Kansas - Live - 1974 - Song For America(New York City)

[Brianp823]

Pretty cool recording. Historical and they played the whole thing not like since 1978 when they truncated out the piano solo and other parts of the instrumental part between the bridge and the last verse. By the way people it is ROBBY not ROBBIE.

[fesstarou]

なつかし～い。

[MrJoeydano]

Hi' Rickyon

Saw and briefly spoke to Robbie last Feb 2011 at the South florida fair and he was ok but

dealing with a sickness (Thyriod I believe) I recently spoke to a close friend of his who said

he is ok. But not well enough to tour anymore !

[rickyon]

I'm glad that Robby is alright!! I see that he sits in with Rick Moon's band Stormbringer every once in a while.

[fraroc]

@MrJoeydano Thyroid issue? Do you think that has anything to do with back in 2006 when he left the band?

[MrJoeydano]

Robbie although Dave is a great young talent and i'm glade he is Touring I miss you to no end !

We who Love Kansas Miss you too much too express in words please get well !

[rickyon]

Last I heard Robby was fine. Did you hear something recently?

[Karmkane]

The first time I saw Kansas was on the Masque tour. They opened for BTO. Imagine being 15 at your second concert ever. They opened with "Song for America"... I like to think that experience is what made me the man I am today.

[rickyon]

You saw them on the same tour that I did! Do you remember the venue or the date? I saw them open for Bad Company at The Capital Centre in Maryland. This was my 1st Kansas concert but my 1st concert was in 1969 when I was 11 years old! It was Iron Butterfly.

[geffel]

Proper prog rock band.

[morymb]

wow...what a band kansas was and is...holy shiznitch

[throwsand]

PROG

[metalike77270]

j adore ce groupe

il est terrible c est de la Musique

[sibkiss2009]

I have played a few Kansas youtube vids, and each time my boyfriend breaks into song, he memorized the lyrics and revels in the days when he was rollin with his friends listening to the albums on the car stereo. He said the hairs on his arms raise when he heard this one...thanks for posting

[rickyon]

You're welcome! You're boyfriend has excellent taste in music. I just saw Kansas on 11/11/11 here in D.C. They still kick ass! They played with the U.S. Army Orchestra and this song was excellent! I sang along too because this is my favorite song not just from this band but ever!

[fraroc]

@rickyon You saw them on 11/11/11?! I begged my mom and dad to take me, but they said no!

Anyways, nice audio! Back in the 70s, Robbie was just as good on violin as Rags!!

[rickyon]

Are you local here in the DC area? Yeah, they played with the Army Forces Orchestra and supposedly there was some very special important people in attendance at DAR Constitution Hall! The Army Orchestra violinist played Dust with Rags.She was very good. It was a free concert for service members and their families! If you look at my pics on Facebook you'll see the ticket stub.

[fraroc]

@rickyon Im from Long Island,LI it's not really that far but its a few hour drive..I really want to see them again!! I saw them for the very first time in 2010 in Jones Beach Theatre and again May 2011 in a theatre in the Hamptons. Then I ALMOST saw them in August 2011 in an open air venue. It was supposted to be Brad Paisley+Kansas but then there was thunder and lightning and Brad had to finish the set early and they cancelled Kansas >:( That really sucked :P

[rickyon]

Hey Frederico, I meant to say Army Orchestra and was thinking Armed Forces. Long Island is quite a drive to D.C.! God willing Kansas will be touring for as long as Walsh can belt them out. It's not like they are getting rich on their own music. They don't own the rights! Sony Music does. Only 2 more years til their 40th Anniversary and at some point they have to put out the ultimate collection and although that is sure to cost a fortune it is something that I will definitely buy!

[fraroc]

@rickyon Walsh was aboslutley Amazing when I saw them in the Hamptons (oh and btw I was in the 2nd row!!!!). The way he sang "Cheyenne Anthem" was breathtaking, and then there was probably the best version of "Miracles out of Nowhere" I ever heard live. As soon as they were done with Carry On I didn't want it to end. The entire experiance was so amazing I wanted it to go on forever and ever...I hope this year they play "Closet Chronicles" bc of the 35th anniversary of the POKR album.

