Larry Info

[SuiteMadameBlue]

This is for the Larry fans of the group. I received this from my Classicrocknews email.

GOWAN
Home Field
Majestic Rock MAJCD041
**

Laurence Gowan is (I have to guess, Majestic do like to keep you in
the dark sometimes) a pianist and vocalist with some rock leanings
and this compilation (guessing again) covers the last 15 years or so.
Several tracks see him playing solo live (just vocals/piano) and
while there's some good tunes, it occasionally veers dangerously
close to Yanni.
The other tracks feature a variety of musicians (including King
Crimson's Tony Levin), but the music is always particularly strong.
All the instruments work well together to produce a heavy sound with
nothing standing out in particular, with Gowan's vocals and piano the
constant factor.
There's nothing really wrong with most of the music, it's just
there's nothing grabbing or interesting or good enough to really get
into. A few catchy tunes but that's it. And a few songs new to CD.
I'm sure Gowan and Majestic could do a lot better.

[yogi]

I own three of Gowan's CDs, including a greatest hits CD. I disagree with most of you here because I believe Gowan has an excellent voice. His voice is just far different than Dennis's. It's like Geddy Lee singing Dennis Deyoung's Styx led songs. His voice doesnt suck, its just different. As for his solo stuff one word based on the 3 Cd's I own of his can sum up his solo efforts, that word is BORING!

I like the song Criminal Mind. As for the rest of the material that I have heard from him to me it would be like listening to the following songs:Lonely People, Nothing Ever Goes as Planned, Hip Hop, Great Expectations, Who Shot Daddy, The Best Is Yet To Come, Please, Boys Will Be Boys etc....... Add to this Geddy Lee(Rush) is singing the above songs. Not horrible, but darn close. Gowan needs to stick to his recent Styx songs,Criminal Mind, and DDY led Styx songs!!!!!!

[classicstyxfan]

Yogi, you were doing fine until the last sentance....Keep Gowan away from Lady, Suite Madame Blue, Rockin in Paradise ( My God, he really buthchers that one...) and Come Sail Away.

If you have to, give him Loreli, he cant do any more damage to it than JY has.....

I'd love to hear GOWAN's version of "First Time" though...that would be a real hoot !

[ek88]

You know, I've seen the new lineup five times now, and I think Gowan has improved on the three DDY songs he seems to sing the most, namely Grand Illusion, Lady, and Come Sail Away. I don't know that I've heard him sing any others, outside of RTP on Styxworld, and I agree, he sounds terrible on that one. From the reviews I've read, I believe he's also tackled Suite Madame Blue and The Best Of Times, but I've not heard them. I guess I'd just as soon they stick to the "big 3" and leave the rest for DDY's setlist!

I disagree with most of you here because I believe Gowan has an excellent voice. His voice is just far different than Dennis's.

Count me in the minority, Yogi, because I also like Gowan's voice. I began to appreciate it much more after hearing him sing A Criminal Mind and the Cyclo tracks.

[Abitaman]

I ahve a few concerts of styx with Larry on lead with Suite MAdame Blue, Best of Times (short piece) and believe it or not Babe. The song Tommy said he was glad would never be played in Styx again. Babe was done in a concert in Japan, and Larry rips that one. I am a big Dennis fan, but Larry is not Dennis. I do not mind listening to him sing, and his two Styx songs were very good. But when one wishes to hear Dennis, Larry is a poor replacement. That said, I still will see Styx with Larry, because he is a great entertainer, and does ok to good on most of the Styx songs that were sung by Dennis. And really I am looking forward to his new songs on the next Styx cd.-ERIC

[classicstyxfan]

I think there is a style of Rock that Larry's voice is particularly well suited for.....it just so happens that Dennis songs are on the opposite end of the Spectrum.

His voice doesnt blend particularly well in the harmonies, I find it very easy to pick out Larry's parts in most of the newer Styx tunes.

I too think A Criminal Mind is a good song, and well suited to his voice....
He CAN sing, he should just steer clear of songs closely identified with Dennis, and written with that voice type in mind.

[Metal Ed]

I have seen Styx with both DDY and Larry. I must say for a hard rockin', work the crowd showman, it's LARRY!!!!!! He works the stage like he's been there since day one. When I go to see Styx, a wanna ROCK, not go to a Broadway Show.
ED.

[classicstyxfan]

Metal Ed,

I can respect your opinion......I dont agree with it, but it's a matter of preference.

