KING BISCUIT FLOWER HOUR PRESENTS KANSAS (1989)

This live performance was recorded for the popular US radio show "The King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents" (in February 1989). Since it was performed during the supporting tour for "In The Spirit Of Things" (one of their poorest album IMO), we'll get four songs from this album : "One Big Sky", "House on Fire", "The Preacher" and "T.O. Witcher". My preferred track of this album was "Bells of Saint James" and is not featured here. These make the album sound a bit weak in comparison to "Two For The Show".

"One Big Sky" sounds really awful. Heavy AOR in all its "grandeur". A very hard moment indeed ! Since the original numbers from this studio album were poor, there is no miracle (even out from nowhere) : they will remain so. The only bearable track, is the gentle acoustic guitar number "T.O. Witcher" (Steve Howe or Hackett are not far away...). "The Preacher" has always abhor me. I could never get into this attempt to recreate a negro-spirital song. At least, in this version, there are no choir to make it more painful than it was on the studio release. Skip this one as I always do.

The version of "House On Fire" features a long guitar intro from Steve Morse (4'20"). It is a bit too long and tastess to tell the truth. These moments were the core of the rock concerts in the early seventies but I only moderately appreciate them. This extended version (even if you take the intro out of it), sounds a lot heavier than the original. Walsh is shouting more than singing to try and reach high notes. Not great, I must say. The call and response between him and Morse (who'll get used to it later on with Gillan) do not match the godfathers of the genre : Led Zep and Purple of course. These twelve minutes or so won't count as my favorite from the band. By no means.

The album opens with the "Overture" of "Magnum Opus". We'll get only 2'12" of this great song. What a pity ! If you look at the other numbers, most of them are great Kansas songs and are nicely played here like "Paradox" for instance.

I have already expressed my feeling about the track "Point Of Know Return". It will not change after having heard this one (although Morse displays a nice guitar solo at the end). "The Wall" really belongs to the Kansas jewels. Extremely melodic : it is one of the very highlight of this live piece. "All I Wanted" is also a ballad but nothing comparable of course. This song from "Power" is not bad but can not compete with its glorious ancestors.

The mellow acoustic ballad "Dust In The Wind" is a must have in all Kansas show (but not all a fave of mine). This version is good, but the best live one IMO will remain available on "Two For The Show". "Miracles Out Of Nowhere" is another strong moment : the band play this number very well. Keys are especially nice and Walsh sounds OK. Finale is grandiose and very powerful.

The closing and legendary "Carry On Wayward Son" is a nice way to end a Kansas concert. Strong (almost heavy during the intro), it is all subtility afterwards. Another great Kansas moment.

This live album is not a must have, even for Kansas fans. The tracklist has too many average songs to really stand out. The previous two live album ""Two For The Show" and even "Live At The Whiskey" are superior. Two stars.