[rickyon]

One can have dreams my friend. That may be a little bit of a strain for him now days!

[fraroc]

@rickyon Yeah, id expect him to have trouble during the "life is sweet but I took it all for granted" line, even if they'd drop-tuned it.

[1978lowride]

Wow...great to hear an early version of this. Gives an idea of how their great music evolved. But this band was full of 20 year old prodigies. Just embarassing how they make today's music sound.

Here's my Occupy Wall Street beef...corporations killed great music like Kansas and now I have to listen to Bieber!

[Magellan1967]

Getting a bit sick of these rare performances with only a picture and an audio track , no video.

[rickyon]

You're welcome.You should count your lucky stars that I'm putting up the audio recordings.Do you think everyone was running around with video cameras back then? Some people are just ingrates!

[glorkster11]

@rickyon

Thanks for posting. I like that the music and lyrics of this song live up to its title -- and more. Been watching some of the recent performances of Walsh and it is a bit sad. Like a beautiful flute that's been battered over a rock.

--CB

[geffel]

@rickyon

Sound quality is fantastic. Thanks for posting. Can't get over how superbly proggy this is!

[rickyon]

You're welcome.It's the Proggiest!

[geffel]

@rickyon

It's hard to imagine a world where people didn't even have personal video players, phones were limited to booths, offices or homes, and we didn't have hi-def video cameras in every device we own.

Even twenty years ago a video camera was a large, heavy and unwieldy bit of kit.

[rickyon]

Youngsters today don't understand. They are constantly complaining that a lot of my vids are only slide-shows. They don't realize that this is the best we could do and that these recordings are really treasures to be enjoyed. The pics are something to look at while digging the glorious Progness!

[TheEricinSF]

Kansas' signature song....this is Kerry's masterpiece.

[mivanino]

I mean this is masterpiece of this band. Thanks

[rickyon]

You're welcome.

[Belexes]

I believe this was recorded at the Bottomline club in NYC. I have the raw recording somewhere in my archives. There are recordings of a show Kansas played at the Academy at Wolfgang's Vault. A little birdie told me the vault also contains unseen VIDEO footage of the band, but it has yet to be restored/posted. :^)

[rickyon]

I'm pretty sure you are right. I would never bet against you. There is conflicting info depending upon which source you download the bootleg from and I've seen both but I think as Ed Mcmahon used to say to Carnak You are correct sir! Thanks for the info. Any video footage is extremely desirable! (Wink, Wink, Hint, Hint)

[bond00777777]

art art art rock

[rickyon]

I would just add 2 letters to those 1st 3 words. G and E. great great great rock!

[korina95]

RICKYON- YOU ARE AWESOME FOR THIS STUFF!!!! LlOVE YOU MAN!!! No I'm not gay!

[rickyon]

Not that there's anything wrong with that! Thanks!

[rg2027x]

@korina95 lol

[tortoni900]

KANSAS IS TOURING THE USA AND EUROPE THIS SPRING/SUMMER 2011. I just got my tickets for May today! Looking forward to experiencing this incredible band LIVE ! 

[rickyon]

The 1977 show w/Rush was the 2nd show in 3 weeks in Passaic, New Jersey on March 12th. The Capital Theatre, the 1st show they opened for Foghat on February 20th. I have conflicting info on the venue of this recording here though. One source says The New York Academy Of Music (which I guess was also called the Palladium or later was changed to that name) and the other says it was at a place called The Bottom Line. Since you were there do you remember which one it was?

[19mcmayhem]

20 yrs old and saw these guys for the first time last year. what i would give to see them back in the day...

[somfp]

Fantastic version! I love the tempo and intensity! Thanks for uploading.

[rickyon]

You're welcome. 

[www41WorldUSAcom]

KANSAS "SONG FOR AMERICA NY NY USA"

[1978lowride]

Thanks for ALL your work Rickyon....I can (and often do) listen to this stuff for hours. It spoils me for just about anything else.

