Kansas - Mysteries And Mayhem/The Pinnacle

Song written by Steve Walsh and (mostly)Kerry Livgren.
From the 1975 album Masque.
I tried to mash these up as best I could like the band originally intended.

[@michaelbaucom4019]

RIP Robby Steinhardt 🎻

[@lefty5757]

RIP Robbie🎻

[@markwebb1040]

"With talons wrought of steel, I tore the heart of doom!"

[@milanpetrovic8929]

hahahah, I've noticed the comment in the moment of that part. It was an itchy-brain experience.

[@silverblack5475]

Steve and rob were born to sing together

[@danielphillips6195]

This album is their best work. They produced symphonies too long for radio play and not until they were told to produce songs instead did they come alive with Leftoverture to the main stream. Genius composers is how they should be remembered.

[@seanmcmillin3081]

I think it’d be their best if it didn’t have the opener on it, and if these two tracks had remained connected as one. This is far and away their best track but unfortunately I don’t think the album on the whole is their most consistent

[@PlanetEarth3141]

This is a tremendous album that show cases musical Rock genius. But money talks, that is greed, so they had to par down to shorter works to please radio and recording companies. A crime really.

[@vancedavid3003]

Only KSHE 95 in St Louis they not only play the whole song for you that play the whole album if you ask best rock and roll station in America

[@richardwalker9826]

@@vancedavid3003 some rock stations in Pittsburgh Pa used to play the whole albums back in the 70's and 80's

[@vancedavid3003]

@@richardwalker9826 do they still play the whole albums just ask because k s h e 95 in St Louis still plays albums

[@JoelBryant1960]

Good Lord, This was the Best Prog Rock Band EVER in my opinion

[@kmanick]

this drummer kicks serious ass , great under appreciated album

[@NVRAMboi]

(Mr. Phil Ehart. Still present and playing with the band today in 2024)

[@michaelbaucom4019]

Genius, but that is the standard for Kansas. Masque is a superb work. Great sound, great blend of the two songs, applause.

[@kjvbiblepounder]

Kansas has been my favorite band for centuries now. Their approach to symphonic rock and roll, along with their complicated compositions of rock music was what I was longing for so many years ago. Their first album (simply "Kansas"), Masque and Song for America are above reproach and will forever be my favorites, however I love almost everything they've recorded. They just don't create music like this anymore...

[@markheartland2]

Not sure what year but towards the middle of the 70’s they toured with Bad Company. My friend took me to see them. He didn’t care about Bad Company. We found a banner on the floor after the concert that said Utah loves Kansas, so we took it to the hotel and ask the front desk clerk if we could take it up to the room and give it to them. He said I can’t give out the room number but I can call their room and ask them. Surprisingly they said we could go up there so we met them in person

[@photopicker]

You are a very lucky man Mark.

[@markheartland2]

photopicker I also met Kerry Livgren in a church in Topeka where he was a minister and teaching s Bible study.

[@photopicker]

What year was that?

[@markheartland2]

photopicker 2011 just after his stroke

[@craemac]

Now, that's cool

[@user-ht7rq1sf1i]

This band helped me go to the Air Force in 1977. My guy "Mouse" had a huge stereo from his time in the Air Force and we just blasted Kansas outta his little apartment !!! I was hooked !!!

[@markserour9115]

Kerry had said that, as a boy, he was raised listening to the great symphonic composers. Not only is this overt in his own compositions, but he has joined the ranks of those great symphonic composers.

[@cygnusx-1862]

Such complex and masterful musical compositions, these guys were criminally underrated. I love the tempo changes and the hard undertones and soft highs. This is a wonderful mix of rock & classical music. Discovered Kansas in the mid 70's and still love them.

[@willgilkey8789]

Simply put, Kansas is the greatest rock band that ever graced God's green earth. There, I've finally said it! Kansas was the first band to meaningfully fuse the classical greats with rock. They were the first to write lyrics that all helped us to find our better angels and will stand alone as classical poetry. Read the lyrics alone some time. Their poetry is written in the same vein as Wordsworth and Coleridge. Kansas was also the technical leader in the studio. Listen with an ass-kickin' set of headphones, you'll hear separation like you've never heard before. You can cleanly separate each and every instrument. This was recorded back in the middle to late seventies in analog. Listen intently and you'll wonder why the recording industry ever switched from analog to digital. These old Kansas songs sound technically better than the digital crap today. Kansas also fused a little opera with their sound. Listen and you can hear the operatic dialogue between Walsh and Steinhardt, by the way, Steinhardt was the best and most underrated back-up singer ever. Most folks can't even hear his complicated harmonies let alone sing them. Kansas was the first band I ever saw that was as good live as they were in the studio and I spent a helluva lot of money in the seventies on concerts and got to see all the greats. I got to see Kansas 4 times in the 70's and through all that, Kansas is still the greatest band of all time. Look at this, Kansas lives on here and will live on forever.

