THE ULTIMATE KANSAS BOX SET

Kansas

Symphonic Prog

3.84 | 54 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Easy Livin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

A rough guide to Kansas

Here we have a well presented double CD cross-section of the band's work, featuring 26 of what are arguably their best tracks. Anyone with even a passing interest in Kansas could kick off the track listing, and predictably (and rightly), "Dust in the wind", "Wayward son", and "Magnum Opus" are all present and correct.

This collection covers the period from the band's debut in 1974 through to "Audio-visions" in 1980. This of course is not the complete story, but as that was the last album to feature all the original members of the band (Steve Walsh would leave in 1981), it makes for a sensible stopping point.

Each album is given about the same amount of exposure here, usually a generous 20-30 minutes for the band's best works. Some tracks though, such as "Death of mother nature suite" and "Incomudro-Hymn to the Atman" are substituted with live versions. These may be previously unavailable but my personal preference would have been for the original versions to be used.

The final track, "Wheels" is a new unreleased studio track, clearly designed to make the package attractive to fans who already have all the source albums. The set comes complete with a 36 page booklet with a detailed history of the band over the period.

The problem I have with Kansas is that I find them more enjoyable in small doses. Thus a well populated set like this is actually counter-productive as listening to it as a complete piece becomes tedious. Better to use the programme button on the CD player to pick out personal favourites ("The wall" is an essential), thus keeping things within tolerance.

Easy Livin | 3/5 | 2008-9-23

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Share this KANSAS review

Social review comments () BETA

Review related links

Send comments to Easy Livin
Report this review (#183309)
Buy KANSAS music online with PA partners
Show all KANSAS MP3/Stream
Go to KANSAS page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
Go to The Ultimate Kansas Box Set page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
Search the Forum for KANSAS related discussions