Kansas | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Fusing the complexity of British prog rock with an American heartland sound representative of their name, Kansas were among the most popular bands of the late 70s, with many of their hits becoming staples of AOR radio playlists. Formed in Topeka in 1970, the founding members of the group -- guitarist Kerry Livgren, bassist Dave Hope, and drummer Phil Ehart -- first played together while in high school; with the 1971 addition of classically trained violinist Robbie Steinhardt, they changed their name to White Clover, reverting back to the Kansas moniker for good upon the 1972 arrivals of vocalist/keyboardist Steve Walsh and guitarist Richard Williams. The group spent the early part of the decade touring relentlessly and struggling for recognition; initially, their mix of boogie and prog rock baffled club patrons, but in due time they established a strong enough following to win a record deal with the Kirshner label. Kansas self-titled debut LP appeared in 1974; while only mildly successful, the group toured behind it tirelessly, and their fan base grew to the point that their third effort, 1975s Masque, sold a quarter of a million copies. In 1976, Leftoverture truly catapulted Kansas to stardom. On the strength of the smash hit "Carry on Wayward Son," the album reached the Top Five and sold over three million copies. Released in 1977, Point of Know Return was even more successful, spawning the monster hit "Dust in the Wind." While the 1978 live LP Two for the Show struggled to break the Top 40, its studio follow-up, Monolith, the bands first self-produced effort, reached the Top Ten. That same year, Walsh issued a solo record, Schemer-Dreamer. In the wake of 1980s Audio-Visions, Kansas began to splinter; both Hope and Livgren became born-again Christians, the latter issuing the solo venture Seeds of Change, and their newfound spirituality caused divisions within the bands ranks. Walsh soon quit to form a new band, Streets; the remaining members forged on without him, tapping vocalist John Elefante as his replacement. The first Kansas LP without Walsh, 1982s Vinyl Confessions, launched the hit "Play the Game Tonight," but after only one more album, 1983s Drastic Measures, they disbanded. In 1986, however, Kansas re-formed around Ehart, Williams, and Walsh; adding the famed guitarist Steve Morse as well as bassist Billy Greer, the refurbished band debuted with the album Power, scoring a Top 20 hit with "All I Wanted." When the follow-up, 1988s In the Spirit of Things, failed to hit, seven years passed before the release of their next effort, Freaks of Nature. The London Symphony-assisted Always Never the Same followed in 1998, and in 2000 Kansas issued Somewhere to Elsewhere, their 14th studio album, which saw the return of founder singer/songwriter Kerry Livgren. The next decade found Kansas continuing to tour heavily and release compilations and live albums, culminating in their 2014 induction into the Kansas Hall of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, which coincided with the groups 40th anniversary. Miracles Out of Nowhere, a DVD/CD career retrospective, followed in early 2015. After signing with Century Medias InsideOut label, Kansas released The Prelude Implicit in 2016. Their 15th studio effort overall, the prog-heavy LP also marked the bands first new album in 16 years. The following year saw the release of Leftoverture Live & Beyond, a collection of concert performances culled from their 40th anniversary tour. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 38 Title: Mega Hits: Kansas Released: Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:03:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Can I Tell You (03:32) 2 Song for America (10:03) 3 Icarus—Borne on Wings of Steel (06:04) 4 The Pinnacle (09:35) 5 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 6 What’s on My Mind (03:28) 7 Miracles out of Nowhere (06:28) 8 Point of Know Return (03:12) 9 Portrait (He Knew) (04:36) 10 Dust in the Wind (03:26) 11 People of the South Wind (03:39) 12 Hold On (03:52) |
 | Album: 2 of 38 Title: Kansas Released: 1974 Tracks: 9 Duration: 54:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Can I Tell You (03:32) 2 Bringing It Back (03:33) 3 Lonely Wind (04:17) 4 Belexes (04:24) 5 Journey From Mariabronn (07:57) 6 The Pilgrimage (03:43) 7 Apercu (09:36) 8 Death of Mother Nature Suite (07:55) 9 Bringing It Back (09:41) |
| Kansas : Allmusic album Review : Kansas stood apart from their peers, since they were an American band that dared play on the epic scale of such English art rockers as Genesis. Consequently, Kansas is a truly weird hybrid of British pomp, doggedly artistic concept, and arena boogie, all served up with more violin than there is flute on a Jethro Tull album. Its hard not to admire their blatant ambition in one sense, since few bands try as hard as Kansas do here. Still, therere a lot of scales and arpeggios, galloping triplets, dramatic organ, and stately ballads that signify nothing and go nowhere. Since its as grounded in boogie as it is in art, the group never gets as weird as their more interesting counterparts, but that reliance on arena rock does make them unique. But uniqueness isnt the same as good, or even interesting listening, even if Kansas remains a period piece like no other. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 38 Title: Song for America Released: 1975-03 Tracks: 6 Duration: 45:04 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Down the Road (03:44) 2 Song for America (10:03) 3 Lamplight Symphony (08:16) 4 Lonely Street (05:42) 5 The Devil Game (05:04) 6 Incomudro—Hymn to the Atman (12:14) |
| Song for America : Allmusic album Review : Probably the most prog of Kansas albums, this one spotlights long, orchestrated songs and unusual time signatures. There is an extended nine/eight instrumental break in the middle of the title track. "Lamplight Symphony" offers long, orchestrated passages. When the energy is there, it is intense energy, such as "Down the Road" and "The Devil Game." The longer songs unfortunately can lose a passive listener. But all in all, this is a good (if not adolescent) recording for a group of this genre. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 38 Title: Masque Released: 1975-10 Tracks: 10 Duration: 48:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 It Takes a Woman’s Love (to Make a Man) (03:08) 2 Two Cents Worth (03:08) 3 Icarus—Borne on Wings of Steel (06:04) 4 All the World (07:11) 5 Child of Innocence (04:34) 6 It’s You (02:32) 7 Mysteries and Mayhem (04:19) 8 The Pinnacle (09:35) 9 Child of Innocence (rehearsal recording) (05:05) 10 It’s You (demo) (02:41) |
