TWO FOR THE SHOW

Even before the two-disc set came out, this was the definitive Kansas live album. Many of the favorites from the first five albums are here, as well as a few live bonuses. The songs are faster, and the sound more furious. My favorite version of the hit song "Carry On Wayward Son" is here (with Walsh singing a slightly different melody on the well-known chorus). The lovely acoustic guitar solo following "Dust in the Wind" is magnificent piece of music, as is the piano solo introducing the usually forgotten "Lonely Wind." "Magnum Opus" is as creepy as ever, with the eeriest of introductions, and the initial moments of "Sparks of the Tempest" can make a child piddle on himself a tad. Kerry Livgren and Rich Williams indulge in a little guitar dueling prior to "Child of Innocence." Ehart delivers a slightly exotic and triumphant drum solo that leads into outlandish noises that go right into "The Spider," which is played at an almost breakneck speed. The song directly after that is the sorely missed "Closet Chronicles," which was originally cut from the vinyl to make the album fit on one compact disc. But the record company has made it up to Kansas fans with this updated version. Also included is the typically neglected masterpiece "Hopelessly Human," which stands shoulder to shoulder with the shorter epics. Speaking of shorter epics, the second disc blesses Kansas fans with "Miracles Out of Nowhere," which has an extended and more complex organ interlude. Forget the compilations- if one must have the best of Kansas, one could do no better than to acquire this masterpiece of live progressive rock music.