HOLD ON

KANSAS's "Audio Visions" album from 1980 was the "point of no return" for the band, because Kerry Livgren, their main composer, became a Christian, and his new found faith was reflected in the lyrics of his songs. This caused some frictions mainly with lead singer and keyboard player Steve Walsh, who after the tours for this album left the band in 1981. The Christian themes in the lyrics became more prevalent with the addition of a new lead singer and keyboard player called John Elefante, and with bassist Dave Hope also becoming a Christian, for their next album titled "Vinyl Confessions" (1982). Anyway, the music still was Progressive, and the band still played very well. I don't have any objections with the religious content of the lyrics, with it not being very "direct" for the listener.

"Hold On" was composed by Livgen apparently with his wife in mind, asking her to also become a Christian. This is a good song, with acoustic and electric guitars, a very good melody played with the violin and good backing keyboards. The song also has some Pop Rock influences, but it is good anyway. It reached the Number 40 in the Hit Parade charts in the U.S. It seems that some of their fans didn't have problems with Livgren's religious themes in his lyrics.

"Don't Open Your Eyes" is a song composed by Steve Walsh, Rich Williams, Kerry Livgren, Phil Ehart and Dave Hope, more influenced by Pop Rock but with also some Prog Rock influences. Like other Prog Rock bands from the seventies KANSAS also was changing the sound of their music with some new influences from Pop Rock for the eighties. It also is a good song anyway.