Kansas-Live-Lamplight Symphony (Full Version w/Keyboard Intro) VERY RARE 

I'm 60 years old now and was lucky enough to find Kansas in 75. Kerry Livgren shares his musical and lyrical genius with humility. The world is fortunate to have such greatness.

Thanks for posting! This is great with some real spontaneity happening in parts. I've been having a resurgence of revelation of Kansas and especially Kerry Livgren lately. Probably due to the extreme negative space the world is in right now. This music is spiritually needed in the world. I'm 52 and grateful to God I was alive to hear these musical creations.

Jeannie, this is my prize possession of all the recordings that I have! When I got this and listened too it the 1st time, the hair stood up on the back of my neck! It is such an awesome version of a very hard to find song! I couldn't believe my good fortune!

Lamplight Symphony - I heard them perform this at the old Sheridan Fieldhouse on the Fort Hays campus. I believe winter of 74-75. Last concert in that venue I believe. They were incredible live.

The genius of Kerry Livgren.

In 1980 I saw Kansas with all the original members. Best concert I've seen, ever. Thanks Rick for posting this awesome recording!

I was lucky to see them right after their first album came out in Indianapolis in 1974. They said this was going to be a new song off their next album. Everyone was blown away! Such incredible musicianship!

Hey Rick, Saw this live a couple of times 75-76. I was too young at the time to truly appreciate the masterpiece it is. Along with Incomudro Hymn to the Atman, for me two songs that are legendary.

Top five best Kansas songs ever, top 15 best songs ever. Best vocalist ever. Top three best drummers ever. I'm left speechless. Just sublime.

I never missed a single KANSAS concert in Jacksonville FL in the 70’s. Getting home with every new album my hands were shaking in my rush to put it on the turntable. Lamplight Symphony will always be my favorite. It brings a special memory of someone I loved more than life itself. The 30+ years that have passed since that time has seen an amazing and unexpected parade of life events... from moving to CA and beginning my career as an FX artist, plunging into the Goth Culture as it formed, creating the look of so many clubs, being chosen to star in a reality TV series by Syfy Channel... mainly cuz I looked insane and drove a hearse... up until recently when I became keyboardist for the band URN, a Gothic Metal group. I listened to some of the compositions planned for our new album. Dominic St Charles had decided to add violin to some of them. I was suddenly taken back 40 years when I heard them. While in no way comparable to the unique sound that only KANSAS could achieve, there was still enough of those vibrations that made me remember why this band was so important to me. It’s a feeling that is very difficult to put into words. So I won’t even try. Sorry for the rambling message. Cleve Hall

AN AMAZING GHOSTLY POEM...On a winter's night, stars are cold and bright in the sky, The slumber of the earth is pure and deep From a distant wood, drifts the echo of a beast The old man stirs and wakens in the night He stands before his window gazing at the grave Forgotten dreams are flashing through his weary mind And though his life is empty, he pretends that she's still there With hunger in his soul, he yearns for life and love gone by, With memories his one and only joy All he has to give, he would give to bring back the life, And raise the one who lies beneath the snow He lights a lamp and looks at pictures of the past The faces of their youth still glow with new-found love, But the picture's faded, and time has stolen youth away With a spoken word that he thought he heard from her lips, He felt another presence in the room, He was filled with fear but filled with joy he arose And turned to face the image that he knew She stood before him and her hand reached out for his A peaceful light shone in her eyes She said she'd come to soothe him, and someday they'd be as one She began to fade and her image disappeared, So he was left alone to face the night, Never in his life, had he been so held in awe, As he faced the apparition of his wife He stood before the window gazing at the grave, And with a lightened heart he saw the first of dawn, He knew that she was waiting, that someday they'd be as one

