1. Icarus II (07:15)
2. Icarus (Born on Wings of Steel) (07:12)
3. Point of Know Return (03:24)
4. Paradox (04:07)
5. Journey from Mariabronn (08:03)
6. Lamplight Symphony (08:15)
7. Dust in the Wind (03:57)
8. Rhythm in the Spirit (05:21)
9. The Voyage of Eight Eighteen (09:02)
10. Section 60 (02:48)
11. Carry on Wayward Son (06:00)
12. The Wall (05:23)
13. What’s on My Mind (03:49)
14. Miracles out of Nowhere (07:13)
15. Opus Insert (04:41)
16. Questions of My Childhood (03:54)
17. Cheyenne Anthem (07:11)
18. Magnum Opus (10:29)
19. Portrait (He Knew) (08:50)

Phil Ehart – drums
Billy Greer – bass, vocals
David Manion – keyboards
Ronnie Platt – vocals, keyboards
David Ragsdale – violin, guitar
Zak Rizvi – guitar
Richard Williams – guitar

Generally speaking, the live album occupies one of two roles in an artist’s larger body of work: it either documents an artist at the very top of their game, or it shamelessly fleeces fans with repackaged hits when the well of new ideas has run dry. Leftoverture Live & Beyond clearly plays the former role, and stands as Kansas’ best live album since Two for the Show. Like that classic album, Leftoverture Live & Beyond focuses on the band’s two most popular studio albums, Point of Know Return and Leftoverture, with a nice selection of other fan favorites and deep cuts to round out the setlist. This is 19 tracks and nearly 2 hours of a band in their prime, playing scorching takes of complex rock music with a seemingly tireless energy.

The dramatic tale of the “Icarus II” opens the album as the lone representative of Kansas’ studio work between 1978-2016. Paired with the heavy rocker “Icarus (Borne on Wings of Steel)”, it’s an opening salvo that quickly establishes an energy level for the rest of the set, one from which the band seldom departs except for more reflective songs like “Dust in the Wind” and “Section 60”. Violinist David Ragsdale frequently takes the spotlight, deftly weaving his sounds between and around the other instruments, and carving out melodic accents as easily as he does fiery, screeching solos. Keyboardist David Manion also turns in a star performance; when people think of Kansas, they likely think first of soaring violin and crunchy guitar riffs, but vintage synthesizers and Hammonds are just as essential to the sound, and Manion makes this clear from the synth intro to “Icarus (Borne on Wings of Steel)” to the extended solos on “Cheyenne Anthem”.

The first half of the album includes highlights such as the compact epics “Journey from Mariabronn” and “Lamplight Symphony” before a three-song run from Kansas’ latest album, The Prelude Implicit. The first of these, “Rhythm in the Spirit,” foregrounds a sound issue that is this live album’s one serious drawback. The drums are mixed a tad (maybe two) too loud, to the point of occasionally obscuring the vocals. Phil Ehart’s playing is on point and the booming sound mostly fits the situation, but the balance in the mix detracts from rather than supports the song’s heavy groove. Indeed, throughout the album there are some sonically rough patches; while some live albums are guilty of “correcting” performances to the point that it’s hardly a live document anymore, Leftoverture Live & Beyond sounds almost underproduced, more of an official bootleg direct from a (very good) soundboard mix, even to the point of including audience chatter after the last song on the album. It’s still a fantastic sounding album on the whole, but it might have achieved perfection with a more delicate hand in the mixing stage of production.

“The Voyage of Eight Eighteen”, also from The Prelude Implicit, suffers from none of these problems, and stands as one of the best tracks on the album. The energy and virtuosity on display in this epic are especially arresting, and far outreach what was heard on the (still excellent) studio version. Even before the opening chorus of “Carry On Wayward Son”, this is a strong set that offers much more than the ‘Beyond’ of the album title hints. On the Leftoverture half of the album, “Miracles Out of Nowhere” is particularly delightful and pulls off the searing solo-trading between violin and guitar. It’s also nice to hear the lesser-played “Opus Insert” and “Questions of My Childhood.” But “Magnum Opus” is the real gem, and may be even stronger here than on Two for the Show. Billy Greer’s bass is massive yet lithe in the intro, while guitarists Rich Williams and Zak Rizvi each receive ample room to flex their muscular tones. This is one of those rare band showcases that rips solos left and right while maintaining the integrity of its complex and melodic structure.

