Dennis DeYoung - 26 East Volume 1 (Album Review)

When the rock history books are revised someday, by people who revere decent music, musicians like Dennis DeYoung might finally get their due. DeYoung was banished from the band he made successful more than 20 years ago. He's also never been considered for the rock and roll of fame. He is actually part of a long list of tragic omissions that grows by the day. Dennis really had nothing left to prove. He's been touring as a solo act since he was forced to fight in court for some modicum of ownership of the thing he created. And in recent years, there's been a growing chorus of folks who believe Styx ought to have one last hurrah with the man who did the most to make their continued existence possible.

If it weren't for friend and fellow Chicagoan Jim Peterik, 26 East Volume 1 might have never been a reality. Peterik is another unheralded genius who also deserves Hall of Fame recognition. He was obviously an inspiration and sounding board for Dennis. These songs are both autobiographical and cathartic while dispelling the myth that DeYoung is only a schmaltzy balladeer. This is a diverse collection brimming with creativity, familiarity and the musings of a man who's still asking good questions.

"East of Midnight" opens things by sounding like a dead ringer for something Styx could have recorded in the late 1970's. August Zadra, who is the Tommy Shaw character on stage with Dennis's live band is ever present on this album, doing a better than Tommy version of Shaw. His vocal harmonies, along with almost-Journey front man Kevin Chalfant buoy the vocal textures of 26 East, giving it a luster that should appeal to the intellectually honest folks listening. "East of Midnight" is the perfect melding of prog-Styx and Dennis's nostalgia prone lyrics. Next comes one of the most surprising songs of DeYoung's solo career. Listening to the track, I was thinking how Dennis would have allowed "J.Y." James Young to handle the spoken word intro to the song if Styx was still in tact. DDY is not buying the news media these days. And people from all sides of the political spectrum can embrace his searing commentary. "With All Due Respect" contains a super charged unforgettable chorus along with a dirty guitar riff that sounds part Meat Loaf and part Alice Cooper. The song would likely get a thumbs down from the PMRC, the same idiots that came after Styx in the 1980's for alleged satanic lyrics and backward masking. The salty language is extremely appropriate given the subject matter.

"A Kingdom A Blaze" steps up the societal critique. General observations about politics and the environment, all spot on pertinent. The melody begins quietly and then explodes with DeYoung and Zadra blending their voices into a passionate refrain. The song is like Styx and Pink Floyd combined. "You My Love" is a beautiful ballad that feels very Paul McCartney with elements of early 60's radio fare. DeYoung's voice has held up remarkably well for a guy who is now 73 years old. "Run For The Roses" is a song about what is truly important. Do we seek material success or do we value family and the simple things in life? Kind of a timely song as the world slowly recovers from a pandemic. The chorus contains a large memorable hook followed by an old school guitar solo. "Damn That Dream" is another autobiographical track that examines insecurity and inferiority. Dennis composes yet another very large hook with Zadra providing more Styx-tones with his vocal fills. "Unbroken" has a more adult contemporary vibe that feels as radio ready as anything on this collection. Clearly this record was not just thrown together. DeYoung is still vocally nimble enough to hit low and high notes in the same song, adding real color and tone to these soundscapes. "The Promise of This Land" looks back at what we were all told growing up as Americans. The dream is real. This place is special. This is boomer talk at it's most optimistic. DeYoung believes in the promise, but is it still possible? The musical template alternates between progressive and pop. It's classic Dennis. There is hope that maybe we can rekindle. "To The Good Old Days" is a breathtaking post card featuring Julian Lennon on vocals. DeYoung caught the Beatles bug at a young age and this song likely fulfilled a need he had to pay homage to his heroes. Their voices work wonderfully and it's just great to hear Julian again. The 1990's more or less ended his radio presence after a strong run of albums. A.D. 2020 is a fitting outro. A reprise of the A.D. tracks on Styx's Paradise Theater album, using the same melody.

I am a biased reviewer. This would have to be a really bad album for me not to like it. I am a big fan of DeYoung. I think his former band mates owe him an apology and a larger share of their earnings. They owe the fans a reunion too. The material on 26 East Volume 1 validates the genius that is Dennis DeYoung. The arguments made against Dennis these days come from desperate souls in cyberspace who might be part of the angst and turmoil DeYoung is writing about in some of these songs. If this truly is a swan song, it's a loud, bold one that puts an exclamation point on a career that could have been far more active in recent years. What Dennis does on this album more than anything else is reaffirm the notion that he was the most important part of Styx. And keep in mind this is volume 1. Thankfully more music awaits before Dennis calls it a solo career.

Album Rating 10.0