Power (Kansas album)

Power
Studio album by Kansas
Released November 1986
Recorded The Castle, Franklin, Tennessee, 1986
Genre AOR, hard rock, progressive rock
Length 39:06
Label MCA
Producer Andrew Powell, Phil Ehart
Kansas chronology

The Best of Kansas
(1984)		 Power
(1986)		 In the Spirit of Things
(1988)

Power is the tenth studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1986.

A year and a half after Kansas disbanded at the end of the Drastic Measures tour, former lead singer Steve Walsh returned to revive Kansas along with original band members Phil Ehart and Rich Williams. Guitarist Steve Morse, who joined at Ehart's invitation after the two met at a concert in Atlanta, became significant in the new lineup. Bass guitarist and vocalist Billy Greer (who had worked with Walsh in the short-lived band Streets after he left Kansas in 1981) completed the lineup, which began rehearsing in July 1985 while Walsh was finishing up a tour as sideman for Cheap Trick. They released Power the following year.

The single "All I Wanted", received a promotional video featuring clips of a variety of women walking and smiling but only Walsh and Morse from the band appear in the video. Mixed by producer Humberto Gatica, the song was a major top 40 and adult contemporary hit, yet the band has not played the song in concert for many years.

The follow-up singles "Power" and "Can't Cry Anymore" failed to receive significant airplay, though the former is the last Kansas single to date to hit the Billboard Top 100 pop charts. A video featuring comedian Richard Belzer was produced for "Can't Cry Anymore" but was never widely released. Both songs were edited and remixed by Gatica for release as singles.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Kerrang! [2]

In their retrospective review, Allmusic applauded Kansas's dramatic change in direction, contending that the fact that this new direction was short-lived makes it no less appealing. They especially praised "Silhouettes in Disguise," "Power", and "All I Wanted".[1]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Steve Morse and Steve Walsh except where noted. 

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Silhouettes In Disguise"    4:26
2. "Power"  Randy Goodrum, Steve Morse, Steve Walsh 4:25
3. "All I Wanted"    3:20
4. "Secret Service"  John Booth Aclin, Ron Miller, Morse, Walsh 4:42
5. "We're Not Alone Anymore"    4:16
6. "Musicatto"    3:30
7. "Taking In the View"    3:06
8. "Three Pretenders"  Billy Greer, Morse, Walsh 3:50
9. "Tomb 19"    3:46
10. "Can't Cry Anymore"  Tim Smith, Van Temple 4:01

Personnel

Additional musicians

Production

The Philarmonia Orchestra recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)[3]

Year Chart Position
1987 The Billboard 200 35

Singles - Billboard (North America)[4]

Year Single Chart Position
1986 "All I Wanted" The Billboard Hot 100 19
1986 "All I Wanted" Mainstream Rock Tracks 10
1986 "All I Wanted" Adult Contemporary 14
1987 "Power" The Billboard Hot 100 84
1987 "Power" Mainstream Rock Tracks 38
1987 "Can't Cry Anymore" - -

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Adams, Bret. "Kansas Power review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  2. ↑ Russell, Xavier (11 December 1986). "Kansas 'Power'". Kerrang! 135. London, UK: United Magazines ltd. p. 18.
  3. ↑ "Power Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  4. ↑ "Power Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-09-14.