Anyone likes KANSAS (80's AOR phase)?

by **Maro** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:18 am

Here are some gems from that era:

Play the Game Tonight (with very underrated John Elefante on vox) - from album VINYL CONFESSIONS (82)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjAwliuNHVE

Fight Fire With Fire (with very underrated John Elefante on vox) - from album DRASTIC MEASURES (83)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM1rB1rGS44

All I Wanted (Steve Walsh in full AOR mode) - from album POWER (86)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05XupkASJME

Can't Cry Anymore (Steve Walsh in full AOR mode) - from album POWER (86)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19coBkVAOGU

Stand Beside Me (Steve Walsh in full AOR mode) - from album IN THE SPIRIT OF THINGS (88)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N4n12twiOU

by **NealIsGod** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:24 am

AKay is the biggest Kansas fan on here. Chime in, Ang. :lol:

John Elephant is the much better singer to my ears. Always loved Fight Fire with Fire.

by **Johnny Mohawk** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:27 am

I love everything and anything Steve Walsh.
I never got into the Elefante albums (though the two songs that you posted were good ones), but I own just about everything that Walsh has released, solo, Kansas and otherwise.

by **conversationpc** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:29 am

I'm a huge fan of all eras of Kansas, especially the early stuff through "Monolith" or "Audio-Visions". I do think that both "Power" and ITSOT were both underrated, especially the latter. At least Power had a top 20 hit with "All I Wanted" but I think they deserved to have more success, sales-wise, with those two albums.

Anyway, thanks for the links. I hadn't seen the videos for "Stand Beside Me" or "Can't Cry Anymore".

by **conversationpc** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:31 am

NealIsGod wrote:AKay is the biggest Kansas fan on here. Chime in, Ang.

John Elephant is the much better singer to my ears. Always loved Fight Fire with Fire.

From those clips, yes, Elefante was the better singer. However, Walsh's voice was getting much more nasal-sounding at that point due to years of drug abuse and improper technique. Listen to anything he did from their debut in '74 until Kansas' "Audio-Visions" album in 1980 and Walsh easily had the better voice. Elefante's voice has held up much better over the years, though.

by **conversationpc** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:32 am

Johnny Mohawk wrote:I love everything and anything Steve Walsh.
I never got into the Elefante albums (though the two songs that you posted were good ones), but I own just about everything that Walsh has released, solo, Kansas and otherwise.

What do you think of the two Streets albums, "1st" and "Crimes in Mind"?

by **Maro** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:43 am

Johnny Mohawk wrote:I love everything and anything Steve Walsh.
I never got into the Elefante albums (though the two songs that you posted were good ones), but I own just about everything that Walsh has released, solo, Kansas and otherwise.

I love very much Steve Walsh's work on Kansas's 80's album (Power, In The Spirit Of Things), two Streets albums and Khymera's 1st album, but other than that I have only marginal interest in his other work... too progressive for my ear... (I have also couple of other Kansas albums, last two Steve Walsh's solo albums and Jeff Watson's Around The Sun, but not listening it much)...

Speaking about John Elefante, I love his voice, but those two songs really are the best from his two Kansas albums...
however, Drastic Measures was produced by Neil Kernon, so it has it's own charm...
I also have last two of John Elefante's three solo albums (Corridors and Defying Gravity)... there are some cool songs... lyrics are obviously christian, but I don't care much...

by **conversationpc** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:44 am

Maro wrote:I also have last two of John Elefante's three solo albums (Corridors and Defying Gravity)... there are some cool songs... lyrics are obviously christian, but I don't care much...

Elefante's debut solo album, "Windows of Heaven", is his best , in my opinion. I don't care much for "Corridors" but "Defying Gravity" is pretty good.

by **Maro** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:50 am

conversationpc wrote:Elefante's debut solo album, "Windows of Heaven", is his best , in my opinion. I don't care much for "Corridors" but "Defying Gravity" is pretty good.

Well, Windows Of Heaven is on my "hit-list" for buying, but I don't want to give big bucks for it... I managed to get last two for very reasonable prices (under 10 USD each)... but I have a feeling you might be right with it being the best of three...

by **RedWingFan** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:11 am

Hey CPC, ever hear of the Christian band "Nouveaux"? They were around in the mid 90's and the Elefante brothers produced their cd "...and this is how I feel". Pretty good cd. The last track was written by the Elefante's and has a Kansas feel to it. You'd probably dig it!

by **conversationpc** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:36 am

RaiderFan wrote:Hey CPC, ever hear of the Christian band "Nouveaux"? They were around in the mid 90's and the Elefante brothers produced their cd "...and this is how I feel". Pretty good cd. The last track was written by the Elefante's and has a Kansas feel to it. You'd probably dig it!

