The Kansas Appreciation Thread

 

As to the band, well I think their terrific,   even though the friend who turned me on to them many years ago now compares them to Vogon poetry.  He's wrong.

 

My favorite albums are:

Leftoverture:  They clearly had a hard rock and poppish bent, and wrote many short songs for their previous albums, most of which were overlooked, and justifiably so IMHO.  Leftoverture was when those pop aspirations came up to their prog aspirations.  A deserved hit for them.  And I don't mean .

Song for America:  Much better than the albums that sandwich it.  They matured as a band after their first album and it really showed.

Somewhere to Elsewhere:  Great return to form and lineup.

Monolith:  This one is not greatly appreciated on this site, and I can understand why.  It is not spectacular, but the band is in good form, and I like a lot of the songs.  FYI: The name Kansas comes from the Kansa indians.  The name means "People of the South Wind."  Being part Native American myself, I'm always glad to see the first nations get some appreciation and notice.

 

My most vivid memory is seeing them live during the Vinyl Confessions tour.  I wasn't so into the album, but I wanted to see them perform.  I had a good time and enjoyed it, but unfortunately they weren't at their best.  Steve Walsh was a bit under the weather.  He played well, but his signature stage antics were almost completely absent.  Robby Steinhardt tried to make up for it, but it wasn't the same.  What really effected me though, was the music played in between acts.  Alvin Lee opened, and he ripped the place apart.  During the break, Heaven and Hell by Vangelis was played.  I'd never heard it before.  This was before Chariots of Fire.  I was floored.  Vangelis has been one of my absolute favorites for years now.  So, I can thank Kansas for turning me on to Vangelis.  Who'd a thunk it?

 

My most vivid memory is seeing them live during the Vinyl Confessions tour.  I wasn't so into the album, but I wanted to see them perform.  I had a good time and enjoyed it, but unfortunately they weren't at their best.  Steve Walsh was a bit under the weather.  He played well, but his signature stage antics were almost completely absent. . 

The missus is from Kansas.  She moved to get away from the flatness and the wind.  The Flint Hills are okay, but try the northwestern corner of the state - it's very different from typical Kansas topography.

I have a signed artists proof of the cover of POKR (one of 7) framed and hanging on my wall.