A Change of Seasons

A Change of Seasons is an EP by progressive metal band Dream Theater, released in 1995. 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 samples from the film Dead Poets Society and from the John Herrick poem, To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time. The lyrics were written by Mike Portnoy, about the death of his mother. A Change of Seasons was also the first Dream Theater release featuring Derek Sherinian on keyboards. An edited version of the title track was used in a downhill skiing feature during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Note that this is considered an EP only in name—at 57:31, it is much longer than a standard EP, or, indeed, many LPs. In fact, it is longer than Dream Theater's first two albums. Mike Portnoy has said "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."