I am curious though, about your opinion of the Return to Paradise
DVD, assuming you've seen it....is that performance ( by Dennis in poarticular ) too "Broadway show" ish for your tastes ?

For me, the Spinning Keyboard thing gets old real fast......

[bugsymalone]

I find the comparisons between Dennis and Larry to just have NO value. They are NOTHING alike either in looks, stage presence, voice, you name it.
Dennis certainly has a different "style" onstage, but to say he is some sort of "Broadway" performer is to say one must have never really watched him onstage.
One thing that, of course, limited his moving around as much was that he was working on really singing the songs, as opposed to sort of singing "at" them as Larry does.

One last comment on this. I have felt for a long time that all Dennis DeYoung songs need to simply be dropped from the Styx concert playlist. They sound awful so why bother. It is the Tommy show mostly anyway, so that is where they need to put their collective energies. He has great songs that are not currently in the concert so I feel they should move to those, plus add those big fan favorites from Cyclorama they are not currently playing.

They kicked Dennis out. Now I think they just need to leave him out.
MHO ONLY!!!

Bugsy

[classicstyxfan]

Amen Brother Bugsy ! of course, those songs are the songs many fans most closely associate with , and remember from Styx, and they would be most dissapointed if they didnt play them....

I'm sure if they didnt feel it was really necessary to play them, Styx would have dropped all DDY's tunes from their set long ago.

[styxfanNH]

There are really only 3 songs that many may consider "Dennis" songs - Lady, Grand Illusion, Come Sail Away. They are really some of the signature songs of the band.

But I am of the opinion that the songs are the poduct of all its members, not just the one that is credited with the writing of the song. For the most part they have stepped away from Dennis' songs. Its not like the show is 70% of Dennis' songs.

----------
On another note, we have had some really good threads lately. Do we have to go back to this again. We all know how many feel about DDY not being in the band. Let's not rehash it again.

[bugsymalone]

Amen Brother Bugsy

Well, that would be "Sister" Bugsy, LOL! But that is OK!!

Let me clarify. When I meant drop the Dennis songs, I meant the ones he sang. There is no point in anyone other than Dennis trying to sing the songs he performed.

On another note, we have had some really good threads lately. Do we have to go back to this again. We all know how many feel about DDY not being in the band. Let's not rehash it again.

I know! I know! It is the topic that will never die, LOL! I guess as long as Styx tours and Larry attempts to sing Dennis songs, the debate will continue.

Bugsy (MS. Bugsy!! )

[yogi]

Bugsy,

Got to disagree with you on this one. The minute Styx drops Dennis led songs on a CD or in concert a bunch will scream that you are erasing the past. They are STYX songs. When Styx performed without Tommy, back in 1991, 4 Tommy Shaw led songs were performed by Glen. I realize the cicumstances are different, still for the venues they are playing now, in front of many casual fans some of these songs must be performed. When Styx plays Sturgis , Wonderworld, or Arbyfest over half the people there dont have a clue that Dennis is missing. Peter Brady could sing Come Sail Away, and most wouldnt know.

As for Larry singing Dennis led tunes I truly like his rendition of The Grand Illusion better. He's REALLY good.

I wish Styx would get rid of the standard set and go for the obscure songs, but it will never happen!

[bugsymalone]

Yogi, I understand where you, and many others are coming from. These comments are my opinions only and disagreement is all part of the discussion.

Clarification again. When Styx puts out a retrospective compilation CD, YES! we DO get upset if Dennis is left off. He is a HUGE part of their history. His music in large part made them what they are. Thus all the anger over Rockers. But this is not the same as a live performance.

As to the CURRENT lineup, I just feel the show they perform live would be better served not having Larry Gowan singing Dennis songs. I am amazed that ANYONE thinks he does a better job on The Grand Illusion! But kudos to you for thinking so, Yogi!

When Styx plays Sturgis , Wonderworld, or Arbyfest over half the people there dont have a clue that Dennis is missing.

You are absolutely 100% correct there. But I always wonder if a casual fan becomes a "real" fan, after seeing one of their shows, and off they go to buy Classic Styx recordings, do they wonder who that guy with the amazing voice singing those song is??? I would love to ask some of them.


Coda: Of course, if the group would drop the Dennis songs, then Dennis loses one of his punch lines he likes to throw out in interviews. ("I sing my songs. THEY sing my songs.")


Bugsy

[sadie65]

And here we are again with two schools of thought. For people like StyxNH, the songs clearly belong to Styx. For people like Bugsy, they belong to Dennis, because that's who she identifies them with.

