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KBFH Presents Kansas

Kansas - KBFH Presents Kansas Audio CD

A fair review of the Kansas "KBFH Presents Kansas" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Kansas reviews here, or go back to the Kansas tabs.

Band: Kansas
Title: KBFH Presents Kansas
Rating:

Release Date: 1998-10-20
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Magnum Opus 2: One Big Sky 3: Paradox 4: Point of Know Return 5: Wall 6: All I Wanted 7: T.O. Witcher 8: Dust in the Wind 9: Miracles Out of Nowhere 10: Preacher 11: House on Fire 12: Carry on Wayward Son

Noble attempt comes up short
Kansas may be the greatest American live band. . ever. As "flashy showmen," they will never be Kiss or Garth Brooks, but as players onstage, they are peerless--they can wail like a tornado or play as gently as a summer breeze, all with dexterity, sophistication, style, and soul. . . in short, they ROCK. Their superb 1978 release TWO FOR THE SHOW is an excellent document of Kansas when they were at their peak commercially, and captures them in all of their instrumental and vocal glory. This KBFH PRESENTS release is not bad, but it is somewhat inconsistent. First of all, the vocal performances are at times flat and weak. . . it's not just Walsh, but it's the harmony backing vocals also. Secondly, the absence of a violin and mult-layered, lush keyboards are glaring. Thirdly, the production is a bit flat. . . a lot of dynamics seem to be lost or muddied. Finally, the band's performance instrumentally is not their best ever. . . very good, perhaps, but not up to the normal "Category 5" standard. I will disagree with other reviewers: LIVE AT THE WHISKY is a better live CD than this one. Though Walsh's vocals are slightly worse on that CD, the band plays and sounds as good or better than ever on WHISKY. It is interesting to hear this version of Kansas doing a mix of a few of the old classic Kansas standards mixed with cuts from IN THE SPIRIT OF THINGS, plus their hit, "All I Wanted" from POWER. These guys can play, but it seems to take them awhile to get untracked on KBFH PRESENTS. The opener, "Magnum Opus," sounds like a pale imitation, a by rote run-through that has less passion than Elvis's 1000th performance of "CC Rider. " "One Big Sky" suffers from flat, at times painfully so, vocals and a bizarre "cheer" in the middle break that is more grating than it is inspiring. The band sounds a little better on the next few "classic" tracks and does a nice extended version of "All I Wanted. " The "T. O. Witcher"/"Dust in the Wind" Medley is very effective and "Miracles Out of Nowhere" is a crowd-pleaser. "The Preacher" is fair, though lacking some of the spark of its studio version counterpart. In contrast, I can't say I'm a huge fan of the studio version of "House On Fire," but I have to admit, it does cook in this crackling live version. . . the band plays the blues like never before. Walsh does some strange things with his voice that are not always pleasant, but overall, he seems to be having a good time with it all and his keyboard work sizzles on this 12-minute workout. . . which flows right into a spirited-if-ragged "Carry On Wayward Son. " I respect the fact that Kansas is a hard-working, passionate, live outfit. For the most part, they work up a sweat here on KBFH PRESENTS. But, this performance never quite soars as high as one might hope. Having seen the band live twice back in the day, and being a huge fan of TWO FOR THE SHOW, I suppose I was hoping for a little more on this release. It's not bad. . . but it doesn't get a lot of spins in my CD changer, either. .

Awesome!
Even in their later years they still have what it takes to rock the house. This CD is a must for any true, blue Kansas fan. Despite the personnel changes, Kansas still can crank out a good sound. This CD has Steve Walsh sharing the lead vocals and his voice is as strong as when they started out. Listening to this CD can give you the feel of actually being there. This is just as good as their Two For The Show live album.

Altogether disappointing
" Steve Walsh's vocals, once had a range and clarity that few could match, but they have deteriorated to a flat harshness that does not do justice to the songs. Being an old Kansas fan (from Song for America's release) and having seen them live four times in their heyday, this CD is truely a reminder that "things ain't what they used to be. The lack of violin on most pieces removes that essential 'Kansas-ness' from the music and turns this into just another guitar band. If you want to get a flavor for the musical richness and quality performace that Kansas displayed live, check out 'Two for the Show'.

I WAS THERE! This is what it sounded like!!!
I was so blown away by their performance on Feburary 11th, I went back on the 14th to see it again. Back in 1989, I went to see Kansas at the Tower Theater - it's actually right ouside of Philadelphia (down the street, literally) in a suburb called Upper Darby. And I can't remember which night it was . . . when I walked out back to go to my car (mom's car - i was still in high school!), and there was the mobile recording truck!!! After seeing the hanging mics above me, it hit me - I was like "HOLY $&@#!!! THEY'RE GONNA PUT OUT A LIVE ALBUM!!!" . . . I waited and waited and waited! It never came out - until KBFH released this!

It's a great disc - I remember the show like it was yesterday. (In fact - the encore cover they did both nights of "Born To Be Wild" was omitted from this CD. . . )

I'm an odd kansas fan - a VERY late bloomer. . . didn't really get into 'em until 1984's greatest hits album! I kinda wrote 'em off - I was 12, c'mon! - until I heard Steve Walsh & Steve Morse on the radio . . . in 1986! So, yes, naysayers - POWER got me BACK into Kansas! (. . . and consequently Steve Morse & the Dixie Dregs, which eventually led me to be a HUGE Dream Theater fan!)

Anyway . . . BUY THIS DISC. It's a really good representation of what happened that night. Believe me, I was THERE, and probably could dig the ticket stub up to prove it. No, it's NOT "Two For The Show" - but it's worth owning for sure, whether you were there or not!

(Incidentally - Steve Morse DID play violin on Dust in the Wind, and, for some reason, Phil Ehart used triggered kick drums - I will never forget seeing him sitting behind this HUGE yellow drum kit, and these little drum trigger pads in place of the kick drums. . . quite the odd visual!).

Good Live Album Spoiled By Poor Vocals
And this really detracts from what is a decent live album and one much better than the album the concert was meant to promote - In The Spirit Of Things (see my review on this site). This is a good live album let down by one crucial fact - Steve Walsh's once golden vocals have deteriorated badly, so much so that he can't even hit the notes in his own songs any more.

As it stands the album is far superior to the awful Live At The Whisky and features an overall performance far in excess of that.

If you want to hear what Walsh and Kansas were once capable of spend your money on the truly incredible Two For The Show - which I called the best live album of all time in my review on this site.

Unlike Live At The Whisky this album is worth your money and it contains decent live versions of some of the only good songs from In The Spirit Of Things.

Recommendation to buy.

You can see a complete list of all Kansas discography, or go back to the Kansas tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.