Decade

Description

Decade is a double disc compilation album by the American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Kerry Livgren of Kansas fame, released on Sparrow Records in 1992. Featuring the complete recordings of Livgren’s first solo album Seeds of Change (Kirshner Records 1980) and Time Line (CBS Associated Records 1984), his first album with AD, as well as selected tracks from the remaining three albums released under the AD moniker during the ’80s – Art of the State (Kerygma Records 1985), Reconstructions (Kerygma Records 1986), and Prime Mover (Sparrow Records 1988), along with two previously unreleased AD songs; “Free Fire Zone” and “Bright Star.” Also including four tracks from Livgren’s instrumental album One of Several Possible Musiks (Sparrow Records 1989).

Ever since the sound revolution brought on by the advent of compact disc technology in the mid-80s, countless music aficionados have eagerly awaited (and in most cases, been granted) their favorite classic rock albums re-released in the crisp and clear, digital format.

For connoisseurs of contemporary Christian music, the CD reissues have taken a bit longer to come out, but by and by, one by one, we’re now beginning to enjoy taking similar trips down memory lane more often than not. Certainly one of the most requested and sought after artists, yet to make the conversion has been Kerry Livgren and his band AD, in particular his earliest post-conversion non-Kansas projects, ‘Seeds of Change‘ and ‘Time Line‘. ‘Decade’, this comprehensive two-CD set, rectifies this situation, along with fourteen other blue ribbon cuts.

Initially, the stunning artwork and packaging sets ‘Decade’ apart, opening up in the spirit of the antique gate-fold vinyl album covers of old. A 14 page booklet with excerpts from the revised and expanded autobiography “Seeds of Change; The Spiritual Quest of Kerry Livgren,” is also included. This has to be one of the finest looking re-issue packages ever.

But of course, it’s always the music that matters. Livgren’s unique mix of classically orchestral sounds and modern guitar-driven rock, coupled with vulnerable yet powerful lyrics, has made him one of the most respected musicians of the past twenty years.

Livgren is joined on ‘Seeds of Change’ by David Pack (Ambrosia), Barriemore Barlow (Jethro Tull}, Ronnie James Dio (Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Dio), and Steve Walsh (Kansas) along with other notable musicians. Re-mastered to digital this music has never sounded better outside of Livgren’s studio. «Just One Way», «How Can You Live», and «Ground Zero», especially, are fuller and more expansive. Disc One, after featuring this album entirely from start to finish, also contains three tunes form the last AD album ‘Prime Mover‘, and four songs form Livgren’s diverse instrumental project ‘One of Several Possible Musicks‘.

Disc Two opens with the entire ‘Time Line‘ LP, the most Kansas-like album AD recorded. Again, the remastering of this release has brought out the highs and lows of songs like the keyboard-filled «Tonight», «Beyond the Pale», and the majestic «High on a Hill».

Two previously unreleased tunes, «Bright Star» and the pro-life «Free Fire Zone» serve as the bridge to four tracks from ‘Art of the State‘, and the lovely remix of «No Standing» from ‘Reconstructions‘. Where many CD re-issues and boxed sets are either exercises in redundancy or are completely profit motivated, ‘Decade’ is the finest exception to that rule that I know of. Even more so, this ten year look at an artist and his musical quest for spiritual fulfillment, this collection actually serves the fan by honestly serving the art. [Dave Steiner, Harvest Rock Syndicate, Issue 2, Volume 7]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/decade/716231208)

2CD tracklist:

Disc One

From Seeds of Change
1-01. Just One Way – 5:46
1-02. Mask Of The Great Deceiver – 7:36
1-03. How Can You Live – 4:13
1-04. Wiskey Seed – 5:33
1-05. To Live For The King – 4:53
1-06. Down To The Core – 5:18
1-07. Ground Zero – 8:36
From Prime Mover
1-08. I’ll Follow You – 3:55
1-09. One More Song – 4:04
1-10. New Kind Of Love – 3:37
From One Of Several Possible Musiks
1-11. Ancient Wing – 4:12
1-12. And I Saw, As It Were… Konelrad – 4:59
1-13. Colonnade Gardens – 4:07
1-14. Tenth Of Nisan – 4:45

Disc Two

From Time Line
2-01. Time Line – 4:04
2-02. Tonight – 4:53
2-03. Make Or Break It – 3:49
2-04. Take Us To The Water – 4:28
2-05. Beyond The Pale – 3:33
2-06. New Age Blues – 3:54
2-07. Slow Motion Suicide – 4:46
2-08. High On A Hill – 3:52
2-09. Life Undercover – 3:27
2-10. Welcome To The War – 4:11
Previously Unreleased
2-11. Free Fire Zone – 4:46
2-12. Bright Star – 5:14
From Art Of The State
2-13. All Creation Sings – 4:22
2-14. The Fury – 5:34
2-15. Progress – 4:39
2-16. Up From The Wasteland – 4:25
From Reconstructions
2-17. No Standing – 3:58