KANSAS – Song For America [Japan Blu-spec CD remastered +3] HQ

Truth to be said, you need the very first KANSAS albums in your collection to understand how contemporary Rock music has evolved over its history. And how better than this Japanese cardboard reissue series pressed on high quality Blu-spec CD format, fully remastered and including bonus tracks.
Early KANSAS albums needed a proper remastering to update / clean the sound but also preserve the original harmonics and analog tapes warm nature. These Blu-spec CD are amazing, believe me.
“Song For America”, their second album released April 1975 is a killer full tilt symphonic rock LP comprising four lengthy intricate pieces and two very American style romps. Kansas’ second album very admirably showcases the band’s trademark duality as proggers and rockers.

The band’s sophomore album brought former bandmate Jeff Glixman back into the fold as producer, but otherwise retains the hard rock/anglophile prog mixture of their debut. Highlights this time include the title track, “Lamplight Symphony” and “Incomudro – Hymn to the Atman,” prog pieces from Kerry Livgren that run about ten minutes each.
Sandwiched in between are hard rock songs that again demonstrate the split personality of the band’s principal creative forces, Livgren and Steve Walsh.

Phil Ehart shines on this recording and makes a solid case for including his name more often in a list of rock’s best drummers. Rob Steinhardt disappears for much of the record after taking the lead vocals on the opening “Down The Road.”
The band’s firstly overtly Christian song, “The Devil Game,” comes surprisingly from Steve Walsh and not Kerry Livgren. The title track continues the band’s historical view of America as an unspoiled paradise and Livgren’s lyrics in general suggest the earlier American naturalists.
Both “Incomudro – Hymn to the Atman” and “Lamplight Symphony” point to an afterlife, though not necessarily in the traditional Christian sense.

In figuring out where ”Song For America” fits in the canon of Kansas, it shows the seeds of what to expect from them in the future. Joined by a more sympathetic producer in Glixman, Kansas would soon find their own voice, much as Styx was doing slightly north of them.
Great album, great band.
HIGHLY Recommended

ＳＯＮＹ ＭＵＳＩＣ ＪＡＰＡＮ ＢＳＣＤ ／ ＥＩＣＰ～２００７２
「 ＣＡＲＤＢＯＡＲＤ ＳＬＥＥＶＥ ＲＥＩＳＳＵＥ ＳＥＲＩＥＳ 」

01 – Down The Road
02 – Song For America
03 – Lamplight Symphony
04 – Lonely Street
05 – The Devil Game
06 – Incomudro – Hymn To The Atman
JAPAN BONUS TRACKS:
07 – Song For America (Single Edit)
08 – Down The Road (Live)
09 – Incomudro – Hymn To The Atman (Live)

Steve Walsh – vocals, organ, ARP and Moog synths
Kerry Livgren – guitars, Moog and ARP synthesizers, ARP strings
Robby Steinhardt – violin, vocals
Rich Williams – electric, acoustic, and rhythm guitars
Dave Hope – bass
Phil Ehart – drums, glockenspiel, Moog drum

Out of print
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/EICP-20072