Customer Reviews

Ultimate Kansas

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

With deference to the preceeding reviews, yes, there have been many "best of" KANSAS collections to date. This compilation, however, contains the new remastered audio from the three best-selling catalog titles ("Masque", "Leftoverture" and "Point Of Know Return"), which were re-released in the last two years.

All of the past "best-of's", including the box set, are sonically inferior and basically obsolete; the only exception being to the completist, as each older compilation has some demo or live track exclusive to that title.

The bottom line is, if you are looking for the most up-to-date sound, buy this set.

Actually, that's technically not true. My first actual Kansas disc was a Christmas gift (it was a live CD, which I didn't like). I then went out and bought Leftoverture for "Carry On Wayward Son" (yes, I admit I was attracted to this truly overplayed song at one point). At that point I was left with a quandary: I really like "Point Of Know Return," but since it obviously wasn't on Leftoverture, I had to get it elsewhere. Another song which appealed to me was "Dust In The Wind." I was not particularly interested in the band, so I decided I would just buy the Kansas Greatest Hits collection and be done with it. Unfortunately, the venue to which I went to purchase this item (Virgin Records in Chicago) didn't have it. They had Point Of Know Return and The Ultimate Kansas. Seeing as the two songs I listed were both on Point Of Know Return, it all could have ended there. But I also wanted "Play The Game Tonight" (Vinyl Confessions, 1982), so I decided to spring the extra money and go for The Ultimate Kansas. It's the best decision I have ever made.

This compilation introduced me to the wonderful world of progressive Kansas. Believe me, "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust In The Wind" are NOTHING like the rest of the band's music. People always judge this band upon these two songs; Kansas is actually highly progressive in nature, contrary to the AOR label which has been fixed to the band. Yes, this compilation served its purpose when I first bought it.

And after that is just sat on the CD rack for about a year, untouched and forgotten. I was a bit guilty I had spent so much money for so few songs, and I resolved to forget that folly. All would change in May 2005.

By chance, "Paradox" (Point Of Know Return, 1977) came on my LAUNCHcast radio station, and I searched for the song on The Ultimate Kansas. Incidentally, that one's not there, so on a whim I tried other songs which began with "P." The first one was "The Pinnacle," which I immediately liked. I tried the other songs from Masque (1975) and realized I liked them as well. That evening, I listened to the entire first disc, end-to-end. I ended up liking almost every song there.

The second disc saw the advent of the Point Of Know Return cuts. I was particularly attracted to all these; in fact, the extreme minority of tracks were ones which I disliked. Kansas, which I had always considered marginal, shot all the way up to the hallowed ground of my second-favorite band of all time (it remains there to this day). And it's all due to this compilation.

The Ultimate Kansas has spurred me seek out several of the albums represented. One of these--Point Of Know Return--has just recently become the first Kansas album I had bought since Leftoverture.

Seeing as I am reviewing a compilation CD, I'll assume most of the people who are looking at this disc will be less-than-die-hard Kansas fans. To this effect, I assure you this will transform upon giving the tracks assembled here a fair listening. There will be at least one album (if not two or three) which you will want to buy after listening through this compilation. In this, this compilation serves as a really good window into just what Kansas was all about.

The recording quality of these tracks is very good. The Ultimate Kansas is compiled from the new remasters, so its sound is superior to earlier releases. In addition, it is more comprehensive than any collection except for the 1994 Kansas box set or the Sail On: The 30th Anniversery Collection 1974-2004 box. All in all, The Ultimate Kansas offers a very good collection of Kansas's greatest hits, as well as some of the more obscure progressive tracks. I could point out a song here or a song there which is not featured on this compilation, but then, that's why the individual albums have been remastered. If you feel the need, buy one. This compilation is a stepping stone. You will definitely want to buy at least one proper Kansas album upon listening to this compilation.

Made in USA in 2002, Serial# E2K-86452, Playing Time 143:12

Many people know KANSAS for their radio-friendly tracks (like "Dust In The Wind", "Hold On", "Carry On Wayward Son", etc.)

Well, this 2CD-set has those, but also has what is, in my opinion, what makes KANSAS such an interesting band: their "epics" like "Song For America", "The Pinnacle", "Death Of Mother Nature Suite", etc.

The re-mastering job produces a crisp sonic environment, very pleasing to my ears!

