Despite being increasingly attracted by rock music, he did not choose a typical rock'n'roll lifestyle but he wanted to share a positive message, written from a Christian worldview.
After years of feeling isolated and artistically stifled in Kansas, Livgren found working with fellow Christians refreshing.
In spite of favorable album reviews, the tour for Art of the State was not as successful as intended, resulting in Warren Ham's departure from the band in 1986.
In 1988, Livgren released a collection of previously unreleased AD songs titled Prime Mover, which was credited once again to Kerry Livgren/AD.
[5] Sparrow Records also released an AD compilation including songs from Art of the State and Reconstructions in 1988 called Compact Favorites.
In 1986, while he was still in AD, Michael Gleason recorded his first solo effort, called Voices from the Old World, an instrumental orchestral album.
He then began song writing, session and production work for other artists, including Steven Curtis Chapman, Wes King, Newsboys, Michael Card, Steve Green, Geoff Moore & The Distance, and many others.
The album featured an album-oriented rock sound, influenced by modern pop elements and was produced by himself as well as John and Dino Elefante.
[9][10][11] Gleason wrote the CCM-chart-topping Say the Word for Truth's 1998 album Never Be the Same, and the #1 CCM hit The Stranger performed by Aaron Jeoffrey.
[13] In 2005, his fourth solo album, Cornerstone, came out, which is in style similar to Every Road but with a stronger contemporary praise & worship direction.