Kansas/France 1978

In 1978, KANSAS was at its peak, with two of their most famous albums, “Eternal Overture” and “Towed into the Dark”, going multi-platinum. A masterpiece live album that conveys the scene that has advanced to Europe is now available. This work includes “Paris performance on March 23, 1978”. This is the best audience recording. At that time, KANSAS was at its peak. The pattern is also the traditional masterpiece “TWO FOR THE SHOW”, but it is a live album that allows you to experience that wonderful “POINT OF KNOW RETURN TOUR” on the spot. The biggest point of this work is the quality, which is just as good as the best, but it is the show’s position. Let’s take a look back at the overall picture of the world tour, which was filled with the wind of great success. 1977《“Towed into Darkness” completed in July》・August 5th-September 4th: North America #1 (8 performances)《“Towed into Darkness” released on October 11th》・October 21st- December 31: North America #2a (34 performances) 1978, January 1-23: North America #2b (11 performances), March 7-27: Europe (14 performances) ←★Coco★・6 March 23rd – August 26th: North America #3 (40 performances) [October “TWO FOR THE SHOW” released] This is the progress from “Towed into the Darkness” to 1978. Most of the tour was in North America, which is their home base, but they also expanded to Europe in between. The Paris performance of this work was the 12th concert of such “European” leg. Although 14 performances may seem a little small considering the big hit they had at the time, this was actually their first European tour. It is a live album that vividly captures the moment when he came to the hometown of progressive rock that once shocked Phil Ehart. This work recorded at such a show has a tremendous direct feeling. Anyway, the core is on and there is no hall sound. It’s not that it’s “few,” it’s that you can’t feel any reverberations even if you listen carefully with headphones. The venue is an indoor arena, but from the sounds you can hear it seems like an outdoor festival with zero echoes and completely windless. What further strengthens that image is the strangely distant audience noise. When the song is played, you can hear the applause, but it’s strangely far away, and it’s too out of proportion to the close-up sound. Additionally, the freshness is excellent. The one released this time seems to be the 1st generation, and there are almost no dubbing marks. As a result, even the small folds of the vibrato remain fresh, and even the dying edges of the long, elongated notes are left clean. Although it is not the type that can be mistaken for a sound board in terms of tone, it is a beautiful recording with vividness, detail, and directness that feels more beautiful than most sound boards. What is depicted with such beautiful sounds is a show that can be called the on-site experience of “TWO FOR THE SHOW”. Here, let’s organize the set while comparing it with the traditional edition.・First Album: Belexes (★) ・Songs for America: Down The Road (★) ・Eternal Overture: Carry On My Wayward Son/Cheyenne Anthem (★)/Miracles Out Of Nowhere (★)/Magnum Opus/Howling At The Moon ・Towed into the Darkness: Point Of No Return/Paradox/Closet Chronicles/Dust In The Wind/Portrait (He Knew)/Sparks Of The Tempest (★) ・Others: Medley (Mysteries & Mayhem/Lamplight Symphony/The Wall) *Note: Songs marked with “★” cannot be heard on the official “TWO FOR THE SHOW (original edition)”. …and it looks like this. There are 5 songs in the repertoire that cannot be heard in the original version of “TWO FOR THE SHOW” from 1978. “TWO FOR THE SHOW” itself was expanded to two and a half hours on the 30th anniversary edition in 2008, but to be honest, it was too huge and it was different from “reproducing an actual concert”. On the other hand, this work is a genuine one-shot concert. The natural flow and the enthusiasm that builds up as each song builds up is real. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, this tour will be their first in Europe. The energetic performance that seems to be attacking the real music is wonderful, and the dramaticism of depicting a magnificent song with an iron-clad ensemble is amazing. In 1978, the progressive rock movement in the UK was on the verge of extinction. However, it is still alive and well in continental Europe, and in the New World, progressive rock is about to flare up. At that moment, KANSAS made a counter-invasion from America to Europe. This is a masterpiece of a live album where you can experience the cutting edge with the best sound. This work is simply an excellent music album, but the passionate performance contained therein is the essence of KANSAS in its heyday and the cutting edge of the scene. A 2-disc set where you can enjoy it with super-excellent sound. Pavillon de Paris, Paris, France 23rd March 1978 PERFECT SOUND Disc 1(35:53) 1. Carry On My Wayward Son 2. Down The Road 3. Point Of No Return 4. Paradox 5. Closet Chronicles 6. Mysteries & Mayhem/ Lamplight Symphony/The Wall Disc 2(46:12) 1. MC 2. Dust In The Wind 3. Cheyenne Anthem 4. Miracles Out Of Nowhere 5. Portrait (He Knew) 6. Sparks Of The Tempest 7. Belexes 8. Magnum Opus/Howling At The Moon Phil Ehart – Drums & Percussions Dave Hope – Bass Kerry Livgren – Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals Robby Steinhardt – Violin, Vocals Steve Walsh – Keyboards, Vocals Richard Williams – Guitars