Kansas - 1981 - Breakout (Vinyl Confessions Demo) Walsh Vocals

[@trpreuss]

Wow what an underrated vocal talent Walsh was back then!!!

[@trpreuss]

I have been a Kansas fan for over 30 yrs, and this song is remarkable. They need to release all of these demo's. I believe that a lot of these demo's are actually better than what was on vinyl confessions. Just my opinion, but that said this is a great song!!!!

[@rickyon]

It is a Walsh tune. It didn't make it on either Streets album. Streets did play the song on their live album which was recorded by The King Biscuit Flower Hour.The song title was changed to "Shakedown" The recording sometimes goes by the name "Live Shakedown".

[@rickyon]

That CD comes in 2 forms, both the same recording. One is from The King Biscuit Flower Hour radio program and the other one I think is called Live Shakedown. I'm not too sure on that one but I have the KBFH recording and I love it! Streets didn't get enough recognition!

[@TheNotoriousDUDE]

Great video and song, Rick! I've also heard this one on Rich's website. It's such a shame that the band didn't release them back then. Steve was definitely on his vocal peak at this time :-) Michael.

[@avs90125]

I was trolling ebay a month or so ago and found a Streets live CD that has this tune on it, but it's called Shakedown and it smokes! I highly recommend it!

[@avs90125]

@rickyon How true sir...I was fortunate enough to be a lighting tech for a band that opened for them in Paola, KS back in the day, and was also fortunate enough to be able to talk about that show with Billy Greer in Vegas a few years ago. What a cool conversation to have! Thanks for sharing this one!

[@karenstepp669]

Rickyon I have to agree with you, this is a great song!! 👍

[@famousvim26]

Yeah, I agree with all these previous comments... Though his voice at that time was perfect, I can hear that he is gradually harming his vocal chords... But that doesn't stop him from being an AMAZING vocalist.... I hadn't heard this song before! Sounds very good, Rick! Thank you!

[@timfurnier7061]

Listen to a concert from just a year before. His voice was perfect and beautiful. You don't burn-out your voice in a year. That is a GRADUAL thing. What happened to him happened suddenly like he injured it or did too many drugs. See my others comments here.

[@autk]

Nope he had this trick in his bag from the beginning... Lonely Street

[@tmg1968]

BTW, this sounds FANTASTIC! Great job as usual rickyon!

[@camelandu2]

@rickyon: Ah, I see. I thought maybe it was an Ian Anderson like situation... He had to undergo throat surgery and all of that. I'm sure you already know. Such a shame, Walsh had SO much capacity... Just about the only vocalist I like when he lets loose. Others just sound like they're shouting, not Walsh.

[@timfurnier7061]

See my comment.

[@tmg1968]

I've heard stories about Steve's "poor techinique" as a vocalist, but yet he still sounded amazing in his peak years. I wonder what was "poor" about his technique that would have contributed to his vocal erosion (for lack of better description). Anyone have any insight on this? Would love to learn more about my hero.

[@tdadvertising]

He always sang in mid voice and up, very seldom used what we call full voice or chest voice. And he just absolutely belted live, left it all on the stage. That takes a toll on a voice night after night. As a singer I can tell you it's hard to do all that running around and have any kind of breath control. On large stages I find myself getting caught up in that and the singing suffers. Honestly, though his technique wasn't textbook, it's what worked for him, and I believe what really shredded his voice was cocaine. If you listen toward the end, like the 40th anniversary show after he had cleaned up his act, he actually sounded better than he had in 25 years

[@timfurnier7061]

See my comments.

[@krisscanlon4051]

@@tdadvertising agreed about his poor singing technique plus too many unmentionables. Sounds like about in early 90s he loses his range

[@autk]

​@@timfurnier7061 wrong comments 😂

[@timfurnier7061]

@@autk I would love to see your album collection and to hear your thoughts regarding the disintegration of voices by other prominent singers known for their voices. I'll bet you think McCartney's voice sounds as good as ever.

[@fbaur999]

Where was the concert at 2:17 and is there any sound or film material? I think its Steve Walsh solo during the Schemer Dreamer '81 period. Breakout: Very powerful and amazing song. Sad but this jewel has never been put on a official record.

[@rickyon]

It was however released on the "King Biscuit Flower Presents Streets" album also known as "Live-Shakedown" after this very song which they renamed. The picture at 2:17 is from the Monolith tour program but was taken at a show in Boulder,Colorado at the University of Colorado stadium on July 16,1978. Kansas opened for the Rolling Stones at that show and Eddie Money also appeared. No recording exists of that show unfortunately. (that we know of)

[@smickleberrystew8698]

That is Folsom Field at Colorado State University actually. I think July 16th, 1978. The Stones even played, I believe Kansas was oneof the main acts. Unfortunately, there's only a few pictures and no known musical recording of that show.

[@rickyon]

You're welcome!

[@SteveSparx]

good energy

[@coolrocknroll]

Thanks for posting!

[@rickyon]

You're welcome!

[@timfurnier7061]

Whatever happened to Steve's voice happened around this time. You can hear the more nasal sound here. His voice was pristine just a year earlier. By 1983, the tonal quality of his voice was gone. He could still sing like crazy, but the beautiful sound of his voice was gone. It's a real shame. What a loss!

