Kansas: Song For America CD Track Listing

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Kansas Song For America (1975)
Song For America (Remastered & Expanded)\n2004 Epic/Legacy\n\nOriginally Released October 1974\nCD Edition Released May 1987\nRemastered & Expanded CD Edition Released June 29, 2004\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Probably the most prog of Kansas' albums, this one spotlights long, orchestrated songs and unusual time signatures. There is an extended nine/eight instrumental break in the middle of the title track. "Lamplight Symphony" offers long, orchestrated passages. When the energy is there, it is intense energy, such as "Down the Road" and "The Devil Game." The longer songs unfortunately can lose a passive listener. But all in all, this is a good (if not adolescent) recording for a group of this genre. [The 2004 reissue has improved sound, new liner notes and two bonus trtacks: the single edit of "Song for America" and a live version of "Down the Road" taken from a 1975 show at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland.] ~ Mark W. B. Allender\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nKansas Sings the "Song For America", September 7, 2004 \nReviewer: Louie Bourland (garden grove, ca United States)\n"Song For America" is the second album from the masters of American Progressive rock, Kansas. Although this was only their second album, the band had already established themselves as a solid live act and had delivered an impressive self-titled debut album which still ranks among their finest work. With "Song For America", the band successfully fused their tight hard rock sound with a decidedly more epicapproach. Two of the album's shorter tracks, the opener "Down The Road" and "Lonely Street" display a heavy dose of bluesy bar-band boogie while "The Devil Game" is a short but musically complexpiece with strong band interplay, odd time signatures and lyricsthat are openly anti-satanic. \nThe album's three remaining pieces rank among the very best of Kansas's long epic pieces. All three were soley penned by bandleader/guitarist/keyboardist Kerry Livgren and feature some of his finest compositional structure and arrangement work. The 10-minute title track pays homage to the beauty America and combines complex time signatures and dynamic musical themes with simple pop-rock melodic structures. The 8-minute"Lamplight Symphony" is a heavily keyboard-based piece and displays tightly arranged orchestrations alongside impressive vocal work from Steve Walsh and violinist Robby Steinhardt. The 12-minute"Incommurdo" is the oldest piece on the album dating back to 1971-72 (the original recording is on the excellent Kansas demo compilation "Proto-Kaw"). It is also the longest piece recorded by the classic Kansas line-up. The band's solid musicianship is displayed at its fullest here complete with Livgren's dramatic keyboardorchestrations and stunning lead guitar work, Steve Walsh's passionate vocals and Phil Ehart's powerhouse drum feature. The piece's lyrics are interesting in the fact that Livgren was still on aspiritual quest at the time of this song's writing and recording. Its subject matter dealing with philosophies of Eastern religion and Buddhist principles (again, this was roughly five years before Livgren embraced the born-again Christian faith). \nOn the expanded remastered version, there are two bonus tracks. One being a three-minute 'single edit' version of the title track. The other being a solid 1975 live version of "Down The Road" showing Kansas rocking hard with the pedal to the metal. The remastered soundquality is a revelation compared to the previous CD issue displaying full depth and clarity to the music. The booklet includes a newly written essay featuring commentary from several Kansas bandmembers as well as providing an insight into the making of the album. \nAfter 29 years, "Song For America" remains one of Kansas's greatest albums. The expanded remastered version is so fresh-sounding, it makes it worth buying the album all over again. With its solid rock numbers and progressive epics, the album is an excellent demonstration of the many musical trademarks of the band. From here, Kansas continued to improve and refine their sound paving the way for superstardom that was to come only less than two years later. \nA highly recommended Progressive Masterpiece!! \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nProg-rock classic better than ever, August 25, 2004 \nReviewer: Dr. Emil Shuffhausen (Alabama)\nThis remastered/expanded version of Kansas' classic 1975 opus will be a welcomed addition to any serious fan of classic progressive rock. With complete and enhanced liner notes, photos, and artwork,this is a handsome package, and the sound is infinitely better than the previous CD release of the title. As for the songs, this is perhaps the most adventurous studio effort in Kansas' 30 year career. "Down the Road" is reminiscent of the kicky "Southern Rock Meets British Art Rock" style