| Masque : Allmusic album Review : Kansas third album, Masque, is a lyrically dark effort courtesy of guitarist/keyboardist Kerry Livgrens brooding songwriting. Musically, Masque foreshadows the tight melodies and instrumental interplay on the next two albums, Leftoverture and Point of Know Return, which together serve as the peak of Kansas vision. The band deserves more respect than it gets for incorporating British hard rock and progressive rock to become the only U.S. progressive rock band of note during the genres 1970s heyday. Robbie Steinhardts violin work certainly helped give Kansas a distinctive sound. The liner notes indicate Masque is a "concept album" thanks to the titles definition: "A disguise of reality created through a theatrical or musical performance." Vocalist/keyboardist Steve Walshs "It Takes a Womans Love (To Make a Man)" is the leadoff track, and its atypical of the rest of the album. The song is a fairly basic yet groovy pop/rock tune about musicians loneliness on the road, but it is spiced up with some saxophone lines. "Two Cents Worth" addresses guilt, misery, and spiritual longing -- pretty heavy stuff for six guys who were only in their mid-twenties. In "Icarus--Borne on Wings of Steel," Kansas prog rock ambitions show through the mythology-based lyrics and the densely arranged guitars and keyboards. Walsh and Steinhardts "All the World" is largely a bleak examination of loneliness and death, although it does end with a glimmer of hope. "Child of Innocence" is a tough blast of hard rock with a soaring chorus. "Mysteries and Mayhem" rocks along, yet its rich with haunting nightmare imagery and biblical references. The nine-and-a-half-minute epic "The Pinnacle" closes the album. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 38 Title: Leftoverture Released: 1976-10 Tracks: 8 Duration: 43:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 2 The Wall (04:48) 3 What’s on My Mind (03:28) 4 Miracles out of Nowhere (06:28) 5 Opus Insert (04:27) 6 Questions of My Childhood (03:38) 7 Cheyenne Anthem (06:53) 8 Magnum Opus (08:24) |
| Leftoverture : Allmusic album Review : For any art rock band, the fourth album means its time for a self-styled masterpiece -- if you need proof, look at Selling England by the Pound or Fragile. So, with Kansas, the most determinedly arty of all American art rock bands, they composed and recorded Leftoverture, an impenetrable conundrum of significance thats capped off by nothing less than a five-part suite, appropriately titled "Magnum Opus," and featuring such promising movement titles as "Father Padilla Meets the Perfect Gnat" and "Release the Beavers." Of course, theres no telling whether this closing opus relates to the opener, "Carry On Wayward Son," the greatest single Kansas ever cut -- a song that manages to be pompous, powerful, ridiculous, and catchy all at once. That they never manage to rival it anywhere on this record is as much a testament to their crippling ambition as their lack of skills. And its unfair to say Kansas are unskilled, since they are certainly instrumentally proficient and they can craft songs or, rather, compositions that appear rather ambitious. Except these compositions arent particularly complex, rhythmically or harmonically, and are in their own way as ambling as boogie rock, which still feels to be their foundation. Its not really fair to attack Kansas for a concept album with an impenetrable concept -- its possible to listen to Lamb Lies Down on Broadway hundreds of times and not know what the hell Rael is up to -- but theres neither hooks nor true grandiosity here to make it interesting. That said, this still may be Kansas most consistent set, outside of Point of Know Return. Take that for what you will. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 38 Title: Point of Know Return Released: 1977-10-11 Tracks: 12 Duration: 54:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Point of Know Return (03:12) 2 Paradox (03:50) 3 The Spider (02:05) 4 Portrait (He Knew) (04:36) 5 Closet Chronicles (06:31) 6 Lightning’s Hand (04:24) 7 Dust in the Wind (03:26) 8 Sparks of the Tempest (04:18) 9 Nobody’s Home (04:40) 10 Hopelessly Human (07:09) 11 Sparks of the Tempest (05:17) 12 Portrait (He Knew) (remix) (04:49) |
| Point of Know Return : Allmusic album Review : This is the definitive Kansas recording and includes their most famous tune, "Dust in the Wind." The band is in peak form and also churned out the single "Point of Know Return," which is still played daily on classic rock stations. While their pop-oriented approach and standard rock guitar sound helped define the classic rock sound of the 70s, careful listening reveals that this bands talent goes beyond colleagues such as Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Boston. Their arrangements and time signatures more accurately reflect the music of Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. "Paradox" and "The Spider" are both excellent examples of their progressive approach. Unfortunately, the band always struggled to maintain a healthy balance of progression combined with pop. That made for such awkward moments here as "Portrait (He Knew)" and "Lightnings Hand." Yet despite the minor inconsistencies and a dated sound, their interplay and superior musicianship make this both an essential classic rock and progressive rock recording. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 38 Title: Two for the Show Released: 1978-10 Tracks: 24 Duration: 2:28:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Song for America (07:28) 2 Point of Know Return (03:07) 3 Paradox (04:09) 4 Icarus / Borne on Wings of Steel (05:58) 5 Portrait (He Knew) (05:18) 6 Carry On Wayward Son (04:38) 7 Journey From Mariabronn (08:55) 8 Dust in the Wind (06:17) 9 Lonely Wind (04:29) 10 Mysteries and Mayhem (04:00) 11 Excerpt From Lamplight Symphony (02:38) 12 The Wall (04:58) 13 Magnum Opus (11:15) 1 Hopelessly Human (08:42) 2 Child of Innocence (07:47) 3 Belexes (04:34) 4 Cheyenne Anthem (06:55) 5 Lonely Street (08:20) 6 Miracles out of Nowhere (07:59) 7 The Spider (07:41) 8 Closet Chronicles (06:55) 9 Down the Road (03:44) 10 Sparks of the Tempest (05:19) 11 Bringing It Back (07:07) |
| Two for the Show : Allmusic album Review : By the late 70s, Kansas had not only established themselves as one of Americas most adventurous progressive rock bands; they even had a number of Top 20 hits to their credit. And as they finally paused for a breath after a string of five increasingly successful studio albums, it made perfect sense to fill the gap with a live album. Originally released as a double-vinyl set, Two for the Show is a sprawling, mind-boggling affair that juggles such overblown epics as "Journey from Mariabronn" and the self-explanatory "Magnum Opus" with mandatory hit singles "Carry on Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind." The former will undoubtedly thrill fanatics with their extended improvisations, but the indistinct performances of the latter will prove largely useless to the casual fan. And with live albums in general going the way of the vinyl record these days, this particular fossil will only satisfy musical anthropologists. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 38 Title: Monolith Released: 1979-05 Tracks: 8 Duration: 41:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 On the Other Side (06:24) 2 People of the South Wind (03:39) 3 Angels Have Fallen (06:39) 4 How My Soul Cries Out for You (05:46) 5 A Glimpse of Home (06:35) 6 Away From You (04:26) 7 Stay Out of Trouble (04:15) 8 Reason to Be (03:50) |