Leftoverture Live & Beyond is absolutely essential for Kansas fans, and serves notice to not-yet-fans that they are definitely missing out. This is a Kansas who are fresh and at the top of their game; the album sounds less a celebration of 40 years past and more a promise of good things to come. Founding members Ehart and Williams are playing with more energy than ever, and the setlist shows that they are having fun with both the band’s past and its future. Here’s hoping this excellent live album proves a ramp-up to new studio recordings and some album spotlight tours that delve even deeper into Kansas’ rich catalogue. ---Craig Ellis Bacon, progreport.com

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1. Intro (0:45)
2. The Pilgrimage (3:06)
3. Rock Concert (Dialogue) (0:31)
4. Can I Tell You (4:40)
5. The First Album (Dialogue) (0:34)
6. Journey From Mariabronn (7:56)
7. The Second Album (Dialogue) (0:43)
8. Song For America (9:59)
9. Down The Road (3:43)
10. Masque (Dialogue) (0:45)
11. Icarus (Born On Wings Of Steel) (5:42)
12. The Pinnacle (9:34)
13. Leftoverture (Dialogue) (0:40)
14. The Wall (4:46)
15. Wayward Son (Dialogue) (0:42)
16. Carry On Wayward Son (5:21)
17. Kerry The Songwriter (0:05)
18. Miracles Out Of Nowhere (6:26)
19. Time For A New Record (Dialogue) (0:07)
20. Point Of Know Return (3:09)
21. Finger Exercise (Dialogue) (0:14)
22. Dust In The Wind (3:24)
23. The Miracle (Dialogue) (1:05)
24. Nobody's Home (4:38)

- Steve Walsh - lead vocals, keyboards
- Robby Steinhardt - lead vocals, violin
- Kerry Livgren - guitar, keyboards
- Phil Ehart - drums, percussion
- Dave Hope - bass
- Rich Williams - acoustic & electric guitars

2014 marked the 40th anniversary of the release of KANSAS, the band's debut album. To commemorate the occasion, the classic KANSAS lineup reunited, for the first time in more than 30 years; at the place their incredible journey began, Topeka, Kansas! There, they relived the incredible untold story of one of the most successful American rock bands of their era. Returning to monumental career landmarks in their hometown, as well as sharing untold memories ranging from touring to songwriting and recording, the band shares how the smash hit "Dust in the Wind" was just a passing comment away from never being recorded! Viewers will hear the band tell stories about recording in the studio next to John Lennon, a backstage fight with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, and how the words "free beer" changed their lives forever! Miracles Out of Nowhere presents KANSAS in a way they have never before been seen. --- prnewswire.com

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1. Down The Road (3:43)
2. Song For America (9:59)
3. Lamplight Symphony (8:11)
4. Lonely Street (5:43)
5. The Devil Game (5:03)
6. Incomudro - Hymn To The Atman (12:12)

Bonus tracks on Legacy/Sony remaster(2004):
7. Song For America (single edit)
8. Down The Road (live/ previously unreleased)

- Phil Ehart - drums
- Dave Hope - bass, backing vocals
- Kerry Livgren - guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
- Robbie Steinhardt - lead vocals, violin
- Steve Walsh - lead vocals, keyboards
- Rich Williams - lead guitar

KANSAS was a band often not the most respected by rock critics, rock fans, and prog rock fans. Some accuse them of pandering to the AOR of the time (judging them only from their FM hits). Others thought they were simply rednecks pretending to be prog rockers. Others didn't like them because they stood for all that's wrong with prog rock, and the list goes on. But despite their overplayed hits, they had a lot to offer. The band played in the Midwest in redneck bars and clubs whose patrons were obviously not appreciative of the music they were playing. Not to mention a lot of this area of the country tended to be conservative (politically and socially) so there was a lot going against this band (specifically the generally non-appreciative audience they played to in their early days). But the band was signed to Don Kirshner's label, Kirshner (Don Kirschner was the guy responsible for such "manufactured" and "make believe" groups as The ARCHIES and The MONKEES, so KANSAS was different in the manner they were a real band and were to be taken seriously) and got to business first by releasing their debut in 1974, and following it with this, "Song For America".

