Kansas; Lamplight Symphony

[BetterTasteThanU]

sappy grabage

[mustdietolive]

kansas is the most talented group in rock and roll. I grew up loving their music and wore the grooves out of their albums

[bigredoneder]

I lost the love of my life at a very young age, a long time ago. This song still grabs me and won't let go.

[chosenfool]

Previous post was stream-of-consciousness... of course, there were many great singers. I like Burton Cummings a lot, as well. Paul Rodgers, James Dewar, Phil Mogg. Man, we were spoiled in the 70s! Actually although Dio and Dewar have gone to The Great Gig in the Sky, Paul and Phil are still singing great and releasing strong material, which is awesome.

[chosenfool]

Steve Walsh in '75 was pretty untouchable as a vocalist. There were only a few in his league; the great Ronnie James Dio, who sang 2 songs on Kerry's solo album "Seeds of Change" in 1980; Klaus Meine from Scorpions. His 70s vocals were ridiculously amazing and beautiful and shredding, as the songs required. Robbie Steinhardt's voice complimented Walsh's so well. But, then, Kansas has been my favorite band for like... ever.

[Dalefan38]

This is the ONE song I always wanted to see them perform live. LOVE THIS SONG!!!!

[IRockSoMuch63]

Steve Walsh's voice is so awesome, one of the best Prog Rock voices ever! Sooooo Underrated! His voice gives me chills.

[CHRISTSmusiciansSEA]

MASTERPIECE 100 %

[joanie134]

The song is fabulous and one of the most haunting in the Kansas discography. It's too bad that the record producers didn't have the foresight to make more video recordings during this time period. The music is awesome and the live performances should have been recorded for posterity.

I do love this song and the beautiful story that it tells.

[runeespa]

thanks for comment- and i do agree- greetings from rune in norway

[KANSASuuuuROCK]

Thanks Brother : )

[exitpoll]

Istill love the liner notes on the first Kansas album... "...We are Kansas. We are a band..." That after thanking those that should be thanked and un-thanking those who knew who they were. (Or something like that... it was 37 years ago....

[Yarsh52]

There is no better decade for music than the 1970s, well in my opinion at least.

[ericjurado6]

@Yarsh52 ,,i wish i was alive in the 70'.......i saddly was born in 81,',,,so i miss all that great music,,,,,,damm it,,,,,

[Yarsh52]

@ericjurado6 Yeah, at least we can look back on the great music from then. Still, I think seeing bands like Kansas and U.K. in their prime live would be mind blowing.

[jk1802]

True confession time: I was a pot smoking freshman at Wichita State in 1978. I had an English Comp assignment due in the morning, which I hadn't started yet. I'm burning a couple & listening to this song. "Hey, I'll bet Prof. What'shername would dig this, and I know she hasn't heard Kansas"....Yep, I ripped off Kerry Livgren & got an "A". Forgive me Father, for I have sinned...

[dwsabianguy]

that's fuckin epic

[ronskiman7]

@jk1802 That is so funny because I did the exact same thing in high school, except I wrote mine on "Closet Chronicles" minus the doobies. I got an A as well. We must somehow thank our Kansas Mentors for coming through for us just when we needed them to.

[CHRISTSmusiciansSEA]

Classic Kansas. Underrated Masterpiece.

[Scottwax]

Agreed, one of their best "unknown" songs.

[mullah06]

Kansas, Yes, PFM, ELP, THESE ARE THE GODS!!!!

[exitpoll]

Don't forget Gentle Giant

[prog4evr]

This is the most prog-esque song on the album. Sounds very similar to Genesis, "Nursery Cryme." A great song, and great testimony to the creativity of Kansas at this time (1975) of their manifestation...

[hawkhandsaw]

What about "Incommudro"? I think that's even more prog than this-but that's only my opinion, I know.

[Quadrider50]

Walsh did put out a very kick ass solo album. Me gots it...

[maximumsatann]

Point Of Know Return, rather.