| Monolith : Allmusic album Review : By this release, Kansas had pretty much exhausted every aspect of their musical style. There is some fine playing here, but the bands success seemed to be having an effect on their integrity and judgment, given the penchant for pop songs and juvenile lyrics. The concept of the album, futuristic Indians with space helmets, doesnt help. Even though the chorus to "People of the South Wind" is catchy, the ridiculous keyboard melody that starts the song is shamefully aimed at FM radio. This release lacks effort and direction and is best left unexplored. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 38 Title: Audio‐Visions Released: 1980-09 Tracks: 10 Duration: 43:22 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Relentless (04:57) 2 Anything for You (03:58) 3 Hold On (03:52) 4 Loner (02:31) 5 Curtain of Iron (06:12) 6 Got to Rock On (03:21) 7 Don’t Open Your Eyes (04:06) 8 No One Together (06:57) 9 No Room for a Stranger (03:00) 10 Back Door (04:24) |
| Audio‐Visions : Allmusic album Review : By the time of their eighth album, Audio-Visions, Kansas had entered the post-platinum solo-album phase of the typical successful rock groups career. Leaders Kerry Livgren and Steve Walsh were devoting time to making their own records, and Kansas was becoming a part-time occupation. The two divided up the songwriting chores on Audio-Visions, alternating Livgrens always spiritual and by now explicitly religious lyrical sentiments and ornate musical structures with Walshs earthier and harder-rocking concerns. Livgrens Christian-themed "Hold On" ("Outside the door He is waiting") made the Top 40, and Walshs "Got to Rock" was a singles-chart entry, but nothing here matched the music from the groups late-70s heyday. Audio-Visions was the last of seven straight Kansas albums to go gold or platinum and the last album made by the groups most successful lineup. In 1981, Walsh quit. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 38 Title: Vinyl Confessions Released: 1982-06 Tracks: 10 Duration: 42:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Play the Game Tonight (03:27) 2 Right Away (04:07) 3 Fair Exchange (05:02) 4 Chasing Shadows (03:22) 5 Diamonds and Pearls (04:51) 6 Face It (04:18) 7 Windows (03:32) 8 Borderline (04:01) 9 Play On (03:34) 10 Crossfire (06:33) |
| Vinyl Confessions : Allmusic album Review : Replacing Steve Walsh with singer/keyboard player John Elefante, Kansas demonstrated that they could carry on by scoring their biggest hit in four years with the Top 20 "Play the Game Tonight," the leadoff track from Vinyl Confessions. Like now-undisputed group leader Kerry Livgren, Elefante was a born-again Christian, however, and his involvement in the songwriting turned the group decisively toward religious lyrical sentiments, often of a judgmental, us-versus-you nature. Its possible that fans who had been happy to accept the notion that "we are dust in the wind" were less patient with the ideas expressed in Elefantes "Face It" ("How many times do I have to tell you?") or Livgrens "(Youre Standing on The) Borderline." Or maybe it was just that it was getting hard to distinguish Kansas from Foreigner and Journey. In any case, Vinyl Confessions was Kansas first album since their debut not to go gold. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 38 Title: Drastic Measures Released: 1983-07 Tracks: 9 Duration: 41:59 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Fight Fire With Fire (03:40) 2 Everybody’s My Friend (04:01) 3 Mainstream (06:36) 4 Andi (04:17) 5 Going Through the Motions (05:48) 6 Get Rich (03:44) 7 Don’t Take Your Love Away (03:39) 8 End of the Age (04:33) 9 Incident on a Bridge (05:38) |
| Drastic Measures : Allmusic album Review : John Elefante, who had joined Kansas for 1982s Vinyl Confessions, dominated their next album, Drastic Measures, writing six of nine songs. Elefante seemed a little unnerved by the new attention ("Everybodys My Friend"), while bandleader Kerry Livgren seemed burned out by the pressure to sell records ("Mainstream"). In that attempt, Kansas turned toward more of a hard rock/heavy metal sound. But the groups enervation was palpable, and it spread to their fans: Drastic Measures was the least successful Kansas album since the groups debut. Unsurprisingly, it was also the last album Kansas made before disbanding. Kerry Livgren became a solo contemporary Christian artist, and John Elefante became his producer. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 38 Title: The Best of Kansas Released: 1984 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:05:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 2 Point of Know Return (03:12) 3 Fight Fire With Fire (03:40) 4 Dust in the Wind (03:26) 5 Song for America (09:08) 6 Hold On (03:52) 7 No One Together (06:57) 8 Play the Game Tonight (03:27) 9 The Wall (04:48) 10 The Pinnacle (09:35) 11 The Devil Game (05:04) 12 Closet Chronicles (06:55) |
| The Best of Kansas : Allmusic album Review : Except for the one exclusive track, "Perfect Lover," The Best of Kansas has been rendered completely obsolete by the two-disc Kansas Box Set. Released in the pre-compact disc era, time constraints made it impossible for this collection to include the more elaborate songs from the progressive rock bands repertoire (the nine-minute "Song for America" being the only exception), concentrating instead on their more concise, radio-friendly work. So while essential hits like "Carry On Wayward Son," "Point of Know Return," "Dust in the Wind," and "Play the Game Tonight" are all present here, there is much top-notch material missing, and superior sound quality alone makes the other collection more appetizing. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 38 Title: Power Released: 1986-11 Tracks: 10 Duration: 39:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Silhouettes in Disguise (04:27) 2 Power (04:26) 3 All I Wanted (03:21) 4 Secret Service (04:41) 5 We’re Not Alone Anymore (04:16) 6 Musicatto (03:32) 7 Taking In the View (02:57) 8 Three Pretenders (03:55) 9 Tomb 19 (03:50) 10 Can’t Cry Anymore (04:01) |
| Power : Allmusic album Review : After a three-year hiatus, Kansas re-formed in 1986, signed with MCA, and released Power. The album bears virtually no resemblance to the old Kansas style; in fact, its more hard rock and pop than prog rock, and the tough-yet-sleek opener, "Silhouettes in Disguise," immediately announces the change to listeners. "Power" was a minor hit and the simple chorus is effective. "All I Wanted" is pure pop, and this Top 20 hit single features lush keyboards and Steve Walshs earnest, melodramatic vocals. The instrumental "Musicatto" is the albums primary link to Kansas prog rock past. "Taking in the View" is a gentle song featuring sweet acoustic guitar and a childrens chorus. "Three Pretenders" and "Tomb 19" both rely on strong rock & roll hooks and soaring choruses. "Cant Cry Anymore" is an orchestra-based ballad. Power probably surprised longtime Kansas fans with its musical shift, but the addition of Steve Morse gave the band an interesting -- if ultimately short-lived -- new direction. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 38 Title: In the Spirit of Things Released: 1988-10-25 Tracks: 12 Duration: 52:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Ghosts (04:14) 2 One Big Sky (05:17) 3 Inside of Me (04:42) 4 One Man, One Heart (04:19) 5 House on Fire (04:42) 6 Once in a Lifetime (04:14) 7 Stand Beside Me (03:28) 8 I Counted on Love (03:33) 9 The Preacher (04:18) 10 Rainmaker (06:44) 11 T.O. Witcher (01:39) 12 Bells of Saint James (05:39) |
