Kansas – Sail On, The 30th Anniversary Collection (Epic/Legacy) [2004, DVD]

We get something even better in the 90-minute-plus, 5.1 surround sound DVD, which boasts vintage television appearances from Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert in 1974 and 1975 – unseen for decades – as well as early promo videos and three live selections from 2002’s Device Voice Drum DVD recorded in Atlanta.

Some of the footage is slightly grainy (and understandably so) but the overall content and quality is astonishingly consistent. The early live performances reveal Kansas to be dead-serious players who, quite frankly, may have been members of the ugliest rock band in history – a point guitarist Rich Williams makes in new interview segments between clips. He jokes about the way the band dressed, and indeed, Williams and singer Steve Walsh were the worst offenders. Williams wore a straw hat during the 1975 Rock Concert performances (the subject of another jab at himself) and Walsh was partial to tight shorts – usually white or red ones.
The promo videos reflect their eras, as the band and its various video producers strived to find creative ways to visually present the music – using psychedelic imagery on “Point of No Return,” filming “Reason to Be” in a cave, turning “Fight Fire With Fire” into a ridiculous concept film and transforming Walsh from roller-derby wannabe to blow-dried pretty boy in “All I Wanted.”
The interview segments are not only witty, but also informative, with Williams, Walsh and violinist/singer Robby Steinhardt providing the most insight into the band, the songs and the videos. Original guitarist/keyboardist Kerry Livgen and bassist Dave Hope (wearing the collar of an ordained Anglican minister) also make appearances, as does current bassist Billy Greer. Notably absent are original and current drummer Phil Ehart and Walsh’s mid-Eighties replacement John Elefante.
Still, if you were to purchase only one Kansas compilation, Sail On should be it. It’s not definitive, but its nostalgia value passes the point of no return…

1.Can I Tell You (“Rock Concert” Television Show, 02/27/74)
2.Journey From Mariabronn (“Rock Concert” Television Show, 02/27/74)
3.Death Of Mother Nature Suite (“Rock Concert” Television Show, 02/27/74)
4.Icarus ((“Rock Concert” Television Show, 1975)
5.The Pinnacle ((“Rock Concert” Television Show, 1975)
6.Point of Know Return (Music Video)
7.Dust in the Wind (Music Video)
8.On the Other Side (Music Video)
9.People of the South Wind (Music Video)
10.Reason to Be (Music Video)
11.Away from You (Music Video)
12.Fight Fire With Fire (Music Video)
13.All I Wanted (Music Video)
14.The Preacher (Live – Device Voice Drum)
15.Miracles Out of Nowhere (Live – Device Voice Drum)
16.Carry On Wayward Son (Live – Device Voice Drum)
+hidden track: “Distant Vision” [Live 2002]

turbo