[saynotodrug999]

everyone here is about the singing but what got me into Kansas where songs the keyboard and the guitar player they can be so epic but i only got the greatest hits so anyone can give me a small list of there heavier and better albums and one with wicked keyboard like Song for America that one break down is so fucking trippy

[maximumsatann]

Leftoverture, Kansas, Point Of No Return, Masque, Monolith and In The Spirit Of Things are the best

[fzdolfan]

I concur with maximumsatann except I'd take out In The Spirit and include Song For America instead. Basically all the albums by the original 6 members.

[avs90125]

@saynotodrug999

The Spider on Point of Know Return is one of the most bad-ass keyboard pieces i've ever heard...and I do agree with mximumsatann, In The Spirit of Things is one of their better albums...some of Walsh's best vocals and Steve Morse on guitar, and you can't get much better than that!

[KANSASuuuuROCK]

SERIOUS KS ROCK !

[CHRISTSmusiciansSEA]

KAWABUGA ! Serious Mojo in K Sound !

[kb1dt6]

LOL at those trying to argue with Rickyon, you can't win, he knows his stuff with Kansas!

That said, the lyrics to this song are amazing. Livgren would have been how old when he wrote this? You would think someone that young could not possibly have the insight he shows w/this subject matter. I work with people at end-of-life, and I've been listening to this song because it reminds me of one of my patients right now. The words are so true for elderly people when their loved one passes. :-(

[4graces]

great points - I always wondered how this band could write such advanced lyrics that you'd expect to come from a person who has experienced a full life, not a 20 - 25 year old. "The slumber of the earth is pure and deep

From a distant wood, drifts the echo of a beast The old man stirs and wakens in the night He stands before his window gazing at the grave Forgotten dreams are flashing through his weary mind And though his life is empty, he pretends that she's still there

[KANSASuuuuROCK]

Runeespa ROCKS !

Oh Yeah... Kansas Too : )

[joker2147]

Does anyone have anything to post from 'Song for America" LP live?

[TheCryingMachine]

I love this song, is amazing.

[Arglactable]

Such a beautiful tune, prior to Livgren's unfortunate conversion... Only 3 albums left that are even worth listening to, then it's not only philosophically lacking, but musically as well.

[rickyon]

What are you talking about?! You sound like any other garden variety religious bigot! Do you actually think that Livgrens conversion changed his approach to composing? Because if you do then you don't know the first thing about Kerry Livgren!

[Arglactable]

Perhaps not the approach, but the thought behind it. VC was a terrible album, and not just because of the christian lyrics. I don't rule out the Elefante factor, but the songs completely SUCKED! Explain the drastic decrease in quality.

You profess to know the first thing about Kerry Livgren, but there arises the question: Do you know the second?

[rickyon]

You should do a little more research on the subject you feel so confident to pontificate on! Livgrens entire career was as he called it a spiritual pilgrimage to find answers on religion! So therefore every note of the incredibly brilliant music he composed had the same mindset (thought) behind it! As for VC and Drastic measures of course they would be different as nothing in life is static but they are brilliant in their own way! There was no decrease in quality whatsoever! Any clever retorts?!

[Arglactable]

Of these facts I am quite aware, nonetheless born again Christianity is a mindset entirely different from any of the others he experimented with. It's far simpler and far more straight forward, and this reflects in his compositions. Thought will always win out over a lack there of ("God did it" doesn't work). I don't deny that his works during that period were far better than anything written today (that's not very difficult to manage). They just sound terrible next to The Pinnacle and Icarus.

[rickyon]

First of all not many will argue with the fact that The Pinnacle and Icarus as well as many other songs off of the first 5 albums (that's right not 3 but 5!)are true genius on the part of Livgrens composing and the bands performances!Comparing anything against those two is quite unfair as any performer has his best and those are two of his!Second, any performers body of work over so many years is going to vary and find new directions and styles! This is the case here!

[rickyon]

Bottom line, you don't like those two albums with Elefante. No problem, your opinion and you're welcome to it! But to say they are terrible and to pretend you have figured it out due to Livgrens conversion to any religion is ridiculous! I say he could have converted to Satanism... wait that's a poor example!! Let's just agree to disagree and I'll cede the point that those albums don't stack up to what I like to call Livgrens golden era!! After all we're on the same side here!