The music is truely a fascinating blend of prog rock and bar band rock. The album starts off with a rather straightforward rocker, "Down the Road", which has more in common with Southern Rock, but then the band gets in to prog rock epic proportions like on the title track and "Hymn to the Atman". The music tends to be quite lengthy and extended full of great violin, guitar, and Mini Moog solos. I also like the use of string synths they added on some of the pieces. I also like the hard rocking "The Devil Game", another one of the more redneck-y "bar band" type pieces, but it works really well. For the longest time I avoided Kansas, thinking they were another AOR act like BOSTON, JOURNEY, STYX, FOREIGNER, etc., not to mention "Carry On Wayward Son" being overplayed on the radio (which I always thought was filled with AOR clichés, I'm glad now that I don't judge this band by their hits - and you shouldn't either).

Certainly "Leftoverture" and "Point of Know Return" might be their best known and best selling albums, but they had three albums prior worth checking in to, and this is the pre- "Leftoverture" album you should try first. ---Proghead, progarchives.com

Probably the most prog of Kansas' albums, this one spotlights long, orchestrated songs and unusual time signatures. There is an extended nine/eight instrumental break in the middle of the title track. "Lamplight Symphony" offers long, orchestrated passages. When the energy is there, it is intense energy, such as "Down the Road" and "The Devil Game." The longer songs unfortunately can lose a passive listener. But all in all, this is a good (if not adolescent) recording for a group of this genre. ---Mark Allender, allmusic.com

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01. Relentless (Kerry Livgren) – 4:54
02. Anything For You (Steve Walsh) – 3:54
03. Hold On (Livgren) – 3:50
04. Loner (Walsh) – 2:28
05. Curtain Of Iron (Livgren) – 6:09
06. Got To Rock On (Walsh) – 3:18
07. Don't Open Your Eyes (Phil Ehart, Dave Hope, Rich Williams, Livgren, Walsh) – 4:02
08. No One Together (Livgren) – 6:55
09. No Room For A Stranger (Walsh, Williams) – 2:55
10. Back Door (Walsh) – 4:20

Personnel:
- Kerry Livgren - guitar, percussion, keyboards, vocals
- Steve Walsh - percussion, keyboards, vibraphone, lead vocals
- Rich Williams - guitar, percussion, vocals
- Robby Steinhardt - violin, viola, lead vocals
- Dave Hope - bass, vocals
- Phil Ehart - percussion, drums, vocals

By the time of their eighth album, Audio-Visions, Kansas had entered the post-platinum solo-album phase of the typical successful rock group's career. Leaders Kerry Livgren and Steve Walsh were devoting time to making their own records, and Kansas was becoming a part-time occupation. The two divided up the songwriting chores on Audio-Visions, alternating Livgren's always spiritual and by now explicitly religious lyrical sentiments and ornate musical structures with Walsh's earthier and harder-rocking concerns. Livgren's Christian-themed "Hold On" ("Outside the door He is waiting") made the Top 40, and Walsh's "Got to Rock" was a singles-chart entry, but nothing here matched the music from the group's late-'70s heyday. Audio-Visions was the last of seven straight Kansas albums to go gold or platinum and the last album made by the group's most successful lineup. In 1981, Walsh quit. ---William Ruhlmann, AllMusic Review

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CD 1
01. Howling At The Moon
02. Musicatto
03. Belexes
04. Point Of Know Return
05. Song For America
06. Billy Speaks
07. On The Other Side
08. Hold On
09. Dust In The Wind			play

CD 2
01. Billy Speaks
02. The Wall
03. Cheyenne Anthem
04. Icarus
05. Miracles Out Of Nowhere
06. Portrait (He Knew)
07. Crowd Cheering
08. Fight Fire With Fire		play
09. Carry On Wayward Son

Line-up:
Steve Walsh – vocals, keyboards
Billy Greer – bass, vocals, acoustic guitar
Rich Williams – guitars
David Ragsdale – violin, backing vocals, electric guitar
Phil Ehart – drums

Kansas was a classic rock music band from Topeka, Kansas whose commercial heyday was from 1976-1986. They were formed from the ashes of several Topeka-area bands of the early 1970s. Featuring the songwriting of keyboardist Kerry Livgren and vocalist Steve Walsh, the other members of the original lineup were bassist Dave Hope, violinist Robbie Steinhardt, drummer Phil Ehart, and guitarist Rich Williams. Kansas gained a record contract with Kirshner Records, a CBS subsidiary. Three early 1970s albums charted on the lower reaches of the album charts, but it was with their 1976 hit "Carry On Wayward Son" that the band hit the big time. That was from their album Leftoverture. The follow-up album, Point of Know Return from late 1977 was even more popular with the hits "Dust in the Wind" and the title track.

