Kansas-The 30th Anniversary Collection

Artist: Kansas
Title: The 30th Anniversary Collection
Genre: Progressive Rock
Label: Epic/Legacy Recordings

Well another Kansas boxed set has hit our shores. That old ship is still sailing right along. It comes as no surprise that the popularity of this band has not waned over the years. Their staying power is evident with this three-disc set (two CDs and one DVD). You can still hear "Carry on Wayward Son" playing on the radio frequently, after all that is one of the songs that defined an era. Clearly, it was more than just a 70’s thing. The musical juggernaut called Kansas has continued strongly into the new millennium, and they show no signs of slowing down.

This is without a doubt the finest package that the band has released to date. The only thing that is left is a full-blown career spanning boxed including all their studio albums, rarities and outtakes. Of course, now you can get all of that from the recently remastered set of albums released earlier this year.

This music never ceases to amaze me, no matter how many times I hear a Kansas song I pick up something different. They were, and remain an amazing unique band. Besides all of the best tracks from their career, now longtime fans get the best treat of all, live concert footage from the early Don Kirschner’s Rock Concert days, which I remember well, even though I was a crazed teenager back then. Included are old videos from the Monolith album period and more.

This is the definitive and ultimate Kansas boxed set, so far. Funny, I said that about the Ultimate Kansas set too. I cannot wait to see what will come out next. I can never get enough of this band.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com
October 7, 2004

Rating-10/10

Disc: 1

01. Can I Tell You
02. Journey from Mariabronn
03. Song for America
04. Lamplight Symphony
05. Icarus (Borne on Wings of Steel)
06. Pinnacle
07. Child of Innocence
08. Carry on Wayward Son
09. Cheyenne Anthem
10. Miracles Out of Nowhere
11. What's on My Mind

Disc: 2

01. Point of Know Return
02. Portrait (He Knew)
03. Dust in the Wind
04. Lightning's Hand
05. Sparks of the Tempest
06. Paradox [Live]
07. People of the South Wind
08. Hold On
09. Get to Rock On
10. Play the Game Tonight
11. Fight Fire With Fire
12. All I Wanted
13. Rainmaker
14. Desperate Times
15. Eleanor Rigby
16. Icarus II
Disc: 3

01. Can I Tell You
02. Journey from Mariabronn
03. Death of Mother Nature Suite
04. Icarus (Borne on Wings of Steel)
05. Pinnacle
06. Point of Know Return [Multimedia Track]
07. Dust in the Wind [Multimedia Track]
08. On the Other Side [Multimedia Track]
09. People of the Sound Wind [Multimedia Track]
10. Reason to Be [Multimedia Track]
11. Away from You [Multimedia Track]
12. Fight Fire With Fire [Multimedia Track]
13. All I Wanted [Multimedia Track]
14. Preacher [Live]
15. Miracles Out of Nowhere [Live]
16. Carry on Wayward Son [Live]