I was very fortunate to work with Kerry Livgren on my first solo album giving sight to the eye “and Geoff Glixman. In 1996 this showed me just how brilliant this group of musicians really was. To be able to work out these song structures and communicate so well .. was one part of the gift with Kerry to be able to deliver such a physically gifted singer in Steve Walsh and Robbie Steinhardt whom I also met back stage at a show in florida when I was The singer for Trans Siberian Orchestra What a humble and beautiful person he was. When I mentioned that he and Kansas were our biggest influence he smiled and said I can tell it shows. I was so honored to meet him and hear of his new life and band and how he didn’t like touring and wanted to stay home. I carried that with me. And I really do love being home. Maybe one day. But for now I look back and can relate more with those who have done it and drove through it wearing out from such a schedule and routine that bears no mistakes or flaws and all for the 2 hours a night for 30 years all over the world. I look at another person .. and respect that dude. I couldn’t do it now. Even though I have it more figured out now. I did that. What’s next. I’ll tell ya … next hail Kansas long live architects and pioneers of American music which will be lost without us keeping it alive listening to the recordings and sharing gratitude to the treasures like these and those who were fortunate to witness this great band. At the time when they were undeniably the best band on earth to those experiencing the supernatural experience Kerry Livgren imagined us to have. I feel very fortunate and privileged to have worked with him and learn from him and see how he combined parts. The song we worked on is still under construction but the newest version his son sings. This is the best version so far. But wait till we combine me newest version with the 2024 version of Waiting For Ground Zero ….. it’s been a few years. I’m not as green on guitar as I was then … we’ll see. Cheers KK 24

I think this is my all time favourite - regardless what band. Not the one I listen to the most, need to be in the right «mood» for this one. I’m not a musician - but I think its just astonishing that someone in their 20s can come up with something like this. That ANYONE can really. And again - Steves emotion is just breathtaking, its like the words just come straight from his heart.

My favorite Kansas piece...

I just stumbled on this tonite-how do you describe how wonderful this piece is? I have watched this three times now. Each time the same result, I got chills each time, and I want to hear it yet again, just extraordinary. I saw them live twice in the mid 70's, and can imagine how mesmerized the crowd was at this particular concert. An ultra-talented band firing on all 8 cylinders, Kansas in the late 70's had few, if any equals. Performances such as this prove that point..

The track here is from an appearance at Cowtown Ballroom in Kansas City on April 22, 1974. It was scheduled as a double feature with Captain Beefheart who was recording a live album that night. The double concert was simulcast locally by the radio station KUDL FM 98.1 as part of their live Friday concert series. It was billed as “Captain Beefheart with Kansas”. It was advertised for weeks, and I am sure many people recorded it as I did. www.therealeasyed.com/kansas-citys-cowtown-ballroom-1971-1974/ windsofchangekc.com/contact_1.html www.setlist.fm/setlist/kansas/1974/cowtown-ballroom-kansas-city-mo-bc5758e.html Much of the radio broadcast was affected by a lightning storm in the KC area that evening. Lamplight Symphony was the first track and was largely unaffected. My college roommate bootleg recorded the concert for me while I was in attendance. I have listened to this recording a thousand times so I know this is the exact recording played here. Eventually my machine ate the tape, or I would send it to you. Later KUDL went out of business and the call letters were reassigned to a station in Sacramento. Prior to 1975, a search of KUDL reveals similar concerts historically, but not the Kansas concert at Cowtown, probably because Captain Beefheart got top billing. Presumably older KUDL archives belong to sister station KMBZ 98.1 FM Kansas City which survives today. Some research might turn up a Captain Beefheart recording in their archives that has the Kansas concert as part of it. It was a great concert. All the buzz that night was that it was the best show in Cowtown Ballroom since Frank Zappa. I was happy to be there. Wish I could remember the entire setlist. Hope this helps. NutherKanFan

Great Rare Post! What's even more great too? - Ronnie & that new keyboardist helping KANSAS Continue w/"That Sound" which is so very much like old days which inspired them to write some Awesomely Great new material now "In The Same Style That KANSAS And All Of Us Thrive On! No Doubt, Steve and earlier talents Got R Done! But Now... KANSAS IS BACK!!! BACK TO THE FUTURE... With New Life & Songs and... w/a few new Awesomely Picked Talents... KANSAS WILL CONTINUE LIVING ON & We Have Our Band Back! Ronnie was a Blessing for them & us, as well as the new Keyboardist I got to hear the other night! Thanks for being such an Awesome KANSAS Fan Mr. Yon!