[Arglactable]

Then we're agreed then. In reference to your previous post though. I guess my also being a huge fan of Walsh may of clouded my views somewhat, his singing style is just better (IMO), I strive to achieve at least a measure of the vocal and keyboard prowess he displayed in the 70's and 80's. Also when I said they had three albums remaining, I was including of course Kansas and Song For America (Both amazing of course) which would bring the total to 5 :D

[sunboyfun]

Just to throw my "Two Cents Worth", I do think Vinyl Confessions had a few A-list songs on it that displayed not only growth, but what we all know and love about Kansas. "Diamonds And Pearls" explored a jazzy direction with lush harmonic/melodic ideas, and great arrangement.

[sunboyfun]

I love the dreamy mid section. "Crossfire", while being the song to drive Steve out of the band, still resonates musically and has some of the best qualities of Kansas' strongest cuts. That yearning, majestic approach is in full force.

[rickyon]

"Can I Tell You" "What's On My Mind" about your "Two Cents Worth"?! You are so right and it doesn't stop with those two songs! "Windows", "Right Away", "Face It", "Play The Game Tonight", "Fight Fire With Fire" the list goes on of excellent songs from those two albums! Kansas did exactly what Steve Walsh wrote about and said we've "Got To Rock On" and they did and so do we!!!!

[2manifest2]

I have made many comments on Kansas and its members. Ihave to agree with RICKYON. His knowledge of Kerry and his spiritual journey is strong. Listen to the VC demo recordings with Walsh. Its much powerful than what appeared on the album. The band was tired and going through a major change. As far DM, End Of The Age And Incident On A Bridge are 2 of the best songs Kerry has ever written in its own way. Its a shame they were not performed live on the DM tour

[rickyon]

What's up my fellow Kansas fan! Where can I listen to the VC demo recordings at? I heard them many years ago and then lost the website (more likely it was shut down!) where they could be found! I remember those tapes as being very impressive on Walsh' part!

[Arglactable]

Hey dude! I think I can help you with that as well! :P

[rickyon]

Great! I can't wait!

[Mollidew]

The style was different that is all. John Elefante is a great singer. I have heard them both live and John about three feet away almost acapella. He is a far better singer than Walsh although they are both good. My brother who is a consumate Kansas fan had to admit to this, but his music is very different. NOT BAD but just different.

[rickyon]

You are an incredibly fortunate human being! I've seen both and I agree they each are world class and different! I would kill to hear any singer of their caliber up close and a capella! It shows the real power and skill unenhanced by amplification or processing! I know a few good singers and hearing them practice or warm up off mic. always used to give me chills!

[TheCryingMachine]

John is NOT better than Steve. Steve is clearly better but John is still a great singer not only capable of singing the songs but capable of singing all the songs in the original keys without running away from the high notes. His live performance is amazing, but so is Steve's. Both great singers, though Steve voice is stronger and his vocals on Power and In The Spirit of Things show how he had improved his phrasing and modulation. John never reached that level.

[PaulC39]

This is one of my favorite Kansas songs. Kansas is my all time favorite classic rock band. There are so many good albums of theirs. "Masque" is really good and of course "Point of Know Return" and "Overture".

[CHRISTSmusiciansSEA]

Yes. Great Song. Great Band I agree. Carry On !

Kerry lost 2 Grandmothers in one week in his

youth, so maybe the song is symbolic in his loss?

Deep as deep gets. What a Gift !

[DiscAce11]

My favorite Kansas song of all time.

Love the kettle drums.

Thanks for posting it!!

[sic7maggot]

yeah, my memory is missing a few cells. u know, of course, why somewhere brought back some of that old magic-some guy named livgren wrote & played on it.;)

[bobc1957]

this is my favorite tune from Kansas. I have just recently lost my wife to brain cancer and I'm hoping and praying to live out this song with her. thanks for the great production!

Bob.........

[sic7maggot]

Those songs you mention are the very ones i think wouldn't even have made the cut on any of the 1st 5. Angels, HMSCOFY, & away are all very weak Walsh written songs. Stay OOT-good rocker like whats on my mind & others. Nuttin special. On the other side-not developed enough to be great. Maybe could have been?? Glimpse is the only truly great composition on the album. How can u be so right about SOA & so wrong about Mono?? SOA is an absolute masterpiece, beginning to end. U like PlaytheGame&FFWF??

[skip901]

unbelievable song and group. huge fan since 1977. started taking my daughters to kansas shows every year when they were 9 and 10. they are now 18 and 20. and they are still big kansas fans to this day. going to see them aug. 7 at pepsi road house.

[rbaum741]

Right On Skip901. Brainwash them kids...

Before the WORLD warps them. TV-Trash-Media.

Kids NEED good parents to show them what is GOOD.

K is #1 in my book. TRUE... Peace.

[joker2147]

If anyone has eve parts of this song, or "Hymn to the Atman" LIVE please post!! An incredible song, from and incredible band, never get tired of listeing to steve's voice and rob's violin. Has any other band made a violin such a big part of their music? Not like these rockers!!!

[rickyon]

None that I can think of! There's Charlie Daniels but he's Southern Rock/Country! There's the Jazz Fusion guys Jean Luc Picard I mean Luc Ponti and Jerry Goodman!I may be missing somebody but that's all I can think of!Oh there's John Cougar Mellencamp! That's it!

[sic7maggot]

U mentioned this song is a masterpiece in a old post. That's a term I've been using for years to describe those greatest compositions. I also include Journey FMB from the 1st, Song FA,& Hymm from SFA, Icarus & Mysteries & Mayhem/The Pinnacle(1 song, as we know)&Allthe World from Masque, nearly the whole Leftoverture album,HopelesslyHuman&ClosetCh­ronicles from POKR & No One Together from A/V. You'll probably think of others. Kansas-possibly the greatest band that ever tuned up.

[rickyon]

First of all let me say that you are a man of unique intelligence and impeccable musical taste! You pretty well covered the masterpiece collection from Kansas(Quite a long list!).My top 5 are: SFA,Icarus,A Glimpse of Home,No One Together and Paradox! Not all Masterpieces but all great songs! You have quite a heavy list of favorites for an old man(Just a joke! I'm old too!) I,like you prefer the heavy stuff besides Kansas! Keep Rockin' On!

[sic7maggot]

dude u flatter me. Like u said, I go for the heavy stuff these days. Kansas is the only band from my prog days that I still get goose bumps from. Rush, Styx, ELP, Tull, Yes, Genesis-all bands i used to love-just sound so dated. But not Kansas. I say the fast moving 5chords so prominate in todays d-tuned metal started with the pre-chorus of Whats On My Mind. Its the earliest ex. I know of fast moving 5chords altho they weren't tuned down.

[sic7maggot]

A glimpse of home! I forgot about that 1. Absolutely! 1 of livgren's greatest. I would have to add Mask of the Great Deceiver & Ground Zero from SOC. Sadly, nothing from schmr-drmr qualifys.

[rickyon]

Again you show your superior intellect when it comes to music! "Mask" is my favorite Livgren solo tune and I love SOC!Check this out! My wife wrecks her car and we get a loaner. In the deck is one of two cassettes of Livgrens "Decades" collection! Divine intervention? It has almost all of SOC on it and some A.D. stuff too! You're right about Walsh, for ten years he was the best singer on the planet but not much of a songwriter! I have Schmr-Drmr and I wasn't really impressed!

[brraaanno]

I wouldn't say that whole Leftoverture is great, unlike Monolith and Song for A. - those two are absolute masterpieces + albums like Kansas, Masque and Point of Know Return. I would find 3 or 4 good tracks on V/C and A/V

[sic7maggot]

Let's see-AGOH & On the Other Side great tunes-AGOH is a classic. Rest of Mono is way below previous Kansas stuff. Cheyenne Anthm, the Wall, Miracles, Magnum Op., all masterpieces from Leftoverture. Mono & AV is when the rest of the band gave in to Walsh so he wouldn't quit. Those 2 albums were nowhere near the level of the 1st 5

[brraaanno]

Are you sure we are talking about the same Monolith? Rest of mono is way below previous Kansas stuff?? - Have you heard Angels have fallen, how my soul cries out for you, away from me or stay out of trouble? By the way On The Other Side is one of those weaker tracks from Monolith.

