Ghost in the Ruins – A Tribute to Criss Oliva

Ghost in the Ruins – A Tribute to Criss Oliva
Live album by Savatage
Released	December 15, 1995
Recorded	1987–1990
Genre	Heavy metal, power metal, progressive metal
Length	63:51
Label	Nuclear Blast America (US) Fresh Fruit/SPV (Germany) Zero Corporation (Japan)
Producer	Paul O'Neill, Jon Oliva
Savatage chronology
Dead Winter Dead (1995) Ghost in the Ruins – A Tribute to Criss Oliva (1995) The Wake of Magellan (1997)
Final Bell cover

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal	8/10
Metal Hammer (GER)	7/7
Rock Hard	10/10

Ghost in the Ruins – A Tribute to Criss Oliva is a live album by the American heavy metal band Savatage, recorded between 1987 and 1990. Many of the tracks on this album have since been added to the re-releases of other albums in the Savatage discography by the German label SPV in 2002. The Japanese version of the album, titled Final Bell – Tribute to Christopher Michael Oliva and released by Zero Corporation in 1997, shows the track "Criss Intro" as "Criss Oliva Guitar Solo" on the track listing.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Recorded at	Length
1.	"City Beneath the Surface"	Criss Oliva, Jon Oliva	The Ritz in New York City, 1990	5:39
2.	"24 Hours Ago"	C. Oliva, J. Oliva, Johnny Lee Middleton, Paul O'Neill	The Spectrum, Philadelphia, 1988	4:48
3.	"Legions"	C. Oliva, J. Oliva	The Spectrum, Philadelphia, 1988	5:06
4.	"Strange Wings"	C. Oliva, J. Oliva, O'Neill	The Spectrum, Philadelphia, 1988	4:01
5.	"Gutter Ballet"	C. Oliva, J. Oliva, O'Neill	Los Angeles Palace, 1990	6:14
6.	"Temptation Revelation / When the Crowds Are Gone"	C. Oliva, J. Oliva, O'Neill	Hollywood Palace, 1990	7:10
7.	"Of Rage and War"	C. Oliva, J. Oliva, O'Neill	Lamour, Brooklyn, 1990	4:29
8.	"The Dungeons Are Calling"	C. Oliva, J. Oliva, Keith Collins	Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, 1988	4:48
9.	"Sirens"	C. Oliva, J. Oliva	Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, 1988	3:37
10.	"Hounds"	C. Oliva, J. Oliva, O'Neill	Lamour, Brooklyn, 1990	7:20
11.	"Criss Intro" (instrumental)	C. Oliva	Agora, Cleveland, 1987	1:13
12.	"Hall of the Mountain King"	C. Oliva, J. Oliva, Middleton, O'Neill	Lamour, Brooklyn, 1990	6:38
13.	"Post Script" (instrumental)	C. Oliva	Sound check, Hollywood Palace, 1990	1:42

2011 EarMusic CD reissue

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Recorded at	Length
14.	"Devastation"	C. Oliva, J. Oliva	Agora, Cleveland, 1987	3:37
15.	"Stare into the Sun" (acoustic version)	J. Oliva, O'Neill		4:55

Personnel

Savatage

• Jon Oliva – lead vocals, piano, co-producer
• Criss Oliva – lead guitar, acoustic guitar
• Chris Caffery – rhythm guitar
• Johnny Lee Middleton – bass guitar
• Steve "Doc" Wacholz – drums and percussion

Production

• Paul O'Neill – producer
• Robert Kinkel – engineer
• Ken Lewis, Joe Johnson, Mike Scielzi, Joe Daily – additional engineering
• Steve Corson – assistant engineer
• Dave Whittman – mixing at Soundtrack Studios, New York
• Ben Arrindell – mixing assistant
• Leon Zervos – mastering