Kansas is America's best prog band ever. Most people would never know it though. All they ever heard on the radio was Dust in the Wind and Carry On Wayward Son, which are great songs but they have so much more. Cheyenne Anthem, Magnum Opus, Icarus: Born On Wings of Steel, Song For America, Apercu are just some of their many great prog songs
My older brother bought this when it first came out. he thought it was country rock, but found out pretty quick it wasn't. I thought it was great! He ended up giving me that album, and calling me a prog dork! He just didn't get It. I was 13 at the time. One of my Halo Bands, for sure. Oh, and the first song I heard was the first song on the album, "Can I Tell You Something" That song alone made me a fan instantly...
I bought the album for the cover in 1976! John Brown looking very scary....Fell in love with it after 1 listen - especially this track. The spine tingles and the goosebumps rise every time I hear it. I studied classical violin till age 16 so the love comes naturally. I am lucky to now be friends with Tom Brislin - new keyboard player - ex Renaissance, Yes, etc. and the new violinist - Joe Deninzon - from Statospherious - both long time fans like me. If I had continued my music studies....who knows? I could have been in Kansas!
I love your reaction.....Imagine being 16 and just discovering music ...I was lucky enough to see them multiple times during this period ..They were fucking amazing . The kicker is that they recorded and mixed their debut album in 2 weeks. Nine minute songs with multiple tempo changes and so many sections. I saw them in the cafeteria of a local college before the 2nd album was out...and they said " we're gonna do a new one " ..and then ripped into Song For America... As a young bass player ...that blew my mind. i got to meet three of the guys when they came to see my band when we played Atlanta.. Incredibly cool to meet them and have them appreciate what we were doing. Good luck with you channel .. - peace
I was a kid of 17 in 1977 when Kansas was making records...every record was amazing, Masque is a great album too- I would krank their music LOUD.. They corrupted me a bit to listen to the 4/4 Stones and Kinks who were playing back then too.
My man, like a lot of the other commenters here, I was in my middle to late teen years when Kansas was coming into prominence. Fell in love with them right away and to this day they are one of my all-time favorite prog bands, highly underrated in this man's opinion. All of their first five albums are fantastic. Some standout tracks are Icarus - Borne on Wings of Steel, The Pinnacle, Mysteries and Mayhem, Song for America, Incomudro-Hymn to the Atman, basically anything from the Leftoverture album, Paradox, Closet Chronicles, and Hopelessly Human. Those are the "proggiest" of those albums I would say, but almost anything from those first five albums is just great music. Enjoy the journey through the catalog!
Their "Hello! We're...(first album/side 1 track 1)" song - Can I Tell You - is a burner: a showcase for the members' chops. There's a video of them performing it live (for "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert") that shows they can play it as good as the studio cut.
The music of my youth. I only saw Kansas live once 50 years ago when they were first starting out at a free concert at Indiana/Purdue University in Fort Wayne, Indiana where they opened for REO Speedwagon.
The debut album is really quite great, worth a full listen. Back in the early 80’s, when I got my first CD player, I had only three CDs. The Kansas debut was one of them.
Thanks for doing this so quickly! My favorite song by Kansas, the whole album is amazing! Especially for a debut album. I was a teen in the 70's, graduating from high school in 1976. I was blessed to have so much fantastic music, and amazing bands with such creativity to listen to! Prog is my absolute favorite although I like rock and other genres as well.
Haven't seen it mentioned here, but Song for America (FULL VERSION) off the album of the same title. Yes, this was their FIRST ALBUM. Overshadowed by many of the other Prog greats, but as mentioned in these comments, they were truly American Prog (and, yes, from Kansas). The cover is from a mural in the Kansas State House. Search for John Brown Kansas mural. You'll be going down a historical rabbit hole.
Saw Kansas at the Exit Inn in Nashville soon after this album was released. They blew me away (along with the other 50-60 people in the room). Purchased every album since. Great Prog band
Here's some more kickin' Kansas songs: Bringing It Back: ruclips.net/video/_ZdI6g5iyRs/видео.html Song For America: ruclips.net/video/7q-9P0Y0e2s/видео.html All The World: ruclips.net/video/_FD0N3ty51E/видео.html Mysteries and Meyhem: ruclips.net/video/CBFQ06QASu4/видео.html The Pinnacle (Live): ruclips.net/video/7Thz2wGdvzQ/видео.html Lonely Wind: ruclips.net/video/_bAm3ljvWCw/видео.html
Do yourself a favor and play a live song from 'Two for the show' which establishes their genius in pulling it all off live and make it even sound better than the studio versions.
