An essential thing to have in your collection if you’re interested in Dream Theater.
Written by: MilenaG
ARTIST: Dream Theater
ALBUM: A Change Of Seasons (EP)
LABEL: East West
SERIAL: 61842-2
YEAR: 1995
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: James LaBrie – vocals * John Petrucci – guitars * Derek Sherinian – keyboards * Mike Portnoy – drums * John Myung – bass
TRACK LISTING: 01 A Change Of Seasons * 02 Funeral For A Friend – Love Lies Bleeding * 03 Perfect Strangers * 04 The Rover – Achilles Last Stand – The Song Remains The Same * 05 The Big Medley
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Dream Theater Background
Time for a quick history lesson? ‘A Change Of Seasons’ is actually a song that was demoed in 1991 and played live several times. Firstly in 1990 as an instrumental and 1993 with LaBrie.
The band had intentions of putting it on ‘Images And Words’ in 1992, but the producers said no. Sticking a huge epic in the middle of the album was a no-go and the band grudgingly shelved the song.
However, Dream Theater do have the best fans in the world, the fans which went to the show and recorded bootleg. So they pestered the band with letters about that one magnificent epic that was never put on an official release.
In 1995, they decided to revise the song and release it alongside a slew of live covers. In order to avoid this being perceived as the new Dream Theater studio album, they tagged it as an EP. Even though the CD runs for 57 minutes.
The Songs
This version of ‘A Change Of Seasons’ differs a lot from the one they played live beforehand. Guitar solo’s were replaced, all the keyboard parts Kevin Moore composed were replaced with Derek Sherinian’s contributions. The lyrics were changed around a little and the vocal melodies were fully fleshed out, with immaculate results.
The star of the show was definitely James LaBrie, who managed to pull out a stunning performance. Despite still suffering from the injury which dramatically threatened to end his career. Reportedly, he was asked to perform the full 25-minute-epic in one take by the producer David Prater.
The band decided to work with him again to recreate the studio feel from ‘Images And Words’. Even though they didn’t have a pleasant experience with him while recording that album). The singer was more than a little pissed off. Although that certainly helped with the angry, defiant feelings conjured up in my favourite section of the song, ‘Another World’.
‘Funeral For A Friend-Love Lies Bleeding’ is the first in the row of the superb covers recorded. Elton John is the favourite musician of keyboardist Sherinian, it made sense that he put in a stellar performance.
‘Perfect Strangers’ managed to surpass Deep Purple‘s original song. It showcases how much of an influence Ian Gillan was on James LaBrie’s generation of singers. Sometimes you’d swear you were listening to his characteristic wail.
‘The Rover-Achilles Last Stand – The Song Remains The Same’ was, admittedly, never too interesting for me. Mainly because I am as far away from being a fan of Led Zeppelin as possible (please don’t stone me). But it is cool to hear classic John Petrucci licks in an old fashioned rock’n’roll environment.
‘The Big Medley’ is probably the best cover on the CD, mostly instrumental. And it was before I learned the meaning of the word ‘medley’. The best parts of it have got to be the segue from ‘Carry On My Wayward Son’ to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
The Journey segment where James sings so smoothly, like walking on clouds and strumming chords that would please the Lord. You’d hardly believe he ever was injured in the first place.
In Summary
An essential thing to have in your collection if you’re interested in Dream Theater. Well, to be honest, I’d probably say that about some 90% of their unofficially released bootlegs and whatnot. But I’m a bit of a completionist, so suit yourself. One thing’s for sure, it’s a great listen.
Dream Theater on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
