Description
Seeds of Change is the solo debut album by the American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Kerry Livgren of Kansas fame, released on Kirshner Records in 1980, distributed by CBS Records. The album was recorded at Axis Studios in Atlanta, Georgia; with Kerry Livgren and Brad Aaron producing. Featuring lead vocals by David Pack of Ambrosia, Jeff Pollard of Le Roux, Steve Walsh of Kansas, Ronnie James Dio of Rainbow and Black Sabbath fame, Frank Zappa sideman Davy Moire, as well as Mylon LeFevre.
While nobody was looking, Kansas guitarist, keyboardist and songwriter Kerry Livgren became a Christian and quietly released this mainstream progressive rock classic documenting his spiritual quest. The album enlists such talent as Ronnie James Dio (Rainbow, Black Sabbath), Jeff Pollard (LeRoux), Mylon LeFevre, David Pack (Ambrosia), as well as players from Jethro Tull, Atlanta Rhythm Section and Kansas (he couldn’t lose!). A few flash backs to symphonic art-rock can be found within the lengthy 8:36 «Ground Zero». Other titles like «Just One Way» and «How Can You Live» seem to target a more commercial-edged sound. «Whiskey Seed» and «Down To The Core» are both gruff swampy crawlers, while «Mask Of The Great Deceiver» and «Live For The King» portray stately dark-tinged majestic moods. All wrapped in a professional vibrant AOR mix of symphonic keyboards (synthesizer, organ, piano) and hard-rock electric guitars. Not that rare, plus it’s on CD now, so if you haven’t heard it you’re without excuse. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]
The music of Seeds of Change can’t be compared with anything that exists under the sun of the world of Progressive and all of the other musical genres, etc…«How Can You Live» is marked with the frequent changes of tempo and mood and complex arrangements in general. Walsh sings as great as always, while the instrumental parts consist of diverse and, often, contrasting interplay between passages of piano and acoustic guitar, and solos of organ, synthesizer, and electric guitar. «Ground Zero» is a grandiose, epic and bombastic, song, which is very rich in colors of both of the instrumental and vocal musical palettes. The brass-like and other solos and chords of synthesizers, passages of piano and violin, excellent vocals by David Pack, the alternation of (wonderful) female and male choirs: all these are the main features of the closing track on the album. «Mask of the Great Deceiver», which was wonderfully sung by Dio, represents a blend of Classic Symphonic Art-Rock and Prog-Metal. As well as both of the tracks that were described previously, it is also filled with the essential progressive ingredients. Furthermore, IMHO, «Mask of the Great Deceiver» is the best song on the album. The best definition of «Just One Way» would probably be a blend of Classic Symphonic Art-Rock and Progressive Hard Rock. Interplay between solos and riffs of electric guitar and solos of organ and synthesizer dominate in the arrangements of the opening track on the album. Also, there is a long and excellent instrumental part closer to the end of this song. «To Live For The King», also sung by Dio, is a brilliant Progressive Hard Rock ballad. The contrasting interplay between the soft passages of acoustic guitar and heavy riffs of electric guitar that are featured on it sound simply amazing…the instrumental arrangements flow ‘classically’ throughout the album regardless whether there are the vocals or not. The work of both of the bosses of rhythm-section, as well as the performing skills of all of the other musicians on the album, is truly top-notch. [progressor.net]
Poorly assessed by Billboard and its Christianity ignored by Record World, this album demonstrates Livgren’s lyrical talents coupled with the strong sense of orchestral rock he has already demonstrated repeatedly as a member of Kansas. The LP boasts Jethro Tull drummer Barriemore Barlow, Atlanta Rhythm Section bassist Paul Goddard, Le Roux’s Bobby Camp and Jeff Pollard (who witnessed to Livgren), Black Sabbath’s Ronnie James Dio, Ambrosia‘s David Pack and the balance of Kansas (Steve Walsh, Phil Earth, and Robby Steinhardt). Given the band, it’s easy to understand why every cut’s a rocker. One special feature – a Blues song on alcoholism, «Whiskey Seed». (“I don’t know why I wrote it. I don’t drink.) (Best cuts: “Just One Way,” “Down to the Core,” “Ground Zero”) [CCM, September 1980]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/seeds-of-change-expanded-edition/1474141825)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Just One Way” – 5:46
A2. “Mask of the Great Deceiver” – 7:36
A3. “How Can You Live?” – 4:13
A4. “Whiskey Seed” – 5:33
Side Two
B1. “To Live For the King” – 4:55
B2. “Down to the Core” – 5:18
B3. “Ground Zero” – 8:36
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Kirshner Records. Re-issued on CD by Sparrow Records in 1992, as a part of the double disc anthology Decade. The Sony/Renaissance Records CD re-issue released in 1996 features an interview with Kerry Livgren as a bonus track. The CD was re-issued once agang by Rock Candy Records in 2014.
A full-page advertisement for various new releases on CBS Records’ gospel label Priority, including Kerry Livgren’s solo debut album Seeds of Change, was featured in the January 1982 issue of Campus Life, the magazine’s annual music issue.
CREDITS.
Side One
A1. «Just One Way» – 5:46
Drums – Barriemore Barlow
Bass – Paul Goddard
Trumpets and Percussion – Bobby Campo
Lead Vocals – Jeff Pollard
Background Vocals – Jeff Pollard, Mylon LeFevre, John Fristoe
Guitars, Piano, Synthesizers – Kerry Livgren
A2. «Mask of the Great Deceiver» – 7:36
Drums – Barriemore Barlow
Bass – Paul Goddard
Vocals – Ronnie James Dio
Guitars, Synthesizers – Kerry Livgren
A3. «How Can You Live?» – 4:13
Drums – Barriemore Barlow
Tambourine – Bobby Campo
Background Vocals – John Fristoe, Joey Jelf, Mylon LeFevre
Lead Vocals – Steve Walsh
Bass, Guitars, Piano, Organ, Synthesizers – Kerry Livgren
A4. «Whiskey Seed» – 5:33
Drums – Phil Ehart
Bass – Paul Goddard
Vocals – Kerry Livgren, Mylon LeFevre
Harmonica – Darryl Kutz
Background Vocals – “The Moaning Multitudes”
Guitars, Mongo Drums – Kerry Livgren
Side Two
B1. «To Live For the King» – 4:55
Drums – John Thompson
Bass – Gary Gilbert
Lead Vocals – Ronnie James Dio
Background Vocals – Joey Jelf, Steve Walsh, Donna Williams
Guitars – Kerry Livgren
B2. «Down to the Core» – 5:18
Drums – Barriemore Barlow
Lead Vocals – Davy Moire
Background Vocals – Victoria Livgren
Horns – Bobby Campo
Bass, Guitars, Clavinet, Fender Rhodes – Kerry Livgren
B3. «Ground Zero» – 8:36
Drums – Phil Ehart
Lead Vocal – David Pack
Background Vocals – Donna Williams, Brad Aaron, Mylon LeFevre, Davy Moire, Steve Venezia
Violins – Robby Steinhardt
Gong – John Thompson
Piano, Guitars, Synthesizers, Percussion – Kerry Livgren
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