7. Point of Know Return .... Kansas

I was just starting to play classical piano when this album landed on my brother’s record player. I heard that wonderful organ announcement of the title track, and was transported to music as art again.

Bone dry sounds… every instrument superbly crisp and precise, yet somehow being perfectly cohesive. Come to think of it, the production of this album bears a resemblance to Rush’s “Moving Pictures”…

rock music today is SOOOOO boring by comparison.

So few held notes on the entire record… it’s a rhythmical wonder start to finish. The title track rocks, “Sparks of the Tempest” has a cool visual lyric and rather odd dual vocal performance, and it has a little tune called “dust in the wind”. But my favorite moment on the album is Steve Walsh’s short instrumental “the Spider” into the song “He Knew”.

There must have been tremendous band conflict on this record, with so many strong creative types in one group. That's really the only way you come up with something this aggressive, musically interesting, and introspective all at the same time.

I am a huge fan of Kerry Livgren’s guitar work, and love his elaborate solo sections that are modern day counterpoint. Listen to the half time guitar solo section of “Tempest” for a magnificent example… it’s one of the best moments in all of rock music to me.

Knowing what I know now about recording, I can’t figure out how they did this record. But they sure did it well.