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If you're looking for a single disk 'best of Kansas', you might want to check out "Playlist: The Very Best Of Kansas". If you need to save a couple bucks, dispense with the two live bonus tracks appended to the current edition of "Leftoverture" and just download the original eight songs. "Leftoverture" was strong, start to finish, not a smidgen of gristle on that one.
From "Point of Know Return" it includes "Portrait (He Knew)" which got quite a bit of airplay when that album came out.But really, occasionally the album that put a band on the map in the first place is better than attempts at compiling singles or heavy airplay songs. Each of those albums had moments but the keeper was "Leftoverture". It's two bucks cheaper right now and it includes one of Kansas' best songs, "Miracles Out Of Nowhere" from the album "Leftoverture".
Based on its strength I bought the album before it (Song For America) and after it (Point of Know Return), and a friend of mine picked up Kansas' debut album. Such is the case with this collection vs. "Leftoverture".
Try "Leftoverture" first, and if you're in dire need of a particular song from the best of, download it as an individual track.
I grew up with this group. Kansas is one of my favorites. Great music with great lyrics. I believe this is a must have if you don't already own it.
The best songs Kansas did, plus a few extra cuts. What more could you ask.
The easy ones are the definitive hits, such as Dust In the Wind, Carry On Wayward Son, Song for America, and Hold On.For the Fans who want everything that KANSAS has to offer, it's an easy choice, since this CD is the only place to obtain the Live version of Closet Chronicles that was omitted from the Compact disc version of Two for the Show, so it could a single disc also. The earlier version had only 9 songs on it. KANSAS - The Best of Kansas (1999)(**** ) 12 tracks (65:31)This is the expanded version of The Best of Kansas that came out in 1984 on vinyl. Otherwise, this is just a place for the casual fan to get some basic KANSAS music. This 1999 update includes The Pinnacle, The Devil Game, and the "Live" version of Closet Chronicles, previously on the 2 record set, Two For The Show.For a single disc "Best of", it's not bad. KANSAS has so many great tracks from a dozen albums it's hard to decide exactly what to include. A good place for someone to get acquainted with the bands most popular songs. Isn't that what "Best of's" are for.True fans will already have all the bands individual CD's.
It's missing a few highly memorable progressive rock tunes, especially some of their songs from the first two albums. The Best of Kansas offers most of their best songs, but you know, there's NEVER been a case where I was completely satisfied with a compilation disc. As someone who's a fan, I don't like that very much. It's because once you explore an artist more, you realize their Best of or Greatest Hit collection can't possibly capture their best moments. And since "the best songs" and "their biggest hits" are two separate things, this CAN'T be the Best of Kansas. But then again, as a fan, I don't need this album. I recommend you pick up the first two albums to hear what Kansas was like in the early days and then pick up one of their later albums to see where they ended up.
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