Kansas/CA, USA 1977

In 1977, KANSAS was at the height of its peak, with its famous album “POINT OF KNOW RETURN” going multi-platinum. Introducing Mike Millard’s masterpiece, a vacuum-packed New Year’s Eve show that concludes a glorious year. Of course, this work was recorded on “December 31, 1977.” This is a superb audience recording recorded at California’s representative large venue “Long Beach Arena”. Speaking of their heyday, it is all about “LEFTOVERTURE”, “POINT OF KNOW RETURN”, and “TWO FOR THE SHOW”. First of all, let’s look back at that time and check the position of the show. 1977《“POINT OF KNOW RETURN” completed in July》・August 5th-September 4th: North America #1 (8 performances)《“POINT OF KNOW RETURN” released on October 11th》・October 21st- December 31: North America #2a (34 performances) ←★Here★ January 1-23, 1978: North America #2b (11 performances) March 7-27: Europe (14 performances) ・6 March 23rd – August 26th: North America #3 (40 performances) [October “TWO FOR THE SHOW” released] This is KANSAS in 1977/1978. The Long Beach performance of this work is on New Year’s Eve, so of course it is the last in 1977. This was the main “North America #2” concert of the “POINT OF KNOW RETURN TOUR”. This work recorded at such a show is truly a masterpiece that can be labeled as “super”. It is the work of the legendary master Millard, and it is a newly discovered original cassette. Although I know that there is nothing wrong with it, I am always surprised and wonder, “Is there anything wrong with Mirrored?” Especially this time, the feeling of crystal clear air is wonderful… or rather, the presence of “air” is no longer felt. Of course, in reality, sound cannot be transmitted without air, but it is hard to believe that this is a spatial recording because of the vivid details and the ultra-tight performance sound with no echo components. The super famous recording (this time as well) has excited Sekaiju mania, but this work is the ultimate edition that further improves that famous recording. Of course, since it is mirrored, there is no problem with the basic sound quality, but the stereo feeling and the way the highs are missed, which vary slightly depending on the on-site environment, are also stable. The completeness of the album as a music album has been thoroughly improved. What is depicted with such tight and direct sound is a full show at its peak. Speaking of this tour, the symbol of this tour is the famous album “TWO FOR THE SHOW”, so let’s organize the sets while comparing them. Early 3 works (4 songs) ・First album: Lonely Wind ・Song for America: Down The Road (★) ・Masque: Icarus – Borne On Wings Of Steel / Child Of Innocence (★) Eternal Overture (4) Song)・Cheyenne Anthem (★) / Miracles Out Of Nowhere (★) / Carry On My Wayward Son / Magnum Opus (8 songs)・Hopelessly Human (★) / Point Of No Return / Paradox / Closet Chronicles / Dust In The Wind / The Spider (★) / Portrait (He Knew) / Sparks Of The Tempest (★) *Note: Songs marked with “★” cannot be heard on the official “TWO FOR THE SHOW (original edition)”. …and it looks like this. “TWO FOR THE SHOW” has two versions: the traditional original version and the 2008 expanded version, but this work is longer than the original and shorter than the expanded version. Although all of the set of this work can be heard in the extended version, that extended version was two and a half hours long, which far exceeded the length of one performance, and it was on a different level from the experience of a full show. In that respect, this work is a 100% live audience recording, so you can have a super realistic on-site experience. You can feel that experience throughout the film, but the most symbolic part is the encore. The main set ends with “Sparks Of The Tempest,” but they return to the stage and request a New Year’s countdown from the audience. The MC was clearly distracted while looking at the clock, and started counting 24 seconds in advance. The more they counted, “23,” “22,” “21,” etc., the louder the voices became, and the closer they got to “12,” “11,” “10,” the louder the voices of the audience became. Then, the numbers “5,” “4,” and “3” finally arrived, and with a single shout of “2,” “1,” and “HAPPY NEW YEAR!!”, the thick chorus of the deadly “Carry On Wayward Son” engulfed the venue in a loud voice. !! How dramatic! The sound quality alone makes Millard’s works feel special, but the sound depicts a series of moments that will never return…It’s a moving highlight that makes you realize something so obvious. If you could experience “TWO FOR THE SHOW”, which can be said to be KANSAS’s masterpiece, in real life…this is a live album that will make that dream come true on New Year’s Eve. Moreover, while boasting the tremendous reality unique to audience recording, Millard’s miracle sound is comparable to official works in terms of audio quality. This is truly one of the treasures of American progressive rock. It was late 1977, when the first Star Wars movie was a sensation in America, and in Japan, “The Spy Who Loved Me” was a huge hit. A master sound that brings out the atmosphere of 43 years ago from the speakers. Superb audience recording of “December 31, 1977 Long Beach Performance”. This is a masterpiece digitized from the original cassette of legendary master Mike Millard, and it has a crystal clear atmosphere and an ultra-tight direct feeling that will make you forget the existence of the atmosphere. It has an unwavering sense of perfection from corner to corner. If you could experience “TWO FOR THE SHOW” at its peak…this is a live album that will make the ultimate dream of American prog rock a reality. Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA, USA 31st December 1977 TRULY PERFECT/ULTIMATE SOUND Disc 1 (55:55) 1. Intro 2. Magnum Opus Intro / Hopelessly Human 3. Point Of Know Return 4. Paradox 5. Icarus (Borne On Wings Of Steel) 6. Child Of Innocence 7. Closest Chronicles 8. Dust In The Wind 9. Acoustic Guitar Solo 10. Piano Solo 11. Lonely Wind 12. Cheyenne Anthem Disc 2 (53:58) 1. Band Introductions 2. Miracles Out Of Nowhere 3. Drum Solo 4. The Spider 5. Portrait (He Knew) 6. Sparks Of The Tempest 7. MC 8. Countdown / Carry On Wayward Son ★Happy New Year! 1978! 9. Down The Road 10. Violin Solo 11. Magnum Opus Phil Ehart – Drums & Percussions Dave Hope – Bass Kerry Livgren – Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals Robby Steinhardt – Violin, Vocals Steve Walsh – Keyboards, Vocals Richard Williams – Guitars