Kansas - Leftoverture

The cover of 1976's Leftoverture pictures a bearded Da Vinci character composing reams of music score with a quill. Appropriate imagery for a band who combined the compositionally complex approach of British bands such as Genesis and Yes with solid Southern-rock jamming. Kansas wasn't new in '76--the group had escaped Topeka, Kansas, to record three prior albums, including the exciting Masque and Song for America. They joined the arena circuit via Leftoverture's "Carry On Wayward Son," an instant hit with its explosive vocal arrangement and indelible guitar riff. For straight-ahead rockers ("What's on Your Mind?") and ornate epics (the five-part suite "Magnum Opus"), guitarist Kerry Livgren and keyboardist Steve Walsh dramatically pair vocal harmonies over classical- and jazz-inspired structures. The 2001 expanded and remixed edition includes live versions of "Carry on Wayward Son" and "Cheyenne Anthem," as well as new liner notes by David Wild. --James Rotondi Amazon.com

The album that broke Kansas to stardom still resonates 30 plus years on

Kansas bred progressive rockers simply called Kansas' fourth album Leftoverture was released in October of 1976.
By 1976, Kansas had three albums under their belt. Their 1974 debut which went nowhere (but had memorable songs like Can I Tell You and Lonely Wind), their early 1975 effort Song For America (with the title cut and Down the Road) showed promise and growth but their third album released later in 1975 Masque (with Icarus and The Pinnacle) sold less and Kansas were faced with being dropped from Kirshner Records (a label distributed by CBS Records (now Sony BMG) which was owned by rock impressario Don Kirshner who helped shape the career of The Monkees and launched the TV series Don Kirshner's Rock Concert).
As a result, singer/keyboard player Steve Walsh, guitarist/keyboard player Kerry Livgren, guitarist Rich Williams, bass player Dave Hope, violinist/vocalist Robbie Steinhardt and drummer Phil Ehart went to Studio in the Country in Louisiana (the studio was so named as it was in the middle of a swamp) to record their fourth album with producer Jeff Glixman. At the time, Walsh suffered writers block so it was up to Livgren to write the material and boy did he deliver.
We open the album with Kansas' first US Top 20 hit, the rocker "Carry On Wayward Son". The song was composed at the last minute after the rest of the album was written. This was the song that put Kansas on the map and I can see why as it is a guitar and keyboard driven rocker. This song is being played right now on some radio station (in its 1984 remix form but this is the original mix on Leftoverture). Next is the philosophical piece and a great song called "The Wall" which was Livgren's piece about man's place on Earth and where does God play a role. Ironically, Livgren plus Hope would become Born-Again Christians in 1979. Next is another great rocker called "What's On My Mind" which is just an awesome song and why Livgren was not ever picked to be one of rock's greatest axe slingers aside WIlliams remains a mystery. The album's first side ended with the epic "Miracles Out Of Nowhere". This epic has Walsh and Steinhardt on lead vocals and reminds me of Yes, ELP, Genesis and Pink Floyd musically with its changes in dynamics, tempo changes and so forth, especially the end where it goes fast then ends with violin, organ, tympani and the inevitable gong.
The album's second half starts with "Opus Insert" which is another great piece. It goes from fast to slow then to a carousel organ-type middle section with synthesizers before going back to the music for verse and chorus then has a reprise of the intro and the bridge to end this song. Next is another great piece called "Questions Of My Childhood" which is driven by synthesizers and acoustic guitars and is a great song. Next is my second favorite on the album called "Cheyenne Anthem" which speaks about the fall of the American Indian tribes and the struggles to adapt to change. The music is amazing, acoustic and slow for the verses then goes to a fast middle section with synthesizers, organs, drums and violins. Then back to acoustic intro before ending with full band. Awesome song! We close the album with the fittingly titled "Magnum Opus" which is an eight and a half minute epic. The first 2:30 is nice and relaxing, especially the Howling at the Moon part but then we go all throttle fast for a few minutes before slowing down then speed up again before ending in a majestic way. Shame musicians can't play like this anymore.
Leftoverture was the album that made Kansas a household name and reached #5 on the Billboard album chart and sold four million copies in the US alone and made them the top American progressive rock band out there.
The album was re-released as a remastered CD for its 25th Anniversary in May of 2001 and sounds amazing. Also, it has extra songs which were a spirited live version of Carry On Wayward Son which buries the Two For The Show version by a longshot. Next is an awesome version of the epic Cheyenne Anthem from December, 1977 and rivals its studio counterpart.
Leftoverture still sounds competent and fresh today and has aged better than any disco trash record.
RECOMMENDED! April 28, 2008