| In the Spirit of Things : Allmusic album Review : Kansas hired Bob Ezrin to tighten up their sound for 1988s In the Spirit of Things. In a strange way, the timing was opportune, since they had a hit in 1986s Power, and 1988 was welcome to veterans, thanks to the boom of classic rock radio stations and the rejuvenating power of the CD. And, give em credit -- they wound up with an album thats arguably more focused than their 70s highlights. That doesnt mean its on par, since they cant deliver a hit single as good as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Point of Know Return," and whatever remnants of humor they had are gone, as this is doggedly somber. Still, theyre musically more adept, thanks to Ezrin and guitarist Steve Morse, which is welcome. That doesnt mean its an unqualified success, however, since the cavernous, DDD-wannabe production screams 1988 even more than Leftoverture epitomizes 1976. Nevertheless, In the Spirit of Things remains one of the groups more consistent albums and easily a latter-day highlight. (By the way, Brendan OBrien, a superstar producer of the 90s, working with Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots, recorded this record.) | ||
 | Album: 15 of 38 Title: Carry On Released: 1990 Tracks: 10 Duration: 40:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 2 Can I Tell You (03:32) 3 Two Cents Worth (03:08) 4 Play the Game Tonight (03:27) 5 People of the South Wind (03:39) 6 The Wall (04:48) 7 It Takes a Woman’s Love (to Make a Man) (03:08) 8 Dust in the Wind (03:26) 9 Don’t Take Your Love Away (03:39) 10 On the Other Side (06:24) |
 | Album: 16 of 38 Title: Dust in the Wind: The Best of Kansas Released: 1991 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:16:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 2 Child of Innocence (04:34) 3 Point of Know Return (03:12) 4 People of the South Wind (03:39) 5 Lightning’s Hand (04:24) 6 Dust in the Wind (03:26) 7 Song for America (09:08) 8 Portrait (He Knew) (04:36) 9 Down the Road (03:44) 10 Loner (02:31) 11 The Wall (live) (05:37) 12 What’s on My Mind (03:28) 13 Relentless (04:57) 14 Away From You (04:26) 15 Fight Fire With Fire (03:40) 16 Play the Game Tonight (03:27) 17 On the Other Side (06:24) |
 | Album: 17 of 38 Title: Live at the Whisky Released: 1992-07-07 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:12:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Introduction (01:04) 2 “Howlin’ at the Moon” From Magnum Opus (01:32) 3 Paradox (04:12) 4 Point of Know Return (04:47) 5 Song for America (09:03) 6 The Wall (06:09) 7 Hold On (04:17) 8 Dust in the Wind (04:03) 9 Miracles Out of Nowhere (06:31) 10 Mysteries and Mayhem (04:55) 11 Portrait (05:45) 12 Carry On Wayward Son (07:16) 13 Down the Road (06:10) 14 Lonely Street (06:28) |
| Live at the Whisky : Allmusic album Review : This long awaited release from the reformed Kansas band, featuring new violinist David Ragsdale, suffers from two major problems. First, Steve Walsh voice is pretty well shot. On a good day, he can still belt it out like he always could. This recording was not made on a good day. Those pipes of his have been abused for too long. Secondly, this recording is, for the most part, a live recording of Best of Kansas. Kansas fans are like Grateful Dead fans on a smaller scale. They want to hear the obscure stuff. They have long since gotten used to the hits; they are waiting -- hopelessly waiting -- to hear a live version of Walsh singing a John Elefante song. Or Ragsdales violin on the Steve Morse songs. What they wouldnt give to hear the band do "Stay Out of Trouble" or "Belexes." On this recording they play it as safe as they have for the past decade. The hits sound great, just like they always have -- and the fans are used to that. Founding member Kerry Livgren makes an appearance, but we cant see him on the disc and, unlike his songwriting, his playing isnt all that distinctive -- for all we know it might not even be him. The real treasure here is the bonus track, "Lonely Street," recorded in 1975 at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland -- nice, cool, and mellow, with a few surprises in the middle. A nice coda to an otherwise mediocre recording. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 38 Title: The Kansas Boxed Set Released: 1994 Tracks: 26 Duration: 2:34:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Can I Tell You (demo) (04:21) 2 Death of Mother Nature Suite (08:59) 3 Journey From Mariabronn (07:57) 4 Song for America (10:03) 5 The Devil Game (05:04) 6 Incomudro / Hymn to the Atman (16:09) 7 Child of Innocence (04:34) 8 Icarus—Borne on Wings of Steel (06:04) 9 Mysteries and Mayhem (04:19) 10 The Pinnacle (09:35) 1 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 2 The Wall (04:48) 3 What’s on My Mind (03:28) 4 Opus Insert (04:27) 5 Magnum Opus (08:24) 6 Point of Know Return (03:12) 7 Portrait (He Knew) (04:36) 8 Dust in the Wind (03:26) 9 Closet Chronicles (06:31) 10 People of the South Wind (03:39) 11 On the Other Side (06:43) 12 A Glimpse of Home (06:35) 13 Relentless (04:57) 14 Loner (02:31) 15 Hold On (03:52) 16 Wheels (04:31) |
 | Album: 19 of 38 Title: Freaks of Nature Released: 1995-05-30 Tracks: 9 Duration: 45:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 I Can Fly (05:21) 2 Desperate Times (05:25) 3 Hope Once Again (04:33) 4 Black Fathom 4 (05:54) 5 Under the Knife (04:59) 6 Need (04:01) 7 Freaks of Nature (04:05) 8 Cold Grey Morning (04:14) 9 Peaceful and Warm (06:45) |