[rickyon]

You're welcome. I am an enormous Kansas fan myself, they are my favorite by far but I still have many other bands that give me great pleasure musically. I'm a drummer who just came out of a 20 year retirement about 3 months ago and the layoff has given me a new found excitement about my favorite music. Don't neglect your other favorite music.

[1978lowride]

@rickyon

Good advice about not neglecting other great music. Think I'll put on some Scofield, Medeski, Martin and Wood. Or Tull, or Rush. Glad to hear you're making your way out of drumming retirement. After 25 years, I'm thinking of stacking my tubs...just not enough time...or talent.

[MrDw282]

It is important to remember that Walsh was kind of coming in to his own from 70-75. He even sat down while performing for a long time during the early years. He never really exploded into his prime until 75. Listen to the "Lonely Street" cut from Live at the Whisky. From 75-81 he was the best. Unfortunately while with Streets, you could hear the decline of his voice and its been rough ever since Power. This performance of SFA was really early.

[cruzn246]

Walsh easily had the best voice of the era. He wasn't the most talented ever he just had the best voice ever. The tonal quality was unequaled.

[cruzn246]

Walsh easily had the best voice of the era.

[jhelmwaterw]

Steve is the greatest rock singer of all times. As far as any criticism of his live efforts go, he was simply unbelieveable live (better than studio) in his first 10 YEARS (I saw them like 60 times over that period). Yes, there were "good days" and "tired days" on those 100 city tours and after that, he had a dark period where he did not take care of himself and he paid for it. NO one can keep this level of vocal performance up forever (Anderson, Daltry, Mercury... no one)

[Wakinshaw]

Walsh is an unbelievable singer but the live performance is not his strongest side.

[rickyon]

You haven't listened to too many live performances of Kansas then because there are countless examples of Walsh live that are just stunning! Any singer is at the mercy of the human instrument of the vocal chords but Walsh in his prime was unequaled. Not only did he wow with his vocal chords but also played mean keyboards at the same time.

[Wakinshaw]

@rickyon I do have many live records of Kansas from the Walsh years. I still think he is a fantastic singer, one of my faves, but his voice is not so excellent on live recordings. Often avoids higher notes. Sorry I can't help.

[rickyon]

I have hundreds and I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. We do agree that he is an awesome singer.

[shire2005]

@rickyon

"Walsh in his prime was unequaled. "

One of the best to be sure but Freddie Mercury was the greatest rock vocalist from that era or ever. Walsh is one of the best after him.

[rickyon]

Mercury is in my top 5 but in my opinion Walsh is the best! Just my opinion yours is as valid as mine and there is no reason to argue because we are talking about the elite here. I think in trying to make comparisons of singers of this magnitude the level of ability is so close that the difference would have to be measured with a microscope!

[Wakinshaw]

@Wakinshaw That's the pont! BTW I have sum live records where Steve is awesome, but I have more where he avoids the higher notes (from the 1974-1980 period). One thing is for shure: he is one of my fave, and one of the world's most skilled, talented and phenomenal singers.

[mauromp74]

Amazing musicians, incredible band.

[roxycairn]

Robbie Steinhardt is missed. First heard this played by a bar band at Rider College in 1978; loved Kansas from that point on.

[silverwingsify]

I used to listen to WGTB all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it. I lived in Woodbridge Virginia in the 70's

[silverwingsify]

OMGGGGGGGGGG I loved WGTB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! listened to it all the time. I lived in Woodbridge Virginia

[notesleb]

excellent

[debbiechickie5]

LMAO.."Lurch"...

[rickyon]

You rang!

[Prosciutto14]

I heard this song for the first time about 1990 (20 years ago!!!!!). My knowledge of Kansas that time around was limited to Dust in the Wind, Carry on wayward Son and Hold on. Song for America was such a great impact, a composition as great and majestic as the great works of the British prog bands of the seventies.

From then on I became a huge Kansas fan.

Needless to say that Song for America has remained one of the great moments of progressive rock.

