Vinyl Confessions

Kansas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 27, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002ARS
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,895 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Cohesive and Quality Album, July 5, 2006

By 

R. Langdon "Scriptor" (Four Oaks, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vinyl Confessions (Audio CD)

I have been a hard core Kansas fan for many years. As much as I like Steve Walsh in his prime (no better voice in Rock/Prog)and the classic Kansas albums that seem to be on everyone's top list such as Leftoverture and Point of Know Return, AND even think that Masque and Monolith are strong efforts, I really think Vinyl Confessions is a very solid album. Put aside any bias toward your lead vocalist of choice and listen to the strong compositions and well crafted production. Listen to some new direction in instrumentation along side the usual stellar players; Listen to some urgency, inspiration and direction in the lyrical content. I believe that a fresh, unbiased listen will reveal a very strong, cohesive work worthy of at least a few accolades.

As a Christian, I confess the worldview in the lyrics has strong appeal but the music, passion and artistry are evident the lyrics notwithstanding. Ironically, I think that it is this same worldview in the lyrics that causes many to be turned off from this very artistic offering. Why is it that some can listen to all kinds of philosophies in music, both agreeable and disagreeable, and still appreciate the artistry, but as soon as Christian lyrics come into play, all of a sudden it cannot be tolerated or at least it is relegated to a lower tier.

My honest opinion is that Vinyl Confessions is worthy of better consideration among the list of Kansas albums and certainly represents the most thematic and cohesive effort of Kansas' latter days. The only complaint I have is that the sonic quality of the current CD version is vastly inferior to the vinyl album. Remastering is greatly needed and deserved. Hopefully Sony will come through some day soon.

- Scriptor

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good first album after the exit of Steve Walsh, September 7, 2005

By 

M. A. Scott "Rock and Classical music fan" (Kansas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vinyl Confessions (Audio CD)

I know a lot of people who think this album is more of a Christian album and isn't that good, but I think they did a admirable job of making an album work without the great Steve Walsh. At first I didn't like the newcomer John Elefante, but he sort of grew on me in time. He is a quite good writer in my opinion. Like their biggest hit "Dust in the wind", on POINT, I'm not really fired up about their hit "Play the game tonight", but I do like the lyrics of the song. Some are put off by the Christian lyrics, but I really think their appropriate on this cd. I was a born-again Christian so I really welcomed the change. I really like the song "Diamonds and pearls", which was the only great song on the first side of the LP. I always thought the 2nd side was amazingly good, with the songs "Face it", "Windows", "Borderline", and Crossfire". They would make one more album "DRASTIC MEASURES", before they would disband in 1984, only to reform with Steve Walsh and Steve Morse in 1986. This is a much better effort than DRASTIC MEASURES, so listen and enjoy!!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Kansas - The First Album Without The Original Lineup, June 26, 2007

By 

Steven Sly (Kalamazoo, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vinyl Confessions (Audio CD)

Big changes were in the works for Kansas by the time "Vinyl Confessions" came out in 1982. Lead vocalist / keyboardist Steve Walsh had left the band over the blatantly Christian lyrics that Kerry Livgren was writing. Violinist / Vocalist Robby Steinhardt was still on board, but had been reduced to a backup role in much of the music and vocals. The band had become Kerry Livgren's animal which is reflected in the abundance of Christian oriented lyrics found throughout the album. The band brought in an unseasoned young vocalist in John Elefante who was also a Christian. Much to a lot of people's surprise the single from the album "Play The Game Tonight" bolted into the top 40 and got the band back on the radio in a big way. It is actually a great little song and one of my all time favorite Kansas singles. As a whole I don't think this album stands up to the band's earlier works, but that is not to say it is bad. Elefante had a great voice and fit in well with the band. The songs are mostly on the short side with the longest (and best track on the disc) being "Crossfire" clocking in at a little over 6 minutes. Another really strong track is the rocking "Windows" on which Elefante really shines and Robby Steinhardt is actually given some violin playing to do. The rest of the album is all ok, but I find it fairly pedestrian for Kansas standards.