Desert Moon is the debut solo album by former Styx keyboard player/singer/songwriter Dennis DeYoung. It was released in 1984 on A&M Records. To date, it has been the most successful of his solo albums and most successful of any of the Styx member solo albums.

Desert Moon
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 1984
Recorded1984
StudioPumpkin Studios (Oak Lawn, Illinois)
GenreRock, pop rock
Length38:57
LabelA&M
ProducerDennis DeYoung
Dennis DeYoung chronology
Desert Moon
(1984)
Back to the World
(1986)
Singles from Desert Moon
  1. "Desert Moon"
    Released: September 1984
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Kerrang!(favorable)[2]

The album sold respectably and reached No. 24 on the Billboard 200 album charts in the fall of 1984[3] and was certified Gold in Canada.[4] The album's biggest hit was its title cut which hit No. 10 on the Billboard singles chart.[5] The album's second single "Don't Wait for Heroes" reached No. 83 and got MTV play.[5] However, the follow-up "Dear Darling (I'll Be There)", failed to chart.[6]

Track listing

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All songs written by Dennis DeYoung, except where noted:

  1. "Don't Wait for Heroes" – 4:46
  2. "Please" – 4:20 (a duet with Rosemary Butler)
  3. "Boys Will Be Boys" – 5:41
  4. "Fire" (Jimi Hendrix) – 3:46
  5. "Desert Moon" – 6:09
  6. "Suspicious" – 4:57
  7. "Gravity" – 4:51
  8. "Dear Darling (I'll Be There)" – 4:27

Personnel

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  • Dennis DeYoung – vocals, backing vocals, keyboards, percussion, arrangements (1–3, 5–8)
  • Tom Dziallo – acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass guitar (2–5, 7, 8), additional drum programming, percussion, arrangements (4)
  • Dennis Johnson – bass guitar (1, 6)
  • Tom Radtke – drums, percussion
  • Vince Gutman – electronic drum programming
  • Gary Loizzo – additional drum programming, backing vocals
  • Maurice Lynn Simmons – additional drum programming
  • Steve Eisen – saxophones, congas (6)
  • Rosemary Butler – vocals (2)
  • Sandy Caulfield – backing vocals (3)
  • Suzanne DeYoung – backing vocals (3)
  • Dawn Feusi – backing vocals (3)
  • Pat Hurley – backing vocals (3)

Production

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  • Dennis DeYoung – producer, mixing
  • Rob Kingsland – engineer, mixing
  • Gary Loizzo – engineer, mixing
  • Jim Popko – second engineer, mixing
  • Will Rascati – third engineer, mixing
  • Tom Dziallo – mixing
  • Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)
  • George Leemon – keyboard technician, keeper of the books
  • Chuck Beeson – art direction, design
  • Aaron Rapoport – photography
  • Peggie Martin – wardrobe

Notes

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  1. ^ Carter, Evan. "Dennis DeYoung Desert Moon review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  2. ^ Wall, Mick (6 September 1984). "Dennis De Young 'Desert Moon'". Kerrang!. Vol. 76. London, UK: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 12.
  3. ^ "Desert Moon Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  4. ^ "Gold Platinum Database - Desert Moon". Music Canada. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  5. ^ a b "Desert Moon Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  6. ^ "Dennis DeYoung – Dear Darling (I'll Be There)". Discogs. Retrieved 2022-01-30.