THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION

Despite the absence of a lot of excellent songs (including many of my favorites), I found myself turning to this compilation more so than The Best of Kansas I had purchased before (when I first got into progressive rock, compilations and live albums served to ease me in, as they gave me an overall scope of a given band). With a couple of noteworthy exceptions, Sony International disregarded the longer tracks that really established Kansas as the great American progressive rock act. Included here are the generally more accessible tracks, like "Got to Rock On" or "Reason to Be." No Kansas compilation would be complete without the obligatory "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind" either, so those are present and accounted for. This was also the compilation that prompted me to purchase Freaks of Nature, since "Hope Once Again" is such a phenomenal little song. The Kerry Livgren-penned song "Wheels," which has a beautiful clear sound and great musicianship (particularly from the violin) begins the second disc. With the exception of the demo version of "Can I Tell You" on the second disc, there is nothing present from the debut at all. "Perfect Lover," an Elefante-era song not found on either studio album is also included. Then there's a spectacular live version of "Incomudro- Hymn to the Atman." Even though I liked it, the main problem with this compilation is that it offers absolutely nothing new. Even the live cut I just mentioned is available on The Ultimate Kansas Box Set, as is "Wheels," and the box set contains the more progressive material. This is recommended for someone only wanting to get his feet wet with Kansas.