Point of Know Return

Kansas promised greatness when they released their very first album in 1974, and this one achieved it. This album is without a doubt their absolute best.

Their virtuosity is perfectly married to great compositions and impecable arrangements.

If you only want to buy one album from this great band, buy this one. But do yourself a favour: buy the other ones too. You won't regret it.

Kansas were rarely (apart from 'Carry on Wayward Son') considered mainstream. That's a pity as they got very little airplay in the UK as a result. Tracks such as 'Dust in the Wind' and 'Point of Know Return' deserved a wider audience. The former is a beautiful song brilliantly executed by the band.

Standout tracks on this album apart from the latter two tracks, are Closet Chronicles, Sparks of the Tempest and Portait (He Knew). I first purchased a copy of this album in 1977 on vinyl when it was first released and again in 1990 when I had my first CD player. Time has not diminished it in any way. It still sounds as fresh today as it did then.

Buy it!

Already having been 'exposed' to the music of this superb American band (huge in their own country) with an initial-release edition of their terrific 4th album ('Leftoverture') way back in the mid-70s, I began my journey to get hold of more of their past albums and then awaited release of newer work. Entitled 'Point of Know Return', it soon arrived and it didn't take me long to realise I as listening to musical greatness, their best record to date (yes, even better than 'Leftoverture' despite that album being their best-selling !) and what would ultimately be their best EVER album.

Alongside Saga, Kansas still sits atop my list of favourite Rock groups - it is notable perhaps that both these bands are still going, where others have fallen or disintegrated, but admittedly with slightly different personnel as this group suffered from a lot of 'relationship hiatus' over the years. I was privileged to see the band perform live back in the early '90s (in a double-concert with my equal favourite group, along with Kansas, 'Saga') and they are even better live than when in the studio.

This magnificent piece of work, the second best-selling after 'Leftoverture', went 4 x 'Platinum' and attained a higher chart position than ANY other of their albums; it also contains their most successful single, a ballad entitled 'Dust in the Wind', but I think that for Kansas 'aficionado's' it is still not the best on offer ! It is pertinent to note that the group had, in my opinion, decidedly reached the height of their 'powers' around the time this album was released (riding on the wave of success from 'Leftoverture') so I think this gave them the confidence to be even more adventurous with their writing - most notably provided by the combination of lead-singer Steve Walsh and guitarist/keyboardist Kerry Livgren, who feature as a writing double-act most on this album compared to any other. Just as important was the fact that personnel remained unchanged from the their first 4 albums (and as they would be for the next 2) with what I consider to be that perfect combination of musicians/writers and, most essentially, including the key ingredient of that fantastic lead-vocalist Steve Walsh (I am not a fan of any Kansas work where he is absent).

Although labelled a rock group, Kansas is slightly non-conformist since they include a violinist (yes, I know ELO also had strings !) and, on this album, the previous 'main core' of synthesizer/guitar is expanded to include that instrument far more, as well as lead vocals from the violinist Robby Steinhardt, together with more prominent piano work - there does of course continue to be the presence of bass, organ and drums. However, as hinted at earlier the key ingredient is the singing voice of Walsh, who I think is easily one of the best male vocalists to ever feature in a popular band. The overall sense gained from the songs on this album is, strangely, sadness - themes concentrating on either impending doom or loss. That is not to say that it is depressing to listen to, far from it, as those themes are presented in a joyful, celebratory and nostalgic way through beautifully written lyrics and music of great power and emotion.

The album opens with the title track (released as a relatively-speaking successful single) which immediately hints at a change of tempo from the far more forceful work (except for the superb ballad-style 'The Wall') on 'Leftoverture', with the vocals of Walsh being even more prominent, as there is less group-singing than before. From then on there is no let-off in the excellence of music, with track after track maintaining the deep emotions conveyed by the lyrics, superb melodies and hugely significant crescendos. Like the aforementioned 'The Wall' from the previous album, many of the songs on this album are profound stories, sharing another similarity in having no chorus - this demands that you listen to intently to all the lyrics, since you cannot 'relax' as there are none of those normally present, repetitive segments....

A short emotional 'respite' can be gained with the instrumental 'The Spider' (not tacked on at the end like is usually the case) before the album highlights of 'Portrait (He Knew)' and 'Closest Chronicles' are presented; the latter being the second-longest track on the album, and the best. It covers the loss of a significant 'personality' and features several solo vocal passages from Walsh then Steinhardt, both of whom help convey the feelings of the story with what is probably the most heart-felt singing you will hear on any Kansas album; tie that in with the continued ballad-theme of the music and you can easily be brought to tears with the emotion of it all. In contrast (and rather unfairly as the transition is so rapid), the next track is quite raucous/uplifting and unusual for only having lead vocals provided by Steinhardt, followed again by a passion-filled ballad (the aforementioned 'Dust in the Wind'). The emotional roller coaster continues to the end, with a final ballad entitled 'Hopelessly Human'- sealing the change in emphasis on this album as again the lead vocals are only provided by Steinhardt.

For some the music from this mid-'70s album might be showing it's age, but either through nostalgia or basic recognition of quality rock music most should see it for that it actually is : a quite magnificent album, with consistently superbly-written songs and quality musical performances. I can't say how the 'enhanced' CD now offered sounds as I'm quite happy with my original, rather old but very cherished, CD and tatty vinyl LP ! If you are to only head one Kansas album, this should be it - however, I think it is essential to experience at least the other 6 of their first 7 albums: 'Kansas', 'Song for America', 'Masque', 'Leftoverture', 'Monolith' and 'Audio-Visions' (and to experience them live, ''Two for the Show''). Or better still, get the good-value boxset with most of them included !

Boxset - Original Album Classics

Kansas
Song for America
Masque
Leftoverture
Monolith
Audio Visions
Two for the Show or the full-vesion Two for the Show: 30th Anniversary Edition [Us Import]