Leftoverture [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
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

Tracks:

Carry On Wayward Son
The Wall
What's On My Mind
Miracles Out Of Nowhere
Opus Insert
Questions Of My Childhood
Cheyenne Anthem
Magnum Opus
Carry On Wayward Son (live)
Cheyenne Anthem (live)

Amazon.com

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

Customer Reviews:

Success at Last.......2007-07-04

Kansas had to prove it big with this release. After 4 very medicore albums with really no radio hits (other then 'It Takes a Woman's Love' from 'Masque), the band needed a big hit very desperately. The band delivered. The hit, 'Carry On Wayward Son' propelled them into super stardom. To this day this song is a radio staple that when a block is played you're sure to hear it (which can sometimes be irritating because you have to wonder if the radio station even knows the band has made a lot of other music. Every song on this album is classic and still maintains the sound that Kansas had developed over their past four outings. Maybe, they're striving here to make a commercial sound, but for this album they succeeded in combining the best of both worlds. If you're not familiar with Kansas other then the hits "Carry on Wayward Son' and 'Dust in the Wind' from 'Point of Know Return' start with this album and you won't be disappointed.

Kansas - A True Classic Album.......2007-06-20

Few bands can say that they have written and recorded a song that can be considered an all time classic. On Kansas's 4th album the instant you hear the opening harmony vocal arrangement of "Carry On My Wayward Son" you can't help but be hooked. I have heard this song a million times over the years and I still crank it up and enjoy I when it comes on the radio. It ranks right up with "Stairway To Heaven", "Freebird" and others and one of the all time most enduring classic rock songs. "Leftoverture" is the album that would break the band into the mainstream. Almost overnight they went from opening act status to headlining arenas. The great thing about it was that they hit these commercial heights without compromising the quality of their music. This is a great album from start to finish and shows the continuing maturity of the Livgren / Walsh songwriting tandem. Musically everything here is killer. There are no super long progressive rock epics on this one, but there is still plenty to please the prog rock fan with the 8 minute quirky closer "Magnum Opus" to the shorter, but still brilliant "Cheyenne Anthem" and ""Miracles Out Of Nowhere". The rest of the album is also dazzling. "The Wall" remains a live favorite. "What's On My Mind", "Opus Insert" and "Questions Of My Childhood" are shorter, but great in their own way. You really can't go wrong with this album as it deserves the level of success that it reached. This is also the album where the first hints of Kerry Livgren's conversion to Christianity begin to show up in the lyrics. At this point it is still pretty subtle, but it would eventually be the cause of Steve Walsh leaving the band a few years later.

The Lyrics of Kansas are Rich with Meaning.......2007-05-12

By now it is fairly well known that the album Leftoverture contains lyrics written by Kerry Livgren during his years of spiritual searching. As Kerry himself wrote in his book "Seeds of Change," the albums Leftoverture, and its follow up, Point of Know Return, are excellent listening for those considering Christianity.

Kerry's lyrics reflect the struggle of not knowing for sure what life is all about, but each song always seems to end on a hopeful note. From Carry on Wayward Son: "Now your life's no longer empty--surely heaven waits for you." From The Wall: "Smiling back at all who wait to cross--there is no loss."

And of course, the music of Kansas is just great! The combination of rock and blues with violin makes them unique in the annals of popular music.

I highly recommend this CD.

Kansas's Leftoverture.......2007-04-03

Like I said before.The 70's had great music.This cd is excellent.I have'nt heard the album in a long time since I had it in cassette.This is better.I love the sound.The reissue is great with lyrics and pictures.The bonus tracks are outstanding.Looking forward getting more Kansas reissues(As well as Heart).

A CLASSIC American album remastered to perfection.......2007-03-05

Previous reviewers have said it all! It's a must have classic/prog rock CD,folks.By year 1977,this recording was in the collection of everyone I knew, a huge statement. For the price Amazon is selling this masterpiece, only a fool would pass this buy up.
Buy this CD now!

Average customer rating:

You've got this one...haven't you?
KANSAS START TO SHOW OFF... AND START TO be not so good!
FANTASTIC
FATBOY FROM HELL REVIEW
Carry on, my pompous son

Leftoverture
Kansas
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Point of Know Return
Song for America
Kansas
Power
Audio-Visions

ASIN: B000002579
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Carry On Wayward Son
The Wall
What's On My Mind
Miracles Out Of Nowhere
Opus Insert
Questions Of My Childhood
Cheyenne Anthem
Magnum Opus: A. Father Padilla Meets The Perfect Gnat/B. Howling At The Moon/C. Man Overboard...

Amazon.com

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 that 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 several albums with CBS, including the exciting Masque and Song for America. They joined the arena circuit via Leftoverture's "Carry on My Wayward Son," an instant hit with its explosive vocal arrangement and indelible guitar riff. For straight-ahead rockers ("What's on My 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 album also includes "The Wall" and "Cheyenne Anthem." --James Rotondi

Customer Reviews:

You've got this one...haven't you?.......2005-02-10

Most people nowadays who own a Kansas album that isn't one of the (too) many "Best Of" collections crowding big-box department stores and/or truck stops usually have either "Leftoverture" or "Point Of Know Return".

