Kansas
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Music Lounge
Forum Description: General progressive music discussions
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=30351
Printed Date: August 18 2025 at 08:28
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Topic: Kansas
Posted By: Starvsnr
Subject: Kansas
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 20:22
| So i have and enjoy Leftoverature and Point of Know Return. I want to know which other album of theres you guys think i should get. Also what is the best King Crimson album with Steve Hackett. |
Replies:
Posted By: Scapler
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 20:28
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I enjoyed the Kansas greatest hits album, I know this probably wasn't what you were looking for, but it is really good for a greatest hits album, and it highlights some of their best songs.
------------- Bassists are deadly 
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Posted By: rileydog22
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 20:34
Ummm... there was no KC album with Steve Hackett. The closest you're gonna get is a live album or two that Hackett recorded with McDonald and Wetton, among others. -------------   |
Starvsnr wrote:Posted By: Starvsnr
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 20:38
| Why did my brother tell me steve hackett was from king crimson? What did he mean then. |
Posted By: rileydog22
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 20:40
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Steve Hackett was from Genesis. I don't know what you're brother could have been thinking, exept maybe the collaberation with Wetton and McDonald.
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Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 20:43
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If you get Steve Hackett's Live In Tokyo DVD, you can see him performing I Talk To The Wind and Court Of The Crimson King, but that's about it...
...as far as Kansas is concerned, the first three albums should be your next step. ------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: Starvsnr
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 20:44
| I know he was in Genesis, but where was he before then? Wasent he in another band? |
Posted By: Scapler
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 20:45
Steve Hackett teamed up with guys from King Crimson to form a supposed "supergroup" ------------- Bassists are deadly
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Posted By: WaywardSon
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 20:47
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"The Ultimate Kansas" is a 2 CD set that is really worth getting.
"Song for America" and "Masque" are also great.
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Posted By: Starvsnr
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 20:48
| Ultimate Kansas being a best of album? |
Posted By: rileydog22
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 20:49
Nope, nothing major. ------------- |
Posted By: WaywardSon
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 20:49
Yes, everything from the debut up until Drastic Measures
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Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 20:52
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Song For America, Masque, Monolith, and Kansas are essential. Audio Visions and Vinyl Confessions is a bit more poppy, but good discs.
E ------------- 
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Posted By: Scapler
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 20:52
And one of the best "best of" albums for any band I have ever seen. Most best of albums really don't flow to well, and are just randomly pulled songs the publisher liked. But Ultimate Kansas definetly lived up to the "best of" thing. ------------- Bassists are deadly
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Posted By: Starvsnr
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 20:55
| Well im jumping on itunes and getting Song For America and Masque, thanks gang. |
Posted By: Scapler
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 21:08
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Enjoy, er iJoy?
------------- Bassists are deadly
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Posted By: Starvsnr
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 21:10
| iWill |
Posted By: yesfan88
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 23:16
I agree with that. The Ultimate Kansas is really good, I bought it for my dad for his birthday. ------------- "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"- Evelyn Beatrice Hall |
Posted By: SlipperFink
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 23:16
Bingo. SM. ------------- Modesty is an ornament, but one goes further without it. Old German Proverb |
Posted By: Nowhere Man
Date Posted: October 26 2006 at 23:21
Good. 
------------- 
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Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 00:35
| Oh if you haven't done anything yet, save yourself the trouble and don't dl It takes a Woman's Love and It's You. Crappy pop/rock stuff they included because of intense pressure from the label to get a hit single. At this point they didn't really know how to do such songs, although with Wayward Son and What's on my Mind from Leftoverture, they proved quick studies. |
Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 00:41
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Those tracks are important parts of the Kansas timeline, they help better understand what's going on. ------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 00:44
| I suppose your right, but I still cringe each time they come thru my playlist. |
Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 00:52
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If you are expecting Masque to resemble Leftoverture and Point of Know Return, you may be surprised. I personally adore that album, but it may not be what you expect.
