Great Rock Albums of 1984: Kerry Livgren- Timeline

 

Once again, I was deceived by Satan in 1984. The Christian Rock radio programme, TCN Hot Rock played the song "Mask of the Great Deceiver" by Kerry Livgren. What blew me away about the song was who was on the lead vocals. That alone was grounds for me to go out and buy a Kerry Livgren album. However, when I read the tracks on the 1984 album, "Timeline," that track wasn't on it. Therefore I didn't buy it. As think back to that time, I see the irony in it all, in regards to the vocalist on the song. See, it was about this time that the singer was getting attacked by Christian groups for being Satanic. They obviously never listened to Livgren's song for even the deejay had to admit the great job done by the vocalist. I'm not going to tell you who that vocalist was, you have to listen to the song and guess. Though, it is pretty obvious. Actually, the picture gives it away but have a listen anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CiS5IWMvlA

Most of you will know that Kerry Livgren came over from the great 70s prog rock band Kansas. After leaving Kansas in 1983, he met some musicians who were like minded in his spiritual beliefs so they formed the band Kerry Livgren AD and "Timeline" was their first album although it's considered by some to be Kerry's second solo album. He had one in 1980 which features the track I pontificated about above.

One critic back then called the "Timeline"album stale. While I won't agree with that, I can see where he might say that because the first tracks are very 80s synth pop. However, he does nail a good guitar solo on the opening title track and some interesting keyboards work at the end of the second one. While probably the weakest tracks on the album, the first two do set the stage for the better tracks that follow. In fact, the very next track, "Make or Break It" is reminiscent of Kansas and the track after even more so. Kerry nails down some killer guitar solos on tracks, "Take Us to the Water" and "New Age Blues," (my favourite track), as well as some interesting keyboards work. "Slow Motion Suicide" is a great example. Another very interesting and very notable aspect on "Timeline" are the Yes inspired harmony vocals on the album. They appear throughout. There always being an exception, the track "Beyond the Pale," sounds very contemporary for the time Joe Jackson.

Track Listing:

1. Timeline
2. Tonight
3. Make or Break It
4. Take Us to the Water
5. Beyond the Pale
6. New Age Blues
7. Slow Motion Suicide
8. High On the Hill
9. Life Undercover
10. Welcome to the War

[caption id="attachment_4154" align="aligncenter" width="259"] Kerry Livgren AD[/caption]

Kerry Livgren- guitars, keyboards

Michael Gleason- lead and backing vocals

Warren Ham- lead and backing vocals

Dennis Holt- drums, percussion

David Hope- bass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaimb3IOk3o

Kerry Livgren AD might have been pushed into the area of Christian Rock by some critics and followers of Christ but there are no in your face Jesus lyrics. To me, it's just some good old progressive rock similar to what Kerry did with his former band.

Next post: Stryper- Yellow and Black Attack

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Great Rock Albums of 1980: Styx- Cornerstone

Like I did with 1978 and 79, I am starting off 1980 with albums that were released in the previous year but didn't come to my attention until the year I'm posting about. "Head Games" by Foreigner was one and so was "Cornerstone" by Styx. The album first came to my attention in the February courtesy of what is probably their best known single, "Babe." During that month, it seemed every time I would return to base via the back gate, that song was blasting out of the juke box in the bar across the street. I know for a fact that the bar in question was called The Zodiac because the bar next door to it, Dale's, had mostly country music on their box, although they did serve a delicious bowl of chilli. As a result, I got to hear the song quite a bit and while on the subject, I promise that I won't link every album between 1980 and 83 with my military experiences.

No band, with the possible exception of Kansas, was able to equal Styx in the art of fusing progressive rock and hard rock. Their previous two albums, "The Grand Illusion" and "Pieces of Eight" plus much of their earlier records bare witness to this. "Cornerstone" is more a lurch to the progressive side of their sound. Most of the album seems to follow the flow of the march behind "Babe" and their other single "Why Me" with the progressive sound. The one track that tends to be more harder rock is "Borrowed Time." This is not to say that it's not a good album, in no way is it bad and the guitar solo by Tommy Shaw on "First Time" reminded me of that great times of the previous albums.

