Discography
- Kansas (1974)
- Song for America (1975)
- Masque (1975)
- Leftoverture (1976)
- Point of Know Return (1977)
- Monolith (1979)
- Audio-Visions (1980)
- Vinyl Confessions (1982)
- Drastic Measures (1983)
- Power (1986)
- In the Spirit of Things (1988)
- Freaks of Nature (1995)
- Somewhere to Elsewhere (2000)
Kansas - Kansas (1974)
Kansas is the self-titled debut album by American progressive rock band Kansas, released in 1974. Kansas's debut album is the result of a merger between two Topeka musical camps: Kerry Livgren, from a previous Kansas line-up, and White Clover, which played mainstream rock and blues. The newly formed group signed with Kirshner Records in 1973 and traveled to New York to record their first release. The material on Kansas, written mostly by guitarist/keyboardist Livgren and vocalist/keyboardist Steve Walsh, had been culled from the repertoire of both groups. Livgren's songs were generally longer and more elaborate than Walsh's and featured mystical lyrics which reflected his intense interest in Eastern religions. Some of these classically-inspired compositions remain favorites of the band's faithful (aka Wheatheads), especially "Journey from Mariabronn" (inspired by Herman Hesse's Narcissus and Goldmund), "Belexes", and "Aperçu" (influenced by the pseudo-Asian sound of Giacomo Puccini's Turandot).
Playlist files :
01.Can I Tell You (3:32)
02.Bringing It Back (3:33)
03.Lonely Wind (4:16)
04.Belexes (4:23)
05.Journey from Mariabronn (7:55)
06.The Pilgrimage (3:42)
07.Aperçu (9:43)
08.Death of Mother Nature Suite (7:43)
Kansas - Song for America (1975)
Song for America is the second album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1975 (see 1975 in music). Endless touring had given Kansas a small following of loyal fans, some of whom would follow the group from one show to another. Despite the minor success of their debut album, they were still, for the most part, a struggling bar band. While Song for America did little to change that, it is regarded by many as their most progressive and heavy work, as their next albums would transit into a softer format. "Down the Road" is a typical example of Kansas with this heavy sound. Like the first album, the writing duties were divided between Kerry Livgren and the former members of White Clover, most notably vocalist / keyboardist Steve Walsh.
Playlist files :01.Down the Road (3:43)
02.Song for America (10:03)
03.Lamplight Symphony (8:17)
04.Lonely Street (5:43)
05.The Devil Game (5:04)
06.Incomudro - Hymn to the Atman (12:11)
Kansas - Masque (1975)
Masque is the third album by US rock band Kansas, released in 1975. On the heels of their Song for America album, Kirshner Records began to apply pressure to the band for a hit single. After some discussion amongst the band members, Kansas decided on a compromise and went to work on their third album, Masque. Vocalist Steve Walsh contributed a few shorter, more accessible songs to the mix, but Kerry Livgren's dark epics retained much of the style from the previous recording. The album is somewhat of a bridge between the slightly heavier sound from Song for America, recorded the same year and the more diverse direction of Leftoverture that would be released with massive success the next year. Although the collection contains some fan favorites such as "Icarus - Borne on Wings of Steel," "The Pinnacle," and the Walsh's "All The World," the shorter songs failed to impress radio audiences. A severely remixed version of the opening track, including uncharacteristic additional vocals added from non-band members, was released as an unsuccessful but rare and interesting single.
Playlist files :01.It Takes a Woman's Love (To Make a Man) (3:08)
02.Two Cents Worth (3:08)
03.Icarus - Borne on Wings of Steel (6:03)
04.All the World (7:11)
05.Child of Innocence (4:36)
06.It's You (2:31)
07.Mysteries and Mayhem (4:18)
08.The Pinnacle (9:44)
Kansas - Leftoverture (1976)
When Kansas's Masque album failed to produce a hit single, pressure from Kirshner Records intensified. The band knew that if their next LP did not sell, they would be dropped by the label. To make matters worse, Steve Walsh began to experience writer's block, and his contribution to the album would ultimately be limited to co-authoring four songs. It fell on Kerry Livgren to fill the void. The dark, sprawling suites from the previous two albums disappeared in favor of shorter, more accessible songs which energized the band. Despite their brevity, the new compositions still retained much of the classically-inspired complexity of Livgren's previous work. Kansas recorded the album at Studio In The Country in Bogalusa, Louisiana. (The Studio in the Country was so-named because, as Kerry Livgren described on In the Studio with Redbeard in the episode spotlighting Leftoverture that "It was in the middle of a swamp (chuckling). We'd walk out of the studio and there would be gators in front of the studio, mosquitos the size of B-52s and at times armadillos would run into the control room.