Song for America on the other hand is pretty much a sure thing - you should love it! Also, I would very strongly recommend their debut album from 1974. Very tight, heavy, and vastly underrated. You should also read as many reviews of Kansas albums as you can on these Archives (shameless promotion opportunity here). There are a lot of very hardcore Kansas fans here, and several of them have already given you some very good recommendations in the previous posts. Most of them have also written some very insightful reviews. If you are really interested in a collection, I would recommend one of these: Overall best collection - Sail On: the 30th Anniversary Collection. It has two CDs with songs from every studio album and the Two For the Show double-live album. Plus it has an excellent DVD with videos from their early Don Kirshner's Rock Concert appearances, some promo videos, and some MTV-era videos. It also has interviews with everyone in the original band plus Billy Greer. It is a bit pricey though. Fan's choice - Kansas (a 1994 boxed-set). Much more reasonable in price, this was a collection of their earlier hits plus several less well-known but great recordings. Also has a very nice booklet that was put together by the official Kansas Fan Club with the band's history, photos, and some reprinted liner notes. Budget bin - On the Other Side. This is the best bet if you just want a good sampling and don't want to spend a lot. One CD, but has several of the well-known hits and also some lesser known vintage tunes. This has been issued two or three times under different covers but with the same title, and you can probably find very cheaply in a cutout bin. Good luck and enjoy! BTW, you have now also been officially added to the ProgArchives Kansas Fanboy mailing list. Your secret decoder ring will be along shortly in a plain brown mailing envelope. 
------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: M. B. Zapelini
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 05:29
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You'll probably like the classic live album, "Two for the Show" - it's one of my favorite Kansas albums. ------------- "He's a man of the past and one of the present" PETER HAMMILL |
Posted By: proggy
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 06:21
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Here is what to buy -
Kansas - Song For America
Kansas - Masque
Kansas - Self Titled
Steve Hackett - Voyage of the Acolyte
Steve Hackett - Please Don't Touch - Steve Walsh is on two tracks (Awesome)
Steve Hackett - Spectral Mornings
Steve Hackett - Defector
Steve HAckett - Darktown
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
King Crimson - In the Wake of Poseidon
King Crimson - Larks Tongue in Aspic
King Crimson - Red
King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
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Posted By: Mategra
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 06:58
He was in a little known band called http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=2352 - QUIET WORLD .
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Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 09:34
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Somewhere to Elsewhere is their last album and in my mind is essential. I'm not one for Best of's and compilations. If you have the funds and like the band, I would say get all studio albums up to Audio-Visions and also STE. In the Spirit of things is good and Freaks of Nature is good, but you could live without them. (Black Fantom 4 off Freaks is unreal)
------------- Biggles was in rehab last Saturday |
Posted By: ozzy_tom
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 12:15
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The onbly album of "Kansas" I know is their debut, self-titled record. And I think that it's quite good. All of these organ-violin sequences a little reminds me of german band called "Pell Mell". Not bad stuff. Really. -------------  
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Posted By: Frasse
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 12:20
Steve Hackett was at first a Blues guitarist but after seeing KC live, he was inspired to start play experimental Rock.
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Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 13:12
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Some very good suggestions here. I noticed you will get Masque and SFA. Both are very good but I agree with others to get the first Self Titled CD as well. Although the production of the recording was shallow on that it has some great songs like Journey to Mariabronn and Aprecu/Death of Mother Nature Suite. After POKR the albums are a bit uneven but there is still some great material on each one them through Vinyl Confessions. I am not big on the next three Drastic Measures, Power, and In the Spirit of Things. Freaks of Nature is interesting because it brought back the violin in the form of David Ragsdale. Kerry Livgren also contributed a song Cold Grey Morning. The next one Always Never the Same is a strange one. It was recorded with an Orchestra and had three new songs as well some old favorites. But the album was put together so weird it it is a hard listen. Plus Steve's voice is really starting to go. Somewhere to Elsewhere penned entirely by K. Livgren is very good and is the last Kansas studio we may hear.
The Sail On collection is great because of the DVD that has the Kirshner videos form the live performances in 1974 and 1975.
If you like Kansas you may want to check out Proto-Kaw as well. It was an earlier formation of Kansas and Kerry Livgren was the songwriter. Check out Before Became After and Early Recordings then Wait of Glory. Another group who I discovered recently which has taken some what made Kansas great (and other influences like Yes, Genesis and Styx(Vocals)) and give a modern spin on it is Cryptic Vision. Start with the CD In a World.
 ------------- 
"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 14:10
| You need the debut, "Journey from Mariabronn" is essential prog. |
Posted By: Nowhere Man
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 16:08
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The debut is the only main Kansas album I don't have; from the praise it is getting here, I'll have to pick it up soon.