On their 1979 tour while touring for the Monolith album, Kerry Livgren accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior. This was followed by Dave Hope also becoming a Christian on their 1980 tour. As a result Kansas' three early 1980s albums, Audio-Visions, Vinyl Confessions, and Drastic Measures, all had strong Christian themes in the lyrics. Steve Walsh left in 1981 over lyrical and artistic differences during this time of change for the band, followed by the departure of Robbie Steinhardt the next year. Walsh's replacement on vocals was John Elefante, also a Christian, who sung on the Vinyl Confessions and Drastic Measures albums. The band continued to chart with hit singles such as "Play the Game Tonight" in 1982.

Kerry Livgren co-authored a book with Christian writer Kenneth Boa during this time, Seeds of Change. In the book he told the history of the band Kansas, explained the meanings of the lyrics he had written for the band's early albums (many of which dealt with a striving search for the meaning of life), and how the search led to him becoming a Christian. Seeds of Change was also the title of a 1980 solo album by Kerry Livgren.

Tiring of dealing with record company pressure to tone down their Christian lyrics and churn out commercial pop hits (which Livgren addressed with the biting commentary in the song "Mainstream"), Kansas broke up at the end of 1983 after playing a final New Year's Eve concert. Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope started the Christian Rock band "A.D.", while John Elefante pursued a solo career in contemporary Christian music and, with his brother Dino Elefante, as a Christian music producer.

The remaining members regrouped with Steve Walsh back on vocals and with Steve Morse, formerly of the Dixie Dregs, also joining the band. This resulted in their 1986 album Power, which included Kansas' last Top 20 hit single, "All I Wanted". This lineup released one more album, In the Spirit of Things, in 1988, a concept album about a historic flood that hit a small Kansas town during World War II. It is interesting that despite the departure of the three Christian members from the band, both of these albums have some Christian themes, especially the latter which had backing vocals from Rev. James Cleveland & The Southern California Community Choir. In the Spirit of Things was a commercial flop, however.

The band has since regrouped several times under different lineups. Two of the resulting studio albums, Freaks of Nature and Somewhere to Elsewhere, both featured Kerry Livgren returning to write new material for the band. The latter, released in 2000, was written entirely by Kerry Livgren with Christian themes. Today, Livgren and Elefante are both still active in contemporary Christian music, while Rev. Dave Hope is an ordained minister in a Continuing Anglican parish in Florida.

In 2002, Kansas II (the lineup prior to the recording and release of Kansas' first album) released an album under the group name Proto-Kaw, featuring demos and live material recorded from 1971 to 1973. This led to a new studio album, Before Became After (2004), with most of the Kansas II members participating. Proto-Kaw released a third album, The Wait of Glory, in 2006.

Kansas has continued to tour every year. The 2006 tour was delayed for a few weeks due to Steinhardt's second departure, and Ragsdale subsequently returned to the lineup. In 2008, the Kansas website announced that four of the five current members (Ehart, Ragsdale, Williams and Greer) had formed a recording group called Native Window, and they released their self-titled debut album in June 2009.

In February 2009, Kansas recorded a concert in Topeka, Kansas featuring a full symphony orchestra, with Larry Baird conducting. Morse and Livgren appeared as special guests on several songs. The performance was released on CD, DVD and Blu-ray and the DVD hit #5 on Billboard's Music Video Chart the week after its release. As of July 13, 2010, Kansas had recently completed a 30-day "United We Rock" tour with fellow classic rock legends Styx and Foreigner.

Kansas was touring September 2010 to January 2011. They will be performing with Symphonies of various colleges around the U.S. in an effort to raise money for the individual schools' music programs. The final show of the series, on January 28, 2011, is to be performed at McCain Auditorium on the campus of Kansas State University to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the state of Kansas being granted statehood. The concert will be filmed by PBS to be used in a future broadcast special in the region. Kansas will perform live on stage at the Glasgow, Kentucky Kentucky Plaza Theater on Friday May 13, 2011.

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