[@benstewart9207]

Cocaine 😢

[@autk]

Wrong, ridiculous narrative...he had this sound in his bag from the beginning with Lonely Street...and his 2 Streets records and Kansas Power and In the Spirit of Things says you haven't a clue what you are going on about

[@timfurnier7061]

@@autk You're a HOPELESS apologist! I noticed when I heard "Power" how much his voice had changed. I wondered if it was even the same person! Keep listening like the zombified fan you are. Steve needs the less discriminating, tone deaf people like you to put money in his coffers. I can tell you that you're out of the loop with even band members who noticed it and chalked it up to cocaine use.

[@JP-mp5st]

@@autkI heard his vocal changes starting on Monolith in a couple of places. Not so much the weird nasally thing, which he did use at times and later what his voice became, but just uncomfortable straining that was not normal for him. For me, he’s the greatest - and most unappreciated voice in rock music. Absolutely beautiful and stunning. I remember playing Monolith the day it came out and thinking something was going on but couldn’t put my finger on it. It continued into Audiovisions but you can really start to hear it on the Streets albums, Power and In The Spirit of Things. Still great singing on those records but the magic was fading.

[@rickyon]

No, it was written and produced after Walsh left.

[@KansasandStyxFanClub]

Check my channel playlists out for the "album"this is on

[@rickyon]

This one isn't. You should be able to find them on one of many bootleg sites.

[@camelandu2]

Wow, this is really cool! Like you say in the info, Walsh still had an amazing voice! The Hammond solo really is fantastic! Why did Walsh "lose his voice"?

[@timfurnier7061]

I had heard that he was doing TONS of cocaine at one point; band members corroborate that. It makes sense to me because his voice took on a more nasal sound, and I heard that doing too much coke can burn a hole in your septum. I think that's what happened.

[@rickyon]

Most likely you'll have to register to gain access but Google, Houseofbootlegs or Guitars101 or Dimeadozen. Those are a good start and 3 very good sites!

[@kevlar6240]

Wow. I think Elefante did an admirable job on VC. But this track could replace any song on that album as the best one on VC!

[@liberaldrummer]

Was this one of Walsh's tunes? They didn't put this one on the album, so that would make sense to me.

[@bitsabelle]

@rickyon which sites can you share?

[@camelandu2]

@PIPIPISTA: Hehe, I have a terrible voice, so the world will probably be a better place when that happens! ;-)

[@kanemura93]

Is there any demo of Walsh singing Play the Game Tonight?

[@timfurnier7061]

I think there is. Look for it. I know he worked on several songs from "Vinyl Confessions" that John eventually re-did. I think that was one of them.

[@SuperGorak]

lyrics anywhere?

[@VIDEOHEREBOB]

I don't believe Walsh had "bad technique." He may have employed a high larynx at times, but the ring, resonance, and overtones and mixture of dark and light tone was evident in a lot of what he sung. A high larynx wouldn't have given him access to those full, rich, C5 "oo" and "uh" vowels/vowel shades he was known for. I'd blame the drugs and alcohol, and when you sing at this level of intensity, you really increase the risk of damage, likely from dehydration.

[@rickyon]

Hey Bob, haven't we had this discussion before? I guess that "bad technique" was a poor choice of words. I heard that from 2 different vocal therapists. Naturally, it goes without saying that the drugs and alcohol were probably the major factor, along with age and heavy touring but his technique has to factor into it as well.

[@VIDEOHEREBOB]

***** Hi Rick, I hear you buddy, not to argue. I just don't think he could even go where he did with his voice had it been bad. Maybe what I should have said is it wasn't always the best technique, but it certainly wasn't bad technique. Vibrato and blistering full voice B4's and C5's just don't come with bad technique. They come from a place of freedom and accurate vowel choices. In his heyday, only a few came close to his intensity, range and power.

[@dfris6554]

Vocal "therapists" are like rock critics.

[@timfurnier7061]

Please see my earlier comments on this point. I would contribute that it's bad enough for a singer to do a drug, but to work a voice as Steve did while on a drug is insane. That will do permanent damage. Whatever he did, it was sudden. In 1980, his voice was PERFECT. By the time of this recording a year later, you can begin to hear a definite change in sound/tonal quality. By 1983, the bottom sound in his voice was gone.

[@KansasandStyxFanClub]

steve was really tan in some of these pics ;)

[@avs90125]

I've heard some of the demos from Vinyl Confessions with Steve on vocals and I really like all of them. He and Kerry had a different vision and he left. I was as disappointed as anyone, but what can you do? I think John Elefante did a good job as a replacement, but he's not Steve Walsh. He got beat up, but it's hard to replace an original. Steve's still a great vocalist, but for my money, he never sounded better than on In The Spirit Of Things with Steve Morse on guitar.

[@btom22259]

@trpreuss thast could be good idea

[@PIPIPISTA]

@camelandu2 cos he got old and it will happen to you as well sorry

[@johnca45]

Dennis Deyoung got old too but his voice is still great.