Simply a Masterpiece of American Progressive Rock

KANSAS - Leftoverture (1976) (*****) 10 tracks - (55:23)

Leftoverture, KANSAS's fourth album, released in 1976, is almost universally accepted as a Classic Rock Masterpiece, just as it's full 5-star rating shows! It is also considered the band's top progressive album, just above Song For America. Although there are not as many epic-length songs, the ones presented are highly arranged and orchestrated. Kerry Livgren (guitar/keyboards) wrote many of the songs on his own, a few more with Steve Walsh (vocals/ keyboards), and collaborated with the whole band on Magnum Opus. In fact Livgren was on quite a roll during the recording sessions for Leftoverture.

The album was the band's most successful effort up to that point, and kind of took them by surprise when it moved into the top five on the album charts. The band soon went from an "opening act" to their first headlining tour. Much of the bands success came on the heels of Carry On Wayward Son, which peaked at #11 and eventually became an FM Rock radio staple. It is easily one of my personal favorite songs of all time. Whenever someone tries to pick my brain on music trivia and eventually asks me what I think is the greatest rock song of all time; I'm quick to say, "Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son". It's got everything a good rock song needs: Great vocals, a punchy drum beat, good keyboards, and searing guitars all wrapped into one.

There is simply not a weak song on the whole album. Start to finish, it just keeps on delivering. From great Rock, to progressive masterpieces like Miracles Out of Nowhere, Cheyenne Anthem, and the epic-length Magnum Opus. If you don't own any KANSAS albums, this is definitely a good place to start.

***** Highly Recommended *****

This 2001 EPIC/Legacy remaster has two added bonus tracks. Carry On Wayward Son and Cheyenne Anthem "Live", both previously unreleased. These are nice additions to the original album that can one day be merged into a complete 2-disc set of Live Kansas when Two For The Show is eventually remastered.

Best Tracks: They're All Good!
March 20, 2008

Classic Progressive Rock---One of the 70's Very Best

Along with Masque, I believe Leftoverture to be Kansas' finest work. This compilation offers a wide variety of soundscapes and textures. If you like lush keyboards, wonderful vocal harmonies, busy-yet-tight bass lines, drumming that is technical, yet not-overdone, finely-played violin, and the vocal talents of not one but three, you cannot go wrong by purchasing Leftoverture. Those of you in your forties and fifties probably already know this. Those of you who are quite a bit younger, trust me, please. February 26, 2008

Timeless perfection

This is an album that will be studied as a masterpiece work of art much like a Bach or Bethovan is admired now. Every note and lyric is a work of art and masterfully blended that sounds almost like a mere human couldn't be capable of creating.

When you can listen to a 10 minute song and "feel" every second of it, somebody made a deal with the devil to have soo much talent.

One of the most incredibe bands since the creation of music January 25, 2008

Clearly the peak of their career remastered or not!

First of all Kansas did not produce a bad album during their 70s career, however one thing is for certain they never sounded quite like this before or after recording this masterpiece. Clearly this jewel contains the best of what they do, and while Masque hints at what was coming this is the real deal. Interestingly I purchased this used thinking I was getting the remastered version, and ended up getting the original release, which sounds fantastic, infact I have just received the other Kansas Cds in the remastered series, and none approaches the sound of this standard version. Go Figure! November 15, 2007

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