Kansas

Cygnus X-1 wrote: I recently found my old kansas cds and have been listening to them. Gotta say these guys are fast becoming a prog fav. They just have some of the best elements of music, great guitar/bass/drums, fantastic synth and some of the best vocals. Anyone care to share their fav albums or songs? I love: The Preacher House on Fire Child Of Innocence Song For America and of course Dust in the wind.

The extrended version of Song for America is my favorite by these guys.  They have a fantastic live CD called Two for the Show.

I heard some of their songs on a prog online-radio station. I really liked it but I dont own a single CD by them. Does anyone have a recomendation for what should I buy as my 'First Kansas CD'? (or first second and third Kansas CDs? Which are the ones that are a must have?)

Sorry for changing the subject a bit...

one of my favourites is "miracles out of nowhere"

the entire "Point.." and "Leftoverture" are magnificent

Like 99.99% of the entire world population I only knew them by Dust In The Wind. Maybe not bad, but a song that gets too much  airplay in public places. When a progmate suggested me to check out early Kansas I thought he had gone a bit funny in the head. Big was my surprise when I found out these guys did some fine symphonic prog back in the seventies. Good musicians as well, and violin too. Yes sir, I like it. 

Best albums for me: Point Of Know Return, Leftoverture and Kansas (side 2 rules). Best songs? Hopelessly Human, Apercu/Death Of Mother Nature Suite (just have to hear them together) Miracles Out Of Nowhere, Magnum Opus, to name a few.

I like The Spider also, but that song almost got me under a running train. Not that it is very depressing, but the cup of the ride cymbal used on this recording sounds a lot like the bell-alert used on unsecured dutch railroad crossings. When you are approaching such a crossing on a bike, do not play this track loudly on your walkman (())

"Journey From Mariabronn" from their first album is an absolute CLASSIC and to this day one of my all time favorites by any artist.  Some of the other highlights from this great prog band are....

"Song For America" from the LP of the same name.  "Lamplight Symphony" from the this same album.

"Icarus - Borne on Wings of Steel" from the bands Masque album.

"Miracles Out of Nowhere" and "Opus Insert" are just great tunes from the Leftoverture record.

Point Of Know Return has many great tunes such as the title cut, "Portrait" (another CLASSIC) "Paradox", "Sparks of the Tempest" and "Closet Chronicles".

Monolith is somewhat unpopular with casual listeners (and some fans) but I think there are some real gems here like "Reason to Be" and "Away From You".

The band slipped a little on their next album Audio Visions.  Although a few cuts, "No One Together" and "Relentless" are pretty good.

Unfortunately the next few albums without Steve Walsh aren't that good.  Then Walsh rejoined a few years later on the band's Power LP.  Although it was a step up, the band never released another record that could live up to their standards of the 70's.

Point of know return are great

Their best works, IMHO: "Leftoverture", "Point of Know Return" and "Monolith".