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Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 16:26
| I think the best guide is that if you want to hear Kansas playing prog with elements of American rock, buy the first 6 and Somewhere to Elsewhere. If you want to hear them playing American rock with elements of prog, buy Audio-Vison<--->Freaks of Nature. And yes I would also highly recommend Proto-Kaw and also Steve Walsh's recent solo stuff. |
Posted By: peter_gabriel
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 16:31
and then what happened? |
Posted By: Eric
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 16:35
Monolith is a fantastic album and well worth a listen, in my opinion it is better then point of known return The opening track "On the other side" is as good as anything they have done Give it a listen you will not be disappointed |
Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 16:41
Didn't mention Proto-kaw, but yes, awesome stuff. And Glossalalia by Steve Walsh is great, IMO. Haven't heard Shadowman. Heard it is less proggy than Gloss and have shied away. ------------- Biggles was in rehab last Saturday |
Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 22:31
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You haven't lived until you've heard "The Pinnacle". Kansas' progressive masterpiece, in my opinion.
E -------------
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Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 22:33
I've got The Shadowman and it's very good. It's got a harder edge to it and even sounds industrial in some spots. Still, the title track and "Hell Is Full Of Heroes" just scorch. I'm glad I got it. Sidenote: Twisted Sister's Joe Franco plays drums on it. E -------------
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Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 22:35
I have to say that I agree with this one. I love Monolith and is up there as one of my favorites. I believe it's the first Kansas album I ever got (got it for Christmas, along with Walsh's Schemer Dreamer, and Styx's Cornerstone). Awesome disc...and "Reason To Be" is pure magic. E -------------
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Posted By: Nowhere Man
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 23:33
The Pinnacle is truely fantastic. So is "Incomudro: Hymn To The Atman." -------------
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Posted By: Australian
Date Posted: October 27 2006 at 23:41
Defiantly, also “Lamplight Symphony” from the same album. “Magnum Opus” is the masterpiece of the band in my opinion; it sounds so epic on vinyl. ------------- 
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Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 01:00
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All The World is hugely underrated... one of the proggiest Walsh compositions. ------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: Australian
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 01:25
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^ Do you mean All Over the World? -------------
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Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 01:39
Nope, All The World, it's on Masque 
...what's All Over The World from?  ------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 01:40
No, I'm pretty sure he means "All the World" from Masque. I'm not sure I'd agree it's very proggy - it's more like a ballad with some flower-power sensibilities. But the harmonizing vocals and instrumentation (especially Walsh's own piano and Steinhardt's violin) really make this one stand out. It is a great though pretty much forgotten song. I do wonder why this one, as well as "No One Together" from Audio-Visions, aren't played by the band in their live shows. These two are made for feel-good moments under the stars at an open-air concert. ------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: Australian
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 01:44
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erm, that's what I though it was - it seems the Masque track listing is incorrect on PA. -------------
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Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 01:49
| Well, All the World is an interesting song, because its like half-hippy ballad, and then there's the awesome proggie instrumental in the middle. I think that its possible that Walsh made it sound over-the-top sappy, so much so that its not. But yes, this would probably be one of the better Walsh composition though Paradox and Lonely Street are definitely the best IMO. Angels Have Fallen is interesting in parts as well. |
Posted By: Australian
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 01:59
They are probably not played for the same reason Yes didn’t play “South Side of the Sky” until it was requested by basically all Yes fans, they are too difficult to play. I’m sure that the band would much rather play something they are comfortable with. -------------
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Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 02:40
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Yeah, the shifting times of All The World's instrumental section are pretty complex, in a fun-to-follow way. :3 ------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: Nowhere Man
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 12:59
Lamplight Symphony is one of my favorite Kansas songs.  -------------
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Posted By: Australian
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 18:32
I like the instrumental section in the middle, classic stuff -------------
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Posted By: Starvsnr
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 22:47
| Im really enjoying the albums, and i wanted just to get one King Crimson album. So only suggest the best. |
Posted By: Australian
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 22:57
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My favorite is "Lark's Tongues in Aspic" -------------
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Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 23:02
Impossible. Most King Crimson albums are equally amazing for different reasons, seriously. ------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: Starvsnr
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 23:12
| See i only want one now, get into it, and get another a week from now. So i just dl Court of King Crimson |
Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: October 30 2006 at 13:58
I think because of the vocals. I don't think they could even come close in some parts of either of those songs.
 -------------
"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: Dan Bobrowski
Date Posted: October 30 2006 at 14:10
Didn't you write those tracks during your stint with the band, Brian?
 |
Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: October 30 2006 at 19:13
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"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
^Posted By: prog4evr
Date Posted: November 04 2006 at 07:43
Correct on all counts. Good advice for the Newbie... Hackett's 'Tokyo Tapes' is the audio CD version of the Live DVD you refer to (there are two or three 'Enhanced CD' videos on the 'Tapes' CD as well). |