Perhaps I'm biased, since this was the first Kansas album I bought as a 14-year-old in 1980, but I think this is where it all came together for Kansas, both artistically and commercially.

Their earlier albums certainly had some wonderful moments, but suffered from a lack of consistency and sometimes duff production. Here the production (by Jeff Glixman) and songwriting (chiefly by Kerry Livgren) are both very good.

Often throughout Kansas' long career the harder, guitar-based rock and Yes/Genesis/ELP influenced progressive rock have sometimes been at odds with one another. Here they are on about equal parity. Richard Williams is quite prominent throughout and Livgren steps out from behind his keyboards to riff away moreso than in the past. All good.

There are also songs here that survive in the club-gigging Kansas repertoire to this day: "The Wall", "Miracles Out Of Nowhere", and, of course, "Carry On Wayward Son".

"Carry On..." has turned out to be both a blessing and an albatross round the neck for Kansas. It was certainly the song that broke them on more than a regional level (proof of this is found in a truncated version of the song being featured in the Henry Winkler/Harrison Ford/Sally Field Vietnam-vet 1977 film "Heroes"). However, along with "Dust In The Wind", it also seems to be a song they can't get away from. I saw them at a club gig about 10 years ago and except for the hardcore fans, like myself, the only time the crowd really responded was during this song. Unfortunate.

There are also some lesser-known gems here, like "Opus Insert" and the (admittedly overindulgent) "Magnum Opus". Almost everyone who has seen a Kansas gig will remember Steve Walsh opening with a few bars of "Howling At The Moon".

If you're a real Kansas fan, you've got this.
If you're a casual Kansas fan, you've probably got this.
If you're any other kind of fan, you should get this, but also check out their other stuff, including the John Elefante-era material and the "Power" album and those that came after.

This band is still quite good.

KANSAS START TO SHOW OFF... AND START TO be not so good!.......2001-11-05

KANSAS got a little too progressive and wierd on this album
and POINT OF KNOW RETURN. Most of the album has the band showing
off(e.g. Keith Emerson) to the detriment of the songs. I know
alot of KANSAS fans consider this and POINT essential Kansas al-
bums, but I really don't. HOWEVER, I do recommend this album on
the strength of it's first three songs. "Carry On "; if you're
not sick to death of hearing it on the radio, is a bonafide
hard rock classic, featuring some amazing singing by Steve Walsh
and some truly terrific guitar interplay between Livgrin and
Williams. "The Wall" is one of their best prog rock songs ever
and is one of the most melodic songs they ever did. My favorite
song on the album, however, is "What's on my mind". I always
thought that KANSAS were at their best when they were rocking
out and they definitely do that on this wonderful song. Again,
Steve Walsh,( what a voice this guy used to have!)sounds terrific
on this song. I was thrilled to hear KANSAS play this song when
I saw them in concert back in 1994! As for the rest..well, it's
very well produced, but the second half of the album is quite
weak! Still, LEFTOVERTURE is an album worth owning.

FANTASTIC.......2001-07-15

As far as Kansas albums go, this one is a beauty! There is not one bad song on it and the music is a beautiful blend (as always) of Classical and Rock. Kerry Livgren's songwriting talents shine brightly on Cheyanne Anthem, a touching tribute to the American Indian and on The Wall in which Kerry seems to be finding the answers to life. Robby Steinhardt's violin, Steve Walsh's piano, Dave Hope's killer Bass playing help make this a must-own Kansas album.

FATBOY FROM HELL REVIEW.......2001-03-21

WHAT A GREAT GROUP OF MUSICIANS. THIS MAKES THE TRUE PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO PLAY THIS PROGRESSIVE ROCK SIT BACK AND TAKE NOTICE. IF ANYONE KNOWS ANYTHING BETTER IN THIS VEIN I'D LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT IT.

Carry on, my pompous son.......2001-03-10

Wow! What brilliant album! There's a reason why Da Vinci is on the cover... it's pure genius. Just like him. I don't know about you, but every time I look at the album I can almost hear him humming "Carry On My Wayward Son" to himself. I know if he were alive today, he'd be honored they used him on the cover. I bet Leo would have been a Kansas fan. You know he would! He was just as progressive in his day as they are today. Sure, he was a remarkable scientist, thinker, and the very first Renaissance man. Sure, in the 15th century he predicted many of the inventions only recently developed, like the tank, airplane, and the submarine. But Kansas has songs like "Father Padilla Meets the Perfect Gnat." Need I say more?

Just like Da Vinci, they're so far ahead of their time, their time hasn't even come yet. One can only hope that by that time, a nuclear holocaust will have rendered the planet unliveable for eons to come. That would rock!

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