Playlist files :
01.Carry On Wayward Son (5:25)
02.The Wall (4:51)
03.What's on My Mind (3:28)
04.Miracles Out of Nowhere (6:28)
05.Opus Insert (4:28)
06.Questions of My Childhood (3:40)
07.Cheyenne Anthem (6:55)
08.Magnum Opus (8:35)
Kansas - Point of Know Return (1977)
Point of Know Return is the fifth album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1977. The huge success of Kansas's previous effort, Leftoverture, brought a new kind of pressure. While they were no longer desperately poor and starving for a hit, the band wondered whether they would be able build on, or at least maintain the level of achievement the years of recording and touring had brought them. The sessions for their follow-up LP, Point of Know Return, were filled with tension as singer/songwriter Steve Walsh, who had always been uncomfortable with the artistic direction of the band, left the group briefly. Years later, Walsh would admit in an interview with nationally-syndicated radio host Redbeard on the weekly rockumentary series In the Studio with Redbeard (edition #849, week of 9/27/04 and again on the 30th Anniversary Episode for Point of Know Return in 2007) that he had been something of a prima donna at this point. The other members of the group talked him into returning and the sessions continued. As with the previous album, it was a last-minute addition to the track line-up that would prove to be a huge success.
Playlist files :
01.Point of Know Return (3:13)
02.Paradox (3:50)
03.The Spider (2:05)
04.Portrait (He Knew) (4:38)
05.Closet Chronicles (6:31)
06.Lightning's Hand (4:24)
07.Dust in the Wind (3:28)
08.Sparks of the Tempest (4:18)
09.Nobody's Home (4:40)
10.Hopelessly Human (7:17)
Kansas - Monilith (1979)
Monolith is the sixth studio album, and seventh album overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1979 (see 1979 in music). Although this was Kansas' third straight studio album to hit the Billboard Top 10, its sales were slow compared to the previous releases, and its one Top 40 hit, "People Of The South Wind" enjoyed only brief popularity. The title refers to the meaning of the Siouan word "Kansa," the Indian tribe for which the state of Kansas was named. On their 80-city U.S. tour, the band's set list featured the entire album early in the tour, though by the time the tour ended, about half the songs had been cut from the live set in favor of older numbers. A national broadcast of their show at Alpine Valley, Wisconsin on this tour featured the entire album and is one of the most popular unissued live recordings of the band. Believing that fans didn't like Monolith, they did not perform any of the songs again until the mid 1990s, when they revived "People of the South Wind" and "Reason to Be" briefly. In recent years, the opening track, "On the Other Side," has been featured in performances on and off on tours, including that for the Device Voice Drum DVD, although not appearing on the DVD itself.
Playlist files :
01.On The Other Side (6:26)
02.People Of The South Wind (3:41)
03.Angels Have Fallen (6:39)
04.How My Soul Cries Out For You (5:46)
05.A Glimpse Of Home (6:37)
06.Away From You (4:26)
07.Stay Out Of Trouble (4:15)
08.Reason To Be (3:51)
Kansas - Audio Vision (1980)
Audio-Visions is the seventh studio album, and eighth album overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1980. Kerry Livgren's recent conversion to Christianity is first heard on this album, primarily in the lyrics to "Hold On" (which was written as an evangelistic plea to his wife) and "No One Together. The album was to be the last album with the band's original lineup until 2000's Somewhere to Elsewhere and coincidentally the band's last studio album to be certified Gold by the RIAA (which it did in December 1980).
Playlist files :
01.Relentless (4:56)
02.Anything for You (3:58)
03.Hold On (3:53)
04.Loner (2:30)
05.Curtain of Iron (6:12)
06.Got to Rock On (3:21)
07.Don't Open Your Eyes (4:05)
08.No One Together (6:58)
09.No Room for a Stranger (3:00)
10.Back Door (4:23)
Kansas - Vinyl Confessions (1982)
Vinyl Confessions is the eighth studio album, and ninth album overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1982 (see 1982 in music). Vinyl Confessions was a major turning point for the band. After the conversion of both guitarist/keyboard player Kerry Livgren and bass player Dave Hope to Christianity, and the focus that Livgren placed on his religion in the band's lyrics, lead singer Steve Walsh did not agree with the new direction of the band and left to form his own band, Streets. Walsh had also contributed much as a songwriter, so the band was forced to find a new lead singer who not only had a vocal style that fit the band's music, but also could contribute material for the upcoming album. After a long audition process, the choice came down to three strong candidates: Warren Ham, Michael Gleason and John Elefante. The band eventually settled on Elefante.
