Kansas Ultimate Kansas Epic/Legacy By David Chiu

This band was America's answer to British prog rockers like Genesis and Tull with a more distinctive Middle Western character. It's easy to knock this band today as they did back in the '70s for hamming it up with the usual art rock pretensions, but in their prime, Kansas was a formidable band that displayed exceptional musicianship and hooks. If you believe that, you won't be disappointed with this set that celebrates the band's label signing with Epic Records thirty years ago (please don't say anything). For some of the songs that might represent excess, Kansas made some terrific rock songs: "Dust in the Wind," "Point of Know Return," and "Carry On Wayward Son" are still played on AOR and will be for a long while; other tracks like Play the Game Tonight, Song for America, "Cheyenne Autumn," and "Portrait (He Knew)" deserve a second reevaluation. This set spans their epic tenure from 1974 to 1983; I would have liked to include that wonderful ballad they did in their 1986 reunion called "All I Wanted," recorded with Steve Morse. This band is still around, proving you can't kill the rock and roll for some groups.

http://www.legacyrecordings.com