Kerry Livgren - The Best Of Kerry Livgren
	Released: 2002 Label: Numavox Cat. No.: Total Time:
	Reviewed by: Igor Italiani, September 2002 While this record was released under the title The Best Of Kerry Livgren I think a more fitting name would have been "The Remake Of The Best Of," 'cause an incredible amount of unsolicited legal problems forced Kerry to constantly change songs and versions to complete the track line-up. In fact, Kerry had to partially or completely re-record five tunes in order to include them here, all of this without counting the two unreleased songs that brilliantly round out the album. But in the end the most important thing is that The Best Of... is finally ready, and now I can go out and say that it clearly shows the outstanding genius of a reserved and fine musician, one who has already written some of the most memorable pages in prog history, thanks to a career that spans throughout solo works, Kansas stuff, and A.D. records. And while this collection excludes the songs Kerry has composed for the band hailing from Topeka, there are still an incredible number of exceptional tunes to be heard! Well, let's see ... after the good but not overwhelming opening of "Konelrad" (electronic drums are a real minus here), we immediately find a fine piece like "Exiles," full of mellow choruses, crunchy guitars and funky rhythms ... just like some Toto songs. Then it's the turn of "White Light," one of the two new tunes that Kerry has written for this record, a melodic hymn that could be an astonishing staple (please Kerry do it!) of the next Kansas concerts. Simply gorgeous! But there's no time to stop as the new take of the AOR-anthem "Timeline" (which features an added blues harp passage done by singer Warren Ham) smoothly carries us onto another sublime and mellow tune called "Incantos," full of Celtic influences. Wow, please note we are not even at midpoint! In fact there are still the epic lines of "To Live For The King" (with an alternate take with Ronnie James Dio), the mid-tempo hammering of "The Fury," and "Smoke Is Rising" with its gentle harmonies. However it's the sumptuousness of "Ground Zero" that closes the album in the best way possible, as the new version benefits of glowing symphonic arrangements, too. So prog lovers wait no longer, go to the first shop and take this unbelievable legacy of one of best musician the genre has ever had ... it really was WORTH THE WAIT! [see also Keith's review -ed.] More about The Best Of Kerry Livgren: Track Listing: Konelrad / Exiles / White Light / Timeline / Incantos / On The Air / When You Walk / Eerie Cove / To Live For The King / The Fury / Utopian Dream / Smoke Is Rising / The Navigator / Ground Zero Musicians: Kerry Livgren - Guitars, keyboards, percussion Kyle Livgren -Vocals Michael Gleason - Vocals June Murphy - Vocals Jacob Livgren - Vocals Chris Kearney - Drums Jamie Kearney - Backup vocals Warren Ham - Vocals, harmonica Ronnie James Dio - Vocals Darren Rogers - Vocals Kim Borchers - Background vocals Britta Livgren - Background vocals Jessica Livgren - Background Vocals Contact: Website: www.numavox.com Note: will open new browser window Email: kerry_livgren@numavox.com Discography Kansas (1974) (Kansas) Song For America (1975) (Kansas) Masque (1975/2001) (Kansas) Leftoverture (1976/2001) (Kansas) Point of Know Return (1977/1984/2002) (Kansas) Two For The Show (1978) (Kansas) Monolith (1979) (Kansas) Audio Visions (1980) (Kansas) Seeds of Change (1980) (solo) Vinyl Confessions (1982) (Kansas) Drastic Measures (1983) (Kansas) The Best Of Kansas (1984) (Kansas) Timeline (1984) (AD) Art Of The State (1985) (AD) Reconstructions (1986/1997) (AD) One Of Several Possible Musiks (1989/1996) (solo) Decade (1992) When Things Get Electric (1995) Odyssey Into The Mind's Eye strk (1997) Prime Mover II (1998) AD Live (1998) (AD) Somewhere To Elsewhere (2000) (Kansas) Collector's Sedition Volume I (2001) The Best Of Kerry Livgren (2002) The Ultimate Kansas (2002) Interview
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