“And gather together the best of your kind”
A highlight from Kansas’ self-titled 1974 debut, Belexes wears its influences very obviously on its sleeve but does a great job of showcasing the talent and forceful chops of the American proggers. There’s some exciting Purple-style wringing of guitar necks, the stomping rhythms and vocal harmonies are right out of classic Heep and then the keyboards go all Sinbad, sabres rattling like Emerson, Lake and Palmer. It’s a formidable performance and, in the spirit of the bands that influenced it, has a live, hot-off-the-press urgency. Originality is always a big plus, especially if you expect your progressive rockers to actually… you know… progress. But sometimes it’s good enough to just be shit hot. Like Kansas.
HEAVY METAL OVERLOAD 
Here’s another band I’m sure Durling will get me into!
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I didn’t hear of Kansas until “Carry On My Wayward Son.” I regret missing this one.
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It was before my time but that song was my entry point too.
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I dig it!
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I have a Kansas album or two. Never got in to them much, but they are pretty talented and maybe I should delve deeper.
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I was the same and then started checking out more of their stuff. Their albums take a lot of listens before they sink in. A lot of growers in their discography.
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I have all the Kansas albums up to when Steve Morse was in the band in the early 80s.
This is a great song.
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I’ve not heard the Morse stuff. “Power” is on my wishlist. Got everything up to that.
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