Yeah, I've heard of them. A buddy of mine got me one of their albums (can't remember the title right now). It's not bad. I actually thought the backing vocals on it were very reminiscient of Def Leppard.

by **Johnny Mohawk** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:39 am

conversationpc wrote;
What do you think of the two Streets albums, "1st" and "Crimes in Mind"?

I like them both. Some songs really stand out, while others are just good.
Cold Hearted Woman jumps out to me as a favorite among others.

I enjoy hearing Walsh doing the progressive stuff as well as the straight ahead AOR style.

I LOVED Glossolalia which was quite a departure from anything else he had done at the time.

by **RedWingFan** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:42 am

conversationpc wrote:
RaiderFan wrote:Hey CPC, ever hear of the Christian band "Nouveaux"? They were around in the mid 90's and the Elefante brothers produced their cd "...and this is how I feel". Pretty good cd. The last track was written by the Elefante's and has a Kansas feel to it. You'd probably dig it!

Yeah, I've heard of them. A buddy of mine got me one of their albums (can't remember the title right now). It's not bad. I actually thought the backing vocals on it were very reminiscient of Def Leppard.

Yeah that was their first one called, "Beginnings" the second cd is the one I was referring to. It's a more acoustic stripped down cd that I think is better than "Beginnings". But it's funny you compare them to DL. My brother let me borrow his cd and told me the same thing hoping I would like it. That was before I started listening to Christian music and was the first Christian cd I bought. Anyway, you should check out "...this is how I feel". If you can find it.

by **Johnny Mohawk** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:44 am

Maro wrote;
I love very much Steve Walsh's work on Kansas's 80's album (Power, In The Spirit Of Things), two Streets albums and Khymera's 1st album, but other than that I have only marginal interest in his other work... too progressive for my ear... (I have also couple of other Kansas albums, last two Steve Walsh's solo albums and Jeff Watson's Around The Sun, but not listening it much)...

The 4 songs that Walsh sang on that Jeff Watson album are very similar in style to that Kymera album (to me at least).

You might also enjoy Walsh's first solo album "Schemer Dreamer" from the early 80's, as well as Kansas' "Audio Visions" (probably the most AOR sounding album from the "classic lineup").

by **Rockindeano** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:16 am

Goddammit, gotta love the feathered, faggy, fairy, lettuce of Elephante...Dude, are you a dude?

How the Hell did/does Journey get lumped in with Kansas?

by **conversationpc** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:23 am

Rockindeano wrote:Goddammit, gotta love the feathered, faggy, fairy, lettuce of Elephante...Dude, are you a dude?

How the Hell did/does Journey get lumped in with Kansas?

This is a more recent photo. Hardly "feathered, faggy, and fairy". :lol:

by **Greg** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:28 am

NealIsGod wrote:AKay is the biggest Kansas fan on here. Chime in, Ang.

Ha! I don't know about that! I've been beggin' for a Kansas forum for sometime now. :evil:

by **Greg** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:34 am

conversationpc wrote:I'm a huge fan of all eras of Kansas, especially the early stuff through "Monolith" or "Audio-Visions". I do think that both "Power" and ITSOT were both underrated, especially the latter. At least Power had a top 20 hit with "All I Wanted" but I think they deserved to have more success, sales-wise, with those two albums.

Anyway, thanks for the links. I hadn't seen the videos for "Stand Beside Me" or "Can't Cry Anymore".

I pretty much like it all, but I do agree with you, I think both of those albums were very underrated, especially In The Spirit of things! I wore that album out!

I do like John Elefante's voice better than Steve's though, especially now. Anyone who hasn't heard John's solo stuff should take a listen. Windows of Heaven is probably the best of his solo work, but each album has some pretty good songs on them.

Also, if anybody has ever listened to any Petra - legendary Christian rock band - listen to their late 80's albums. You'll hear backing vocals by Elefante. Both John and Dino (his brother) produced a few Petra albums as well as some other Christian rock bands.

by **conversationpc** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:21 am

Greg wrote:Also, if anybody has ever listened to any Petra - legendary Christian rock band - listen to their late 80's albums. You'll hear backing vocals by Elefante. Both John and Dino (his brother) produced a few Petra albums as well as some other Christian rock bands.

You'll also hear some awesome vocals by John Schlitt. The first time I heard Petra, which was the "On Fire!" album, I thought it was a slightly more rocked out Journey. Schlitt just had a slightly raspier voice but he was certainly awesome back in the day.

by **Higgy** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:22 am

I would say "In the Spirit of Things" is one of the most underrated albums of all time!

by **conversationpc** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:29 am

Higgy wrote:I would say "In the Spirit of Things" is one of the most underrated albums of all time!

It's certainly very good but I think "Power" is underrated as well.

by **Greg** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:40 am

conversationpc wrote:
Greg wrote:Also, if anybody has ever listened to any Petra - legendary Christian rock band - listen to their late 80's albums. You'll hear backing vocals by Elefante. Both John and Dino (his brother) produced a few Petra albums as well as some other Christian rock bands.

