Kansas

Kansas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000252H
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #277,943 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Can I Tell You

2. Bringing It Back

3. Lonely Wind

4. Belexes

5. Journey from Mariabronn

6. The Pilgrimage

7. Apercu

8. Death of Mother Nature Suite

Editorial Reviews

Their hit 1974 debut: Can I Tell You; Lonely Wind; Apercu; Belexis , and more. Bonus track: Bringing It Back (live).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate debut., December 14, 1999

By 

Daisy Ghostly (Odense, Denmark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kansas (Audio CD)

This is one of their best albums; it's actually close to being the very best. There are many reasons why I like it so much, one of them being Robby's playing on "Apercu". -Just listen to those two perfect solo's towards the end of this long masterpiece of a song; it's some of the most beautiful violin work you'll ever have the pleasure of hearing. -This album is "Kansas" as we love them; heavier than hell one minute, softer than "Simon & Garfunkel" the next. Actually, when they're at their hardest, they can blow away any band today who might consider themselves heavy. Many hard rock albums recorded in the '60's and '70's sound much more dangerous than anything done now. -I mean, wouldn't you rather listen to anything by Jimi Hendrix, than a polished and safe Bob Rock or Mutt Lange production ?. There's absolutely nothing scary about contemporary recordings, be it "Slayer" or whoever. May the kingdom of "Kansas" rule forever !.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kansas Beginnings, September 26, 2003

By 

Samhot (Star Land) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kansas (Audio CD)

On Kansas' self-titled debut KANSAS (1974), we are already treated to their unique blend of heartland rock, boogie, country, and symphonic rock. Of course, they would refine their compositions on subsequent albums, but what they created on this debut here is highly impressive and enjoyable on it's own merits.

The band had already been playing together a few years before the release of this album (the band even stated that they had 50 combined years of musical experience in the sleeve), so this may contribute to the impressive gelling of ideas, and overall, accomplished musicianship exhibited here.

The first half of the album features more of the stripped-down tracks that Kansas seemed to exhibit from time to time, while the second half seems to be dedicated to the elaborate prog-rock epics. The album starts of with the fairly simple, but utterly addicting, violin-laced "Can I Tell You." Contrary to the opinion expressed by another reviewer, I don't find this, or any of the other tracks on this album, weak. Sure, it isn't a *prog* track in the Kansas tradition (if Kansas really ever had a tradition), but, different doesn't necessarily equal weak (opinions are subjective, not fact, folks.) However, while I enjoy this track immensely, I find the unissued demo version found on the KANSAS BOXED SET to be a more enjoyable version for me. "Bringing It Back" sounds like something you'd hear a bar-band performing. Reminds me of a slightly tame, underdeveloped prototype for the kind of thing you'd hear on SONG FOR AMERICA (1975) ("Down The Road" in particular comes to mind), but the underdevelopedness doesn't sink the track's tasteful edibility. I find it impressive how some bands (Queen, Rush, Kansas etc.) can make raw, underdeveloped music - that is, the music they make before reaching their peak in sound and/or composition - yet what they come up with on first shot seems to be much more impressive than what some artists produce in their entire catalogues.

"Lonely Wind" is a beautiful ballad penned by Steve Walsh. The vocal harmonies on this track are particularly moving, added with the melancholic piano, and soothing violin lines. The perfect song to be played for the bride & groom on their wedding day, while having a slow dance. On "Belexes," we are treated to the most energetic, rocking song on this set at this point. A definite rock-your-socks-off track, featuring some crunchy guitar lines, passionate, inspired vocals, and drumming that isn't too shabby.

"Journey From Mariabronn" starts off the second half as a classically-inspired number. This is probably the most compelling track on the album - compositionally speaking. The opening instrumental section, which lasts for 1 1/2 minute -- an energetic, mysterious section of band interplay leaving the listener in suspenseful anticipation, followed by an anthemic, soaring, worldly passage comprised of complex polyphony fronted by stately violin, which is then followed by a section in about 5/4 -- is one of the defining moments in Kansas' career. The song is all-around brilliant in my book. "The Pilgrimage" is a tasteful, fluid, mix of R&B and mild country influences. The melody, the lines and the vocal harmonies brings slight resemblance to Yes, particularly their track "I've Seen All Good People." A definite favorite of mine on this album. "Apercu" is another elaborate prog-rock epic, which even features a romp section which resembles that of the romp-like section in "Cheyenne Anthem" from LEFTOVERTURE (1976). The instrumental virtuosity and quirky elements displayed here are definite attributes which foreshadow things to be found in later albums. "Death of Mother Nature Suite" is a fine effort, but the unissued live version found on the KANSAS BOXED SET is much more enjoyable and fluid for me.

This probably isn't the album to start out with if you're new to Kansas. Start with LEFTOVERTURE (1976) and POINT OF KNOW RETURN (1977), then move onto their first three albums: this one, SONG FOR AMERICA (1975), and MASQUE (1975).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very spirited and diverse......, September 21, 2002

By 

Rolltide (Columbia, Tn) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kansas (Audio CD)

I believe that "Kansas" is one of the top 25 rock albums of all time and the equal of any other Kansas' album. The diversity and spirit in this music is unmatched and you can feel the passion and incredible hard work that went in this these songs.

Now let us clarify something for a minute. Even though this album was released in 1974 the music that comes from it and the influences of it are from years earlier. Kansas was a contemporary of early genesis, yes, elp and skynyrd. It's inaccurate than to say that they were ever trying to sound like them. And as they say on the sleeve this band had 50 combined years of musical experience at the time this first Kansas' album was recorded. They began in 1970 and by the time this was released they were a mature polished band though probably almost penniless. That's why this album is so important. "Our music has many faces and many moods like the land we live in" is how the band describes the music and it is true.
The first song "Can I tell you" is a simple energetic anthem to freedom. "Prove that you deserve it, help us to preserve it for being free will just be words and nothing more." That's solid rock punctuated with some violin flourishes. Then we have "Bringing it back" a jj cale song about ganja running indicative of the times. It's fast paced southern style rock with a fantastic violin solo. The third song "Lonely wind" is a ballad that is both beautiful and haunting. After the first 3 songs one would be inclined to peg Kansas as a country rock fiddle band but that all changes. "Belexes" is ultra high octane rock. Steve walsh's vocals soar but are restricted somewhat by poor mixing which make his voice sound like he's in a tunnel. "Journey from mariabronn" is a love song synphony a truly progressive classical like arrangement. "The pilgrimage" is a truly uplifting song of hope and joy. "Apercu" is kerry livgren's exploration into hinduism and reincarnation. Listen to these lyrics. "Each man has a memory, much more than the eye can see. But while others linger deep inside you haunting thoughts of joy and pain divide you. Look into your eyes, at the dark and the moody skys." Nothing unwieldy about those lyrics but of course livgren would later reject them and become a born again christian. The final cut "death of mother nature suite" also suffers somewhat from poor production but the power of the song comes through in a big way.
So there you have it. An eclectic mixture of country, hard rock, progressive classical. There is a song about freedom, a song about reincarnation and another about the destruction of the envoroment. The first album by one of rocks greatest bands ever.