Just found this channel. Excellent. Kansas barely knew what they were doing( in terms of production and engineering in a studio ) and they came out with THIS. A sign of the greatness to come. The live version from Two For The Show is even better. RIP Robby Steinhardt 🎻
Born and raised in Kansas and aware of the band before they even got a record contract back in the day. FYI that album cover is a mural by John Steuart Curry that hangs in the rotunda of the state capitol in Topeka.
I knew it looked like some sort of old American art... I didn't know that it is in the state capitol though! That's awesome lol these guys are awesome.
@@L33Reacts the album cover shows the middle 75% of the actual mural which has several other symbols of the state like a buffalo, a farmer behind a plow and, of course, a tornado.
@@jeffking887 The day I first heard about the band, I was standing on the second floor of the rotunda in the Capitol building. I was there for a high school student congress event and a friend of mine who was from Topeka pointed at the mural and said, 'That'd make a hell of an album cover, wouldn't it?" He then told me about the band - a group of local boys who'd gotten a record contract.
Suggestions: The Wall, Miracles out of Nowhere, Icarus, Hopelessly Human, Relentless, Song for America, Lamplight Symphony, Incomudro, and on and on. I’m the world’s biggest Wheathead!!
Should check out their latest album Absence of Presence. Still rocking. Just saw them live on their 50th anniversary tour. They are doing Pinnacle live for the 1st time in 40 years. Great concert. If you get a chance see them live you won’t regret it.
Their first album was recorded mostly live in just a few days on rented equipment. Watch them do this song and The Pinnacle from the old TV show Don Kirshners Rock Concert. You can find it here on youtube
Lee, my favorite band since 1974 till a couple years ago. Their first album is still my favorite album with Journey being my favorite song. Steve being my favorite Rock vocalist. From the same album check out Death of Mother Nature Suite for another epic outro. Peace. 10.8
@@L33Reacts 4 albums in is when they flipped the commercial switch with carry on wayward son and next album dust in the wind just like so many others that flipped that switch. I prefer the early stuff with most bands cuz that's when they're the most raw, imho! 🔥🤘✌
Lee.. anything from their first 7 albums is phenomenal...anything! Longer prog pieces like this are fab,but really..all their material on these albums is worth reacting to. Same six guys on all of 'em. Livgren and Walsh wrote the bulk of it all. Dive in,bro--you'll be blown away! Cheers, T PS: and don't forget about Neal MOrse and all his works. Another Spock's Beard track would be wild. Maybe The Great Nothing for a longer one. :-)
Steve Walsh was an incredible vocalist and he definitely contributed some excellent songwriting, though in all honesty the bulk of the songwriting was Kerry Livgren who penned most of their biggest hits. But every member of the band was a great talent.
My friend, that is the understatement of the century!! You actually remember those days?? Wow 🤣🤣 glad to have you still here bro. It means the world to me.
@@L33Reacts Lol, I always enjoy seeing younger Kats finding and enjoying the Great music ... Prog/Rock/Fusion from the Best Era ever the 1960s-1970s and watching your journeys Lee !!! 👍🎼🎶
oh man, you did 'Pinnacle' but didn't pair it with 'Mysteries and Mayhem'. It's best to listen to them together imo. Mysteries fades right in to Pinnacle and they just plain go well together. it's like listening to another brick in the wall pt. 2 without the happiest days of our lives along with it. I highly suggest you listen to them together, whether or not it's for a vid. Kansas is full of amazing talent and the 3 songs on the radio barely do them justice. Carry On, Dust, and Point of Know Return are great but they're far from their best work.
Just start with the first album... Kansas really doesn't have any bad songs... can I tell you something... Great first track . Then song for America.. masque ... The first three are you unique in their own.. they're all before they were famous type thing ..leftoverture.. point of no return...etc . Monolith audiovisions.
![DURAN DURAN " Ordinary World " | Best DURAN DURAN SONG SO FAR? [ Reaction ] | UK REACTOR |](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OEaY8HnVUzg/mqdefault.jpg)
Kansas is America's best prog band ever. Most people would never know it though. All they ever heard on the radio was Dust in the Wind and Carry On Wayward Son, which are great songs but they have so much more. Cheyenne Anthem, Magnum Opus, Icarus: Born On Wings of Steel, Song For America, Apercu are just some of their many great prog songs
The live version on Two For the Show is even more brilliant. RIP Robbie.
