DavesMusicDatabase.com is devoted to ranking, rating, and reviewing music of all genres and eras. The DMDB blog serves up album and song reviews, best-of lists, music history snapshots, and music-related essays.
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Opening Act:Kelley Hunt“Government Cheese,” live in Connecticut, 2012
The Set List *
1. One of These Nights * Set list isn’t exact. This comes from ConcertArchives.org, which details the set list from 7/22/2011. Click here to see other concerts I’ve attended. Resources and Related Links:
First posted 3/12/2025. |
image from heraldsun.com.au
Venue: Liberty Hall; Lawrence, KS
Encore:
15. Gentle Hum ***
16. Shark Attack *
17. I Got You *
18. All the Colours ***
19. Distant Sun **
20. Into Temptation **
* Split Enz (6 songs)
** Crowded House (6 songs)
*** Finn Brothers (8 songs – all from the new album)
 | Dust in the WindKansas |
Writer(s): Kerry Livgren (see lyrics here) Released: January 16, 1978 First Charted: January 27, 1978 Peak: 6 US, 3 CB, 3 GR, 5 HR, 2 RR, 6 AC, 1 CL, 3 CN, 52 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 3.0 US, 0.2 UK, 3.28 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 3.0 radio, 221.3 video, 515.76 streaming |
Awards:Click on award for more details. 
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About the Song:The progressive rock group Kansas formed in Topeka, Kansas in 1973. After three albums, they broke through in 1976 with Leftoverture, a four-time platinum seller which reached #5 on the album chart. The album was fueled by the success of “Carry on Wayward Son.” It was the band’s first chart entry, reaching #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually selling four million copies. They followed up in 1977 with the album Point of Know Return. It proved the group’s success wasn’t a fluke as it also achieved four million in sales and went to #4 on the album chart. That album sent three songs on to the charts – the title cut (#28), “Portrait (He Knew)” (#64), and “Dust in the Wind” (#6). Songfacts.com said the latter is “perhaps the most famous acoustic rock song ever recorded.” SF Interestingly, “Dust in the Wind” was passed over as the first single, but started getting radio airplay anyway while “Point of Know Return” was being promoted as the lead single. When it fell out of the top-40, Kansas rush-released the single for “Dust in the Wind.” It became the most successful song of the band’s career, at least from a chart perspective. Sales wise, it topped three million in sales; only “Carry On” did better. Both songs were written by Kerry Livgren, a founding member of Kansas who played guitars and keyboards. However, it was Steve Walsh, the band’s lead singer, who sang on the track. Livgren developed the guitar line for the song through developing an exercise to learn finger picking. His wife, Vicci, liked the melody and encouraged him to write lyrics to accompany it. WK He was inspired to write about “the true value of material things and the meaning of success” SF by the line “For all we are is dust in the wind” from a book of Native American poetry. SF The band had nearly finished the Point of Know Return album when Jeff Glixman, the producer, asked if anyone had any more songs. SF Livgren reluctantly played “Dust in the Wind.” His bandmates responded with stunned silence and the question “Kerry, where has this been?” WK Livgren actually fought against including it, saying “I tend to like the more bombastic things, like ‘The Wall.’” SF Billboard praised the song for its “evocative lyrics” and “catchy melody.” WK Cashbox cited its “excellent vocals and harmonies and an impactful lyric.” WK Ultimate Classic Rock’s Eduardo Rivadavia said it was “a stark and gentle lament that bridges the group’s transition from intimidating prog rockers to accessible hitmakers.” WK Resources:First posted 12/28/2022. |
 | Carry on Wayward SonKansas |
Writer(s): Kerry Livgren (see lyrics here) Released: November 23, 1976 First Charted: December 11, 1976 Peak: 11 US, 7 CB, 6 GR, 8 HR, 5 RR, 1 CL, 51 UK, 5 CN, 58 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 4.0 US, 0.4 UK Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 1.0 radio, 259.14 video, 459.32 streaming |
Awards:Click on award for more details.
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About the Song:“The now-familiar a cappella intro for ‘Carry on Wayward Son’ was the sonic hook that would help Kansas score their first major hit, a feat that was a long time coming for the band. Like many groups in the time period, Kansas toured and recorded relentlessly, supporting three albums that sold modestly despite their growing live following.” UCR Steve Walsh, the band’s singer, ran into writer’s block while the band was working on their fourth album, 1976’s Leftoverture. However, guitarist Kerry Livgren shared a song he wrote just two days before the band started recording. SF The band was polishing songs they already had and not looking for new ones. When they heard Livgren’s idea for “Carry on Wayward Son,” “they knew the songwriting gold that they had on hand and went straight into the recording studio without even pausing to rehearse the track.” UCR It became the album’s lead track and the group’s first top-40 hit. The song is about “a man embattled with the voices and visions in his head.” UCR Livgren said it was “partially about himself and the struggles and pressures he was facing at the time when the band's career was on the line.” SF While the song “expresses spiritual searching,” SF Livgren said it “was not written to express anything specifically religious.” SF He did, however, become an evangelical Christian in 1980. SF The song is notable for its “very distinctive intro” SF with a cappella vocals. It “is driven forward by guitar riffing, organ swells and solos from nearly every member in the band.” UCR Even though the song ran nearly five and a half minutes, it felt “comparatively restrained” UCR “next to some of the proggier moments on Leftoverture.” UCR Resources:
Related Links:
First posted 7/15/2022; last updated 12/28/2022. |
