The Best of Kansas

Infobox Album |
Name = The Best of Kansas
Type = Compilation album
Artist = Kansas


Released = August 1984, (re-released 1999)
Recorded = 1975 - 1984
Genre = Classic rock
Progressive rock
Pop rock
Length = 48:11 (1984) / 65:41 (1999)
Label = CBS Associated
Producer = Various
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:aay67ui0h0jh~T1 link]
Last album = "Drastic Measures"
(1983)
This album = "The Best of Kansas"
(1984)
Next album = "Power"
(1986)

"The Best of Kansas" was the first compilation album from the American rock band Kansas. It was originally released in 1984, and featured one new track, "Perfect Lover," written and performed by then-lead vocalist John Elefante. The compilation was re-released in 1999 in a version supervised by the original band members, so "Perfect Lover" was dropped in favor of three additional tracks: from "Song for America", "Masque", and a track deleted from "Two for the Show" to make it fit on a single CD.

Cover art

The cover is noteworthy in that it contains elements of nearly all previous Kansas album covers:
* 1974 "Kansas": Abolitionist John Brown, as portrayed in the John Steuart Curry mural "Tragic Prelude". It should be noted that no tracks from the 1974 "Kansas" album appear on either version of "The Best of Kansas."
* 1975 "Song for America": The bird depicted on the front cover of "Song for America" can be found on the back side of "The Best of Kansas" perched atop the track listing.
* 1975 "Masque": Close inspection of John Brown's beard will reveal the outline of a fish. The "face" on the cover of "Masque" (Giuseppe Arcimboldo's "Water") is composed of various marine life. It should be noted that no tracks from "Masque" appear on the 1984 release of "The Best of Kansas."
* 1976 "Leftoverture": Found in the inkwell and scattered pages of sheet music on the back cover.
* 1977 "Point of Know Return": The ship about to tip over the 'edge of the world' is from the front cover of "Point".
* 1978 "Two for the Show": The spotlights, stage, curtains, and figures in the audience are all "indirect" references; none of these things (besides an auditorium full of seats) are actually seen on "Two for the Show". Although, on the back cover, there is a mop behind the interrogation chair, which may reference to the cleaning ladies of the "Two for the Show" Cover.
* 1979 "Monolith": On the back cover of "The Best of Kansas," the moon behind a shadow of the figure depicted on "Monolith" are seen through the open door.
* 1980 "Audio-Visions": On the back cover of "Best of" you see at the right side a metal hand that is holding the curtain. That is one of the two hands that are on the front cover of 'Audio-Visions'.
* 1982 "Vinyl Confessions": The interrogation chair from "Confessions" is seen under a spotlight on the back cover.
* 1983 "Drastic Measures": The black tux and red bow-tie worn by the bazooka 'player' is worn by John Brown here.

Track listing (1984 release)

# "Carry On Wayward Son" (K. Livgren) – 5:22
# "Point of Know Return" (S. Walsh, P. Ehart, R. Steinhardt) – 3:11
# "Fight Fire With Fire" (J. Elefante, D. Elefante) – 3:40
# "Dust in the Wind" (K. Livgren) – 3:27
# "Song For America" (K. Livgren) – 9:08
# "Perfect Lover" (J. Elefante, D. Elefante) – 4:19
# "Hold On" (K. Livgren) – 3:52
# "No One Together" (K. Livgren) – 6:57
# "Play the Game Tonight" (K. Livgren, P. Ehart, R. Williams, D. Flower, R. Frazier) – 3:26
# "The Wall" (K. Livgren, S. Walsh) – 4:49

Track listing (1999 re-release)

# "Carry on Wayward Son" (K. Livgren) – 5:22
# "Point of Know Return" (S. Walsh, P. Ehart, R. Steinhardt) – 3:11
# "Fight Fire With Fire" (J. Elefante, D. Elefante) – 3:40
# "Dust in the Wind" (K. Livgren) – 3:27
# "Song For America" (K. Livgren) – 9:08
# "Hold On" (K. Livgren) – 3:52
# "No One Together" (K. Livgren) – 6:57
# "Play the Game Tonight" (K. Livgren, P. Ehart, R. Williams, D. Flower, R. Frazier) – 3:26
# "The Wall" (K. Livgren, S. Walsh) – 4:49
# "The Pinnacle" (K. Livgren) – 9:43
# "The Devil Game" (S. Walsh, D. Hope) – 5:07
# "Closet Chronicles" (S. Walsh, K. Livgren) – 6:59 [live]

Personnel

*Phil Ehart: drums
*John Elefante: keyboards, vocals (3, 6 & 8)
*Dave Hope: Bass
*Kerry Livgren: guitars, keyboards
*Robby Steinhardt: Violin, vocals (except 3 & 6)
*Steve Walsh: Keyboards, vocals (except 3, 6 & 8)
*Rich Williams: Guitar
*Bryan Duncan: Backing vocals (uncredited) (6 only)