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

. 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 Christia ...

'' 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'' commen ...

'', and ''

Monolith A monolith is a geological feature consisting of a single massive rock (geology), stone or rock, such as some mountains. For instance, Savandurga, Savandurga mountain is a monolith mountain in India. Erosion usually exposes the geological for ...

'' 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 from the band's fourth studio album ''Leftoverture'' (1976). Written by guitarist Kerry Livgren, the song became the band's first Top 40 single, reaching No. 11 on the US ' ...

" (

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 L ...

) – 5:22 # "

Song for America ''Song for America'' is the second studio album by United States, American progressive rock band Kansas (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 thr ...

" (Livgren) – 10:01 # "

The Wall ''The Wall'' is the eleventh studio album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released on 30 November 1979 by Harvest/EMI and Columbia/CBS Records. It is a rock opera that explores Pink, a jaded rock star whose eventual self-imp ...

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

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 ...

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 defensive center fo ...

, 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 band Kansas alongside drummer Phil Ehart. Both have appeared on every Kansas album to date ...

) – 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 John Weldon "J. J." Cale (December 5, 1938 – July 26, 2013) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and sound engineer. Though he avoided the limelight, his influence as a musical artist has been acknowledged by figures such as Mark Knop ...

) – 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 rock violinist and singer best known for his work with the group Kansas, for which he was co-lead singer/"frontman" and MC along with keyboardist Steve Walsh, from 1973 ...

, Walsh) – 3:12 # "Cheyenne Anthem" (Livgren) – 6:53 # "

Fight Fire with Fire Fight Fire with Fire may refer to: *"Fight Fire With Fire", a single by Mai Tai (band) 1987 * "Fight Fire with Fire" (Kansas song) * "Fight Fire with Fire" (Metallica song) * "Fight Fire with Fire" (The Prodigy song) Fighting Fire with Fire m ...

" (Dino Elefante,

John Elefante John Elefante (born March 18, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, 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 fro ...

) – 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 wee ...

" (Livgren) – 3:27 # "

Hold On Hold On may refer to: Music Albums and EPs * ''Hold On!'' (album), by Herman's Hermits, 1966 * ''Hold On'' (Trapeze album), or the title song, 1978 * ''Hold On'' (High Inergy album), 1980 * ''Hold On'' (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album), 1987 * ...

" (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 Christian artist, musician, songwriter, record producer, and speaker. Frazier is the son of a pastor, W. Burwell Frazier, founder of Warrington Fellowship Church. Like his three siblings, his ...

, 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 "People of the South Wind" is a progressive rock single recorded by Kansas and written by Kerry Livgren for their 1979 album ''Monolith''. Background The song's lyrics focus on the Kaw people for whom the state of Kansas is named: in the Kansa ...

" (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 A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

keyboards Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

s, keyboards *

violin The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

, vocals * Steve Walsh: keyboards, vocals *

: guitar

References

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