Kansas (band)

The 1990s saw a string of barely noticed releases, and Kansas has continued to tour year after year, but the band has never been able to regain any mass popularity or critical notice. Their next single "Everybody Cries" enjoyed minimal success. In spite of a successful 1982 album called Vinyl Confessions, the group split in 1983, only to reform in 1986 with the album Power. Following a further break, they released "Being Nobody", a cover of Ain't Nobody produced by Richard X, which reached number three in the charts. Hope and Livgren became born-again Christians and Walsh formed a new band, replaced by John Elefante. Their debut album, "Thinking It Over", was finally released followed by the remake single "Got To Have Your Love" and fifth single, the revamped "Holding On To You" which made them popular across Europe. After a few more albums, Kansas began to fall apart in the early 1980s. A short break was followed by "Just A Little", the third single which launched them straight to the top of the UK charts.

By the time the band's fourth album, Leftoverture (1976) was released, Kansas was popular enough for the album to be a smash hit and a constant presence on the burgeoning AOR radio format, as was the followup Point of Know Return (1977). Their first two singles "Thinkin' It Over" and "Doin' It" launched them to fame. Relentless promotion by Kirshner and touring behind the debut album and its two followups slowly brought Kansas' name to households across America. Liberty have sunk back into obscurity while Liberty X continue to have a successful career. A somewhat successful debut album, Kansas, was released in 1974, and showcased Kansas' signature mix of guitars, keyboards, vocals, and Steinhardt's ever-present violin submerging American-style boogie-rock in complex arrangements and changing time signatures. The judge agreed with (the original) Liberty and so the new group renamed themselves as Liberty X. Upon the arrival of Kerry Livgren (keyboards, guitar) the band's name was changed to Kansas and the group soon won a record deal with Don Kirshner's eponymous label. Liberty (original) claimed that Liberty (now X) were taking advantage of the goodwill that they had created in the name Liberty (which in English Law is the tort of passing off).

Dave Hope (bass), Phil Ehart (drums), Robby Steinhardt (violin), Steve Walsh (keyboards, vocals) and Rich Williams (guitar) had formed a group called White Clover in their hometown of Topeka, Kansas. After a few months Liberty received a legal challenge in the UK High Court from another pop group called Liberty which had had a few minor hits in the 1980s. In spite of a harsh critical reception then and now, Kansas has remained a classic rock radio staple. The five winning contestants formed a pop group called Hear'Say, and the five runners up (who would have been the "backup" had something gone wrong with Hear'Say) later formed the group Liberty, the name being intended to reflect the freedom they supposedly enjoy from rigid record company control (in contrast to Hear'Say); however, their runner-up status led to them being dubbed "Flopstars" by some commentators. Kansas is a 1970s American rock and roll band, specializing in progressive rock with a distinctly American flavor. Liberty X are a pop group formed from five contestants from the UK TV show Popstars. 2003 From The Front Row...Live!. Kelli Young.

2002 Device, Voice, Drum. Jessica Taylor. 2000 Somewhere to Elsewhere. Kevin Simm. 1998 King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents. Tony Lundon. 1998 Always Never the Same. Michelle Heaton.

1995 Freaks of Nature. 1992 Live at the Whisky. 1988 In the Spirit of Things. 1986 Power.

1983 Drastic Measures. 1982 Vinyl Confessions. 1980 Audio-Visions. 1979 Monolith.

1978 Two for the Show. 1977 Point of Know Return. 1976 Leftoverture. 1975 Masque.

1974 Song for America. 1974 Kansas.