| Freaks of Nature : Allmusic album Review : Unbalanced. This record should have been what the small but rabid masses of Kansas fans had been waiting for, but for some reason it misses. Every moment of greatness on this record is accompanied with a conspicuous flaw. "I Can Fly" -- a revisitation of Kansas recurrent "Icarus" theme -- opens the disc with an exciting violin line and a soaring vocal sounding strong and fresh. Enter the drums -- precise, thick, and metrical, or in other words clunky -- invoking a feel for the song about as far from "flight" as is possible. Other songs fall prey to the excesses of 80s anthemic rock ("Hope Once Again"). Other embarrassing tracks such as "Under the Knife" or "Black Fathom 4" make an attempt at a dark, disturbing mood but come off like B movies in execution. Original member Kerry Livgren contributes the song "Cold Grey Morning," which, sad to say, is not one of his best. Taken solely in terms of the performances, however, the record is astonishingly good. Arrangements are well-layered and complex. Each player plays with stunning virtuosity. Notable is David Ragsdales violin -- every bit as good as Steinhardts playing. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 38 Title: Definitive Collection Released: 1997-04-11 Tracks: 23 Duration: 1:47:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Point of Know Return (03:12) 2 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 3 What’s on My Mind (03:28) 4 Icarus—Borne on Wings of Steel (06:04) 5 Song for America (live) (07:25) 6 The Wall (live) (04:40) 7 People of the South Wind (03:39) 8 Hold On (03:52) 9 Fight Fire With Fire (03:40) 10 Play the Game Tonight (03:27) 11 Tomb 19 (03:50) 12 Stand Beside Me (03:28) 13 Hope Once Again (04:33) 14 Got to Rock On (03:21) 15 Reason to Be (03:50) 16 It Takes a Woman’s Love (to Make a Man) (03:08) 17 Lonely Wind (04:17) 18 Dust in the Wind (03:26) 1 Wheels (04:31) 2 Perfect Lover (04:18) 3 Incomudro / Hymn to the Atman (16:09) 4 Portrait (He Knew) (single edit) (03:46) 5 Can I Tell You (demo) (04:21) |
| Definitive Collection : Allmusic album Review : Definitive Collection is only three tracks short of matching the same number of cuts from Kansas box set, and it does contain most of the bands better hits. Fans of Kansas progressive stock will notice the absence of "Magnum Opus" as well a few other worthy instrumentals, but for the most part it serves as a fair collection. Six of seven of the groups Top 40 hits are present, as well as a couple of creditable surprises in "Reason to Be," "Hope Once Again," and "Got to Rock On," which arent included on the box set. The only real dispensable track seems to be the demo version of "Can I Tell You," but longtime fans will appreciate the live cuts of "Song for America" and "The Wall," which more than make up for it. Actually, the track selection is pretty sensible, avoiding what could have been a lot of inessential filler from albums like Masque, Monolith, and Audio-Visions, to name a few. Completists may want the box set because of its packaging and liner notes, but Definitive Collection stands as a commendable overview of Kansas work from a musical standpoint. | ||
 | Album: 21 of 38 Title: King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Released: 1998 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:05:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Magnum Opus (02:11) 2 One Big Sky (06:11) 3 Paradox (04:10) 4 Point of Know Return (05:16) 5 The Wall (06:03) 6 All I Wanted (05:28) 7 T.O. Witcher (01:41) 8 Dust in the Wind (04:24) 9 Miracles Out of Nowhere (06:46) 10 Preacher (04:56) 11 House on Fire (12:12) 12 Carry On Wayward Son (06:26) |
| King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents : Allmusic album Review : Recorded at Philadelphias Tower Theater on Valentines Day 1989, King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents captures the latter-day Steve Morse lineup of Kansas -- and may even be a better way to get a representative idea of that groups sound than their somewhat uneven studio albums. This show dates from the supporting tour for In the Spirit of Things, the lineups second album (Power being the first), and it captures the band in generally good form, although lead singer Steve Walshs voice has begun to show signs of wear and tear. The newer songs are chosen and performed very well, and its interesting to hear Morse weave his own flair into the classic hits from the old days. While not the definitive Kansas concert album, its certainly a worthwhile one for fans. | ||
 | Album: 22 of 38 Title: Dust in the Wind Released: 1998-04-10 Tracks: 10 Duration: 59:04 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Point of Know Return (04:47) 2 Dust in the Wind (04:07) 3 Lonely Street (06:27) 4 Song for America (09:05) 5 Carry On Wayward Son (06:53) 6 Hold On (04:28) 7 Miracles Out of Nowhere (06:38) 8 The Wall (06:06) 9 Paradox (04:19) 10 Down the Road (06:11) |
 | Album: 23 of 38 Title: Always Never the Same Released: 1998-05-19 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:11:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Eleanor Rigby (03:22) 2 Dust in the Wind (04:01) 3 Preamble (03:25) 4 Song for America (09:17) 5 In Your Eyes (04:31) 6 Miracles out of Nowhere (06:28) 7 Hold On (04:18) 8 The Sky Is Falling (07:51) 9 Cheyenne Anthem (07:31) 10 Prelude & Introduction (04:53) 11 The Wall (05:29) 12 Need to Know (03:59) 13 Nobody’s Home (06:01) |
| Always Never the Same : Allmusic album Review : Always Never the Same... is the first strong album of the Kansas 90s comeback. Largely recorded at Abbey Road, with large portions of the album featuring strings by the London Symphony Orchestra, the record mainly consists of older material given new, sweeping symphonic treatments. These songs dont necessarily sound fresh, but they do sound revitalized, and the groups three new songs -- "The Sky is Falling," "In Your Eyes," "Need to Know" -- fit well into the groups repertoire, as does their overblown rendition of "Eleanor Rigby." The fusion of the orchestra and the rock works pretty well, even if its a stretch to call this symphonic. Its an album for hardcore fans, but thats all thats left in 1998, and theyll be very pleased with this record. | ||
 | Album: 24 of 38 Title: Extended Versions: The Encore Collection Released: 2000 Tracks: 10 Duration: 47:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Carry On Wayward Son (06:26) 2 All I Wanted (05:28) 3 T.O. Witcher (01:41) 4 Dust in the Wind (03:51) 5 The Wall (05:48) 6 Preacher (04:56) 7 Paradox (04:10) 8 Magnum Opus (02:11) 9 One Big Sky (06:06) 10 Miracle Out of Nowhere (06:38) |
 | Album: 25 of 38 Title: Somewhere to Elsewhere Released: 2000-07-11 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:08:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Icarus II (07:17) 2 When the World Was Young (05:50) 3 Grand Fun Alley (04:38) 4 The Coming Dawn (Thanatopsis) (05:44) 5 Myriad (08:55) 6 Look at the Time (05:37) 7 Disappearing Skin Tight Blues (07:02) 8 Distant Vision (08:48) 9 Byzantium (04:15) 10 Not Man Big (08:39) 11 Geodesic Dome (01:24) |
| Somewhere to Elsewhere : Allmusic album Review : Kansas 2000 album Somewhere to Elsewhere is notable because its the first recording by the original six members in almost 20 years. Joining vocalist Steve Walsh, guitarist Richard Williams, vocalist/violinist Robby Steinhardt, longtime bassist Billy Greer, and drummer Phil Ehart are original guitarist/keyboardist Kerry Livgren and original bassist Dave Hope. Livgren wrote all ten songs. Somewhere to Elsewhere features the innovative dynamics, and long songs, of Kansas early work while maintaining a crisply modern production sound. "Icarus II" is a marvelously intricate epic about bomber pilots; the bright piano and violin lines give way to blistering heavy metal guitar symbolizing a bombing attack. "When the World Was Young" is a groovy rocker with Walsh contributing a broad range of vocal tones. The richly moving "The Coming Dawn (Thanatopsis)" alternates between subdued and bombastic passages with Steinhardts violin leading the way. The complex, nine-minute "Myriad" is arguably the most "progressive rock" moment on the album. Greer gets his first ever Kansas lead vocal on the easygoing "Look at the Time." Steinhardt sings on "Disappearing Skin Tight Blues," an unusual song with clever but uncharacteristic rhyming lyrics and 50s-like vocal group harmonies. "Distant Vision," another nine-minute piece, features Livgrens trademark: spiritual lyrics. "Not Man Big" has an oddly powerful, loose tempo and bitter lyrics about human folly. A short, goofy singalong acoustic studio jam is included as a hidden bonus track. Technology directly affected the recording of Somewhere to Elsewhere in a rather unsettling way. Walsh wasnt in the studio with the rest of the band. He was also working on a solo album at the time so he burned his vocals on CDs and traded them back and forth with Livgren. Portions of the albums profits will be donated to the World War II Memorial Fund. | ||