You'll also hear some awesome vocals by John Schlitt. The first time I heard Petra, which was the "On Fire!" album, I thought it was a slightly more rocked out Journey. Schlitt just had a slightly raspier voice but he was certainly awesome back in the day.

John still has a nice voice! I hated to see them disband Petra, but the band a had a very long and successful career. I even liked the band when Greg X. Volz was in the band. But yeah, when John came aboard, the band started to rock.

by **conversationpc** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:43 am

Greg wrote:John still has a nice voice! I hated to see them disband Petra, but the band a had a very long and successful career. I even liked the band when Greg X. Volz was in the band. But yeah, when John came aboard, the band started to rock.

Yeah, I like all eras of the band, too. They went through as many changes in style as Spinal Tap. They started out as country/blues/rock. Then they became kind of a pop rock band. Then Schlitt joined and they morphed into a hard rock band and even melodic metal. Then they kinda went through an almost grunge phase and then, with the last album "Jekyll & Hyde", they returned to straight ahead hard rock.

by **larocque6689** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:53 am

Funny that the two more AOR-ish albums were the Steve Morse ones.

by **Higgy** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:53 am

conversationpc wrote:
Greg wrote:John still has a nice voice! I hated to see them disband Petra, but the band a had a very long and successful career. I even liked the band when Greg X. Volz was in the band. But yeah, when John came aboard, the band started to rock.

Yeah, I like all eras of the band, too. They went through as many changes in style as Spinal Tap. They started out as country/blues/rock. Then they became kind of a pop rock band. Then Schlitt joined and they morphed into a hard rock band and even melodic metal. Then they kinda went through an almost grunge phase and then, with the last album "Jekyll & Hyde", they returned to straight ahead hard rock.

When they had Greg X Volz, they were the one Christian band I could tolerate. THey had a string of four albums there that are some of the best in AOR (Never Say Die, More Power to Ya, Not Of This World, and Beat the System). After Volz left, they seemed more like standard Christian rock fare (not that I'm against it, it just gets kind of boring - Petra was never "preachy", just spiritual).

by **Greg** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:56 am

conversationpc wrote:
Greg wrote:John still has a nice voice! I hated to see them disband Petra, but the band a had a very long and successful career. I even liked the band when Greg X. Volz was in the band. But yeah, when John came aboard, the band started to rock.

Yeah, I like all eras of the band, too. They went through as many changes in style as Spinal Tap. They started out as country/blues/rock. Then they became kind of a pop rock band. Then Schlitt joined and they morphed into a hard rock band and even melodic metal. Then they kinda went through an almost grunge phase and then, with the last album "Jekyll & Hyde", they returned to straight ahead hard rock.

I think they had to do that since they were basically the pioneers of Christian Rock music and I believe they wanted the genre to survive. Luckily, there have been other great Christian bands that have come about because of bands like Petra. While I am to Petra like I am(or was) to Journey or Kansas, I can listen to the newer bands and appreciate their creativity, but I always wind up coming back and listening to the Petra stuff.

by **Maro** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 11:38 pm

conversationpc wrote:I don't care much for "Corridors" but "Defying Gravity" is pretty good.

Defying Gravity is damn good album (oops :lol:

Elefante is christian, right?)... Listening to it right now...

by **journeyinto2001** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 1:20 am

Thanks for posting. I had forgotten just how incredible this band is/was. The last time I saw Kansas was in 2002 and now I know what they were missing: John Elefante- just amazing. I know that Steve Walsh has been a HUGE part of Kansas over the years but in 2002, he was all over the place vocally, not impressive at all.

Anyone else think "The Wall" is truly exceptional?

Thanks again for posting!

by **conversationpc** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:27 am

journeyinto2001 wrote:Thanks for posting. I had forgotten just how incredible this band is/was. The last time I saw Kansas was in 2002 and now I know what they were missing: John Elefante- just amazing. I know that Steve Walsh has been a HUGE part of Kansas over the years but in 2002, he was all over the place vocally, not impressive at all.

Anyone else think "The Wall" is truly exceptional?

Thanks again for posting!

Even though Robby Steinhardt is no longer in the band (again), they are energized with David Ragsdale being back in the band again. I think he's a better violin player anyway, younger, and also plays guitar when they need a second player.

by **Maro** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:31 am

conversationpc wrote:Even though Robby Steinhardt is no longer in the band (again), they are energized with David Ragsdale being back in the band again. I think he's a better violin player anyway, younger, and also plays guitar when they need a second player.

I'd love if they would record new melodic album in Power/In The Spirit Of Things style, but somehow I doubt it would happen... they went too deep into progressive territory...

MR

Anyone likes KANSAS (80's AOR phase)?

Anyone likes KANSAS (80's AOR phase)?

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