Kansas - Kansas
	Released: 1974 / 2004 (Remaster) Label: Kirshner / Epic Legacy (Remaster) Cat. No.: EK 92577 (Remaster) Total Time: 54:46
	Reviewed by: Eric Porter, May 2005 The music industry sure has changed in the thirty plus years since the first Kansas album was released. Just look at the picture on the back cover, try getting a group of guys who look like this a major record contract today. Not gonna happen my friends, although if you were recruiting for extras on the Orange County Chopper show, the band might have fit in nicely. Kansas plants the seed for what would become a long and fruitful career as one of the premiere American bands of the 70s. These guys hit the big time and became FM radio staples, without compromising their sound. Combining a bluesy rock feel ("The Pilgrimage," "Can I Tell You") with more progressive tracks, and the use of violin, not the most common instrument in rock, gave the band a unique flavor that set them apart. "Apercu" and "Death Of Mother Nature Suite" will excite the progressive lovers with their melodies, complexities and dynamics. Just sit down and listen to the various melodies being played on keyboards, guitar, violin, and bass, yet they have an effortless flow to them. Although Livgren was the main songwriter, all these elements are important and vital to the sound. A nice addition to the remaster is the live version of "Bringing It Back," which packs a ton of punch and extends the original with some jamming. Overall this is an excellent debut, containing classic tracks such as "Belexes" and "Journey From Mariabronn," which are still being played live to this day, and are some of the most powerful tracks the band ever produced. [See also Tom's and Keith's reviews -ed.] More about Kansas: Track Listing: Can I Tell You (3:32) / Bringing It Back (3:33) / Lonely Wind (4:17) / Belexes (4:24) / Journey From Mariabronn (7:58) / The Pilgrimage (3:43) / Apercu (9:36) / Death of Mother Nature Suite (7:58) / Bonus Track : Bringing It Back (Live) (9:41) Musicians: Phil Ehart - Drums Dave Hope - Bass Kerry Livgren - Lead and Rhythm Guitar, Piano, Organ, Moog Synthesizer, Vocals Robbie Steinhardt - Violin, Lead Vocals and Harmony Steve Walsh - Organ, Piano, Conga’s, Lead Vocals and Harmony Rich Williams - Guitar Contact: Website: www.kansasband.com Note: will open new browser window Discography Kansas (1974) Song For America (1975) Masque (1975/2001) Leftoverture (1976/2001) Point of Know Return (1977/1984/2002) Two For The Show (1978) Monolith (1979) Audio Visions (1980) Vinyl Confessions (1982) Drastic Measures (1983) The Best Of Kansas (1984) Power (1986) In The Spirit Of Things (1988) Carry On (compilation) (1990) Live at the Whisky (1992) Box Set (1994) Freaks of Nature (1995) Always Never The Same (1998) King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Kansas (1998) Best Of Kansas (altered re-release) (1999) Somewhere To Elsewhere (2000) The Ultimate Kansas (2002) Device - Voice - Drum (2002) Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection 1974-2004 (2004) Device Voice Drum (2002) (DVD)