73 lines
3.8 KiB
Plaintext
73 lines
3.8 KiB
Plaintext
|
|
MUSIC REVIEW: Kansas - Boxed Set
|
|
by Dave Bealer
|
|
|
|
Welcome to part two in a series of reviews of CDs by bands named
|
|
after North American geographical features. This time we take a
|
|
look at (alright, listen to) the latest release by Kansas.
|
|
|
|
I'm not much for "boxed sets" since they typically contain little in
|
|
the way of new material. About the only time they make sense, for
|
|
anyone but the record company, is in the case of artists whose early
|
|
work is hard to find in CD format.
|
|
|
|
The other problem with many boxed sets is sheer size: you need a
|
|
good sized truck to take the box home. Might as well make it an
|
|
armored truck, since you'll need one to guard the money required to
|
|
purchase the set in first place. The two discs (or cassettes) in the
|
|
_Kansas Boxed Set_ contain 26 songs, most of which are from the
|
|
band's first eight albums.
|
|
|
|
Most of the songs are studio cuts from the original albums, ranging
|
|
from their self-titled 1974 debut album to 1980's _Audio-Visions_.
|
|
A trio of previously unreleased live performances ("Death of Mother
|
|
Nature Suite," "Incomudro - Hymn To The Atman," and "On The Other
|
|
Side") are included, as is the original demo version of "Can I Tell
|
|
You" that caused Don Kirschner to consider signing the band (then
|
|
known as White Clover) to his new record label in 1973.
|
|
|
|
Kansas is an album band with a cult following. "Dust In The Wind" is
|
|
the only Kansas single ever to chart in the top ten (#6, March 1978).
|
|
One reason for their limited commercial success is the dark nature of
|
|
most of their lyrics. "Dust In The Wind" itself is about the very
|
|
temporary nature of man's existence on Earth. Wonderfully moving
|
|
lyrics for those willing to listen, the message is definitely not a
|
|
sappy, happy, "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" one.
|
|
|
|
Kansas is NOT just a studio band, however. I had the pleasure of
|
|
seeing them in concert at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, PA. in late
|
|
1980 during the _Audio-Visions_ tour. We had sixth row-center seats
|
|
for an excellent performance which I thoroughly enjoyed, although I
|
|
couldn't hear anything for a couple of days afterwards. The only
|
|
rock concert I've ever attended (my hearing is bad enough already,
|
|
thank you very much), it was worth it to see the six original band
|
|
members in action together. About a year later Steve Walsh left the
|
|
band, so that was the last Kansas tour with the original cast.
|
|
|
|
Two things make this boxed set as must-have for Kansas fans. One is
|
|
the 32 page book which tells the story, in words and pictures, of the
|
|
band called Kansas, from it's roots as White Clover (circa 1969) to
|
|
the breakup of the original lineup in late 1981. The other feature
|
|
is a brand new Kansas song, "Wheels." Written by Kerry Livgren for a
|
|
solo project, "Wheels" features Steve Walsh's vocals, Kerry Livgren
|
|
on guitar and keyboards, Phil Ehart on drums, and newcomer David
|
|
Ragsdale on violin.
|
|
|
|
With the information contained in the book, this boxed set leaves
|
|
only one real remaining problem for true Kansas fans: when are those
|
|
brain dead record company executives going to bring _Audio-Visions_,
|
|
_Drastic Measures_, and _Vinyl Confessions_ out on CD?
|
|
|
|
# # #
|
|
|
|
Copyright 1994 Dave Bealer. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Dave Bealer is a thirty-something mainframe systems programmer. His
|
|
musical ability extends to playing "When the Saints Go Marching In"
|
|
on the piano using only five keys. This makes him as qualified to
|
|
review music as most of those who do it for a living. When not
|
|
listening to music, Dave writes for and publishes his own e-mag,
|
|
Random Access Humor. He can be reached at: dave.bealer@rah.clark.net
|
|
or at The Puffin's Nest, 1:261/1129, (410)437-3463.
|
|
=====================================================================
|