This is why I miss Public radio hearts of space. Great stuff.

Amazing song... heard it in concert in the 70's and 80's

Thanks for posting this. Awesome tune.

Wow! Talk about Rare!!! Fricken LOVE THIS!!!

Sweet music....oh yah. Good production! Thanks

This an epic for me ! Unforgettable ! Still a Kansas fan .

Amazing the great sounds Kerry could coax out of his Mini-Moog and ARP Solina/Omni with a phaser (and assuming Steve as well with his ARP Pro Soloist)

Omg Rick! This is very rare, indeed! Thanks for posting this! :D

Rick, this is SO fantastic. SUCH a great capture! This arrangement is one of their best. The guys at their best!

Great lyrics great song from a band way ahead of its time!!

A great piece of music and a great performance. And this was only ONE such piece that they played in a show. It blows me away that they could even remember all this music to play it.

Epic tune!

You're welcome Warren. I knew that you would really appreciate this!

The story really never ends until he meets up with his wife again.......I always thought that was the reason Kerry ended this piece with a chord that really is not what you would expect ...

I would love to have copies of the photos in this. This band just ROCKED!

Magic... a french fan!!!!

I love this version

I haven't heard this song in years and I still love it

Just can't hate an 11+ minute song. Don't make 'em like THIS anymore...pass me that joint, friend.

Ricky, does no one have a copy of the haunting, stunning electronic medley that Kerry wrote as an intro to open the Leftoverture shows? there are some beautiful themes in there that do not exist in any Kansas tunes etc. i have, somewhere, audio from two complete shows; the infamous Capitol Theatre, Passaic NJ and the Palladium! i will be in touch...

You're welcome. Haven't heard from you in quite a while! Hope everything is going well for you!

I love that album...

Hell yeah...!

The writer and his band pulled off a masterpiece.

wonderful post. thank you so much for sharing this invaluable recording in its full glory :)

The 1st time I heard this I was with my 1st girlfriend ..Rick you just brought me back to that beautiful image ....We would discuss what we felt these songs were about .. This is without question my favorite Kansas piece..I really don't know how you found this one ...But this is a gem..

It don't get much better than this my friend!

Listening to old Kansas has always been a spiritual thing for me. To me they were the class of seventies rock. The lyrics,the music....It appalls me that they may never be considered for the R-N-R HOF..NWA is in the HOF? Give me a break!! Why the fuck isn't Deep Purple,Yes,or Jethro Tull in there either? Fuck PC!! Rap groups do not belong in the Rock-N-Roll HOF!!

wow this is amazing!!! thanks!!!

Do you have the Hoch Auditorium show with the full version of Lamplight from 1974? It's very similar to this but an audience recording. This one is from the board from a show that we think is from 1974 at The Cowtown Ballroom in Kansas City.

very underrated band

awesome arrangement , one of my favorite songs , I get chills every time I hear this awesome song. masterpiece. kerry is a miestro

