"This Is the Time" by Dennis DeYoung

Song#:  2773
Date:  06/28/1986
Debut:  97
Peak:  93
Weeks:  3
Genre:  Pop, Soundtrack, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  DeYoung's second solo album, Back to the World, got off to a slow start when its first single, "Call Me," stalled at a low #54. It would do much better at AC getting to #5, but that didn't do much to boost album sales. Next up was this single that would serve double duty. It would be both the second single from DeYoung's album while also being the second single from the soundtrack to The Karate Kid Part II. The film would be a hit and its signature song, Peter Cetera's "Glory of Love," would be a big #1, but neither of them helped out DeYoung's single. It stopped at #32 on the AC chart while spending a very minor three weeks at the bottom of the Pop chart. Consequently, DeYoung's album tanked at #108. This single would be DeYoung's last solo effort to reach the Pop chart. He would switch labels from A&M, where he'd been with Styx since 1975, to MCA for 1989's Boomchild, but the album and its singles failed to chart and DeYoung found himself without a label. He would try his hand at Broadway tunes for 1994's 10 on Broadway, which generated the #36 AC track "On the Street Where You Live."

ReduxReview:  This is just pure DeYoung. It wasn't necessarily the most chart-worthy tune he'd ever written, but nearly all of his songwriting go-tos were present. Sweet melodies and chord changes, keyboard arpeggios, sections that charge forward, and a big arms-open freeing ending to the chorus. I do like the song. It was a highlight from a dull album. However, it just wasn't strong enough to make an impression as a single.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Although DeYoung's solo days on the Pop chart ended here, it wouldn't be his last time on the Pop chart. After the failure of his album Boomchild, DeYoung reunited in 1990 with his former band Styx (minus Tommy Shaw who had commitments with his other band Damn Yankees). They recorded the album Edge of the Century. It's first single, "Love Is a Ritual," only got to #80 at Pop (#9 Rock), but the second single, "Show Me the Way," became an unexpected hit reaching #3 at Pop and AC. Released just prior to the Gulf War, the sentiment of the song fit the time period and it quickly became associated with the war. The hit made Styx one of the few bands to have Top 10 hits in three consecutive decades (70s, 80s, 90s). A follow-up song, "Love at First Sight," got to #25 Pop/#13 AC. Then as quickly as they reformed, Styx split up again due to their label (A&M) being purchased and the new label dropping them. They reformed again in 1995, this time with Shaw on board, and toured. A concert LP, Return to Paradise, would be a surprise seller that reached gold status. A new studio album, Brave New World, would follow in 1999, but it fell flat. Old tensions rose again in the band and once more they split. Shaw would continue with the band over the years, but the bad blood would keep DeYoung from reuniting with them.

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