Leftoverture

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

Leftoverture
Studio album by Kansas
Released	October 1976
Recorded	Studio In The Country, Bogalusa, LA
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	43:12
Label	Kirshner
Producer	Jeff Glixman, Kansas
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Rolling Stone (favorable) link
Kansas chronology
Masque (1975) Leftoverture (1976) Point of Know Return (1977)

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 did not sell, they would be dropped by the label. To make matters worse, Steve Walsh began to experience writer's block, and his contribution to the album would ultimately be limited to co-authoring four songs. It fell on Kerry Livgren to fill the void. 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. Kansas recorded the album at Studio In The Country in Bogalusa, Louisiana. (The Studio in the Country was so-named because, as Kerry Livgren described on In the Studio with Redbeard in the episode spotlighting Leftoverture that "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).")

A Detailed Description

Leftoverture begins with the hit single "Carry On Wayward Son," a song which has become a classic rock anthem. Kerry Livgren wrote the song as a sequel to the final song, "The Pinnacle," from the previous album, Masque. Because of this song's popularity, Kansas is often misclassified as an AOR (Album Oriented Rock) band, when in fact the majority of their catalogue (at least with their original line-up) is progressive rock. "The Wall" explores Livgren's search for meaning. "What's On My Mind" is a straight-forward rocker in the vein of "Carry On Wayward Son." Next is the sprawling and deep "Miracles Out Of Nowhere," the first of three progressive epics on the album. The fifth track, "Opus Insert," combines pop and progressive rock. This is followed by the uptempo "Questions of My Childhood." "Cheyenne Anthem" is a tribute to the American Indian tribe of the song's title and is one of several Kansas epics that berate man's destruction of whatever he touches. Closing the album is the longest track, the mostly instrumental "Magnum Opus."

Notes, Analysis, and Conclusion

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

Overall, Leftoverture 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 began with Leftoverture. By 2001, the album had been certified platinum four times in the United States (indicating 4 million in US sales), making this one of the two best selling Kansas albums.

Berkeley Breathed has said that the Final Track on the album was the inspiration for the name of Opus the Penguin of his nationally syndicated strips Bloom County, Outland, and Opus.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Kerry Livgren, including those stated. 

Personnel

• Phil Ehart - drums, percussions
• Dave Hope - bass
• Kerry Livgren - guitars, keyboards
• Robby Steinhardt - violin, viola, vocals, Lead Vocals On "Miracles Out Of Nowhere" and "Cheyenne Anthem"
• Steve Walsh - keyboards, Lead vocals
• Rich Williams - guitars

Additional personnel

• Toye LaRocca – vocals
• Cheryl Norman – vocals

Production

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

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Singles - Billboard (North America)