Memory man

Many years ago (mid 80s) I was reading GOLDMINE magazine and someone advertised the 24track master tapes of KANSAS, and all of the bands that performed at the CANADA JAM in 78. I happened to have had several RUSH radio broadcast LPs the seller wanted, so a trade was made. I recall meeting him midway from Canada rather than pay for the huge amount of money it would have cost to ship. 3 huge reels per band, as the tapes only recorded 30 minutes per reel. I also got the TRIUMPH show (they headlined) and some soundcheck tapes with the Doobies and others. They weighed so much, my car trunk dipped! So, I have a friend who owned a 24 track machine and console and he let me mix the KANSAS show (which has floated in collector's circles for years. I wish I had it to do over, as I have always felt I could have brought Phil's drums up in the mix) I also have a private recording of JUST the keyboards. A very fun listen. So, when I finally got done with the tapes, I have a friend who is a close friend of Kerry Livgren. I had him ask Kerry if he wanted those masters. He said YES, and I sent them out to Kansas to him. I also mentioned this was my favorite song (my email since the beginning of email has been lamplightneal) and that I had seen them just before SONG FOR AMERICA was released. I mentioned that they opened with him doing a solo keyboard segment and that the guys come out and blew into LAMPLIGHT SYMPHONY. I mentioned how I hoped that one day a version would be released. Next thing I know, I have a package in the mail with THIS version from the Cow Palace!. The tape also included two unreleased songs from his work as a solo artist or with AD. I know the one song has never been released, and I have never seen it in any collector's hands. I never shared it. I DID share this after several years of keeping it under wraps, but once it's out there, it's like train on the tracks. This is amazing, and was a million times better sitting on the floor in the dark as the lone spotlight beamed straight down on Kerry as he opened the show. I hope this information gives a little background in how this track got out. I KNOW I could hear the master tape of Kerry's reel shut off before he stopped record on the cassette he sent me, so I KNOW he has the entire show. IF this was indeed a radio broadcast, I am skeptical. All of the radio shows we know of have been released at least in part. This would be the PINNACLE (pun intended) of all KANSAS live shows for me!!

Sweet!!!!

amazing!!!!

Thank you so very much for this amazing recording shared, here.

I love the sound of the ARP Omni

Wow! Thanks so much for another gem!

Thank you for posting this!

This and Journey From Mariabronn. Top 2 songs of all time.

You're welcome Jon!

Love the old six original Kansas-Band. They were so great and with kerry they had a big song writer. Do anybody know, what Kerry is doing? After his stroke i dont know, if he still can write songs. My big wish would be if he write a new album, mabe for Kansas again.

During the middle eight, it sounds like Steve and Kerry are having fun with the synthesizers. You know: a bleep-bloop here and a bleep-bloop there.

This always was one of my favorite Kansas tunes and this version is just epic! I really wonder where you get all those rare recordings, Rick... It's like you're a wizard and just pull them out of your magic hat... lol :-) Michael.

This a cool version ... Thanks for sharing

Just Amazing!

Thanks Rick.

I think it's very simple. To me they sound like relief from an old pressure. And in contrast to the notes before the very last ones, they truly sound like dawn. Dawn of the day/newly found life in the old man

I like it too Anton!

Kansas would have never attained the heights they had without Kerry and it's all been playing catch-up since he left.

Rock on, rickyon...Awesome!!!!!

This may be there very best tune

great post there Rick

I just wish the studio version also had a keyboard lead-in before the thundering drum intro.

It's OK Brother. I saw them in 1976....it was 100 % clear.... This band is spiritual.... saw them 3 more times. Once in Vegas àt Calamity Jane's.....& In RENO at a small venue called Grand Central Sttion.... And Grand Sierra Resort.....MGM..

There are many theories as to what Kerry meant with those last notes. I agree that they should have played this much more often!

You're welcome!

OH RICK TOOK MY BREATH AWAY

You're welcome!!!!!!!!!

@rickyon Don't forget Robby Steinhardt, who left again in 2007 and was replaced by the man who originally replaced him in the early '90s ... Dave Ragsdale.

Great!...

My favorite Kansas song, and love the addition around 4:25 or so. However, around 8:12, it cuts off to play an ad. When I click the skip ad button, it continues. So I immediately go back to the start, and it's fine. I don't know why it does that.

This is good stuff my man.

