Album review: KANSAS – Always Never The Same

KANSAS – Always Never The Same

Store For Music www.storeformusic.com

An album overlooked in the Kansas catalogue being originally released back in 1998, three years after their last studio album ‘Freaks Of Nature’. I remember reading an interview back at that time where drummer Phil Ehart spoke of the band’s desire to record a symphonic album and where better than at the legendary Abbey Road studios.

They were backed by the London Symphony Orchestra and the album featured some new songs, along with classic Kansas tunes given a symphonic makeover. The album also marked the return of violinist Robbie Steinhardt to the band (although he played keyboards on the album).

The album starts with a cover the Beatles classic ‘Eleanor Rigby’ and Steve Walsh’s vocal really suits this song. Then we have the classic ‘Dust In The Wind’ and ‘Song For America’ (preceded by ‘Preamble’ an orchestral piece composed by the conductor Larry Baird). The latter benefits from the orchestral backing, as does ‘Hold On’ and again Walsh is in fine vocal form.

The album featured three new songs, all penned by Walsh and all were ballads. Pick of the bunch is ‘The Sky Is Falling’ which has an epic feel and memorable melody. Song of the album for me though is ‘Nobody’s Home’ where the band and orchestra really fit together and work off each other musically. The rest of the album is good, it is just that the orchestra can sound like it has been added on at times and not reworked into the original songs.

If you are a Kansas fan and missed this first time around do grab a copy as it is a good album. Sadly no extras or sleeve notes on this re-issue. It would have been interesting to get the band’s thoughts on this album and in hindsight why it never really made the impact it could have, particularly given the success of other bands forays into the symphonic arena like Yes and Scorpions.  ****

 Review by Jason Ritchie


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 March 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 5 March 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 18 March 2024

GYPSY’S KISS We’ve Come To Play
FM Out Of The Blue (Frontiers)
SHOTGUN MISTRESS Shot Down (indie)
ATTIC THEORY Violent Delight (indie)
FLOYA Yume (FiXT)
SAHAJI Tell Me All Your Feelings (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 18 March 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 LEAVES’ EYES Myths Of Fate (AFM Records)
14:00-16:00 HOLLY LERSKI Sweet Decline (indie)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply