THE ULTIMATE KANSAS BOX SET

By the early 90s KANSAS became more a touring band than a recording studio band. Having recorded two more Pop Rock influenced albums for MCA after their return as a band with Steve Walsh since 1985, they found themselves without a record label and maybe without the pressures from those record labels which in the 80s wanted mostly commercial songs to be released as singles. So, by the early 90s the band toured with several line-ups, which also included a reunion with Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope for a time (with also Steve Morse and Billy Greer being involved in some tours), and with Phil Ehart being the Manager, leaving the drums playing for another drummer sometimes.

In 1994 this Box Set was released by their former label (Kirshner / Legacy). I consider this a much better compilation than "The Best of Kansas" album, despite the fact that it mostly includes songs recorded by the "classic" line-up of the band (Kerry Livgren, Steve Walsh, Phil Ehart, Rich Williams, Robby Steinhardt and Dave Hope) from their albums which were released between 1974 and 1980. I think that it is a more representative compilation of their music from their best period of time, because the "classic" line-up was their best line-up anyway.

This Box Set has some previously unreleased recordings which work more as a "marketing trick" for the fans to buy it. One is a demo of a song called "Can I Tell You" (which was later recorded for their first album). Also, there are three live recordings from the seventies from KANSAS ("Death of Mother Nature Suite"and "Incomudro - Hymn to the Atman", both of them very heavy, and "On the Other Side", a very good live version), plus a new studio song, "Wheels", recorded by Livgren, Walsh and Ehart plus new violin player David Ragsdale in the early 90s. "Wheels" is a very good song, maybe a bit Rock Pop influenced. KANSAS also played this song without Livgren in the early 90s, and a live version of it appeared in their "Live at the Whisky" video from 1992.