Song for America by Kansas

Kansas's 1975 album, "Song for America" is the pinnacle of their progressive rock sound, characterized by long, complex progressive compositions that blend with hard rock and, on some tracks, folk. These epic, symphonic songs, including the beautiful 10-minute title track and "Lamplight Symphony," perfectly showcase the band's technical prowess and the sophistication of their compositions.

A quintessential example of American progressive rock, as elaborate as its British counterpart, and a fusion of instrumental styles typical of the band, featuring Robby Steinhardt's fantastic electric violin, Rich Williams and Kerry Livgren's heavy guitars, Steve Walsh's synthesizers and Moog, who also provides lead vocals, a fantastic rhythm section with Dave Hope on bass and the captivating Phil Ehart on drums, glockenspiel, Moog drums, and gongs, all resulting in great musicality, instrumental balance, and powerful compositions.

Some notes on the tracks
- Down the Road is a frenetic Southern rock boogie, in a style that contrasts with the rest of the album, closer to their debut album.
- Song for America, the title track, lasting about 12 minutes, is one of the album's top tracks, an epic track with captivating melodies and virtuosic performances by all the band members, with great violin and guitar solos, and a fantastic solo by Drums by Phil Ehart, with lyrics of great social commentary. A beautiful piece.
- Lamplight Symphony is now a sometimes underrated classic, with touching lyrics about love and a splendid instrumental arrangement.
- Lonely Street is a beautiful blues song with a distinctive 11-bar rhythm.
- Incomudro – Inno all'Atman is the album's closing track, a very complex epic piece with psychedelic influences, featuring a long drum solo by Phil Ehart, keyboard and guitar solos, and a choral crescendo to a powerful finale. One of Kansas's best epics.

Kansas' progressive style, balancing symphonic rock with hard rock elements, is very well represented on this album, a seminal work in their discography and a hit album in the United States that paved the way for their subsequent masterpiece,  Leftoverture. 

There's the influence of country rock, there's Steinhardt's violin, one of the band's pillars, there's the blues component, there's the hard rock distortion that enhances the riffs, there's the prog with the complex instrumental parts and a never-trivial rhythm.
Splendid prog at the highest levels, a must-have for your collection.

Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page.

Tracklist

1. Down the Road (3:43)
2. Song for America (9:59)
3. Lamplight Symphony (8:11)
4. Lonely Street (5:43)
5. The Devil Game (5:03)
6. Incomudro - Hymn to the Atman (12:12)

Duration 44:51

LineUp

- Steve Walsh - lead vocals (excl. 1), piano and scat vocals (1), organ, ARP synthesizer (2, 3, 5, 6), Moog (6)
- Rich Williams - acoustic guitar (2, 3, 6), electric lead and rhythm guitar
- Kerry Livgren - lead and rhythm guitar (1, 4-6), piano (2, 3), Moog (2, 3, 5, 6), ARP strings (2, 3, 6), and synthesizer (6)
- Robby Steinhardt - violin, lead (1) and backing vocals
- Dave Hope - bass
- Phil Ehart - drums, glockenspiel (2), Moog drums and gong (6)