iav1917%ritcv@cs.rit.edu (alan i. vymetalik) (01/20/90)
In article <JAHO.90Jan18112426@otax.tky.hut.fi> jaho@otax.tky.hut.fi (Jaakko Aho) writes: >In article <1487@cs.rit.edu> iav1917%ritcv@cs.rit.edu (alan i. vymetalik) writes: > > Best Jazz/Progressive Instrumental Album (Solo/Band): > - "High Tension Wires" - Steve Morse, MCA Records > >Yes, I wholeheartedly agree that the album is good, but I am not sure >about the classification. Is it really jazz/progressive ?? This was a hard album to peg. I've noticed that "High Tension Wires" is nominated for a Grammy in the Rock Instrumental category (as I recall, I don't have my copy of Billboard handy). It's really Jazz/Rock/Fusion (makes any sense?). Morse will never get away from this type of music (thank God!) due to his roots. It's definitely not totally "rock". Ghostwind, The Road Home, Country Colors, Highland Wedding, Looking Back, Leprechaun Promenade, and Modoc are simply not "rock" in the traditional sense, instrumental or otherwise. The album is full of The Dregs influence (especially since Morse was the heart of The Dregs. > Best Rock/Progressive Instrumental Album (Solo/Band): > - "One of Several Possible Musiks" - Kerry Livgren, Sparrow Records > (Yes, "Musiks" is spelled this way - in the old renaissance style.) > >This brings up a few questions that I would like to see answered. Why >did K.L. leave Kansas ?? Has he put out any other solo works ?? When >did this one come out ?? WELL, another person interested in Livgren! Great. Whenever I can bring more people into the "fold," so to speak, I feel good. Call it an "evangelism" kind of thing! ;-). Livgren and Dave Hope left Kansas after a final falling out with the rest of the band over the course Kansas should take. The last studio album Livgren did was "Drastic Measures" back in 1983. The last album Livgren did with Kansas was "The Best of Kansas" (producing, editing, remastering... making sure it came out OK - WHY he allowed "Perfect Lover" to appear on the album can only be attributed to the fact that must have left room when they got that far in creating the master tape and SOMEBODY spliced it in!) A little history, if I may be so allowed: The original, major falling out occurred when Steve Walsh left in 1981 after disagreeing that Kansas should become more of a Christian Rock band due to the increasing influences of Christianity on Hope (a recovered drug addict - he lost a lot of weight as well) and Livgren and in Livgren's writing. Walsh left to form another band, Streets, and had two minor albums ("1st and "Crimes in Mind") and a top 40 hit "If Love Should Go." Walsh was replaced John Elefante (of the John and Dino Elefante brothers fame - very prominent producers and song writers of Christian bands and music). Elefante was a good replacement for Walsh, but his inclusion added to the disintegration of Kansas, though he proved to be a very good songwriter and multi-talented musician. With Elefante, Kansas released "Vinyl Confessions" which was an excellent Kansas album, maybe their strongest since Leftoverture. This was 1982. In 1983 shortly before Kansas' appropriately titled album, "Drastic Measures," was started, Robby Steinhardt (the violinist) left, not to be heard from again (does anyone know anything?). This signaled the critical blow to the structure, style, and substance of the band. A five-member version of Kansas released "Drastic Measures," which went to only # 41 on the charts. The single, "Fight Fire with Fire," was moderately successful (#58 on the charts), but that was about it. Quitting time, for a while. Kansas had shifted to CBS Associated Records from Kirshner/CBS for Drastic Measures. This was to prove important for Livgren. But not for Kansas, who never work with CBS again. Kansas had officially called it quits. Two years later, Kansas would reform without Livgren. The new lineup included Steve Walsh, Steve Morse (from the Dregs), Phil Ehart, Rich Williams, and Billy Grear (from Streets). They would release "Power" in 1986, which had a single, "All I Wanted," which climbed to #19 on the charts. "In the Spirit of Things" following in 1988 and was well-produced album and a dismal chart performer. Both albums appeared on MCA records and, with the contract fulfilled for two albums, Kansas called it quits AGAIN in early 1989. There is word that Phil Ehart is producing a new metal band called CrystaVox. But, nothing has been heard from the band members since. Strangely enough, "In the Spirit of Things" would prove to contain Kansas' most "direct" religious references and they were also penned by Walsh himself. Strange how the world turns. It may have been an attempt to ressurect the "sound" of Kansas. Of course, without Livgren, Kansas was simply not "Kansas." Livgren had been the key composer and lyricist as well as having added significantly to the band's style and sound. Back to Livgren... Staying with CBS Associated records, Livgren found he still had much more to say, musically. However, since he was slapped with an injunction by CBS' lawyers that did not allow him to create or perform music in ANY vein of the pop/rock music landscape. This was done in retaliation for the breaking of contracts and record negotiations. But, Livgren managed to win a waiver to perform in the, then, fledgling Contempory Christian market (which is what Livgren didn't really want, but as a person trying to pay bills and keep going musically, he had little choice). He and Dave hope separated from Kansas, and Kansas was officially dead. It was in the Christian sector that Livgren and his new band, AD, would release four studio albums and a "best of" collection on CD over the next four years. If you wanted to know where the "sound and heart" of Kansas went to, all you need to do is listen to AD. More of a religious bent to the music, but not that much. "Timeline" appeared in 1984 with a strong set of songs and a sound CBS could produce. However, the sales were dismal and CBS pulled the plug on AD. Livgren then signed up with Kerygma/Sparrow Records. "Art of the State," "Reconstructions," the best of CD, and "Prime Mover" followed closely behind. However, due the expenses incurred with touring, Livgren decided to disband AD after "Reconstructions," since sales were going nowhere. A year after the brake-up, Livgren released a collection of "left- overs) in the album "Prime Mover." That would be AD's last appearence on vinyl for AD and Livgren. In 1989, the release of "One of Several Possible Musiks" showed Livgren in great form as a multi-talented musician (he composed, produced, engineered, performed everything on the disk himself). This album of pure instrumental music showcasing off many of the styles Livgren could write in. Late in 1989, Livgren wrote a letter to "Electronic Musician" to describe a hearing-loss problem he had in one ear. His years of recording and concerts had finally caught up with him. So, it's possible this will be his last album. [A discography is available to those who e-mail.] The end... >Thanks in advance, > >Jaakko Aho >jaho@otax.tky.hut.fi Enjoy, alan -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Alan I. Vymetalik, 2244 East Avenue #5, Rochester, New York, 14610-2518 USA, Phone: (716)-271-8528 ...!rochester!ritcv!iav1917 -or- ...!rochester!rit!ritcv!iav1917 ritcv!iav1917@rochester.UUCP -or- iav1917%ritcv@cs.rit.edu /If I can't be reached via any of the above e-paths, please write./ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=