Best Of Kansas CD

This 1999 reissue contains three bonus tracks not included on the original release.
Kansas: Kerry Livgren (vocals, guitar, piano, organ, Moog synthesizer); Robby Steinhardt (vocals, violin); Steve Walsh (vocals, piano, organ, congas); Dave Hope (vocals, bass); John Elefante (vocals); Rich Williams (guitar); Phil Ehart (drums).
Producers: Jeff Glixman, Wally Gold, Kansas, Neil Kernon, Ken Scott.
Engineers include: Peter Grant, Brad Aaron, Davy Moore.
Recorded between 1975 & 1984.
Digitally remastered by Jeff Glixman and Vic Anesini.
Personnel: Kerry Livgren (vocals, guitar, piano, organ, Moog synthesizer); Robbie Steinhardt (vocals, violin); Steve Walsh (vocals, piano, organ, congas); Dave Hope (vocals, bass guitar); John Elefante (vocals); Rich Williams (guitar); Phil Ehart (drums).
Audio Remasterers: Jeff Glixman; Vic Anesini.
Recording information: Studio In The Country, Bogalusa, LA (1975-1983); V (1975-1983); Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, CA (1975-1983); Woodland Sound Studios, Nashville, TN (1975-1983).
Except for the one exclusive track, "Perfect Lover," The Best of Kansas has been rendered completely obsolete by the two-disc Kansas Box Set. Released in the pre-compact disc era, time constraints made it impossible for this collection to include the more elaborate songs from the progressive rock band's repertoire (the nine-minute "Song for America" being the only exception), concentrating instead on their more concise, radio-friendly work. So while essential hits like "Carry On Wayward Son," "Point of Know Return," "Dust in the Wind," and "Play the Game Tonight" are all present here, there is much top-notch material missing, and superior sound quality alone makes the other collection more appetizing. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia
Between the early 1970s and early '80s, Kansas made a long musical journey, starting out as complex prog-rock merchants, deeply indebted to the technically dazzling, epic works of Yes, Genesis, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. A decade on, the band had trimmed its sound to the bare bones, pounding out relatively straightforward, hard-edged AOR. THE BEST OF KANSAS ably illustrates how Kansas got from one extreme to the other. "The Wall" and "Closet Chronicles," for instance, illustrate the proggier side of the group, unafraid to experiment. The ideal middle ground occupied by the churning rocker "Carry On Wayward Son" and the peppy, melodic "Point of Know Return" represents the commercial and artistic apex of the band. The relentless, pile-driver attack of the early-'80s hit "Fight Fire with Fire" finds the former art-rockers closer in spirit to Def Leppard than to King Crimson. You couldn't ask for more variety or a more comprehensive selection from a single-disc collection than what's provided by THE BEST OF KANSAS.
Although it isn't perfect, The Best of Kansas is a solid 12-track collection that contains the bulk of the prog rock group's greatest hits, including "Carry On Wayward Son," "Point of Know Return," "Dust in the Wind," "Hold On," "Play the Game Tonight," and "Fight Fire With Fire." A few fan favorites may be missing, but casual listeners will find that the best-known cuts are here. [The 1999 CD reissue adds three bonus tracks: "The Pinnacle," "The Devil Game," and "Closet Chronicles."] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Additional Tracks