[@joematty1353]

So many hidden messages in the song The Wall

[@terrylong6457]

Their music is still incredible. Much better than anything today. I get emotional listening to them today. Been a fan since the seventies.

[@racinguy17]

Rock on buddy I couldn't have said it any better man.

[@GlenTheGuesser]

No one should be allowed to listen to this...without a great pair of headphones!!!

[@mdey4]

A masterpiece damn!

[@NoWayOut55]

I saw Kansas in Portland, Oregon at the Coluseum(?) Around 1974. Before that, I'd seen them on Rock Concert. But they flat blew me away live. They were playing, "Belexus." Rich was shredding on the 1st solo. Kerry stepped up and waved his hand like, 'That ain't nuthin!" And took me right out of my head... I've played with some well known Players in my 65 years. Read the bio on Kansas and see what a hard working Band these Bad Ass MoFos were. I worked on every song from Kansas to Leftoverture...Kerry and the Band wrote incredible Music while touring constantly. And to see them on their bio thing was amazing. Not a friggin burnout in the bunch. I'm always Impressed Guys! Even after almost 50 years later! Thanks for some incredible riffing and solid lyrics from a forward thinking Band.

[@richardwalker9826]

their first 5 albums are all masterpiece quality - i think Hymn to the Atman is their most perfect song!

[@mdanderson1114]

Love these two songs back to back. Livgren a genius. Kansas is awesome. All very talented musicians.

[@pumkinbreath]

They don’t make em like they used too

[@NVRAMboi]

For a then 13 year-old music lover who'd been exposed to most all variants of R&R, I never saw these guys coming. It was a significant concert in my life. Completely changed my direction and how I viewed and listened to Rock music.

[@davidwomack1882]

Outstanding effort from a classic progressive rock band.

[@garywright7686]

Thanks for putting these two together like this. The only proper way to listen to either one.

[@jkbaca41]

I know at one time Kansas was going to do this officially on one of the box sets but never did for some reason.

[@user-wf9lf2hx6j]

I can't believe that it's been 40 years, since I first saw these guys, wish I could do it again!@

[@MorganTrotter]

Did a fine job. Sounded seamless to me.

[@whatdoyouknow4843]

What other bands had two singers with distinctly different voices that sang parts like dialogue to each other as if two different characters in a play or musical or opera? Kansas might have been the very first, and maybe one of the only ever to do this. This was done in many of their songs, and extremely successfully, including songs by both Livgren and in Walsh.

[@bethhall-ee2ip]

Love Love Love this.Thanks for following Mysteries with the pinnacle. Some "expert music critic" did an analysis of Pinnacle and said not only were the synthetic sounds dated but the lyrics "made no sense. Dated? I saw them for the first time live in 75 and the performance was flawless and the synthetic work incredible especially when one takes into consideration that they were working in analog with ADSRs. Pure genius! I wonder what modern keyboardist would do without 10,000 pre-sets,no lopping or digital sampling. Also what a shame that most people only know Carry on and Dust. They are really missing out on "beyond greatness".

[@TresLanes]

Man, that instrumental part at 2:44 just kills me. These guys are playing at full throttle 15/16 time like it's no big deal! Simply astounding.....they did it live too, flawlessly.

[@littlebuddyd]

The Pinnacle is one of the baddest songs ever.

[@richardwalker9826]

their first 5 albums are all masterpiece quality - i think Hymn to the Atman is their most perfect song!

[@btom22259]

Kansas was complet underrated

[@richardwalker9826]

the 70's may be the best decade for creative music ever- so many bands and songs of masterpiece quality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rysheaklightwon4705]

definitley some sort of magic was happening musically in the 70'. I feel blessed to have lived it.

[@emmorgan1286]

Yes it’s my time . Prog heaven .

