''The Ultimate Kansas'' is the fourth compilation from the band

Kansas Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...

. It was originally released in 2002, and focuses solely on their Kirshner period from their debut album ''

'' in 1974, up to and including ''

Drastic Measures ''Drastic Measures'' is the ninth studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1983. The shift in direction that Kansas took with ''Vinyl Confessions'' took its toll before recording began on this album. After hearing that Christian ...

'' in 1983. The collection was rereleased in 2008 under the title ''Essential Kansas 3.0'' as part of the Sony/BMG Legacy series of that name, with an additional "bonus disc" with seven additional songs, and featuring "eco-friendly" packaging.

Cover art

The covers of ''

Leftoverture ''Leftoverture'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1976. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2001. It was the band's first album to be certified by the RIAA, and remains their highest selling al ...

'', ''Kansas'', ''

Point of Know Return ''Point of Know Return'' is the fifth studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1977. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2002. Composition and recording The recording sessions for ''Point of Know Return'' comme ...

'', and ''

Monolith A monolith is a geological feature consisting of a single massive stone or rock, such as some mountains. Erosion usually exposes the geological formations, which are often made of very hard and solid igneous or metamorphic rock. Some monolit ...

'' are depicted on the front cover of ''The Ultimate Kansas''.

Track listing

Disc one

# "

Carry On Wayward Son "Carry On Wayward Son" is a song by American rock band Kansas, released on their 1976 studio album, '' Leftoverture''. Written by guitarist Kerry Livgren, the song became the band's first top 40 hit, reaching No. 11 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot ...

" (

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. Livgren, raised in Topeka, Kansas, developed an early interest in musi ...

) – 5:22 # "

Song for America ''Song for America'' is the second studio album by American progressive rock band Kansas, released in 1975. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2004. The 10-minute title track was edited down to three minutes for release as a si ...

" (Livgren) – 10:01 # "

The Wall ''The Wall'' is the eleventh studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 30 November 1979 by Harvest/ EMI and Columbia/ CBS Records. It is a rock opera which explores Pink, a jaded rock star, as he constructs a psychologic ...

" (Livgren, Steve Walsh) – 4:48 # "Lonely Street" (

Phil Ehart Phillip W. Ehart (born February 4, 1951) 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 ...

Dave Hope Dave Hope (born October 7, 1949) is an American bass guitarist who played with the American progressive rock band Kansas from 1970 (original version) until the band's first split in 1983. When he was in high school, he played the tuba and trumpe ...

, Walsh,

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 music, rock band Kansas (band), Kansas alongside drummer Phil Ehart. Both have appeared on ...

) – 5:42 # "Journey from Mariabronn" (Livgren, Walsh) – 7:57 # "Child of Innocence" (Livgren) – 4:31 # "Mysteries and Mayhem" (Livgren, Walsh) – 4:11 # "The Pinnacle" (Livgren) – 9:35 # "Bringing It Back" ( J.J. Cale) – 3:34 # "Down the Road" (Livgren, Walsh) – 3:44 # " What's on My Mind" (Livgren) – 3:25 # "Death of Mother Nature Suite" (Livgren) – 7:52

Disc two

# "

" (Ehart,

Robby Steinhardt Robert Eugene Steinhardt (May 25, 1950 – July 17, 2021) was an American musician best known for his work with rock band Kansas, for which he was co-lead singer, violinist and MC along with keyboardist Steve Walsh, from 1973 to 1982 and from ...

, Walsh) – 3:12 # "Cheyenne Anthem" (Livgren) – 6:53 # " Fight Fire with Fire" (Dino Elefante,

John Elefante John Elefante (born March 18, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. From 1981-1984, he was lead vocalist of the rock group Kansas and is currently touring with several groups that have featured members from clas ...

) – 3:42 # "

Dust in the Wind "Dust in the Wind" is a song recorded by American progressive rock band Kansas and written by band member Kerry Livgren, first released on their 1977 album '' Point of Know Return''. The song peaked at No. 6 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 the w ...

" (Livgren) – 3:27 # " Hold On" (Livgren) – 3:51 # "No One Together" (Livgren) – 6:58 # "

Play the Game Tonight "Play the Game Tonight" is a progressive rock single recorded by Kansas for their 1982 album '' Vinyl Confessions''. It managed to chart at No. 17 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, becoming the 15th single, 10th top 100 hit, sixth top 40 hit, ...

" (Ehart, Danny Flower,

Rob Frazier Rob Frazier (born October 31, 1953) is an American contemporary Christian music artist, musician, songwriter, record producer, and speaker. Frazier is the son of a pastor, W. Burwell Frazier, founder of Warrington Fellowship Church. He was rais ...

, Livgren, Williams) – 3:27 # "Closet Chronicles" (Walsh, Livgren) – 6:28 # "Sparks of the Tempest" (Livgren, Walsh) – 4:12 # "Portrait (He Knew)" (Livgren, Walsh) – 4:31 # "On the Other Side" (Livgren) – 6:24 # " People of the South Wind" (Livgren) – 3:36 # "A Glimpse of Home" (Livgren) – 6:34 # "Magnum Opus (Live)" (Ehart, Hope, Livgren, Steinhardt, Walsh, Williams) – 8:57

Disc three (The Essential Kansas 3.0 Limited Edition Only)

# "Can I Tell You" (Ehart, Hope, Walsh, Williams) - 3:32 # "Lamplight Symphony" (Livgren) - 8:15 # "Miracles Out of Nowhere" (Livgren) - 6:27 # "Questions of My Childhood" (Livgren, Walsh) - 3:37 # "Paradox" (Livgren, Walsh) - 3:51 # "The Spider" (Walsh) - 2:07 # "Got to Rock On" (Walsh) - 3:21

Personnel

drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...

: keyboards,

vocals Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define sing ...

bass guitar The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

s, keyboards *

violin The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...

, vocals * Steve Walsh: keyboards, vocals *

: guitar

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ultimate Kansas, The 2004 greatest hits albums Kansas (band) compilation albums