Leftoverture

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Leftoverture is the fourth album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1976.

Leftoverture
Leftoverture cover
Studio album by Kansas
Released October 1976
Recorded December 1975-August 1976, Studio In The Country, Bogalusa, LA
Genre Progressive Rock
Length 43:12
Label Kirshner
Producer(s) Jeff Glixman,
Kansas
Professional reviews
Kansas chronology
Masque
(1975)		 Leftoverture
(1976)		 Point of Know Return
(1977)


Contents

[edit] Overview

When Kansas's Masque album failed to produce a hit single, pressure from Kirshner Records intensified. The band knew that if their next LP didn't sell, they would be dropped by the label. To make matters worse, Steve Walsh began to experience writer's block and was unable to contribute any new material. It fell on Kerry Livgren to fill the void for the band's next recording. Rather than let matters drive him to the edge, Livgren chose to simply ignore pressure from the record company and do his best to write good songs. The dark, sprawling suites from the previous two albums disappeared in favor of shorter, more accessible songs which energized the band. Despite their brevity, the new compositions still retained much of the classically-inspired complexity of Livgren's previous work. As the band moved away from the writing phase into rehearsals, Livgren introduced a last minute addition, unsure whether it would receive a favorable reaction from his mates. "Carry On Wayward Son", a song that would become the band's first Top 40 hit, was eagerly accepted as an album track and Kansas headed to Studio In The Country in Bogalusa, Louisiana (The Studio in the Country was so-named that as Kerry Livgren described on In the Studio with Redbeard on the episode spotlighting Leftoverture that quote "It was in the middle of a swamp (chuckling). We'd walk out of the studio and there would be gators in front of the studio, mosquitos the size of B-52s and at times armadillos would run into the control room (laughing)" end quote).

[edit] A Detailed Description

Leftoverture begins with the hit single "Carry On Wayward Son," a song which has become something of a classic rock staple. On account of this its popularity, Kansas is often misclassified as an AOR (Album Oriented Rock) band, when in fact the majority of their catalogue is progressive rock. Following is the religiously-inspired "The Wall," which is shorter and less intricate than previous Kansas epics. "What's On My Mind" is a straight-forward rock song in the musical vein of "Carry On Wayward Son." Next is the sprawling and deep "Miracles Out Of Nowhere," the first of the three progressive epics included on the original album. This song features a polyphonic solo section in the middle, incorporating synth horns (used only on Leftoverture and never again) and acoustic instruments in synergy. The fifth track is piece of pseudo-progressive rock called "Opus Insert," a song that begins with a fade-in, which is unusual on a Kansas recording. After "Opus Insert" is a brief, piano and synth dominated work called "Questions Of My Childhood." Next-to-last is the progressive "Cheyenne Anthem," a tribute to the American Indian tribe of the song's title, and one among several Kansas epics that berate man for allegedly destroying whatever he touches. Closing the album is the multi-sectioned, mostly instrumental "Magnum Opus," which is also the longest track.


[edit] Notes, Analysis, and Conclusion

Leftoverture is where Kansas first shifted somewhat from their progressive roots in search of a wider audience.

Also of interest is the particular sound of this album, elements of which were retained in succeeding releases. The prototypical Kansas "wall" of sound, which is a combination of violin, piano, organ, and sometimes synthesizer all playing in unison, made its debut on Leftoverture. The programming of the synthesizers remained unique to the album. The brass was more synthetic-sounding and less brassy than that used on the following release, yet it was presumably generated with the same equipment (according to the album notes, Kansas used ARP synthesizers). The icy, symphonic synth pad used in "Opus Insert" never appeared in any other song on Leftoverture or in any other album after it.

Overall, Leftoverture (as its name suggests, it was composed partially of previously unused material) is a remarkable compilation of work assembled under the sharp gaze of a business enterprise that was willing to give the band but one more chance to achieve commercial success. The album was indeed a success, far outselling anything the band had previously released, and serving as the launch pad for a new musical direction. The following year's Point of Know Return would continue the trend of success the band fostered with Leftoverture.