 | Album: 26 of 38 Title: The Ultimate Kansas Released: 2002-07-01 Tracks: 26 Duration: 2:23:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 2 Song for America (10:03) 3 The Wall (04:48) 4 Lonely Street (05:42) 5 Journey From Mariabronn (07:57) 6 Child of Innocence (04:34) 7 Mysteries and Mayhem (04:11) 8 The Pinnacle (09:35) 9 Bringing It Back (03:33) 10 Down the Road (03:44) 11 What’s on My Mind (03:28) 12 Death of Mother Nature Suite (07:55) 1 Point of Know Return (03:12) 2 Cheyenne Anthem (06:53) 3 Fight Fire With Fire (03:40) 4 Dust in the Wind (03:26) 5 Hold On (03:52) 6 No One Together (06:57) 7 Play the Game Tonight (03:27) 8 Closet Chronicles (06:31) 9 Sparks of the Tempest (04:12) 10 Portrait (He Knew) (04:36) 11 On the Other Side (06:24) 12 People of the South Wind (03:39) 13 A Glimpse of Home (06:35) 14 Magnum Opus (live) (08:57) |
| The Ultimate Kansas : Allmusic album Review : Epic/Legacys double-disc set The Ultimate Kansas pretty much fulfills the promise of its title. Although it doesnt delve into the groups latter-day recordings for MCA and other labels, thats not a problem because most listeners -- whether theyre fairweather or dedicated fans -- will want to concentrate on the groups peak in the 70s, which is precisely what this does. Over the course of 26 tracks, all the hits and album-oriented radio staples are featured, usually in their full-length album versions, plus a number of fan favorites and key album tracks that help draw a full picture of what the group did. The remastered, expanded single-disc of The Best of Kansas remains the best bet for the casual fan, since it has all the big hits on one disc, but anybody seeking to dig deeper than the hits and radio favorites -- without actually hearing the original albums -- should turn here, since its selection and sound is better than the three-disc box. | ||
 | Album: 27 of 38 Title: Device-Voice-Drum Released: 2002-10-08 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:07:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Intro (00:15) 2 Belexes (06:41) 3 Icarus II (07:15) 4 Icarus (06:23) 5 Song for America (09:22) 6 Howlin’ at the Moon (01:59) 7 The Wall (05:36) 8 The Preacher (04:08) 9 Journey From Mariabronn (09:19) 10 Dust in the Wind (04:25) 11 Cheyenne Anthem (07:18) 12 Child of Innocence (05:00) |
 | Album: 28 of 38 Title: Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection Released: 2004 Tracks: 27 Duration: 2:20:35 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Can I Tell You (03:32) 2 Journey From Mariabronn (07:57) 3 Song for America (10:03) 4 Lamplight Symphony (08:16) 5 Icarus—Borne on Wings of Steel (06:04) 6 The Pinnacle (09:35) 7 Child of Innocence (04:34) 8 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 9 Cheyenne Anthem (06:53) 10 Miracles out of Nowhere (06:28) 11 What’s on My Mind (03:28) 1 Point of Know Return (03:12) 2 Portrait (He Knew) (04:36) 3 Dust in the Wind (03:26) 4 Lightning’s Hand (04:24) 5 Sparks of the Tempest (04:18) 6 Paradox (04:09) 7 People of the South Wind (03:39) 8 Hold On (03:52) 9 Got to Rock On (03:21) 10 Play the Game Tonight (03:27) 11 Fight Fire With Fire (03:40) 12 All I Wanted (03:21) 13 Rainmaker (06:44) 14 Desperate Times (05:25) 15 Eleanor Rigby (03:22) 16 Icarus II (07:17) |
 | Album: 29 of 38 Title: Works in Progress Released: 2006-05-20 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:08:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Mysteries & Mayhem (08:25) 2 Portrait (He Knew) (05:38) 3 Down the Road (05:51) 4 Black Fathom 4 (05:54) 5 Freaks of Nature (04:05) 6 Under the Knife (04:59) 7 I Can Fly (05:21) 8 Peaceful and Warm (06:45) 9 The Wall (05:29) 10 Cheyenne Anthem (07:31) 11 Hold On (04:18) 12 Dust in the Wind (04:01) |
| Works in Progress : Allmusic album Review : Fans of Kansas circa their heady Leftoverture and Point of Know Return period should be forewarned -- the groups 2006 double-disc set, Works in Progress, is a live recording that focuses strictly on the years 1992 though 2002. In other words, you wont find any undiscovered gems from when Kansas were an arena rock force in the 70s. That said, Kansas still sound as "grand" as ever. Frustratingly, there is very little information as to where these live tracks originated from -- except that the liner notes mention that the second disc/DVD contains tracks from a June 15, 2002, performance. Still, a handful of tracks that you still hear today on classic rock radio rear their heads -- especially symphonic rock versions of "Hold On" and "Dust in the Wind" -- as well as the lesser-known but just as bombastic tracks "Freaks of Nature" and "I Can Fly." The playing and renditions are what youd expect from Kansas, yet with little information to go on and an exorbitant amount of live albums already released by the band, Works in Progress will only appeal to hardcore fans. | ||
 | Album: 30 of 38 Title: Super Hits Released: 2007 Tracks: 10 Duration: 51:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 2 Dust in the Wind (03:26) 3 Play the Game Tonight (03:27) 4 Point of Know Return (03:12) 5 Song for America (10:03) 6 Icarus—Borne on Wings of Steel (06:04) 7 Reason to Be (03:50) 8 Journey From Mariabronn (07:57) 9 Lightning’s Hand (04:24) 10 Play On (03:34) |
| Super Hits : Allmusic album Review : This ten-cut super budget comp by 70s rock heroes Kansas is nonetheless loaded with the cuts that any casual fan would ever want and more. Its a fine playlist of the hits without any dross or fluff. From the beginning to the end of their chart days, Kansas always stood apart while raking it in with record and concert ticket sales. They belonged to no scene; though they were usually associated with Yes and Genesis, musically nothing could be further from the truth. This collection has the biggies like "Dust in the Wind," and "Carry on My Wayward Son," as well as "Point of Know Return," and "Journey from Mariabronn." The sound is better than you might expect for a budget disc, and the price tag is absolutely right. | ||
