This tape uses excellent sounding demos from the sessions leading up to the album Power. There is the occasional dropout and tape garble but the real disappointment is that a few of these tracks suffer from a bad digital transfer. Not affecting sound quality but millisecond dropouts sounding like poor studio edits. This tape also runs between 4 and 5% too fast. When will they get it right?
The release of Power marked the beginning of a new chapter in Kansas history. Not only did it see the return of Steve Walsh, but also the addition of two new members. Steve Morse, from the country jazz rock fusion band, The Dixie Dregs, and bassist Billy Greer, whose backing vocals were to become an essential part of the band now that Robbie Steinhardt was no longer with them. It was 1986, so some of the songs are layered with synth style keyboard sounds, but the direction of the band was heavily influenced by the guitar styles of Steve Morse. As a matter of fact, Richard Williams’ guitar tracks are taking a back seat, if they are even there at all.
The first track, “Power”, has some different vocal lines, no backing vocals, and a killer Morse guitar solo at the end, different than what made it on to the album. “River Is a Rollin’” sounds like it could have been a demo for their next concept album In the Spirit of Things, while track 9, “Instrumental”, might have fit onto one of Steve Morse’s solo projects. Although some of these unreleased songs aren’t bad, it’s easy to see why they didn’t make the cut against the tracks that were used. They sound like progressive 80s pop songs, but written and performed by excellent musicians. Like I said, it was 1986.
The songs here that did make the Power album might be some of the same tracks, just reworked a little with additional overdubs. The last five tracks are lacking all vocals, but it’s nice sometimes to hear stripped down versions of songs. It can offer the listener a different perspective hearing parts that sometimes get lost in the final mixes.
Hard to recommend this title unless you’re a die hard Kansas fan. Nice to hear, but not essential.