Hey Rick, where did you get the photo at 2:33 (Steve and Kerry seated at their keyboards with Robby playing his violin in between them). I'd love to have a copy of this POKR tour photo since it shows Kerry's Korg PS-3200 polyphonic synth and Steve's vibraphone. I never got to see a show where Steve played vibes. I had tickets to see them in Lexington, KY on the POKR tour in 1978 when I was 16, but my car broke down along the way and I still had 120 miles to drive. Unfortunately, I didn't make it.

I have always been mildly confused about the unexpected tone cluster that Kerry used to end this song. Still, it's one of my favorite Kansas songs, and I think they should have played the Symphony in its entirety in live situations more often.

You're welcome.

That was incredible; I've never heard this before. What concert is this from?

You're welcome Zach. How's that "Spider" vid coming?

You're welcome

I'll look. Bear with me. Just had surgery.

I saw that last original 6 member tour also(Audio-Visions tour). Yes, I loved all the members but as a musician I know Kerry was the backbone of that band even with Steve’s grade A vocals and keyboard skills. Rich Williams mentioned on video how sometimes Kerry hummed or sang the melody of songs he wrote for Steve to sing. Kerry, as I did about 6 years later, became. Christian and would no longer believe many of his own past lyrics. For example, according to the Bible, the lyrics on this song say the old man says “some day they’d be as one”. Jesus stated that in heaven we will not be married anymore to the person we were married to in life. Matthew 22: 25-30 That does not mean we won’t be with that person or feel love for them.

Hi there! Can you please inform if this a cassette or Lp? Where can I try to find this pearl? Thanks Br Vasco

I've got that show. My friend posted it but lost his channel so it's not on You-Tube anymore. You should post it. If not I will!

Love this song. I was under the impression that Robby Steinhardt was singing lead vocals on this song with Steve on backups. Can somebody clarify this.

That sounds good! I posted Love Is A Dream from that show about 3 years ago. You should search my channel and see if the quality compares with your copy. Let me know when you post Lamplight.

I liked when Kerry had the real long hair,and looked like a true ROCKER. Then he found God,which is all good, he cut his hair short with straight across bangs. Not good for the R&R Look. If Steve would of done this, it would of been that much worse. Just sayin. Imo ,KANSAS was/is thee very GREATIST rock band in world history ! They don't have the HUGE number of devoted fans like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, The Who,maybe Queen, and other big acts BUT KANSAS Fans are in a league all of our own .I only wish KANSAS original members stayed together till today,and did some REAL different things like a concept album like The Wall, from Pink Floyd, The Who Tommy . No concept albums that would hurt them like that cringy album Styx did,Mr.Roboto. Still LOVE STYX though. Tommy Shaw IS DUH MAN ! I wished DeYoung worked out the differences with the rest of the band AND stopped being the leader and decision maker . His mushy love ballads he wrote was getting old. Every new album you could count on atleast 2 corny love songs. I would of been happy with only 1 per album. I also would of like to have seen them hire the singer,and guitar player ( forgot his name) who sung "Love is the Ritual " early on in STYX's run. The dude had a great voice,played guitar and would of added more dynamics to the band.1 maybe 2 songs with his lead vocals, lyrics and his style of guitar playing including acoustic. Let me research his name,be back in a few. Ok ,it was Glenn Burtnik. Tommy Shaw got the inspiration for the song "Man in the wilderness "after STYX played with KANSAS one night. Getting back to Kansas,I wish they would of tried a full album with heavy rock and roll ,some blues and matching lyrics. Another thing that would of been GREAT is if they could of added either a well-known guitar player from a well-known band, or better yet, Steve Morse who IMO is thee Greatist Guitarist EVER ! Ofcourse that is only my opinion. Once you get to a certain lever of playing guitar, there is no such thing as one guitar player is better over another. Just different styles,techniques. Top guitarist In no order Steve Morse ,Steve Vai,Joe Satriani.plus hundreds of other stud guitar players.

Amazing. Omg , the introl !

You're welcome!

You're welcome!

You're welcome!