[@rjschiller]

That brought back stoner memories...what a great song

[@bobsmith253]

I've been listening to Kansas since thier self titled album. Phenomenal, lyrics and music. The best of U.S. progrock! Kansas has always been extremely underated! Celebrating 50 years, and still not in the RNR Hall of Fame. Rolling Stones magazine, needs to get over themselves. Masque wasn't a commercial success, but is one of thier best albums!

[@russelljohnson6243]

Kansas has been my favorite rock group since the early 70's. Thanks for posting this.

[@quentin9494]

The greatest collaboration of fantasy, old classic music, and hard rock my favorite of all time

[@chrissparks9677]

The Walsh/Steinhardt harmonizing was simply amazing. Will never be surpassed.

[@quentin9494]

Just outstanding, no, more than that, can't explain.

[@Eryk_Thyle]

If you play Mysteries and Mayhem, The Pinnacle and Carry on Wayward Son back to back They sound like a Trilogy

[@philaltizer7411]

Start with Icarus Borne on Wings of Steel for the win!

[@patrickdolan6]

Carry on actually was meant as a thematic sequel to the pinnacle.

[@helgardkwiatkoski7135]

@@patrickdolan6 How do you know this? 'Carry on' was on the follow-up album ('Leftoverture') to this one, why didn't they incude it on 'Masque' if that is true? Anyway, great songs, all of those!

[@patrickdolan6]

@@helgardkwiatkoski7135 I figure it wasn't on Masque because it hadn't been thought of yet. As for how I know, I guess all I really have is Wikipedia and Genius, but I imagine you could find accredited sources for the info if you dig enough. The lyrics match up very well, anyhow, so it's easy to see Carry On Wayward Son as a sequel to The Pinnacle.

[@seanmcmillin3081]

@@patrickdolan6 Kerry Livgren himself said so in his book “Seeds of Change”. Carry On Wayward Son is indeed a thematic sequel to The Pinnacle but he didn’t write it until close to the end of the recording sessions for Leftoverture

[@ulaamigo8976]

Cheers guys, nothing compared to the original thing , so rest assured that one Kansas fan in samoa is celebrating father's Day with this song of my youth days. Thank you for a good evening with Kansas. ... ulamanaia

[@rysheaklightwon4705]

Saw and heard them perform this album, in of all places, Edmonton, Alta. 1 full hour of music bliss. April 2, 1975 they were first up then Queen, epic night !

[@btom22259]

For me the best album. For me better than Left

[@richardwalker9826]

their first 5 albums are all masterpiece quality - i think Hymn to the Atman is their most perfect song!

[@jamesfox2579]

I remember listening to this album back in 1975 and smoking many bowls of lovely blonde hashish and just getting off of these awesome sounding drums 🥁 and guitar 🎸 jamming. Sounds as KICKASS today as it did then!

[@rick49]

45 comments since 2013. That's not enough for such a great mix. You merged these songs beautifully. Nice job!

[@akiraparavati]

a fine job at putting them together, thanks!

[@jkbaca41]

Thanks! I did what I could :)

[@pappabear379]

Its awesome, thanks

[@royboy56100]

I am pretty sure they did both songs together when I saw them before Masque came out in 75!!They did their entire first album in order first time I saw them.Since Masque was not out yet,I went to Turtles the next day and bought Kansas and fell in love!! Exactly like the concert!!

[@dennisalstrand1316]

Thanks for res9olving the eternal question..."What was it going to sound like before they took it apart?" Great job!!!!

[@gse6458]

Absolutely amazing.

[@jkbaca41]

Awesome tune from an awesome band, Dig it!

[@michaelrhodes9294]

GREAT LP

[@quentin9494]

Kansas is that connection tween classic music and rock very innovative

[@phillyflyer12]

Incredible songs

[@richardwalker9826]

their first 5 albums are all masterpiece quality - i think Hymn to the Atman is their most perfect song!

[@ulaamigo8976]

This is awesome and brilliant music of my youth days, in fact I am still enjoying these songs of this great band. Again, only those who don't understand these masterpiece creations that donit agree with me. Thanks to technology that keeps us connectted and share Kansas wisdom.....ulamanaia from samoa.

[@richardwalker9826]

i like where they really get going after 9 and a half minutes and don't look back- amazing creativity.

[@kevlebmxeur]

One of my first prog rock band!

[@ATTILLA9100]

Kansas nough said! So incredible !

[@lefty5757]

That’s what I’m talking about! ❤️ it doesn’t get any better😊

[@brianhuff6973]

I discovered Song For America album after Left Overture, as much as LO made me a fan this album was even better, Lamplight Symphony.... nuff said

[@richardwalker9826]

their first 5 albums are all masterpiece quality - i think Hymn to the Atman is their most perfect song!

