Song for America
| Song for America | ||||
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| Studio album by Kansas | ||||
| Released | February 1975 | |||
| Recorded | 1974, Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock | |||
| Length | 45:01 | |||
| Label | Kirshner Legacy/Epic |
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| Producer | Jeff Glixman, Wally Gold | |||
| Kansas chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Song for America | ||||
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Song for America is the second studio album by American progressive rock 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 three minutes for release as a single. The 45" edit resurfaced 29 years later as a bonus track on the remastered release, which provided improved sound as well as expanded liner notes, rare photos, and a live version of "Down the Road".
A new version of the album, Playlist: Song for America, was released with "Magnum Opus" from Leftoverture instead of "The Devil Game" on the new album.
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Allmusic, in a retrospective review, praised the "intense energy" of the album's shorter songs, but contended that the longer songs require too much active listening to appreciate. They concluded that the album is "a good (if not adolescent) recording for a group of this genre."[1]
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Kerry Livgren except where noted.
| Side one | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Down the Road" | Steve Walsh, Livgren | 3:43 |
| 2. | "Song for America" | 10:03 | |
| 3. | "Lamplight Symphony" | 8:17 | |
| Side two | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Lonely Street" | Walsh, Dave Hope, Rich Williams, Phil Ehart | 5:43 |
| 2. | "The Devil Game" | Walsh, Hope | 5:04 |
| 3. | "Incomudro - Hymn to the Atman" | 12:11 | |
| Bonus tracks on 2004 CD reissue | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
| 7. | "Song For America" (Single Edit) | 3:02 | |
| 8. | "Down the Road" (Live) | 3:53 | |
| Bonus tracks on Japan Blu-spec 2011 CD reissue | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
| 9. | "Incomudro - Hymn To The Atman" (Live) | 16:10 | |
Personnel
- Phil Ehart - drums, glockenspiel on "Song for America", Moog drum and gong on "Incomudro - Hymn to the Atman"
- Dave Hope - bass guitar
- Kerry Livgren - electric and rhythm guitars (except on "Song for America" and "Lamplight Symphony"), Moog and ARP synthesizers, ARP strings, piano (except on "Down the Road")
- Robby Steinhardt - violin, backing vocals, lead vocal on "Down the Road"
- Steve Walsh - organ, ARP and Moog synthesizers, lead vocals (except on "Down the Road"), backing vocals on "Down the Road" and "Lonely Street", piano on "Down the Road"
- Rich Williams - electric, acoustic, and rhythm guitars
Production
- Producers: Jeff Glixman, Wally Gold
- Engineer: Peter Granet
- Mastering: Tom Rabstenek
- Preparation: Don Meehan
- Arranger: Kansas
- Art direction: Ed Lee
- Paintings: Peter Lloyd
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Pop Albums | 57 |
References
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