Kansas to Release CD/DVD Anthology, "Works in Progrss"

Press release
Source: Chipster Entertainment, Inc.

Kansas, America's greatest and most successful progressive rock band, will release the two-disc (one CD/one DVD) anthology 'Works In Progress' via Compendia Music Group on May 23, 2006.

Material will be taken from a decade's worth of studio and live albums and home videos -- 1992's 'Live At The Whisky,' 1995's 'Freaks Of Nature,' 1998's 'Always Never The Same' and 2002's 'Device Voice Drum.' (The 'Works In Progress' DVD features two audio tracks from 'Always Never The Same' specially remixed in 5.1 Surround Sound.)

The CD tracks include:

From 'Freaks Of Nature' - "I Can Fly," "Black Fathom 4," "Under The Knife," "Freaks Of Nature" and "Peaceful And Warm"

From 'Live At The Whisky' - "Mysteries And Mayhem," "Portrait (He Knew)" and "Down The Road"

From 'Always Never The Same' - "Dust In The Wind," "Hold On," "Cheyenne Anthem," "Song For America" and "The Wall"

The DVD tracks include:

From 'Device Voice Drum' - "Intro," "Belexes," "Icarus II" and "Icarus - Borne On Wings Of Steel"

From 'Live At The Whisky' - "Mysteries And Mayhem," "Portrait (He Knew)" and "Down The Road"

From 'Always Never The Same' (5.1 Surround Sound audio remixes only) - "Dust In The Wind" and "Hold On"

Drummer Phil Ehart explains that several factors were taken into account when selecting the songs featured on 'Works In Progress.'

"Technical aspects were a main consideration in choosing songs from 'Live At The Whisky.' The band on 'Live At The Whisky' rocked hard. We wanted tracks that reflected that aggressiveness," Ehart says. "Regarding the classic material, we've got some hits and some good obscure gems in this collection, too."

'Live At The Whisky' was recorded and filmed on April 5, 1992, at the legendary Whisky A Go-Go on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, CA. It featured the lineup of drummer Phil Ehart, guitarist Richard Williams, vocalist/keyboardist Steve Walsh, bass guitarist Billy Greer, keyboardist Greg Robert and violinist David Ragsdale. Guitarist/keyboardist Kerry Livgren made a special guest appearance.

"The Whisky was cramped and crowded, but the band really smoked that night. The crowd was small, but so is the Whisky," remembers Ehart. "We have fans in L.A. and we like to play there. The fans there are great!"

'Freaks Of Nature' was Kansas' first studio album since 1988's 'In The Spirit Of Things' and it demonstrated that the band (with the same lineup as 'Live At The Whisky') was still creating fresh, vital music.

"The 'Freaks Of Nature' band was awesome. We think it could have been the best all-around version of Kansas because of the band's ability to play and sing absolutely anything in the Kansas repertoire. 'Freaks Of Nature' was played well on record and even better live," Ehart says.

'Always Never The Same' was a huge undertaking. Ehart, Williams, Walsh, Greer and vocalist/violinist Robby Steinhardt re-recorded many of its classics with the assistance of the world-famous London Symphony Orchestra. On the subsequent tour, Kansas performed with local orchestras in each market. The album and the tour both had high points and low points, according to Ehart.

"'Always Never The Same' was brutal. Just brutal. It was a risk to do and some things were awesome and some things, well, sucked. But that's our career in a nutshell. We've never been known to play it safe," says Ehart. "Most of 'Always Never The Same' still resonates in a positive way with this band. Playing live with a symphony produces major goosebumps as well as major headaches. Let's leave it at that."

'Device Voice Drum' was recorded and filmed on June 15, 2002, at EarthLink Live! in the band's longtime base of Atlanta, GA. The lush visual look on the critically acclaimed, hot selling DVD (the soundtrack is available on a two-CD set) was the result of shooting on film instead of videotape. In addition to capturing a spectacular, literally all-or-nothing performance from Ehart, Williams, Walsh, Greer and Steinhardt, cutting-edge computer animation was also incorporated.

"'Device Voice Drum' was a milestone for us because we hadn't gotten that particular band on film. And again, it was a major undertaking for us," Ehart says. "And it was fun! We actually had fun making that DVD!"

'Works In Progress' chronicles a full one-third of Kansas' 30+ years of existence. Putting the collection together gave the band members themselves a chance to reflect on this important career phase.

"In remastering this project it definitely helped US appreciate this time in our career," says Ehart. "We had forgotten what a great version of Kansas this truly was!"

Kansas has a full tour schedule in 2006 to promote 'Works In Progress.' For the latest Kansas news, including updated tour dates, visit www.kansasband.com.

Confirmed dates on Kansas' 2006 tour so far include:

DATE / CITY / VENUE

April 27th Milwaukee, WI Potawatomi
April 28th Madison, WI Orpheum Theatre

May 5th Kinder, LA Coushatta Casino
May 6th Mableton, GA House Amphitheatre
May 13th Tampa, FL Busch Gardens
May 18th Marathon, FL Festival
May 20th Chattanooga, TN Festival
May 25th El Cajon, CA Sycuan Theater
May 28th St. Louis, MO Festival

June 2nd Beaumont, CA Festival
June 7th Fargo, ND Fargodome
June 10th Stevens Point, WI Festival
June 16th Warsaw, IN Festival
June 24th Bay City, MI Festival

July 1st Oroville, CA Feather Falls
July 2nd Pozo, CA Pozo Theater
July 3rd Rancho Cordoba, CA Festival
July 7th Lamoore, CA Tahci Yokut Theater
July 15th Gering, NE Festival
July 16th Comstock, NE Festival
July 22nd Hot Springs, AR Timberland Amphitheatre
July 23rd Des Moines, IA Park
July 25th Uncasville, CT Wolf's Den
July 26th Uncasville, CT Wolf's Den
July 28th Lancaster, PA American Music Theater
July 29th Lawrence, OH Festival
July 30th St. Paul, MN Island Park

August 1st Mason, MI Fair
August 3rd Baltimore, MD Rams Head
August 7th New York, NY BB King's
August 9th Alexandria, VA Birchmere
August 10th Bethlehem, PA Festival
August 11th Cumberland, MD Fair
August 12th Malone, NY Fair
August 19th Atlantic City, NJ Trump Marina

For more information please visit www.kansasband.com or www.compendiamusic.com.