It features material from their SONY days (the material stops at their 10th album, "Drastic Measures".)

However, there are 2 things I don't like about this compilation: the first is that we're jumping all over the place chronologically, so it makes for a rather foggy musical evolution; second, why on earth would they strip out the first 2 minutes from the live version of "Magnum Opus" (the last track on disc 2?); there was enough room on the CD!

All in all, an exciting retrospective... borrow it from a friend, and then I'm sure you'll want EVERY album featured on this set! It's a piece of history, and we shouldn't let great moments like these fade away!

The ultimate Kansas is a terrific compilation from this great progressive rock band from Kansas.the best part of this collection is the excellent remastering of the songs which sound much better than the previous versions.almost all their great songs feature here and I highly recommend this fantastic compilation to all rock fans.

This is their best compilation on the market. The remastered CD's sound terrific. It includes most of Kansas' highest charting sinlges and their best epic progressive rock tracks. It gets 4 out 5 starts only because of some omitted songs. They left off "Miracles Out of Nowhere" from Leftoverture (a personal favorite and one they always play live). Also, there are no tracks from their two 1980s albums with guitarist Steve Morse made for MCA. It would have been great to have "All I Wanted" and "Power" on this collection. Still, it is a must buy for all classic/progressive rock fans.

I baught this CD for one reason, to hear the songs re-mixed with a better sound.It is good and very crisp.You can realy crank it up!
I have to agree with the other review however and say that the "compilation" thing has run its course.Enough already!

My 4 stars are for sound quality and having all the songs on one CD. Two songs that are not on the cd that belong there are "ICRUS" original.and "Miricles out of nowhere" This would have really made the cd complete. These two songs could have easily taken the place of the "pop" hits "hold on" and "fight fire with fire" Anyway, buy it for the re-mastering alone.

The quality of the re-mastery just blew me away. The sound is so crisp and fresh, it's hard to believe that the songs date from the 1970s and very early 80s -- 30-35 years ago! Rember how their songs sounded the very first time you played that vinyl? Well it's even better. That said, I'm quite pleased with the selection. I prefer their music from 1975-1984 and it's how I'll always remember them. If you will only buy one Kansas album (like me), then this is the one to buy.

This is the best Kansas compilation on the market. The remastered discs sound terrific. The song selection is very good. It contains their highest charting hits from their Kirshner years (Dust in the Wind, Carry on Wayward Son, Play the Game Tonight,etc.) and epic progressive rock classics (Song For America, The Pinnacle, etc.) My only complaint is their omission of the song "Miracles Out of Nowhere" from Leftoveture (One of my favorites and a song they usually perform live.)
I would have given the record 5 stars if it didn't omit all songs from the two 1980s albums with Steve Morse on Guitar.
I wish it would have included "All I Wanted" and "Power."
Despite the absence of these two tracks, this collection is a must for all fans of classic and/or progressive rock.

Having never lived anywhere near Kansas, I unfortunately have had next to no exposure to their unique take on rock. (And if I may state the obvious, the one sappy, glurgy number they did, Dust In The Wind, does not do them any justice at all.)

What can I say, really? It's big and bold and evocative, it's great driving music and great for lying on the couch and pondering the mysteries of life. A lot of the songs run long, but never become repetitive or tedious. I've listened to the entire collection at least five times over, and it's still as fresh as ever.

And it's not all violins and extended guitar solos. There's plenty of the good 'ol fashioned mainstream here, such as Fight Fire With Fire, People of the South Wind, and Portrait.

Quite possibly the only Kansas compilation you ever need. But I'll defer to their fans on *that* subject...

This is the best Kansas compilation on the market. The remastered discs sound terrific. The song selection is very good. It contains their highest charting hits from their Kirshner years (Dust in the Wind, Carry on Wayward Son, Play the Game Tonight,etc.) and epic progressive rock classics (Song For America, The Pinnacle, etc.) My only complaint is their omission of the song "Miracles Out of Nowhere" from Leftoveture (One of my favorites and a song they usually perform live.)
I would have given the record 5 stars if it didn't omit all songs from the two 1980s albums with Steve Morse on Guitar.
I wish it would have included "All I Wanted" and "Power."
Despite the absence of these two tracks, this collection is a must for all fans of classic and/or progressive rock.