Kansas

[Spectral Morn]

Hi Guys and John


Coming from, surprise, surprise KANSAS. These guys blazed a trail from small clubs to stadiums and back to small venues in recent years. They have been accused of being representative of whats bad about American music. I for one would say they represent one aspect of what was right about American music, all a matter of perspective and taste.

From 1970 till present they have made quality albums that span several aspects within the rock genre. They have made prog, symphonic, art, pomp, Aor and even for a few years Christian rock. And until recently every album was in my opinion excellent.

My faves are Point of Know Return, Left Overture, Audio Visions, Vinyl Confessions, Monolith and In the Spirit of Things. Sound quality is good as Jeff Glixman produced most of their early albums and as the band took over in later years the quality has been kept high. I am not talking audiophile here but very good for rock albums.

The band has had two main vocalists Steve Walsh who sang on all the albums bar Vinyl Confessions and Drastic Measures on which John Elefeante took over. Those two albums are more Christian Rock/AOR. The rest of the band has been Robbie Steinhardt on vocals and violin, Dave Hope Bass, vocals, Rich Williams Guitar, Kerry Livgren Keyboards, Guitar,Vocals Phil Ehart Drums. Other guys to have been in the band though not core Kansas are Steve Morse guitar and Billy Greer Bass

Below are some links to Kansas Songs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB17uWuBrL0 Carry on wayward Son

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkbdP7sq0w8 Dust in the Wind

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60A1yKc2hi4 Point Of Know return

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjAwliuNHVE Play the Game To Night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCYIiHAhIdo The Pinnacle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSVUL...eature=related On the Other Side

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N4n1...eature=related Stand be Side Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yASrf...846BD0&index=9 Cheyenne Anthem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcJiP...eature=related Hopelessly Human

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cThU6...eature=related Distant Visions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymn_z...eature=related Play the Game tonight live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzDee...eature=related Portrait He Knew live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDDuQ...eature=related No one Together live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Gesk...eature=related Crossfire live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNODe...eature=related Chasing Shadows live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WBZ5...eature=related Right Away live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJCvo...eature=related Windows live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ChaE...eature=related Face It live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCeH3...eature=related Diamonds and Pearls live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q28lZ...eature=related Sparks of the Tempest live


I will add more to this later.


Regards D S D L---Neil

[John]

Great Band and yes production is really good worth getting on vinyl as near audiophile quality
Steve Walsh is one of my fav vocalist and his work with Streets which include some really cool guitar playing from Mike Slammer is also worth checking out
Its a shame that bands like this become uncool its kind of what happened to prog over hear
I tend to perfer there more pomp period but they did produce some good AOR too
I no idea what the last few albums are like Neil
Neil did you hear Saga got a new CD with DVD out its from the last tour with that other great vocalist from the pomp erea (Michael Sadler)

[Beechwoods]

You know, I'd always wondered what Kansas sounded like. 'Point Of Know Return' is a great song with nice Prog elements. The later more 'pomp' or AOR stuff I like less, but that's just me Thanks for sharing this Neil. You should separate out your top 3 or 4 tracks to the top so people can go straight to the best stuff first if they're curious like me

[Spectral Morn]

Hi Nick and John


Hard to put best first as to be honest I really like all of this stuff but Point of Know Return as an album would be a really strong favorite. The live tracks come from Vinyl Confessions which is a strong favorite of the AOR period. Kansas are one of those bands that you may favour the early stuff over the later or vice versa. I like it all...thats the problem. However the first three songs would be considered to be classics.

Hi John

Yes I am aware of the live saga album..Live In Munich...haven't got it yet. The later Kansas albums are poor IMHO. For me when Kerry Livgren left the magic vanished. The albums up to Monolith charted his spiritual quest and his lyrics plus music made this a very interesting band..more than other bands of a similar genre. He outlines this in his book Seeds of Change. After Monolith a split occurred were Steve Walsh felt uncomfortable with singing Christian lyrics, so he left. Dave Hope the bass player had also just become a Christian so John Elefeante was brought in to sing on the next albums, which are Christian in view but not preachy. Kery Livgren found that he could not work with in the confines of the secular music industry so he left to form AD an excellent pomp/aor Christian band. He is now partially retired from music and is both a Pastor of a Church and a farmer. Steve Walsh returned with Steve Morse on guitar and they produced an okay album called Power. The next Kansas album In The Spirit of Things is an AOR clasic IMHO. The first track Rain Maker has one of Steve Walsh's best vocals ever. This track was a test track for me...if the emotion and power was not there something is seriously wrong with the system, component etc.

The next two studio albums are poor Freaks of Nature is best avoided and while Kerry Livgren is back for Somewhere to Elsewhere its not that good..the magic is dead. I hope it can come back but not so far.

Kerry's band AD are very good and his first solo album Seeds of Change is amazing. It came out about the time of Monolith and it has very brave choices. It is a Christian album and yet Ronnie James Dio sings on two tracks, it is well worth getting IMHO.

Links to AD tracks below. The quality is okay to poor..if you like more stuff. I rate these songs a lot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbtVr...eature=related Ground Zero

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wdxk...eature=related To live for the Kingfrom Seeds of Change with Ronnie James Dio on vocals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUM95kKdlgs Tonight live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBCiU9BWzKI Progress live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yraXywN-3PE The fury

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s18Vl9gyK5w Make it or break itlive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiSTDJKrtwU All creation Sings live

STREETS live for John

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6qeW5YI1KI So far way live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHKOcfH2K_I Don't look Back video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipEi3QulhG4 Every thing is Changing video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKZ9ajFjoxk One way street live poor...

Lots more just follow the links when there...



Regards D S D L----Neil