[edit] Cultural Impact

"Carry On Wayward Son" was used in the movie "Heroes" with Henry Winkler and Sally Field. It would normally appear in the last four minutes of the movie where Henry is running down the street, then to crouch down in shame and agony, after being told his friend from Vietnam was shot in the war. When MCA purchased the movie, they removed that footage and the audio track, and replaced it with different footage of Henry in fetal position being embraced by Sally Field, and an unrecognizable song.

The song also made an appearance in the 2004 cult movie "Anchorman" which stars Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate. The song is played during the last scene and into the closing credits.

The song is also heard during the penultimate episode of Supernatural's first season, and is a playable track in the Playstation 2 game "Guitar Hero 2".

The song is also featured in the movie "Happy Gilmore".

There have also been covers of this song. A version by the Canadian Christian rock band Critical Mass (http://www.CatholicRock.com) was nominated in 2005 for Best Rock Song at the Canadian Gospel Music Association Awards. In the 1980's, another Christian rock band, Rachel Rachel, also covered this classic rock song. More recently, it was covered by The Oak Ridge Boys.

[edit] Trivia

It is of interest to note that a song from the band Journey called "I'm Gonna Leave You" from their second album, Look Into The Future, shares an almost identical guitar riff with "Carry On Wayward Son". During 1975-76, the two bands toured tirelessly, often playing the same shows. Although the Journey track predates the Kansas song, Livgren insists that the similarity is a coincidence.

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Carry On Wayward Son" (Livgren) – 5:25
  2. "The Wall" (Livgren, Walsh) – 4:51
  3. "What's on My Mind" (Livgren) – 3:28
  4. "Miracles Out of Nowhere" (Livgren) – 6:28
  5. "Opus Insert" (Livgren, Walsh) – 4:28
  6. "Questions of My Childhood" (Livgren, Walsh) – 3:40
  7. "Cheyenne Anthem" (Livgren) – 6:55
  8. "Magnum Opus" (Ehart, Hope, Livgren, P. Steinhardt, R. Steinhardt, Walsh, Williams) – 8:35
    • "Father Padilla Meets the Perfect Gnat"
    • "Howling at the Moon"
    • "Man Overboard"
    • "Industry On Parade"
    • "Release The Beavers"
    • "Gnat Attack"
  9. "Carry On Wayward Son" (Live from 1977) (Livgren) 5:00 (Bonus track on 2001 remaster)
  10. "Cheyenne Anthem" (Live from 1978) (Livgren) – 7:10 (Bonus track on 2001 remaster)

[edit] Personnel

Additional personnel

  • Toye LaRocca - vocals
  • Cheryl Norman - vocals

[edit] Production

  • Producers: Jeff Glixman, Kansas
  • Arranger: Kansas
  • Engineer: Bill Evans

[edit] Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1977 Pop Albums 5

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1976 "Carry On Wayward Son" Pop Singles 11
1977 "What's On My Mind" - -
Kansas
Phil Ehart | Billy Greer | David Ragsdale | Steve Walsh | Richard Williams
Dave Hope | Kerry Livgren | Robby Steinhardt | John Elefante | Steve Morse | Greg Robert
Discography
Studio albums: Kansas | Song for America | Masque | Leftoverture | Point of Know Return | Monolith | Audio-Visions | Vinyl Confessions | Drastic Measures | Power | In the Spirit of Things | Freaks of Nature | Always Never the Same | Somewhere to Elsewhere
Live albums: Two for the Show | Live at the Whisky | King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Kansas | Device, Voice, Drum
Compilations: The Best of Kansas | Carry On |The Kansas Boxed Set | The Best of Kansas (expanded) | The Ultimate Kansas | Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection | On the Other Side | Works in Progress
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