Playlist files :
01.Play the Game Tonight (3:26)
02.Right Away (4:06)
03.Fair Exchange (5:01)
04.Chasing Shadows (3:20)
05.Diamonds and Pearls (4:50)
06.Face It (4:17)
07.Windows (3:32)
08.Borderline (4:00)
09.Play On (3:32)
10.Crossfire (6:35)
Kansas - Drastic Measures (1983)
Drastic Measures is the ninth studio album, and tenth album overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1983. The shift in direction that Kansas took with Vinyl Confessions took its toll before recording began on this album. After hearing that Christian fans of Kansas were using lyrics from Vinyl Confessions in religious tracts and handing them out prior to the band's live appearances, violinist Robby Steinhardt grew tired of Kansas' new Christian affiliation and quit the band at the end of the 1982 tour.
Playlist files :
01.Fight Fire With Fire (3:40)
02.Everybody's My Friend (4:09)
03.Mainstream (6:36)
04.Andi (4:15)
05.Going Through the Motions (5:43)
06.Get Rich (3:43)
07.Don't Take Your Love Away (3:44)
08.End of the Age (4:33)
09.Incident on a Bridge (5:37)
Kansas - Power (1986)
Power is the tenth studio album, and 12th overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1986. A year and a half after Kansas disbanded at the end of the Drastic Measures tour, former lead singer Steve Walsh returned to revive Kansas along with original band members Phil Ehart and Rich Williams. Virtuoso guitarist Steve Morse, who joined at Phil Ehart's invitation after the two met at a concert in Atlanta, became a significant musical force in the new lineup. Bass guitarist and vocalist Billy Greer (who had worked with Walsh in the short-lived band Streets after he left Kansas in 1982) completed the lineup, which began rehearsing in July 1985 while Walsh was finishing up a tour as sideman for Cheap Trick. They released Power the following year.
Playlist files :01.Silhouettes in Disguise (4:26)
02.Power (4:25)
03.All I Wanted (3:20)
04.Secret Service (4:42)
05.We're Not Alone Anymore (4:16)
06.Musicatto (3:30)
07.Taking in the View (3:06)
08.Three Pretenders (3:50)
09.Tomb 19 (3:46)
10.Can't Cry Anymore (4:01)
Kansas - In the Spirit of Things (1988)
In the Spirit of Things is the 11th studio album, and 13th overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1988. It is a very loosely organized concept album telling the story of a flood hitting the real Kansas town of Neosho Falls in the early 1950s. The album is often cited by lead vocalist, keyboardist, and songwriter Steve Walsh as his favorite Kansas album. Its odd mixture of hard rock, progressive rock, and '80s pop ballads (forced on the band by MCA Records, which selected outside songwriters in an attempt to generate hit singles) failed to catch on with a mass audience but it remains a cult favorite among Kansas fans.
Playlist files :
01.Ghosts (4:18)
02.One Big Sky (5:17)
03.Inside of Me (4:42)
04.One Man, One Heart (4:20)
05.House on Fire (4:42)
06.Once in a Lifetime (4:14)
07.Stand Beside Me (3:28)
08.I Counted on Love (3:33)
09.The Preacher (4:18)
10.Rainmaker (6:44)
11.T.O. Witcher (1:39)
12.Bells of Saint James (5:39)
Kansas - Freak of Nature (1995)
Freaks Of Nature is the 12th studio album, and 16th overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1995. While the band hoped that it would be a springboard to a strong comeback, the album received little attention beyond what was left of the fan base. Two edited singles were issued but did not chart, nor did the album itself, which carries the distinction of being the only Kansas official studio album not to appear on any Billboard chart. The album was recorded in Trinidad.
Playlist files :
01.I Can Fly (5:21)
02.Desperate Times (5:25)
03.Hope Once Again (4:34)
04.Black Fathom 4 (4:34)
05.Under The Knife (4:54)
06.Need (3:59)
07.Freaks Of Nature (4:05)
08.Cold Grey Morning (4:14)
09.Peaceful And Warm (6:44)
Kansas - Somewhere to Elsewhere (2000)
Somewhere to Elsewhere is the 14th studio album, and 20th overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 2000. This album marks the reunion of the band's original 1970s lineup, along with Billy Greer, who joined Kansas with Power. Kerry Livgren composed all of the album's tracks, and he sings (which he does not normally do) on the hidden track "Geodesic Dome." After its release, it was praised by fans who had been waiting a long time for a good recording. Hence, this album acts like a comeback for the recently struggling band. The direction here is more like the albums from the late seventies, with less christian affection and more focus on hard rock.
Playlist files :
01.Icarus II (7:17)
02.When the World Was Young (5:50)
03.Grand Fun Alley (4:38)
04.The Coming Dawn (5:44)
05.Myriad (8:55)
06.Look at the Time (5:37)
07.Disappearing Skin Tight Blues (7:02)
08.Distant Vision (8:48)
09.Byzantium (4:15)
10.Not Man Big (8:39)
11.Geodesic Dome (1:24)
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