PEOPLE OF THE SOUTHWIND

By 1979, some changes started in KANSAS's music, with the main composers (Kerry Livgen and Steve Walsh) working each one apart in their respective songs, with Livgren still having the main Progressive Rock influences in the band, while Walsh was starting to compose more Pop Rock / Hard Rock songs for the band. I have to say that I don't like their "Monolith" (1979) album very much. In fact, I think that the best song from that album was "On the oher side", another "existential" song composed by Livgren. But maybe their record label wanted more Pop Rock / Hard Rock songs from the band to be released on singles, so even Livgren had to compose some songs to please the record label.

"People of the souht wind" , composed by Livgren, is that kind of song. It starts with very good violin and guitar riffs somewhat influenced by Prog Rock music, but after that, the song becomes a more Hard Rock / Pop Rock song with some Funky music influences. The song is good, but not so good for my taste. It didn't matter, anyway. The song reached the Number 23 in the U.S. Hit Parade charts.

"Stay out of trouble", a song composed by Steve Walsh, Rich Williams and Robby Steinhardt, and sung by Walsh and Steinhardt, is another Pop Rock song with some Hard Rock / Blues influences.