[rickyon]

This is my favorite Kansas tune but there are so many it's hard even to choose a top 10! So I choose them all. You'll find most of them here! Enjoy!

[brandonhornsby]

@Prosciutto14 Well said!

[GTX1123]

This was the first song by Kansas I had ever heard. Heard this in 75 on a GREAT FM station broadcasting from the campus of Georgetown Univ. with a powerful signal an NO commercials. They played A LOT of prog rock and would play almost entire albums at a time. The live version I heard was recorded during a recent European tour in 74/75 and was a bit tighter and definately more energetic than this recording.

[rickyon]

Are you a native Washingtonian or were you just here for school? Back then there was another fantastic radio station on the campus of American University. WAMU was a great station. Did you ever hear "Old Howard's Rock and Roll Jukebox"? He debuted the "Burn" album from Deep Purple back in 1973. Howard Page was a great D.J. and a maniac! He played a lot of Prog rock and harder stuff as well and he loved to party.

[GTX1123]

My family had ties to the D.C. area where we eventually settled in 1974 when I was 12 years old. We lived in Alex. Va. I remember the Rock -n- Roll Jukebox very well. Although WGTB usually played great stuff, I would sometimes switch over to WAMU during the Jukebox if I didn't like whatever cut GTB was playing. Both WGTB & WAMU had very powerful signals which is how I came across them.

[janny108]

I read in an interview by Steve Walsh that he tours now because he has to make money (?) I somehow thought guys like that toured because they wanted to, for the love of the music. He also said that Kansas never heard of groups like Yes and other prog bands which I think is crap because I think they were all around about the same time.

[Visionary3rdEye]

lol holy shit...i can't believe steve blew those vocals...but shit it was brand new to even them at the time.

Some of the music is even different than what ended up on the album.

Kansas is the shit!

[ms16464]

Oh man ! Walsh messed up the words at the end... still awesome though

[rushisgod]

KANSAS is eternal. There is music... and then there is KANSAS! Such a grand music! Right on, Rick!

[rickyon]

I agree with you 100%.

[42francois]

Song for America with Obama ?

A frenchy Kansasforlife!!! Thank you Rick and Michael for dialogues and for Kansas.

[rickyon]

You're welcome. Are there any French bands that you would recommend?

[howdyfeller]

Venturia and Parallaxe for recommended French Bands.

[rickyon]

Thanks feller! (I couldn't resist that!) Thank you for the recommendations. I'll go check them out!

[OcalaMusician]

I woudn't put Obama's name next to anything except perhaps a pile a steaming manure. Not quite sure where the original comment came from, but this is my thought about it.

Oh yeah - ALL singers back in this time period did NOT have video teleprompters with the lyrics on them like they use now. They actually HAD to remember the words. So forgetting lyrics is not a good thing, but it is certainly human.

[rickyon]

Walsh fudged the vocals from time to time but as you said he is human(with a god like voice for a while!) When I met the band Phil said that they are a band just like any other band and they make mistakes too. Like any other? I think not!

[ProudConfederateSon]

Amen to that my friend !!!

[borntobewilder9]

You would be pleased to know that Kansas' political views are similar to yours. I gave you a "Thumbs up!!!!!!!!!!"

[JonWRowe]

I think Kansas' political views are like the Ramones: They differ among themselves. Kerry is an arch-conservative. Dunno if Steve is a "liberal" but he's way to the left of Kerry.

[rickyon]

I would agree with that assessment. I saw a picture of Kerry on the Fox news channel. Just by reading Walsh's interviews over the years I think it's safe to say that he is a "liberal".

[JonP1961]

@JonWRowe

wait... Kerry Livgren or John Kerry?

:D

[rickyon]

I mean Kerry Livgren not Lurch! :D

[XXXREBXXX1]

and the steaming manure smells better i agree ocalamusician

[Kansasforlife]

Great job, Rick! I love this song and the pictures are very nice :-).

Michael.

[rickyon]

Thanks Michael I just saw your "Questions" video. Nice work!