Track Listing:

1. Lights

2. Why Me

3. Babe

4. Never Say Never

5. Boat on a River

6. Borrowed Time

7. First Time

8. Eddie

9. Love in the Midnight

Styx

Dennis DeYoung- keyboards, vocals, accordion

Chuck Panozzo- bass, vocals

John Panozzo- drums, percussion, vocals

Tommy Shaw- guitars, vocals, mandolin

James Young- guitars, vocals

When the album came out, many hard rockers were disappointed by "Cornerstone" for it's more progressive sound. Some  rock historians say that this album began their slide into commericaldom. I don't think so and I'll argue the case in 1981. For me, it's still a good album with a well known song that brings back memories. I wonder if The Zodiac is still there.

Next post: Pink Floyd- The Wall

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Also available on Amazon, Froogle and Barnes & Noble and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of 1979: Kansas- Monolith

When you have put out two very successful albums in a row, like Kansas did with "Leftoverature" and "Point of Know Return," it isn't easy going for the hat trick. After refamiliarising myself with their 1979 offering, "Monolith," I have to conclude that it might not quite match the previous two albums, but it's a great album nonetheless. It did take me back to that year where I used to listen to it with my friend who was a big Kansas fan and I remember how good this album was. I  never in agreement with the clown from Rolling Stone who claimed that Kansas were trying to be an American version of The Moody Blues or Emerson Lake and Palmer. Kansas have always been unique with their sound and I have always appreciated that.
When I hear the harder rock song "How My Soul Cries Out For You," I am in total disagreement with the above comment from Rolling Stone, not that I have ever paid much attention to them anyway. While none of the tracks are on a level with the classics "Carry On My Wayward Son" or "Dust in the Wind," "Monolith" features many good tracks in its own right, including the one already mentioned. I have always loved their use of the violin and Robby Steinhardt is very good at his craft and this definitely shows on the intro to "Angels Have Fallen," which is a cool classic Kansas track in its own right. The entire track seems to follow in the vein of these songs and what you get is a good solid album that you must listen to with full attentiveness because you never know when they spring another surprise on you with the changes in the songs.

Track Listing:

1. On the Other Side

2. People of the South Wind

3. Angels Have Fallen

4. How My Soul Cries Out for You

5. A Glimpse of Home

6. Away From You

7. Stay Out of Trouble

8. Reason to Be

Kansas

Phil Ehart- drums

David Hope- bass

Kerry Livgren- guitar, keyboards

Robby Steinhardt- violin, vocals

Steve Walsh- vocals, keyboards

Rich Williams- guitar

There is no doubt that many will have their own favourite track on this album, especially the single "People of the South Wind." Whatever your fave, it is assured that "Monolith" is a great album from a band that brought its own unique style to rock back in the late 70s.

Next post: Soundtrack to The Warriors

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of the 70s: Kansas- Point of Know Return

 Have you seen the episode of Family Guy where Brian advices Peter to walk through the streets in deep contemplation with the song "Dust in the Wind" playing in the background? Better yet, whenever you needed a walk to think things over have this song come to mind or listen to it on a MP3 or walkman? I have. "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas from the album "Point of Know Return" is one of the greatest accoustic ballads of all time. The funny thing is that it was only written when Kerry Livgren's wife suggested he add lyrics to a piece he had written as a finger excercise and he wasn't sure whether or not the band would like it as Kansas was not known for accoustic ballads. Needless to say, the song was written and recorded and you could say, the rest is history.

 However, "Dust in the Wind" isn't the only good song on this album. There are some great rock tunes like "Lightning's Hand" and song cool instrumental solos like "Paradox." Furthermore, the title track is also a very good track. These are all reasons why this album proved to be an excellent follow up to the previous Kansas album, "Leftoverture." The album also helped to establish Kansas as a great live act.

Track Listing:

1. Point of Know Return

2. Paradox

3. The Spider

4. Portrait (He Knew)

5. Closet Chronicles

6. Lightning's Hand

7. Dust in the Wind

8. Sparks of the Tempest

9. Nobody's Home

10. Hopelessly Human

 

Kansas

Kerry Livgren- guitar, keyboards

Phild Ehart- drums

David Hope- bass

Robby Steinhardt- violin, vocals

Steve Walsh- keyboards, vocals

Rick Williams- electric and accoustic guitars

"Point of Know Return" was released in late 1977 and helped the waters of rock along its way to overflowing its banks a year later. This I have no doubt.