Kansas Point Of Know Return

Kansas: Steve Walsh (vocals, piano, celeste, organ, synthesizer, vibraphone, percussion); Kerry Livgren (acoustic & electric guitars, piano, Clavinet, synthesizer, percussion); Rick Williams (acoustic & electric guitars); Robby Steinham (violin, viola, cello, background vocals); Dave Hope (autoharp, bass); Phil Ehart (drums, timpani, percussion, chimes). Producer: Jeff Glixman. Reissue producers: Jeff Glixman, Jeff Magid. Engineers: Jeff Glixman, Terry Diane Baker. Recorded at Woodland Sound, Nashville, Tennessee and Studio In The Country, Bogalusa, Louisiana in 1977. Includes liner notes by Jeff Glixman. All tracks have been digitally remastered. The high point of Kansas's long career, 1977's POINT OF KNOW RETURN found the American heartlanders finally striking the perfect balance between complex prog-rock, hard-hitting heavy guitar work, and crafty pop sensibilities. This is perhaps best exemplified by the title cut, a sparkling tune full of jaunty interaction between piano and violin that moves unerringly through some tricky musical maneuvers, while remaining engagingly catchy and accessible. The electrifying riffs that fly around in "Lightning's Hand" and "The Spider" show that the knack for tunes like the previous album's classic "Carry On Wayward Son" had not deserted Kansas. At the same time, thoughtful (but not saccharine) ballads such as "Dust in the Wind" and "Hopelessly Human" make it clear that there was more than flash to the band. Nevertheless, there's honestly impressive flash aplenty to be found here in Kansas's finest hour.

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Pop