David Ames' Genre 10 - Rock Albums: #10 Kansas

David Ames digs through his music collection to count down his top ten favourite albums in a specific music genre. This time, he salutes those about to rock and at #10 it's Kansas with Leftoverture...



I have been a musician for half of my life and in that time, I have listened and enjoyed damn near every genre of music imaginable. While my proclivities lean toward the heavier side of music, both hard rock and metal, I do thoroughly enjoy all music that is good. Lyrical content has always been a hugely important aspect of influence for me but, that being said, there is nothing quite like a ridiculously heavy breakdown to make the blood flood to my nether regions. In the end, I have been influenced by a wealth of music and I wanted to share my favorites of each genre with all of you lovely people.



From a young age, I have had a close association with the rock genre. My father would listen to classic rock almost constantly when I was younger and so from basically my infancy I have been listening to Led Zeppelin, Kansas, The Who, The Beatles, Bad Company, Journey, Foreigner, and many others. My father was also the first to introduce me to bands like Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, and Bush, three of the bands that have influenced me more than any others. Rock will always hold a special place in my heart because of its incredibly impactful presence in my life. I know all of you wonderful readers will recognize at least 80 percent of this list and here’s hoping that it triggers some pleasant memories of days gone by.



#10: Kansas – Leftoverture



I had to begin this list with an album that I remember fondly from my childhood. I know that my dad mainly listened to the radio and “Carry On Wayward Son” was played pretty regularly back then. It’s still played in heavy rotation even today and it always elicits the same memory for me: I was 7 or 8 and I was riding in the front seat of my dad’s car. The windows were rolled down and the music was blaring and I had my hand out the window making waves in the air. My dad and I sang the soaring chorus of that song together. Memories like these are why this album is so important to me. They helped to shape my future musical tastes. When I reached high school, I bought the album in its entirety and was treated to a classic rock masterpiece, especially the 8+ minute, six-part epic known as “Magnum Opus.” If you like classic rock, especially that wonderful blend of guitar, keyboard, and vocals that only the 70s could produce, Leftoverture is a must-listen album.



Singles:



“Carry On Wayward Son”









“What’s On My Mind”









Best non-single track:



“Magnum Opus”

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