''Schemer-Dreamer'' is the first solo album by Steve Walsh, the original keyboardist/vocalist of the progressive rock band

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to ...

. It was released in 1980. Although this is his solo album, it features other members of Kansas including

Kerry Livgren Kerry Allen Livgren (born September 18, 1949) is an American musician, best known as one of the founding members and primary songwriters for the American rock band Kansas. Biography Livgren was raised in Topeka, Kansas, by his father Allen ...

Phil Ehart Phillip W. Ehart (born February 4, 1950) is the drummer in the progressive rock band Kansas. He and Rich Williams are the only two members who have appeared on every Kansas album. Though his songwriting contributions to the group were few, he co ...

, and

Rich Williams Richard John Williams (born February 1, 1950) is an American guitarist, primarily known for being one of the only consistent original members of the rock band Kansas alongside drummer Phil Ehart. Both have appeared on every Kansas album to da ...

, as well as future Kansas member

Steve Morse Steve J. Morse (born July 28, 1954) is an American guitarist, best known as the founder of the Dixie Dregs and as the lead guitarist of Deep Purple from 1994 to 2022. Morse has also enjoyed a successful solo career and was briefly a member ...

Reception

In their retrospective review,

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the dat ...

sarcastically suggested that the self-aggrandizing front cover of ''Schemer-Dreamer'' "very well could be the greatest album cover in rock history." They criticized the music itself as "a big, loud, dumb arena rock record, one that sounds completely tied to its year, if not month, of release", but also avouched that "it's kind of fun because of that".

Track listing

Personnel

;Musicians * Steve Walsh - keyboards, lead vocals, vibes, drums (track 3) *Jeff Lux - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vibraphone, flute, background vocals *

David Bryson Counting Crows is an American rock band from San Francisco, California. Formed in 1991, the band consists of guitarist David Bryson, drummer Jim Bogios, vocalist Adam Duritz, keyboardist Charlie Gillingham, David Immerglück, bass guitarist M ...

- electric guitar (track 2) *

- guest electric guitar (track 4) *

- guest electric and acoustic guitars (track 1) *

- guest electric guitar (track 7) *Merle McLain - bass (tracks 1, 2, 3, 7) *Duane Buckler - bass guitar (track 4, 5) *Turner Gaugh - bass (track 6) *Tim Gehrt - drums (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6) *

- guest drums (track 7) *Vic Hancock - handclaps *Allen Sloan - violin, viola (track 6) *Skip Lane - saxophone (track 7) *Cecil Welch - trumpet (track 7) ;Production *Brad Aaron, Davey Moiré - co-producers, engineers *David Pinkston, Les Horn - assistant engineers *

George Marino George Marino (April 15, 1947 – June 4, 2012) was an American mastering engineer known for working on albums by rock bands starting in the late 1960s. Biography Marino was born on April 15, 1947, in the New York City borough The Bronx. He at ...

- mastering at

Sterling Sound George Marino (April 15, 1947 – June 4, 2012) was an American mastering engineer known for working on albums by rock bands starting in the late 1960s. Biography Marino was born on April 15, 1947, in the New York City borough The Bronx. He at ...

, New York *Tom Drennon - art direction and design *Will Weston III - cover illustration *Marie Walsh, Chuck Sillery - photography

References

External links

Schemer-Dreamer at CD Universe
{{Authority control 1980 debut albums Epic Records albums Steve Walsh (musician) albums