of the debut Kansas album. Clocking in at a little less than 4 minutes, it is by far the shortest cut on the album. The next cut, "Song for America," ranks very high indeed in the pantheon of amazing, epic Kansas tracks. Stately, impassioned, gorgeous, driving, visionary...it's arguably the best track they've ever done. At 10 minutes, it's a sumptuous feast for the senses. And there's no let-up on the next cut, "Lamplight Symphony," a ghostly love story that is at some points chilling, at others majestic, and always melodic. Kansas goes back to the blues for the simmering, angry "Lonely Street," which is about the dark side of that thoroughfare outside of the Heartbreak Hotel. Vocalist/violinist Robby Steinhardt balefully growls out this seedy tale of revenge and heartbreak, all to great effect. "The Devil Game" is a powerhouse keyboard-driven track that blasts through the speakers with added clarity on this re-mastered version...the subject matter is a somewhat startling declaration of spiritual warfare. "Incomudro" is a strange title...it came to songwriter Kerry Livgren in a dream. Basically, it's a 12 minute new age hymn reflecting Livgren's ongoing search for spiritual meaning, which finally culminated in 1979 with his decision to become a follower of Jesus Christ. The music for "Inconmudro" is astonishing,moving from dreamy soundscapes to frenzied fury, giving the musicians in Kansas room to really stretch their legs. Individually, these guys rank as some of the finest to ever play in the genre, so it's a real treat to hear them take wild solo flights and thenmesh together as a hurricane force unit. Steve Walsh is a vocalist without equal in prog rock, and this album is one of his finest hours; his keyboard work sounds like a tornado sweeping down the plains. Likewise, Phil Ehart is a phenom drummer--at least on apar with Neal Peart of Rush--combining speed, power, and agility. Rich "Meatwall" Williams is a criminally underrated guitarist, with a signature sound that is still flexible enough to roam the ranges...he really shines here. Steinhardt can play the violin like a virtuoso or he can fiddle up a storm like Charlie Daniels onsteroids. Bassist Dave Hope always had an ability to play innovatively and melodically; jazzy, yet disciplined enough to keep theKansas juggernaut from coming off of its hinges. As for keyboardist/guitarist Kerry Livgren, this CD gives ample evidence of why he is considered one of prog rock's leading maestros. I can't saythat SONG FOR AMERICA is my all-time favorite Kansas album, but it's definitely a contender; still amazingly potent nearly 30 years after its release. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nUnquestionably 5 Stars, September 9, 2003 \nReviewer: Samhot (Star Land)\nSONG FOR AMERICA (1975) is arguably the most *proggish* album ofKansas' output, and is considered by many hardcore fans to be their most brilliant. \n\nI happen to agree with Chris Kemp: while many progressive rock bands seem to lose their brilliance when they condense their music, Kansas' music would seem to get more interesting, and arguably more brilliant, considering their ability to create infectious, catchy songs, while still containing brilliant arrangements. This aspect of the band had it's strongest leanings on this album's follow-up MASQUE (1975), which eventually seemed to fully blossom on later albums, LEFTOVERTURE (1976) and POINT OF KNOW RETURN (1977). \n\nThat's just one of the many thingsthat have always had me convinced that Kansas were geniuses (along with Queen and several other brilliant bands.) I've always held guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/main songwriter Kerry Livgren in high regard as one of the most brilliant composers in rock music. Not only that, the rest of the musicians - Steve Walsh (vocals/keyboards), Robbie Steinhardt (violin/occasional vocal), Rich Williams (guitar), Dave Hope (bass) and Phil Ehart (drums) - were all exceptionally talented on their respective instruments.\n\nThis album has always been a sentimental favorite, and I only seem to enjoy it more and more as time goes on. As mentioned in other reviews, the album seems to be divided into two conceptual halves:three elongated progressive rock tracks, showcasing the *prog* side of Kansas, and the other three tracks showcasing Kansas' earthy heartland rock, blues and boogie elements. "Down The Road" is a tasty, boogie-filled foot-stomper featuring violin scrapes thatrecall country music. An excellent opener to the album. The title track, to me, is far beyond brilliant, and shows Kansas at their most compositionally insightful. It contains all of the elements - and then some - to make an engrossing, enjoyable piece of music. Perfect and emotive vocal harmonies, brilliant arrangements, thoughtful lyrics, melody, convincing anthemic/dramatic attributes, which refrain from coming across as silly -- it's a 10. Everything just seems perfect: not a wasted note, no unnecessary meandering or imbalances. Even the quirky, yet