They need to teach Steve Walsh vocals in our schools. This is pure talent. Vocally, I have yet to hear anyone close to Walshes range,emotion, diction, . Supurb... Nedds to be put on the radio.
I have some friends who think that Steve was just a singer, who just happened to play some backing fills on keys; yet songs like this one, among his other solo work, prove he was (is) a MONSTER keyboardist, as WELL as a SUPERB vocalist! I swear, he's got TOO MUCH TALENT for just one man!
The keyboards done here were by Vince Dicola. Steve was a great organist and had decent keyboard skills otherwise. He did need to slow down many of the fast piano flourishes when he became Kansas' lone keyboardist. But his mad skills on the Hammond early on in the band were indeed awesome! He isn't near the keyboardist needed to play the stuff in this recording though.
@ 0:18 This is a great photo of the keyboard setup that Steve used from late 1976 thru 1978.. The keyboard on the bottom of the stack (in which Steve's left hand resides) is a mighty Hammond C3 organ. The keyboard in the middle of the stack (in which Steve's right hand resides) is an ARP Omni-1. The Omni-1 was a combination of 3 synths: an awesome sounding string ensemble, a bass synth, and a crude polysynth that was basically used for brass and piano/clavinet sounds. Steve used it primarily to play string lines and passages. The keyboard at the top of the stack is an ARP Pro-Soloist. The Pro-Soloist was Steve's primary lead axe on "Song For America", "Masque", "Leftoverture", "POKR", and "Monolith". It had 30 presets and a sound effects section that could be controlled by the pressure sensitive keyboard. You can hear this synth on "Incommudro" (the flute-like solo after the organ solo), "Song For America" (including the synth solo heard as SFA fades out), "Magnum Opus", the intro to "Portrait", and many other songs.
I should clarify that ARP also made a preset synthesizer called the Pro-DGX. The Pro-DGX was nothing more than a Pro-Soloist with a couple of upgrades: digital switches and a different filter. (They still had the same 30 preset voices and effects section.) Obviously, ARP discontinued the Pro-Soloist when they released the Pro-DGX in 1977/1978. Steve switched from the Pro-Soloist to the Pro-DGX as soon as the Pro-DGX became available. This coincided with the release of the POKR album.
MrCamelneck I love reading about the keys used. Is that a Solina String ensemble at the beginning of Opus Insert? Also, kind of left field but do you know what synths Jonathan Cain was using on Journey Escape particularly the verses of “Mother, Father...”? I love the keys of the 60’s 70’s & 80’s. Thanks for this!
Unfreakinbelievable! Doane Perry? You mean "the DOANE PERRY", drummer for Jethro Tull since 1984? OMG!!! I saw Jethro Tull in 1989 and Doane played some stuff I never dreamed I would live to see! He is without a doubt one of the most extraordinary drummers I've ever seen and I've been playing drums for 50 yrs. and have made it a point to see all the "masters" Doane is right up there at the top of the list... He has to be seen to be believed; such incredible finesse and rhythmic complexity.
Right On, my friend!! I too was blown away when I first witnessed his magnificence during the Jethro Tull "Under Wraps" tour in Toronto, at Maple Leaf Gardens. A night to remember for sure.
Thank you Linnea. It's obvious that you know good music when you hear it. One of my favorites is when Steve performed a cover of Alannis Morrisette's "Uninvited" during a sound check at one of his gigs. See if you can find it, and check it out! It's awesome, just like you!
Awesome! Vince Dicola has made some awesome "soundtracky" music and to combine him with Walsh is just amazing. It's exciting to think that there are these great 80s gems out there that i've never heard.
Steve Walsh is a one of a kind vocalist ,underated on both. Vocals and keyboards. I can say that being a diehard "wheat head" from the very beginning, when kansas was not known (it wouldn't take long) they toured like crazy. And it paid off!! Robby steinhart is no longer with us, but violinist & vocals to his part was barnone part of their. The band goes on thanx to kansas..
Innocence laughter(4:43~4:54)wrung my heart.The charm of an innocent child by nature is the most dear present from kind-hearted God.Many topics that those make our heart dirty are all the vogue,therefore,we should train ourselves to find out the truth with our own heart and eyes to protect children against those things(and scenes).Thank you Linnea.Tears welled up in my eyes.
Yeah you're right. Also, Kansas and Steve as you know very rarely cover anyone else so I guess for that to happen it sure as hell would have needed to be a real special song.
It's funny how a song can touch the emotions of a person and move him/her so much. Alannis's "Uninvited" is such a dark, deep and poignant song, yet it possesses its own beauty.With the lyrics of that song, I don't think I'd want to meet her in a dark alley.I'd probably get my ass kicked! :D
Who gives a shit? Not Kansas, I can tell you that. That whole organization is a farce and a money grab! It has nothing to do with rock ‘n’ roll or artistic merit. Grand Master Flash is in there, but not Yes? Tells you all you need to know.
Yepper. That group is without question one of my favorites, if not my most favorite. The bands I've played in over the years have covered a lot of their songs. The songs are very complicated, but at the same time, challenging and exhilarating to play. Kansas is pure energy. Thanks for sharing. You seem like a pretty cool gal. We don't find those very much anymore.
Haha ooook! Well I know alot of kansas weirdos, some of them have become like family to me. I know alot of other weirdos too.. its all good lol. I'll drop you a line for sure!
Yeah I heard that was quite a show. I wanted to get tickets to go see them, but money was too tight so I couldn't afford it. Although Rags is a fantastic violin player, he's not Robbie. There's only one Robbie. Hey, if you feel okay with doing this, give me an email address. I have a Kansas story I'd like to share with you, and it's too much to type here. Don't worry, you can trust me.
@@linneasaoirse - No worries. Many people think Doane is actually a misspelling of Duane, so I wanted to make sure it was clear, as he deserves the respect. Take care.