 | Album: 31 of 38 Title: Playlist: The Very Best of Kansas Released: 2008-04-29 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:03:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Can I Tell You (03:32) 2 Song for America (10:03) 3 Icarus—Borne on Wings of Steel (06:04) 4 The Pinnacle (09:35) 5 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 6 What’s on My Mind (03:28) 7 Miracles out of Nowhere (06:28) 8 Point of Know Return (03:12) 9 Portrait (He Knew) (04:36) 10 Dust in the Wind (03:26) 11 People of the South Wind (03:39) 12 Hold On (03:52) |
 | Album: 32 of 38 Title: The Essential Kansas Released: 2009-09-15 Tracks: 33 Duration: 2:54:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 2 Song for America (10:03) 3 The Wall (04:48) 4 Lonely Street (05:42) 5 Journey From Mariabronn (07:57) 6 Child of Innocence (04:34) 7 Mysteries and Mayhem (04:11) 8 The Pinnacle (09:35) 9 Bringing It Back (03:33) 10 Down the Road (03:44) 11 What’s on My Mind (03:28) 12 Death of Mother Nature Suite (07:55) 1 Point of Know Return (03:12) 2 Cheyenne Anthem (06:53) 3 Fight Fire With Fire (03:40) 4 Dust in the Wind (03:26) 5 Hold On (03:52) 6 No One Together (06:57) 7 Play the Game Tonight (03:27) 8 Closet Chronicles (06:31) 9 Sparks of the Tempest (04:12) 10 Portrait (He Knew) (04:36) 11 On the Other Side (06:24) 12 People of the South Wind (03:39) 13 A Glimpse of Home (06:35) 14 Magnum Opus (live) (08:57) 1 Can I Tell You (03:32) 2 Lamplight Symphony (08:16) 3 Miracles out of Nowhere (06:28) 4 Questions of My Childhood (03:38) 5 Paradox (03:50) 6 The Spider (02:05) 7 Got to Rock On (03:21) |
| The Essential Kansas : Allmusic album Review : Epic/Legacys double-disc set The Essential Kansas pretty much fulfills the promise of its title. Although it doesnt delve into the groups latter-day recordings for MCA and other labels, thats not a problem because most listeners -- whether theyre fairweather or dedicated fans -- will want to concentrate on the groups peak in the 70s, which is precisely what this does. Over the course of 26 tracks, all the hits and album-oriented radio staples are featured, usually in their full-length album versions, plus a number of fan favorites and key album tracks that help draw a full picture of what the group did. The remastered and expanded single-disc The Best of Kansas remains the best bet for the casual fan, since it has all the big hits on one disc, but anybody seeking to dig deeper than the hits and radio favorites -- without actually hearing the original albums -- should turn here, since its selection and sound is better than the three-disc box. | ||
 | Album: 33 of 38 Title: Original Album Classics Released: 2009-09-25 Tracks: 49 Duration: 4:25:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Can I Tell You (03:32) 2 Bringing It Back (03:33) 3 Lonely Wind (04:17) 4 Belexes (04:24) 5 Journey From Mariabronn (07:57) 6 The Pilgrimage (03:43) 7 Apercu (09:36) 8 Death of Mother Nature Suite (07:55) 9 Bringing It Back (09:41) 1 Down the Road (03:44) 2 Song for America (10:03) 3 Lamplight Symphony (08:16) 4 Lonely Street (05:42) 5 The Devil Game (05:04) 6 Incomudro—Hymn to the Atman (12:14) 7 Song for America (single edit) (03:02) 8 Down the Road (live) (03:48) 1 Point of Know Return (03:12) 2 Paradox (03:50) 3 The Spider (02:05) 4 Portrait (He Knew) (04:36) 5 Closet Chronicles (06:31) 6 Lightning’s Hand (04:24) 7 Dust in the Wind (03:26) 8 Sparks of the Tempest (04:18) 9 Nobody’s Home (04:40) 10 Hopelessly Human (07:17) 11 Sparks of the Tempest (live) (05:18) 12 Portrait (He Knew) (remix) (04:49) 1 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 2 The Wall (04:48) 3 What’s on My Mind (03:35) 4 Miracles out of Nowhere (06:28) 5 Opus Insert (04:27) 6 Questions of My Childhood (03:38) 7 Cheyenne Anthem (06:53) 8 Magnum Opus: a. Father Padilla Meets the Perfect Gnat / b. Howling at the Moon / c. Man Overboard / d. Industry on Parade / e. Release the Beavers / f. Final Attack (08:35) 9 Carry On Wayward Son (live) (04:57) 10 Cheyenne Anthem (06:41) 1 It Takes a Woman’s Love (to Make a Man) (03:08) 2 Two Cents Worth (03:08) 3 Icarus—Borne on Wings of Steel (06:04) 4 All the World (07:11) 5 Child of Innocence (05:07) 6 It’s You (02:42) 7 Mysteries and Mayhem (04:19) 8 The Pinnacle (09:35) 9 Child of Innocence (rehearsal) (04:37) 10 It’s You (demo) (02:33) |
 | Album: 34 of 38 Title: There’s Know Place Like Home Released: 2009-10-13 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:19:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Howling at the Moon - Maggie Renfroe (?) 2 Belexes (05:43) 3 Point of Know Return (03:25) 4 Song for America (09:29) 5 On the Other Side (?) 6 Musicatto (03:22) 7 Ghosts / Rainmaker (04:32) 8 Nobody’s Home (04:55) 9 Hold On (05:07) 10 Cheyenne Anthem (?) 11 Icarus II (06:57) 12 Icarus: Borne on Wings of Steel (06:37) 13 Miracles out of Nowhere (06:40) 14 Incommudro (?) 15 The Wall (?) 16 Fight Fire With Fire (04:20) 17 Dust in the Wind (04:13) 18 Carry On Wayward Son (06:48) 19 Down the Road (afternoon jam) (06:53) |
| There’s Know Place Like Home : Allmusic album Review : Starting in the 1990s, quite a few hard rock bands decided to go "the symphonic route," by putting on concerts that merged big guitar riffs with swirling strings. The Scorpions, Kiss, and Metallica all immediately come to mind as bands that have taken the symphonic plunge. But admittedly, the results varied wildly. But one band that seemed custom-made for a symphonic collaboration was Kansas -- who have always favored technicality and layered compositions over your basic three-chord rock. And in 2009, Kansas officially joined the "symphonic rock age," with the release of CD and DVD sets (sold separately), titled Theres Know Place Like Home. Recorded/filmed live at Washburn Universitys White Concert Hall (in Topeka, KS), the group is joined on-stage by the 50-piece Washburn University Orchestra, and the results make such already-bombastic-sounding tracks as "Carry on Wayward Son" even more grandiose. And since songs like "Dust in the Wind" contained strings on the original studio version, its not that far of a stretch for Kansas to reconnect with their symphonic side. Add to it appearances in the set by former members Kerry Livgren and Steve Morse, and you have certainly one of the better (if not the best) Kansas DVDs to be released so far. | ||