The best composition in all of music... ..Kansas Forever.......
I think the pinnacle of Kansas work is The Pinnacle.
Another masterpiece by the genius of Kansas. Great reaction. "Magnum Opus" awaits you,,,🎸
Live version.
Make sure and listen to lonely wind . You won't be sorry........Kansas Forever.........
YEUUUP…. YOU GUESSED IT. ANOTHER MASTERPIECE ALBUM.
REMEMBER WHEN THIS ALBUM CAME OUT, MARCH 1974. IT CHANGED EVERYTHING. ROCK ON MAN 👊🖖
You need to check out ‘miracles out of nowhere’ by Kansas - very baroque and even has an instrumental fugue instrumental part.
My older brother bought this when it first came out. he thought it was country rock, but found out pretty quick it wasn't. I thought it was great! He ended up giving me that album, and calling me a prog dork! He just didn't get It. I was 13 at the time. One of my Halo Bands, for sure. Oh, and the first song I heard was the first song on the album, "Can I Tell You Something" That song alone made me a fan instantly...
Kansas is still killing it on tour! Phil Ehart, the drummer is still crushing it on drums. "Magnum Opus" is a masterpiece of prog.
Steve Walsh... His performance is second to none on this particular track
America`s prog band.
Absolutely! We take pride in them. 😄👍
Absolutely criminal they’re not in the R&R Hall! You should try Apercu from that same debut album.
Thanks! ❤️ Kansas
Some other top tracks from this album are Apercu and Belexes. The latter (as well as JFM) especially powerful from the live Two for the Show.
I bought the album for the cover in 1976! John Brown looking very scary....Fell in love with it after 1 listen - especially this track. The spine tingles and the goosebumps rise every time I hear it. I studied classical violin till age 16 so the love comes naturally. I am lucky to now be friends with Tom Brislin - new keyboard player - ex Renaissance, Yes, etc. and the new violinist - Joe Deninzon - from Statospherious - both long time fans like me. If I had continued my music studies....who knows? I could have been in Kansas!
I love your reaction.....Imagine being 16 and just discovering music ...I was lucky enough to see them multiple times during this period ..They were fucking amazing . The kicker is that they recorded and mixed their debut album in 2 weeks. Nine minute songs with multiple tempo changes and so many sections. I saw them in the cafeteria of a local college before the 2nd album was out...and they said " we're gonna do a new one " ..and then ripped into Song For America... As a young bass player ...that blew my mind. i got to meet three of the guys when they came to see my band when we played Atlanta.. Incredibly cool to meet them and have them appreciate what we were doing. Good luck with you channel .. - peace
and they were so young when this came out!
I always listen to Dave Hope's basslines.
Now that is how you end a concert, what a killer song.
When you consider how old they were when they were creating music like this!!!
Lightning's Hand is so underrated.
Glimpse of Home. One of the much later songs.
I was a kid of 17 in 1977 when Kansas was making records...every record was amazing, Masque is a great album too- I would krank their music LOUD.. They corrupted me a bit to listen to the 4/4 Stones and Kinks who were playing back then too.
That mural by John Steuart Curry is displayed in the Kansas Statehouse and is titled "Tragic Prelude"...
@4:34, Kansas' music does indeed speak to the soul.
Steve's vocals in the outro are mind blowing!! Other than Robbie none of these guys had formal training and they were very young.
My man, like a lot of the other commenters here, I was in my middle to late teen years when Kansas was coming into prominence. Fell in love with them right away and to this day they are one of my all-time favorite prog bands, highly underrated in this man's opinion. All of their first five albums are fantastic. Some standout tracks are Icarus - Borne on Wings of Steel, The Pinnacle, Mysteries and Mayhem, Song for America, Incomudro-Hymn to the Atman, basically anything from the Leftoverture album, Paradox, Closet Chronicles, and Hopelessly Human. Those are the "proggiest" of those albums I would say, but almost anything from those first five albums is just great music. Enjoy the journey through the catalog!
Their "Hello! We're...(first album/side 1 track 1)" song - Can I Tell You - is a burner: a showcase for the members' chops.
