KANSAS – Leftoverture Live & Beyond [digipak] (2017)

On November 3, American progressive rock / AOR band KANSAS will release a new album, “Leftoverture Live and Beyond“, featuring nineteen songs selected from twelve shows recorded during Kansas’ Spring 2017 Leftoverture 40th Anniversary Tour.
The track listing touches on the band’s legendary hits, fan favorites, new songs from their 2016 album The Prelude Implicit and deep cuts.

Disc 1 features rarely played treats like ‘Lamplight Symphony’ and a personal favourite, ‘Icarus II’. Ronnie Platt is a worthy successor to original vocalist Steve Walsh and he sings an emotional ‘Dust In The Wind’.
Good see to some songs off 2016′s excellent ‘The Prelude Implicit’ make the setlist, including ‘Rhythm Of The Spirit’.

The second disc sees the band play the entire ‘Leftoverture’ album and what a treat that must have been for fans lucky enough to see and hear it performed.
Kansas do a sterling version of ‘Carry On My Wayward Son’ – Phil Ehart is all over the song with his drumming and percussion. Mention to David Ragsdale and his stunning violin playing that helps recreate the original album’s sound.

Other highlights (to be fair the whole darn album is a highlight) include ‘Miracles Out Of Nowhere’, where Platt’s vocals work in tandem with Billy Greer, now one of the band’s longest serving members after original founders Ehart and Rich Williams.
Then of course there is ‘Magnum Opus’, which the band recreate in all its original ’70s pomp and glory. Very impressive it has to be said.

“Leftoverture Live and Beyond” is a terrific recording, very well captured with a live vibe but extremely polished, at places sounding like astudio recording.
Kansas 2017 feels incredibly tight, confident, and all musicians find their moment to shine.
This 2-CD digipak is a ‘must have’ for Kansas fans and shows that the current line-up have plenty of music left in them yet.
Highly Recommended

CD 1:
01 – Icarus II (Live in US 2017)
02 – Icarus (Borne on Wings of Steel) (Live in US 2017)
03 – Point Of Know Return (Live in US 2017)
04 – Paradox (Live in US 2017)
05 – Journey from Mariabronn (Live in US 2017)
06 – Lamplight Symphony (Live in US 2017)
07 – Dust in the Wind (Live in US 2017)
08 – Rhythm in the Spirit (Live in US 2017)
09 – The Voyage of Eight Eighteen (Live in US 2017)
10 – Section 60 (Live in US 2017)

CD 2:
01 – Carry On Wayward Son (Live in US 2017) (edit)
02 – The Wall (Live in US 2017)
03 – What’s on My Mind (Live in US 2017)
04 – Miracles Out of Nowhere (Live in US 2017)
05 – Opus Insert (Live in US 2017)
06 – Questions of My Childhood (Live in US 2017)
07 – Cheyenne Anthem (Live in US 2017)
08 – Magnum Opus (Live in US 2017)
09 – Portrait (He Knew) (Live in US 2017)

Ronnie Platt – lead and backing vocals, keyboards
Phil Ehart – drums, percussion, manager
Rich Williams – lead guitar
Billy Greer – bass, backing and lead vocals
David Ragsdale – violin, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
David Manion – keyboards, backing vocals
Zak Rizvi – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals

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www.amazon.de/Leftoverture-Live-Beyond-Special-Digipak/dp/B074YF7PB2
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