice and extreme vocal range made each of his songs a pleasure to listen to, and these songs are included on this excellent CD.



Recorded live at the historic Chicago Theatre, Dennis, along with a complete symphony orchestra, children's choir, and backing singers and musicians give life to his songs in a way which I have never heard before. From the Mozart intro. of "Lorelei" to the classic "Claire De Lune" by Debussy, the orchestra gives these songs a new element that makes them even more special.



Many of Dennis' signature Styx songs are included on this disc, such as "Lady", "Babe", "The Best of Times", and "The Grand Illusion", but there are some lesser-known songs included as well, including a personal favorite "Castle Walls", and Dennis' huge solo hit "Desert Moon". Three new studio tracks, "Goodnight My Love", "My God (Can Beat Up Your God)" and "Hello God" (which is very good) round out this fine collection.



Dennis' voice and high-energy stage presence was the signature of Styx for many years, and, if you listen to this disc, you'll discover that Dennis still has the singing voice he had twenty five years ago. I give this disc my highest recommendation. Listening to it is like a walk down memory lane, and the addition of the symphony orchestra and choir have made these classic songs that much better. Listen to this disc and hear the original voice of Styx performing his greatest songs."

Classic music made new

Ron Stevens | Philadelphia, PA | 10/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is NOT a live CD by an aging has-been that is simply rehashing songs from years ago just to make some bucks. "Live with Symphony Orchestra" takes the songs from Dennis DeYoung's catalog of hits and makes them fresh and exciting like you have never heard them before. The orchestra is not there as background music; rather an integral part of the performance, working well with the musicians in Dennis' band. The music selections include DeYoung-penned hits from Styx, his solo work, and two selections from a musical Dennis wrote based on "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". There are also three new studio songs, showing that Dennis has not lost his songwriting abilitilies."