There's a video of them performing it live (for "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert") that shows they can play it as good as the studio cut.
The music of my youth. I only saw Kansas live once 50 years ago when they were first starting out at a free concert at Indiana/Purdue University in Fort Wayne, Indiana where they opened for REO Speedwagon.
The progenitors of "Prairie Prog" And the best export from Topeka, KS ever! Kerry still lives in the area and working on new music...
The debut album is really quite great, worth a full listen. Back in the early 80’s, when I got my first CD player, I had only three CDs. The Kansas debut was one of them.
Lots of great stuff from early Kansas
And yes! Magnum Opus should be next
Quite the musical journey. Your kinda stuff, trust me 😄🎵
Magnum Opus Great work
“Aperçu” from this album, “The Pinnacle” from Masque (one of the coolest album covers ever), and “No One Together” from Audio-Visions.
Thanks for doing this so quickly! My favorite song by Kansas, the whole album is amazing! Especially for a debut album. I was a teen in the 70's, graduating from high school in 1976. I was blessed to have so much fantastic music, and amazing bands with such creativity to listen to! Prog is my absolute favorite although I like rock and other genres as well.
Haven't seen it mentioned here, but Song for America (FULL VERSION) off the album of the same title.
Yes, this was their FIRST ALBUM. Overshadowed by many of the other Prog greats, but as mentioned in these comments, they were truly American Prog (and, yes, from Kansas). The cover is from a mural in the Kansas State House. Search for John Brown Kansas mural. You'll be going down a historical rabbit hole.
Saw Kansas at the Exit Inn in Nashville soon after this album was released. They blew me away (along with the other 50-60 people in the room). Purchased every album since. Great Prog band
A 12min track off the song for America- Incomudro hymn for atman contains an insane drum solo
There is an hour long documentary on Kansas that is great. The name is “Miracles out of Nowhere” which also is an awesome song!!! on RUclips.
Here's some more kickin' Kansas songs:
Bringing It Back: ruclips.net/video/_ZdI6g5iyRs/видео.html
Song For America: ruclips.net/video/7q-9P0Y0e2s/видео.html
All The World: ruclips.net/video/_FD0N3ty51E/видео.html
Mysteries and Meyhem: ruclips.net/video/CBFQ06QASu4/видео.html
The Pinnacle (Live): ruclips.net/video/7Thz2wGdvzQ/видео.html
Lonely Wind: ruclips.net/video/_bAm3ljvWCw/видео.html
Do yourself a favor and play a live song from 'Two for the show' which establishes their genius in pulling it all off live and make it even sound better than the studio versions.
I have this album and love it.
That art of the cover of John Brown is actually a mural in the Kansas state capital building. This is Kansas first album.
Just found this channel. Excellent. Kansas barely knew what they were doing( in terms of production and engineering in a studio ) and they came out with THIS. A sign of the greatness to come. The live version from Two For The Show is even better.
RIP Robby Steinhardt 🎻
Song is based on the book Narcissus and Goldmund by Herman Hesse.
Death of Mother Nature Suite...you will not be disappointed.
Born and raised in Kansas and aware of the band before they even got a record contract back in the day. FYI that album cover is a mural by John Steuart Curry that hangs in the rotunda of the state capitol in Topeka.
I knew it looked like some sort of old American art... I didn't know that it is in the state capitol though! That's awesome lol these guys are awesome.
@@L33Reacts the album cover shows the middle 75% of the actual mural which has several other symbols of the state like a buffalo, a farmer behind a plow and, of course, a tornado.
John Brown was the abolitionist who led the raid on the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA, in 1859 IIRC, and was executed for it.
@@stpnwlf9and it’s 11 feet by 30 feet in size
@@jeffking887 The day I first heard about the band, I was standing on the second floor of the rotunda in the Capitol building. I was there for a high school student congress event and a friend of mine who was from Topeka pointed at the mural and said, 'That'd make a hell of an album cover, wouldn't it?" He then told me about the band - a group of local boys who'd gotten a record contract.
Make sure you listen to lonely wind which is on the same album.......Kansas Forever.......
Suggestions: The Wall, Miracles out of Nowhere, Icarus, Hopelessly Human, Relentless, Song for America, Lamplight Symphony, Incomudro, and on and on. I’m the world’s biggest Wheathead!!