 | Album: 35 of 38 Title: The Classic Albums Collection 1974–1983 Released: 2011-11-14 Tracks: 110 Duration: 9:42:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Can I Tell You (03:32) 2 Bringing It Back (03:33) 3 Lonely Wind (04:17) 4 Belexes (04:24) 5 Journey From Mariabronn (07:57) 6 The Pilgrimage (03:43) 7 Apercu (09:36) 8 Death of Mother Nature Suite (07:55) 9 Bringing It Back (09:41) 1 Down the Road (03:44) 2 Song for America (10:03) 3 Lamplight Symphony (08:16) 4 Lonely Street (05:42) 5 The Devil Game (05:04) 6 Incomudro—Hymn to the Atman (12:14) 7 Song for America (single edit) (03:02) 8 Down the Road (live) (03:48) 1 It Takes a Woman’s Love (to Make a Man) (03:08) 2 Two Cents Worth (03:08) 3 Icarus—Borne on Wings of Steel (06:04) 4 All the World (07:11) 5 Child of Innocence (04:34) 6 It’s You (02:32) 7 Mysteries and Mayhem (04:19) 8 The Pinnacle (09:35) 9 Child of Innocence (rehearsal recording) (05:05) 10 It’s You (demo) (02:41) 1 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 2 The Wall (04:48) 3 What’s on My Mind (03:28) 4 Miracles out of Nowhere (06:28) 5 Opus Insert (04:27) 6 Questions of My Childhood (03:38) 7 Cheyenne Anthem (06:53) 8 Magnum Opus: a. Father Padilla Meets the Perfect Gnat / b. Howling at the Moon / c. Man Overboard / d. Industry on Parade / e. Release the Beavers / f. Final Attack (08:35) 9 Carry On Wayward Son (04:44) 10 Cheyenne Anthem (06:41) 1 Point of Know Return (03:12) 2 Paradox (03:50) 3 The Spider (02:05) 4 Portrait (He Knew) (04:36) 5 Closet Chronicles (06:31) 6 Lightning’s Hand (04:24) 7 Dust in the Wind (03:26) 8 Sparks of the Tempest (04:18) 9 Nobody’s Home (04:40) 10 Hopelessly Human (07:17) 11 Sparks of the Tempest (05:17) 12 Portrait (He Knew) (remix) (04:49) 1 Song for America (07:04) 2 Point of Know Return (03:07) 3 Paradox (04:09) 4 Icarus / Borne on Wings of Steel (05:58) 5 Portrait (He Knew) (05:18) 6 Carry On Wayward Son (04:38) 7 Journey From Mariabronn (08:55) 8 Dust in the Wind (06:17) 9 Lonely Wind (04:29) 10 Mysteries and Mayhem (04:00) 11 Excerpt From Lamplight Symphony (02:38) 12 The Wall (04:58) 13 Magnum Opus (11:15) 1 Hopelessly Human (08:42) 2 Child of Innocence (07:47) 3 Belexes (04:34) 4 Cheyenne Anthem (06:55) 5 Lonely Street (08:20) 6 Miracles out of Nowhere (07:59) 7 The Spider (07:41) 8 Closet Chronicles (06:55) 9 Down the Road (03:44) 10 Sparks of the Tempest (05:19) 11 Bringing It Back (07:07) 1 On the Other Side (06:24) 2 People of the South Wind (03:39) 3 Angels Have Fallen (06:39) 4 How My Soul Cries Out for You (05:46) 5 A Glimpse of Home (06:35) 6 Away From You (04:26) 7 Stay Out of Trouble (04:15) 8 Reason to Be (03:50) 1 Relentless (04:57) 2 Anything for You (03:58) 3 Hold On (03:52) 4 Loner (02:31) 5 Curtain of Iron (06:12) 6 Got to Rock On (03:21) 7 Don’t Open Your Eyes (04:06) 8 No One Together (06:57) 9 No Room for a Stranger (03:00) 10 Back Door (04:24) 1 Play the Game Tonight (03:27) 2 Right Away (04:07) 3 Fair Exchange (05:02) 4 Chasing Shadows (03:22) 5 Diamonds and Pearls (04:51) 6 Face It (04:18) 7 Windows (03:32) 8 Borderline (04:01) 9 Play On (03:34) 10 Crossfire (06:33) 1 Fight Fire With Fire (03:40) 2 Everybody’s My Friend (04:01) 3 Mainstream (06:36) 4 Andi (04:17) 5 Going Through the Motions (05:48) 6 Get Rich (03:44) 7 Don’t Take Your Love Away (03:39) 8 End of the Age (04:33) 9 Incident on a Bridge (05:38) |
| The Classic Albums Collection 1974–1983 : Allmusic album Review : Legacy’s The Classic Albums Collection 1974-1983 should provide endless hours of arena/prog/AOR-pop bliss for fans of Kansas, as it features ten of the band’s career-defining albums, including an expanded edition of the live album Two for the Show. Each studio album (Kansas, Song for America, Masque, Leftoverture, Point of Know Return, Monolith, Audio Visions, Vinyl Confessions, and Drastic Measures) has been remastered and peppered with bonus cuts, and all of the original album artwork has been lovingly reproduced. Best of all, the box set is priced to move. | ||
 | Album: 36 of 38 Title: Miracles out of Nowhere Released: 2015-03-20 Tracks: 24 Duration: 1:19:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Intro: Dialogue (00:45) 2 The Pilgrimage (03:06) 3 Rock Concert: Dialogue (00:34) 4 Can I Tell You (live) (04:41) 5 The First Album: Dialogue (00:36) 6 Journey From Mariabronn (07:57) 7 The Second Album: Dialogue (00:46) 8 Song for America (10:03) 9 Down the Road (03:44) 10 Masque: Dialogue (00:46) 11 Icarus (Borne on Wings of Steel) (05:45) 12 The Pinnacle (09:35) 13 Leftoverture: Dialogue (00:41) 14 The Wall (04:48) 15 Wayward Son: Dialogue (00:44) 16 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 17 Kerry the Songwriter: Dialogue (00:05) 18 Miracles out of Nowhere (06:28) 19 Time for a New Record: Dialogue (00:08) 20 Point of Know Return (03:12) 21 Finger Exercise: Dialogue (00:16) 22 Dust in the Wind (03:26) 23 The Miracle: Dialogue (01:10) 24 Nobody’s Home (04:40) |
| Miracles out of Nowhere : Allmusic album Review : A career-spanning retrospective and behind-the-scenes look at the venerable rock outfit, the Sony Legacy-issued Miracles Out of Nowhere celebrates Kansas 40th anniversary with both a feature-film and a best-of collection. The film, directed by Charley Randozzo, features interviews with famous fans like Brian May and Garth Brooks, as well as stories and anecdotes from the band, who reconvened in Topeka, Kansas to be interviewed for the documentary. The audio compilation features the hits along with some deep cuts, and is interspersed with audio extracts from the film. | ||
 | Album: 37 of 38 Title: The Prelude Implicit Released: 2016-09-23 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:00:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 With This Heart (04:13) 2 Visibility Zero (04:27) 3 The Unsung Heroes (05:02) 4 Rhythm in the Spirit (05:58) 5 Refugee (04:23) 6 The Voyage of Eight Eighteen (08:18) 7 Camouflage (06:42) 8 Summer (04:07) 9 Crowded Isolation (06:10) 10 Section 60 (03:59) 11 Home on the Range (03:25) 12 Oh Shenandoah (03:38) |
| The Prelude Implicit : Allmusic album Review : The 15th studio long-player from the progressive rock/AOR legends -- and first collection of new material in 16 years -- The Prelude Implicit is the first Kansas album to feature new vocalist and keyboardist Ronnie Platt, who replaced founder Steve Walsh after the former announced his retirement in 2014. The 12-track set also marks the studio debuts of keyboard player David Manion and guitarist Zak Rizvi. Thats a lot of new blood, but rest assured, The Prelude Implicit is very Kansas-y. Platts amenable voice is custom made for melodic rock -- think Tommy Shaw-meets-Paul Rodgers -- and the presence of founding members Phil Ehart (drums) and Rich Williams (guitar), alongside longtime violin/guitar player David Ragsdale and bassist Billy Greer, helps to further ground the proceedings, resulting in something that sounds both familiar and forward thinking. Front-loaded with co-lead singles "With This Heart" and "Visibility Zero," the former a soaring, heartfelt anthem and the latter a muscular classic rock jam that invokes the bands "Carry on My Wayward Son"-era, the technically superb The Prelude Implicit -- literally -- hits all of the right notes, and should please longtime fans, despite the absence of Walsh. From the proggy, nearly nine-minute "Voyage of Eight Eighteen" to the hook-filled, festival-ready nostalgia piece "Summertime," its clear that Kansas still has gas in the tank, and with some new parts in place, it looks like theyve still got some road to cover. | ||
 | Album: 38 of 38 Title: Wheels and Other Rarities Released: 2018-11-30 Tracks: 10 Duration: 1:05:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Wheels (04:31) 2 Can I Tell You (demo) (04:21) 3 Carry On Wayward Son (05:23) 4 The Wall (04:48) 5 Perfect Lover (04:18) 6 Death of Mother Nature Suite (live at the Cowtown Ballroom, Kansas City, MO, 1973) (08:59) 7 Incomudro—Hymn to the Atman (16:08) 8 On the Other Side (06:42) 9 Dust in the Wind (05:50) 10 Play the Game Tonight (03:57) |