Half of Kansas reunited for the final stop on their 50th Anniversary Farewell Tour …
Ultimate Classic Rock is reporting that original bassist Dave Hope has reunited with co-founding drummer Phil Ehart, longtime guitarist Rich Williams and the rest of the current Kansas lineup for a performance last Wednesday at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh. It was Ehart's second date since suffering a major heart attack in February.
The tour has been going on for the past 18 months, with 118 stops in all spread out over that time. The finale featured a 2 hour, 10 minute performance of 20 classic hits and deep tracks. Kansas placed six songs on our Top 3333 Most Essential Classic Rock Songs list a few years ago. Naturally, “Carry On Wayward Son” came in the highest … at #45! … but Dust In The Wind (#162) and “Point Of Know Return” (#493) also made The Top 500.
Prior to the band taking the stage, they were presented with
special awards for airplay of 9 million for “Carry On Wayward Son” and 7
million for “Dust In The Wind.”
Sadly, original lead vocalist Steve Walsh did not participate. (Walsh did two tours of duty with the band, leaving first in 1981 but then returning from 1986 – 2015) Still, it would have nice to see him onboard for what was supposed to be the band’s final performance.
However, as we’ve learned far too many times over the years, saying goodbye RARELY means a definitive end … in fact, a brand new Kansas Classics kicks off in January … and the band teams up with .38 Special for a series of shows next summer!!!
>>>The best thing I can say about Paul
Griffin is take five minutes out of your busy day and get a time where you have
nothing to bother you at all. Find a real nice stereo system and sit back and
put on “One Of Us Must Know” from "Blonde On Blonde."
(Al Kooper)
I've never paid all that much attention to this track, but with Al Kooper's strong recommendation, I did. It's truly an enjoyable five minutes. The musicians were obviously having some fun playing on this. Griffin's piano work is beautiful.
David Lewis
I wasn’t familiar with Seatrain’s “13 Questions” – thank you for sharing it the other day.
Ed
Seatrain was the first project George Martin worked on after the split of The Beatles.
(Imagine the nerve it took to ask him to produce what was only the band’s second album!)
Martin then became a mainstay with America, producing SEVEN of their albums throughout the ‘70’s and early ‘80’s. (kk)
A good news update about Joey Molland …
Here is the latest message from Mary this afternoon (Sunday) about JOEY MOLLAND …
From despair to cautious joy.
The difference 48 hours can
make.
Joey is out of immediate danger.
He is a strong lad 
The beautiful vibrations, prayers and hope from everyone made all the
difference.
He has a long road ahead of him.
But thankfully it seems that his memory and verbal skills will be saved.
I feel like I’ve been given a reprieve from a nightmare. I have another chance.
My beautiful Joe.
I believe in a Higher Power, and through the gift of modern medicine that this
Higher Power has given us, my Joe will survive.
Despite all the strife, we are very lucky to live in this day and age.
He will need much continued strength in the upcoming months. Please keep him in
your thoughts and prayers.
I will continue to update as I can.
I cannot 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 enough for every single thing you have done for us.
So much love to you all 
Mary
In other health news, Mariah Carey has had to cancel several Christmas Concert appearances due to illness ... she's been fighting the flu (and I guess so far the flu's been winning.) kk
Kent,
After seeing that picture you posted concerning lost and found, I thought of Jan and Dean's 1965 hit I FOUND A GIRL.
Mentioning Ray Stevens, one of the biggest records he had here in OKC back in 1959 was SGT PRESTON OF THE YUKON on NRC.
There is an interesting story on the making of that record and why it was pulled from radio stations' playlist ...
I read many years ago that when Ray Stevens recorded and released SGT PRESTON OF THE YUKON in 1959 on NRC records, promo copies were sent to the various radio stations across the country. As you may or may not know, there was a television show of that same name in the mid-fifties. What Ray Stevens and the producers of that record did not know was that the name SGT PRESTON OF THE YUKON was copyrighted. They got an order to quit distributing the record. I believe the copy rights were to King Features Inc. I do know that here locally in OKC, it made it into the top 5.
Also, thanks for posting the Glenn Yarbrough song.
Larry Neal
From Tom Cuddy … recorded live in Manchester on December 14th, 2024 …
There is a new Wham! documentary running on Netflix right now celebrating the 40th anniversary of “Last Christmas,” their perennial holiday tune. Some interesting insight as to how George Michael had so precision-planned the song’s release to be a sure-thing #1 Hit at Christmas-time, 1984, only to fall into the runner-up position thanks to Bob Geldof’s / Band Aid fundraising single “Do They Know It’s Christmas” … on which Michael participated!!!
We told you last week that “Last Christmas” hit its US peak on last week’s Hot 100 Chart … coming in behind “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” and “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” some pretty tough competition to beat at this point. Still, it took the song a full 40 years to peak at #3.
But last year, in 2023, 39 years after it was recorded, it finally hit #1 in Great Britain, a record-setting feat over there. (Of course, last year HERE it was Brenda Lee’s hit that drew all of the attention as “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” finally hit the top of the chart 65 YEARS after it was first released!!!)
A bit of holiday cheer for a couple of old (new) standards from our friends across the sea. (kk)
DIDJAKNOW?: Although credited to Wings, Paul McCartney played all of the instruments on "Wonderful Christmastime" and he and Linda handled all of the vocals. Still, the whole band is featured in the video, synching along with vocals and instruments they never performed on the record!
Likewise, George Michael insisted on playing all of the instruments himself on "Last Christmas." He felt it was the only way to ensure reproducing the sounds he heard in his head when he wrote the song. So everything you hear (down to the programmed drum machine and sleight bells to all of the vocals) is George ... yet he still credited the single to Wham! ... and they appear in this video, too. (kk)
Hi Kent -
Happy Holidays 🎁 to you! Glad you dig my forgotten pix!
Happy 75th birthday 🎂 to Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top! Dec.16th
(Of course you could say the same about me!)
I know I've run this photo before ... but it's such a great shot! (kk)