Should check out their latest album Absence of Presence. Still rocking. Just saw them live on their 50th anniversary tour. They are doing Pinnacle live for the 1st time in 40 years. Great concert. If you get a chance see them live you won’t regret it.
Their first album was recorded mostly live in just a few days on rented equipment. Watch them do this song and The Pinnacle from the old TV show Don Kirshners Rock Concert. You can find it here on youtube
Seriously! L33! You are a self-declared empath. Listen to Kansas’ Nobody’s Home. It will make you a bit more complete.
Lee, my favorite band since 1974 till a couple years ago. Their first album is still my favorite album with Journey being my favorite song. Steve being my favorite Rock vocalist. From the same album check out Death of Mother Nature Suite for another epic outro. Peace. 10.8
Whole album is 🔥been jammin to it since came out! Try the Masque album 🔥bro🤘✌
Yes to Masque.
Awesome I'll add it to the list. These guys rock! I love their unique approach to prog.
@@L33Reacts 4 albums in is when they flipped the commercial switch with carry on wayward son and next album dust in the wind just like so many others that flipped that switch. I prefer the early stuff with most bands cuz that's when they're the most raw, imho! 🔥🤘✌
Check out the song ….can I tell you something
@@bryanschuler7158 got to tell you one thing!!🎶🤘✌🎶
This whole album kills. I would check out Lonely Wind.
Have you heard Magnum Opus by Kansas yet?
Check out No One Together off Audio Visions by Kansas
Done in one take!
Lee.. anything from their first 7 albums is phenomenal...anything! Longer prog pieces like this are fab,but really..all their material on these albums is worth reacting to. Same six guys on all of 'em. Livgren and Walsh wrote the bulk of it all. Dive in,bro--you'll be blown away! Cheers, T PS: and don't forget about Neal MOrse and all his works. Another Spock's Beard track would be wild. Maybe The Great Nothing for a longer one. :-)
Steve Walsh was an incredible vocalist and he definitely contributed some excellent songwriting, though in all honesty the bulk of the songwriting was Kerry Livgren who penned most of their biggest hits. But every member of the band was a great talent.
We will definitely be returning to mr.morse eventually! Can't wait to listen to more Kansas as well! These guys rock. Haha
It has been a while. I forgot how good that one was.
A good prog rocker is Icarus off of Masque.
"Something Very Strange" by Spock's Beard maybe?
Rush would play this song before they started their shows. An act that’s hard to follow!
Hey Lee you've sure come a long way from the early "Tool" days !!! ☺ 🎶
My friend, that is the understatement of the century!! You actually remember those days?? Wow 🤣🤣 glad to have you still here bro. It means the world to me.
@@L33Reacts Lol, I always enjoy seeing younger Kats finding and enjoying the Great music ... Prog/Rock/Fusion from the Best Era ever the 1960s-1970s and watching your journeys Lee !!! 👍🎼🎶
❤❤❤ More Kansas!
I got you brother don't worry 😆😄
Awesome, but I like the live version from "Two for the show" even better. It's more... alive
You may want to check out the early Dixie Dregs sometime. You won’t be disappointed!
Kansas = ELP = Kansas
You must listen the Suite complete, APERCU/DEATH OF MOTHER NAUTURE SUITE , same Album . Thank you 🙏
CLOSET CHRONICLES.
I am officially requesting...Incomudro hymn to the Atman from " Song for America"
The cover is a (picture of a) giant painting of abolitionist John Brown that hangs in the Kansas Capitol building.
Would you believe I listen to this band often? Lol Yep American prog which I feel leans more toward classical music than English.
oh man, you did 'Pinnacle' but didn't pair it with 'Mysteries and Mayhem'. It's best to listen to them together imo. Mysteries fades right in to Pinnacle and they just plain go well together. it's like listening to another brick in the wall pt. 2 without the happiest days of our lives along with it. I highly suggest you listen to them together, whether or not it's for a vid. Kansas is full of amazing talent and the 3 songs on the radio barely do them justice. Carry On, Dust, and Point of Know Return are great but they're far from their best work.
Just start with the first album... Kansas really doesn't have any bad songs... can I tell you something... Great first track . Then song for America.. masque ... The first three are you unique in their own.. they're all before they were famous type thing ..leftoverture.. point of no return...etc . Monolith audiovisions.
Check out Jimi Hendrix song machine gun on the original release band of gypsys album it’s the best version give it a listen 🟤