This CD is a re-release of several songs from 1997's STYX Return To Paradise. The disc is entitled EXTENDED VERSIONS, however after comparing the length of the songs to their counterparts on Return To Paradise I found them to be exactly the same. These cuts are not any different or longer than those on Return To Paradise. The track list is as follows: Blue Collar Man (4:34), Lady (3:29), Fooling Yourself (5:55), Renegade (6:02), Show Me The Way (5:11), Lorelei (4:04), Babe (4:50), Too Much Time On My Hands (5:43), Come Sail Away (8:34), The Best Of Times (7:42). If you are a STYX completist then you may want this disc. The cover has a picture of the band that I have not seen before (Todd, Chuck, JY, Tommy, Dennis).I was looking forward to some sweet jammed out takes on these tunes by STYX but these are just the same ones that came out in 1997. Oh well it's still STYX, just nothing new.

Reo Speedwagon's entry of BMG's extended versions series is one of the best that I have heard. The extended versions series consists of versions of live albums released through CMC, with a few of the songs lopped off to make a budget price cd. Reo's Extended Versions contains music from "Live Plus" minus Keep Pushin', That Ain't Love, and Tough Guys, so if you own "Live Plus" there is no point in purchasing this, but if you are an Reo fan this is worth purchasing if you can't find Live Plus. The music is from a concert in St.Louis, Missouri recorded in 2000. Reo turns out great performances of some of their biggest hits and concert staples such as 157 Riverside Ave, and Music Man, as well as hits such as Keep on Loving You and Ridin' the Storm Out. If you are an Reo Speedwagon fan or a rock n roll fan this is great stuff.

THIS IS A SLEAZY RECORD COMPANY TRICK. I THINK IT IS A VERY DISHONEST MEANS TO STEAL YOUR MONEY.

BMG record company released a whole series of these "Extended Version" CD's. What they do is take some of the songs off of a previously released live album and make it look like a new CD. They don't even have the courtesy to include all of the songs. Plus, the packaging is very cheap with no liner notes.

In this case, these songs come off of Styx's Return to Paradise CD. And the title is very misleading, because most of the songs are not much longer than the studio versions.

Be very cautious when considering buying antything from BMG Special Products. It is probably a rip off.

No wonder music fans are so upset with record companies and feel justified trading music.

These tracks come from the REO Speedwagon portion of Styx's and REO's "Arch Allies: Live at Riverport" double CD/DVD set. This is a great buy if you just want to the REO portion of the show at an affordable price as it always seems to be under $5 here (luckily I was able to buy my copy for $1 at The Exchange [a franchise store in PA, OH, IN & IL]). The production quality is good here but the more truer fans will most likely want to pick up "Live: Plus" which contains this whole performance plus "Keep Pushin'", "Tough Guys" and "That Ain't Love." If you are more into REO Speedwagon's earlier harder rockin' material i'd recommend picking up a copy of "Live: You Get What You Play For" as there is more energy there, more of the original members and Kevin Cronin's voice doesn't sound as aged as it does here on Extended Versions. REO Speedwagon's Extended Versions is great for casual listeners but diehard fans should pick up "Arch Allies" and or "Live: Plus."

I am very happy with this CD, though I'm sure I'd feel differently if I already owned the 2-CD Return To Paradise from which these songs were taken. The sound quality is terrific for a low-budget collection and the performances are top notch -- Dennis and Tommy are both in excellent voice throughout. There are only ten songs but they are all keepers (Crystal Ball and Suite Madame Blue are missed somewhat, but thankfully there's no Mr. Roboto!!), and the CD still clocks in at close to an hour. Definitely recommended for those who don't already have Return To Paradise.