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Kansas were formed in (yes) Kansas by
guitarist Kerry Livgren and drummer Phil Ehart, who had already led a couple
of bands in the early 1970s.
Proto-Kaw (Cuneiform) collects early recordings from 1971-73 of a
proto-Kansas line-up that played melodic progressive-rock.
Leveraging the classical touches from violinist Robby Steinhardt and
keyboardist Steve Walsh, the band's early albums,
Kansas (Kirshner, 1974), Masque (1975) and
Song For America (1975) approached Yes' pomp-rock from a more
intimate and melodic angle. The first one contains the pretty Can I Tell You
and the ambitious Death Of Mother Nature Suite.
Leftoverture (1976) was the album that turned them into stars, thanks to
the catchy Carry On Wayward Son and to the elegant
Magnum Opus Suite, while
Point Of Known Return (1977) yielded their signature ballad,
Dust In The Wind, and Point Of Know Return.
Monolith (1979) and Audio-Visions (1980) continued the string
of hit albums, but Vinyl Confessions (1982),
the first album without Walsh, was the beginning of the end, and the group
disbanded after Drastic Measures (1983).
Kansas' vocalist Steve Walsh moved to Atlanta and
recruited bassist Billy Greer, drummer Tim Gehrt, and guitarist Mike Slamer
to form the Streets. They released
1st (Atlantic, 1984), with the hit If Love Should Go, and
Crimes in Mind (1985).
Ehart, Williams and Walsh reformed Kansas,
adding Steve Morse, and recorded
Power (MCA, 1986) and
In The Spirit Of Things (1988).
Freaks Of Nature (Intersound, 1995)
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(Translation by/ Tradotto da Valerio Carone)
I Kansas furono fondati in Kansas (e già...) dal chitarrista
Kerry Livgren e il batterista Phil Ehart, che aveva già
guidato un paio di band nei primi anni '70. Proto-Kaw
(Cuneiform) è una collezione di primi pezzi dal 1971
al '73 di una formazione proto-Kansas che suonava progressive-rock
melodico.
Facendo leva sul tocco classico del violinista Robby Steinhardt
e del tastierista Steve Walsh, i primi album della band, Kansas
(Kirshner, 1974), Masque (1975) e Song For America
(1975) ammiccavano al "pomp-rock" degli Yes da un
punto di vista più intimistico e melodico. Il primo
contiene la bella Can I Tell You e l'ambiziosa Death
Of Mother Nature Suite. Leftoverture (1976) è
l'album che li ha trasformati in star, grazie alla acchiappante
Carry On Wayward Son ed alla elegante Magnum Opus
Suite, mentrePoint Of Known Return (1977) contiene
la loro ballata per eccezione, Dust In The Wind, ePoint
Of Know Return. Monolith (1979) ed Audio-Visions
(1980) continuano la sequenza di album di successo, ma Vinyl
Confessions (1982), il primo album senza Walsh, segna
l'inizio della fine, e la band si scioglierà dopo Drastic
Measures (1983).
Ehart, Williams e Walsh hanno riunito i Kansas, aggiungendo
Steve Morse,
per l'incisione di Power (MCA, 1986) e In The Spirit
Of Things (1988).
Freaks Of Nature (Intersound, 1995)
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