[rickyon]

Everyone has a right to their own opinion but I must say your overall opinion of Monolith is somewhat curious! Sure it is a step down from previous stuff but not as dramatic as you want to make it!"A Glimpse Of Home" is a Livgren masterpiece and in my top 5 All-time!"People Of The Southwind" is awesome! You say that "On The Other Side" is one of those weaker tracks! HUH? It didn't break my top 5 but it's in my top 10!"Reason","SOOT"and "HMSCOFY" are all decent tunes!So both of you puzzle me!

[brraaanno]

OMG - you just said that Monolith is a step down - all the Kansas fans I know (maybe 4 or 5 people) prefer Monolith to other albums - I'd say that Monolith is the best and most compact album from Kansas. It is the masterpiece as a whole.

[rickyon]

First let me say that you have great taste in music and you picked the right guy to emulate in Ritchie Blackmore!You can't go wrong with him and classical music as influences!As for Monolith I wasn't putting it down I love it!I just think that the 5 albums before it are better! They all kick ass!I'm also a musician(Playing for 40 years now!) and I think you are on the right track!My previous response was more for the other guy than you! Keep on rockin'!

[KSFALLGUY]

lol audio visions is kerrys christian comming out, steve left because he dissagread with the direction the band was being taken by kerry, all of kerrys songs on that album and every one after that r christian, hold on he wrote for his wife who was struggling with her own salvation, vynal c was ready to b recorded when steve said he couldnt do it any more! kerry and dave hope were saved befor audio visions u can hear it n all the lyrics!

[cdamonlaino]

i speak for all walsh fans. yes, he is a shell of hispast. but how can anyone deny that he was the best vocalist that we all wished we could be. walsh himself does'nt even know how good he was. my opinion, no one can touch him

[ClassicTVFan82]

Would this song have sounded even more frightening, darker and gloomier if Kerry Livgren (this song's writer) or Rich Williams were to have played the sitar?

[rickyon]

Wow I would have thought such a musing would be coming from an old hippie like myself not from someone so young! Interesting but I don't think a sitar would fit the mood of this one! I don't see a sitar in such a somber,sad song as this but that's just me! I like how you think outside the box though!

[ClassicTVFan82]

The sitar bit I brought up was because of its use [by Brian Jones] in The Rolling Stones' 1966 hit "Paint It, Black".

[rickyon]

That song is more angry and definitely more of a rocker!The sitar in that song is abrasive and goes along with the rock feel! "Lamplight" is aptly named,more symphonic and sad and in my opinion the sitar would sound dissonant and against the grain! Dissonance can work though! Check out Kerry Livgrens "Mask of the Great Deceiver" in the beginning for some dissonance that works! I still like the thought process, these things lead to new and different sounds!

[rickyon]

You tricked me for a second there runeespa! The capture that accompanies your related videos posting is from one of the Kirshner shows and I thought you had some previously unseen footage! Well any Kansas is good Kansas and I haven't seen any other postings of this Masterpiece so thanks!

[livinglikeaking]

Great song

[dishwolf359]

Steve Walsh without a doubt has one of the greatest voices to ever sing rock and roll. His vocal range and control were unmatched by anyone. Kerry Livgren is as equally talented as a lyricist and musician/composer. Kansas is one of the greatest bands that ever walked onto a stage. LONG LIVE KANSAS AND THEIR MUSIC.

[Zorack10]

I would say WAS one of the greatest voices to ever sing Progressive rock,today he's just a sad shadow of his former self

[rickyon]

Amen Brother! I couldn't have said it better myself!He may have lost a couple of steps but the sentiment is still correct!One of the greatest voices to ever sing rock and roll!

[Zorack10]

Steve Walsh sounds so wonderful on this tune,I wish he could sing like this again,I'm one sad 52 year old.

[emitten91]

At 47 i know your saddness. YouTube has brought back the memories, thats for sure. When I saw these guys on Kirshner doing The Pinnacle, oh so many years ago, Steve hit that note in the end and I was hooked. Now I can re-live the experience. Awesome

[emitten91]

These guys were so before their time. Loved them then, were inspired by them and still am today. Thanks for this one.

[rbaum741]

Thank You Very MUCH. Love IT. Great song too.

Please, more KANSAS when you KAN. Be Well !

-> TOP of wmw POTSW org - Southwind K-Friends.