A Change of Seasons | ||||
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EP by Dream Theater | ||||
Released | September 19, 1995 | |||
Recorded | May 1995 at BearTracks Studios in Suffern, New York (studio track); January 31, 1995 at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London (live tracks) | |||
Genre | Progressive metal, progressive rock, hard rock | |||
Length | 57:30 | |||
Label | EastWest | |||
Producer | David Prater, Dream Theater | |||
Dream Theater chronology | ||||
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AllMusic |
A Change of Seasons is an EP by progressive metal band Dream Theater, first released on September 19, 1995 through East West Records. It comprises the 23-minute title track and a collection of bonus live covers performed at a fan club concert at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London, England.
The title track, which was recorded at BearTracks Studios in New York, includes audio samples from the 1989 film Dead Poets Society and quotes from the 1648 Robert Herrick poem, To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time.
"A Change of Seasons" was originally slated to be released on the 1992 album Images and Words but was instead re-recorded and released as an EP. The lyrics, written by the band's then-drummer Mike Portnoy, were not inspired by the movie but rather the death of his mother.A Change of Seasons was also the first Dream Theater release featuring Derek Sherinian on keyboards.
Excerpts from the title track were used by NBC in a segment on downhill skiing during the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Although the record is labeled as an EP, at 57:30, it is much longer than a standard EP, or, indeed, many LPs, including Dream Theater's first two albums. According to Portnoy, "It was important for us and the label for it not to be perceived as the latest studio record. That's why we tagged it an EP."