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Leftoverture is the fourth album by American progressive rock band Kansas, released in 1976. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2001.

Contents[]

 [hide*1 Background

Background[edit][]

Steve Walsh began to experience writer's block prior to the recording, and his contribution to the album would ultimately be limited to co-authoring three songs. It fell on Kerry Livgren to fill the void. The new compositions retained much of the classically inspired complexity of Livgren's previous work. Kansas recorded the album at Studio in the Country in Bogalusa, Louisiana. The Studio in the Country was so named because, as Kerry Livgren described on In the Studio with Redbeard in the episode spotlighting Leftoverture that "It was in the middle of a swamp. We'd walk out of the studio and there would be gators in front of the studio, mosquitos the size of B-52s and at times armadillos would run into the control room, laughing."

Leftoverture begins with the hit single "Carry On Wayward Son". Kerry Livgren wrote the song as a sequel to the final song, "The Pinnacle", from the previous album, Masque.

Reception[edit][]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Robert Christgau D+[2]

The album was met with mixed reviews. Rolling Stone called Leftoverture Kansas's best album to date, and said that it "warrants Kansas a spot right alongside Boston and Styx as one of the fresh new American bands who combine hard-driving group instrumentation (with a dearth of flashy solos) with short, tight melody lines and pleasant singing."[3] In contrast, Robert Christgau said the album lacked the intelligence and conviction of European progressive rock, and that the self-deprecating humor implied in the song and album titles is completely absent from the record itself.[2]

Track listing[edit][]

All songs written and composed by Kerry Livgren except where noted. 

No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Carry On Wayward Son"   5:23
2. "The Wall"   Livgren, Steve Walsh 4:51
3. "What's On My Mind"   3:28
4. "Miracles Out of Nowhere"   6:28
5. "Opus Insert"   4:30
6. "Questions of My Childhood"   Walsh, Livgren 3:40
7. "Cheyenne Anthem"   6:55
8. "Magnum Opus"


  • a. "Father Padilla Meets the Perfect Gnat"
  • b. "Howling At the Moon"
  • c. "Man Overboard"
  • d. "Industry On Parade"
  • e. "Release the Beavers"
  • f. "Gnat Attack"  
Livgren, Walsh, Rich WilliamsDave HopePhil Ehart,Robby Steinhardt 8:25

Personnel[edit][]

Additional personnel[edit][]

  • Toye LaRocca – vocals
  • Cheryl Norman – vocals

Production[edit][]

  • Producers: Jeff Glixman
  • Engineer: Bill Evans

Charts[edit][]

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1977 Pop Albums 5

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1976 "Carry On Wayward Son" Pop Singles 11
1977 "What's On My Mind" Pop Singles none
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