[@raphaelwall9485]

amazing song

[@ParamotorSteve]

A few years ago, I too created an edit similar to yours because they deserve to go together. It was difficult because of the tempo change. I cut on the 1 beat to alleviate some of the tempo discrepancy. Stupid record company making them split up the songs. I always wondered exactly how Kansas envisioned the original as one song.

[@shelleyharris9349]

There music 🎵🎶 Rock's 😇😇😇😇😎✝️☮️🌍🥁🎸🎼🎹🎷🌍🧭🤲✌️🎤♈🦋🦉

[@royboy56100]

ROCK ON KANSAS OUR BEST BAND EVER IN PROG!!

[@gse6458]

Perfect

[@richardwalker9826]

their first 5 albums are all masterpiece quality - i think Hymn to the Atman is their most perfect song!

[@smash8818]

unheard, it always will remain ....

[@porgytirebiter1164]

Excellent!

[@kansasisaband]

E P I C

[@major9991]

An allegory of man fighting the darkness within, the darkness without. The mark of Cain surrounds us, until Hope pierces the darkness with Heavenly light! The story told from Mysteries and Mayhem>The Pinnacle>Carry On My Wayward Son. All of us need to see we can't gain within ourselves that only through The Savior Jesus Christ can! Calvary destroys the work of Cain, delivering sight to the blind, to behold the One who stands before us! Kerry said it so many times through his life, his purpose in seeking for the Truth. Crying out all those years writing it in these songs, brought him to the Pinnacle, where we all are... Carry On, you will always remember, Carry On, nothing equals the Splendor. Now your life's no longer empty, But Surely Heaven waits for YOU!

[@jacquetrosper7780]

Very good together guys! Wish this was live video though.

[@barkatozz]

Nice job.....the way it should've been!!!

[@davidhubbert7586]

1975 , 76??... Rickwood Field, Birmingham Alabama. Awesome show. Kansas, Kiss and Bob Seager. The reefer was abundant back then soo (on second base)help me remember.

[@billybaroo366]

seeing them in 2 weeks in ft Wayne can't wait!

[@billybaroo366]

I traded a beach boys album for this album back in In the summer of 75 and never looked back! Rock on brothers!

[@user-wf9lf2hx6j]

AMEN!!

[@shelleyharris9349]

The hummingbird came back, was in the 🌲 tree out back, it's a Birch 🌳 tree too

[@MrEnsiferum77]

Damn, this is actually prequel to what Rainbow with Tarner done in the 80's.

[@shelleyharris9349]

Inside and out 😭

[@shelleyharris9349]

Knowledge and reason you say

[@Com9448]

best drummer Phil Ehart

[@gerry5814]

Phil's favorite song to play to was the wall. I think it was his prayer at the end of the show you can see him singing it in joy

[@joemarshall7163]

I agree. So underrated and so damn accurate in his playing!

[@richardwalker9826]

his drum solo in Hymn to the Atman is perfection - how many other drummers could do it? how many would even try?

[@TheGrecia03]

great

[@felipes.carvalho8790]

2021

[@KAKASITO2288]

2022

[@Noah121W]

2023.

[@shelleyharris9349]

Bottom line, the house 🏠, and everything that went with it

[@hfitzpatrick1863]

Clever.

[@shelleyharris9349]

2 bird's out back

[@timbrewner3347]

They're was just good music was great back them today's music pretty much sucks

[@shelleyharris9349]

116🥁💛🎼🌍🧭🚗🎹🎷🎵🎶🎻🎤🔔🪶☮️✝️✌️😎😇🌎😇

[@shelleyharris9349]

Oh my, 11:11 ☮️✝️✌️😎🌎😇🎼

[@user-wf9lf2hx6j]

GOD must have been an influence, here

[@galaxyluver]

3:00

[@shelleyharris9349]

What a Looney Tunes, toons

[@bethhall-ee2ip]

Woops my auto correct changed synthesizer to synthetic in my prior comment....technology at it's best? Don't use words that your phone doesn't recognize. I am constantly correcting auto correct.Sorry about thst.

[@shelleyharris9349]

I'm not bi-polar I'm pissed

[@delshoemaker7616]

not Kansas. whatever. hey? its good, settle down.

[@TRUMP-2024-MAGA]

THIS IS KANSAS