Kansas

Book excerpt: Progressive rock is generally considered an English affair, focusing on the likes of Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer, King Crimson. However, in America, the best-known exponents of progressive rock are Kansas. Though the band is known mainly for their radio staples 'Carry On Wayward Son' and 'Dust in the Wind, ' the band's musical range runs much deeper. A unique blend of European prog rock and American blues, Kansas are capable of an extended symphonic epic followed by a shorter, gritty blues song. Yet even those songs are never simple three-chord tunes. Virtually everything the band recorded has a progressive touch. Such is the beauty of Kansas' music. Despite personnel changes, including the departure of three lead singers, they continue to flourish. Recent years have brought a new line up, a new album, and a rejuvenated outlook, resulting in acclaimed live shows. Their legacy will no doubt continue as they approach their half-century mark. Kansas: On Track follows the band from their first album to their most recent. Each song is carefully considered in context, along with comments from the author and key figures in the band's history. Hardcore fans and casual listeners alike will gain a renewed appreciation of America's premier progressive rock band