Kansas's Point of Know Return, released in 1977, is here in a 2014 180g vinyl reissue.
Kansas is an American band formed in Topeka, Kansas, in 1973 and is a master of American progressive rock.
The original lineup, which achieved the greatest success, included Steve Walsh (vocals and keyboards), Kerry Livgren (guitars and keyboards), Robby Steinhardt (violin and vocals), Rich Williams (guitars), Dave Hope (bass), and Phil Ehart (drums).
After a series of excellent albums, including 1974's Kansas and 1975's Song for America, the band achieved their first major commercial success in 1976 with Leftoverture. The following year, they released Point of Know Return, which consolidated their international success.
These albums are considered milestones of the genre and defined their sound, which is progressive rock with complex arrangements, splendid violin, allegorical lyrics, powerful guitar riffs, and intricate keyboard parts.
The beautiful song "Dust in the Wind" on this album, where guitars intertwine with violin, is a song written by Kerry Livgren as an exercise in learning fingerpicking and then proposed and accepted by the band. The choruses and the atmosphere the song creates are beautiful, with the violin intervening marvelously, conveying the emotions wherever and however it chooses.
Also beautiful are "Paradox" and "The Spider," songs that represent the progressive rock side of the album with complex arrangements and complex tempos, as well as "Lightning's Hand," an often underrated song that I think is truly magnificent.
The album's title is interesting, replacing the word "no" with "know," a play on words that emphasizes the relationship between knowledge, its pursuit, and the limits of human knowledge—the point of no return, also depicted on the album cover.
A curious fact: the album credits list a playful "instrument" for each band member, such as "chain gong," "gyrocopter," "Rinaldo whistling machine," "Faucon table cello," "Bemis arco pedal," and "Peabody chromatic inverter."
This album was a huge success, so much so that Kansas played arenas across the country to sold-out crowds. This was interesting, especially considering that punk was booming at the time, and albums like that were bordering on "out of step." However, the hard rock spirit allowed Kansas to score two major hits, "Point of Know Return" and the preceding "Leftoverture."
Kansas are one of the most influential bands in American progressive rock and this is a great album.
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page.
Tracklist
1. Point of Know Return (3:11)
2. Paradox (3:49)
3. The Spider (2:08)
4. Portrait (He Knew) (4:32)
5. Closet Chronicles (6:30)
6. Lightning Hand (4:21)
7. Dust in the Wind (3:26)
8. Sparks of the Tempest (4:15)
9. Nobody's Home (4:37)
10. Hopelessly Human (7:10)
Duration 43:59
LineUp
- Steve Walsh - lead vocals and backing vocals, organ, piano, celesta, synthesizer, vibraphone, percussion
- Rich Williams - acoustic and electric guitar, pedals
- Kerry Livgren - acoustic and electric guitar, piano, clavinet, synthesizer, percussion
- Robby Steinhardt - violins, viola, lead vocals (6, 8, 10) and backing vocals
- Dave Hope - bass
- Phil Ehart - drums, bells, timpani, percussion