powerful 9/8 instrumental section near the end of the song avoids sounding indulgent. This title track deserves all of the praise it gets - thhe kind of song in which it's power will still stand even after everything else has faded away. "Lamplight Symphony" is beautiful, lush and poignant. The lyrics concerning a man yearning for his deceased wife have been critcized for being corny, and I can understand that.But, in the end, it's the powerful musicianship that matters. I especially love the overlapping of (orchestral: synthesizer) ascending and descending phrases on this track, which I only imagine can be found in classical music, or at least, that's more than likely where those ideas originated. Gives the track extra doses ofpower and drama. \n\n"Lonely Street" is a fascinating blues study in 11/8. Odd-timed and atypical (for blues), the guitar crunch on the verses exude an utterly menacing tone (to match that of the dark lyrics), while Steve Walsh's vocals plow along mysteriously, before he reaches this passionate climax near the end of the song. Overwhelming stuff. "The Devil Game" is excellent, as it reminds me of the kind of song that would be found on MASQUE ("Mysteries and Mayhem" comes to mind) and later albums - therefore reminding me of the *condensed brilliance* Kansas would show more of on later albums. A hard song to describe, sonically speaking, it's a condensed hard rocker, but contains enough complexity to remind one of the *classic* progressive rock attributes. "Incomudro -Hymn to The Atman" is a 12-minute mystical study. 80% of the track is instrumental featuring ethereal and encircling synthesizer textures, brief vocal parts, which at times sound like they are emerging from underwater, and later, a machine-gun drum solo from Phil Ehart. While this track is very compelling on it's own, the unissued live version found on THE KANSAS BOXED SET is an even more exciting listen. The drum solo is extended, and the passionateending even lasts longer - and the musicianship is crisp, clean,clear, and the band doesn't miss a beat on that 16-minute blast of nirvana. Nevertheless, both are strong, and each have redeeming value on their own terms. I feel blessed having both versions, as I feel both are necessities (for me, anyway.)\n\nKansas are brilliant musicians in my book, and this album does not disappoint.It shows just one of the many facets this band possesses. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nThe Two Sides of Kansas, April 24, 2003\nReviewer: Chris Kemp (Pacific Grove, CA USA)\nThough only Kansas' second album, Song for America already displays the two sides of the band (heartland rocker vs. progressive rocker) that would permeate its offerings throughout its classic period. Frankly, I think it might contain the best examples of both. "Down the Road" is by far the hottest, catchiest rocker they've recorded (and shows what rock and rool violin is all about). "Song for America," a nine minute progressive opus, might be the best thing they've ever recorded.\n\nThe band would get more consistent, learninghow to integrate both tendencies to great effect on "Leftoverture," a far more even effort, but it's hard to top the two songs I just mentioned. "Lamplight Symphony" is another worthwhile effortin the progressive vein.\n\nUnfortunately, I can't be as enthusiastic about the rest of the album. "Lonely Street" may be my least favorite cut in their catalogue, and the band seems to be trying too hard on "Hymn to the Atman." However, the album is worth buying for the three cuts I mentioned favorably.\n\nIt's funny. A lot of progressive bands, most notably Gentle Giant and Genesis, start to stink it up musically when they get more commercial. Kansas is one of the few progressive bands I know who gained popularity as they made better records. Song for America catches them at a time when they were another album away from fully realizing their vision (the less said about their next album, "Masque", the better). \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nAn Almost Perfect Masterpiece, November 27, 2002\nReviewer: Michael Lopez (Olympia, WA)\nTomy ear, this is the most consistent of the early Kansas albums. For personal reasons, it is also my favorite, but it is not simply my own nostalgia that justifies holding this album in such highesteem.\nRecorded back when albums had sides, it is difficult not to sense a kind of parallelism between the two sets of three songs the original album comprised. Songs 1 on both sides are gritty, urban nightmares about drugs; songs 2 are complicated, riff driven morality tales; songs 3 are dramatic, cosmic and spiritual epics about the afterlife. Both sides, then, reflect a movement from the earthly to the divine, a quest for meaning from the brutality of life to a vision of eternity, which might explain the album's abiding sense of profundity, in spite of seemingly trite lyrics. Music (including opera) has long proven that even the most clich

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