For me, it no longer matters. They are so identified as being Styx songs that people going expect them. The fact that I don't think they suit Larry's voice doesn't matter. He's a part of the group, and hence he will sing the material.

I think he's in a thankless position. And out of all of them, he's been the most gracious about the whole mess. Now the fact that I think his singing sounds like the Lollipop Guild from the Munchkins doesn't deter from the fact that as long as he's a prt of the group, and as long as people want to hear those songs, then he's going to sing them.

So I for one, think it's moot to keep rehashing this. Everyone can enjoy as they please.

Peace,

Sadie

[classicstyxfan]

Amen Brother Bugsy

Well, that would be "Sister" Bugsy, LOL! But that is OK!!



Once again Classic "The ladies man" styxfan takes another bite of his Reeboks........calling Sadie Madame, and now this !

[bugsymalone]

Once again Classic "The ladies man" styxfan takes another bite of his Reeboks........calling Sadie Madame, and now this !

Absolutely not a problem! There would be nothing in the name to give away anything!

So I for one, think it's moot to keep rehashing this. Everyone can enjoy as they please.

And how right you are, Sadie! Somebody STOP me!!! I have said enough already on this topic and I am closing my remarks DOWN.

Let me say that it is a pleasure agreeing to disagree here. It is quite civil. And I very much enjoy hearing everyone's perspective.

[ek88]

You are absolutely 100% correct there. But I always wonder if a casual fan becomes a "real" fan, after seeing one of their shows, and off they go to buy Classic Styx recordings, do they wonder who that guy with the amazing voice singing those song is??? I would love to ask some of them.

You know, I've only been to a handful of shows in my life (Styx w/Dennis and Tommy being one of them) where I thought the lead vocals either were on a par or superior to the studio versions. A casual fan who didn't avidly follow Styx back in their heyday might just chalk it up to that when they hear the contrast between live and studio.

Secondly, I'm not all that convinced that many casual fans become real fans. For example, I consider myself a casual REO fan. I saw them last summer and enjoyed the show immensely and would probably go see them again in a heartbeat. However, I've no desire to pick up any of their old catalog (or new, if it exists). Basically, I would want to go and hear them play the hits; songs that I could recognize and sing along to.

Unfortunately, it's casual fans like myself (of Styx, not REO) that explain why the current Styx setlist is so stagnant, and why they keep playing the DDY tunes.

[Abitaman]

They sould keep plying the DDY songs, it is part of history. And the songs they are playing, Lady, Grand Illusion, and Come Sail Away, Larry does a good jod on (I also liked his live Queen of Spades). But a Styx concert without Come Sail Away, would not be a Styx concert, and I would fill cheated. If Styx would have dropped all Tommy's song on the Edge of the Century tour, I would have cheated too. NO Renegade.... But the Dennis, Larry debate will always go on like the Steve P and Steve A of Journey debate. But you Styx fans seem to be nicer about it.-ERIC

[Monker]

But the Dennis, Larry debate will always go on like the Steve P and Steve A of Journey debate. But you Styx fans seem to be nicer about it.-ERIC

What Steve A/Steve P debate? I never noticed that one!

Besides, Styx fans CAN'T be 'nice' about because I'm here and stuff. Grrr.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

What Steve A/Steve P debate? I never noticed that one!

LOL, is that still going on after all these years?

I just saw Journey this summer, AWESOME show!!

If you already didn't know, LOL, I'm a big Dennis fan.

I have nothing against Larry personally and will keep posting any new Larry information for the Carrot Styx and Larry fans.

I personally don't care for his singing on Dennis' songs. I can't remember cringing that much in my life when I heard him singing. I'll leave it at that.

Classic says:

Once again Classic "The ladies man" styxfan takes another bite of his Reeboks........calling Sadie Madame, and now this !

Classic, us ladies like you

You have to add "The Ladies Man" to your tagline - LOL

[jimmy19029]

Hi Suite Madame Blue,

I just saw Journey myself and enjoyed it very much. That drummer Deen Castranova has an AWESOME voice! And Steve Augeri is no slouch himself!

I never disliked Larry's singing of the Dennis tunes. Of course he doesn't sound as good as Dennis on them but I think he does them okay. Oddly enough, I think he sounds MORE like Dennis on his own Criminal Mind. Weird.
I've liked the recent lineups of Styx quite alot and really like Cyclorama.

[classicstyxfan]

"Classic, us ladies like you"

Aw, Shucks !