Kansas: Masque (1975)

I bought this album about six months after it's 1975 release. It was my first Kansas album. A friend of mine suggested picking it up and giving it a listen, which I was a bit hesitant. There had been times prior to this that he had suggested artists for me to give a listen to that just wasn't for me. Well I took a chance and bought the LP and was very pleasantly surprised and after all these years this album remains one of my favorite Kansas recordings.

Masque is Kansas third release and has the reputation as being the band's darkest album. Some songs do have a bit of darkness but no more than some of their previous songs. Kansas debut 1974 release touched on drug use in "Bring It Back" and the destruction of nature in "Death of Mother Nature Suite".

All the music on this album are very good examples of classic Kansas but a few are real standouts. The best of these in my opinion are "Icarus - Borne On The Wings Of Steel", "All Over The World" and "The Pinnacle". If you are a fan of later Kansas releases, Leftoverture (1976) or Point Of Know Return (1977) and haven't paid much attention to their earlier works give this album a listen. I believe you'll be like me and be pleasantly surprised.

Track Listings

1. It Takes A Woman's Love (To Make A Man) (3:09)
2. Two Cents Worth (3:10)
3. Icarus - Borne On The Wings Of Steel (6:07)
4. All Over The World (7:13)
5. Child Of Innocence (4:38)
6. It's You (2:35)
7. Mysteries And Mayhem (4:20)
8. The Pinnacle (9:35)

Personel

Steve Walsh (vocals, piano, organ, Clavinet, Moog synthesizer, congas)
Robby Steinhardt (vocals, violin)
Kerry Livgren (acoustic & electric guitars, piano, Clavinet, ARP & Moog synthesizers)
Rich Williams (guitar)
Dave Hope (bass)
Phil Ehart (drums, percussion)
Additional personnel: Lon Price (saxophone)
Producer: Jeff Glixman
Recorded at Studio In The Country, Bogalusa, Louisiana