Always Never the Same (Kansas album)

Always Never the Same is the thirteenth studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1998. This album consists of mostly covers of the band’s previous work, re-recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra. New songs include "In Your Eyes", "The Sky Is Falling", "Need to Know" and the instrumental "Preamble". "Prelude & Introduction" is a medley of the Kansas songs "Carry On Wayward Son", "Point of Know Return", "Opus Insert", and "Lamplight Symphony". The album also includes a cover of The Beatles’ "Eleanor Rigby". "Carry On Wayward Son" was also recorded during this time, in case strong sales would bring forth a second symphonic album, but was never released. This is the final Kansas album to include new songs from lead singer/keyboardist Steve Walsh.

Always Never the Same
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 19, 1998
RecordedSeptember 1997 – February 1998
StudioSouthern Tracks, Electric Landlady and Tree Sound Studios, Atlanta, Georgia,
Abbey Road Studios, London, UK (Orchestra recordings)
GenreSymphonic rock
Length71:05
LabelRiver North (US)
Edsel (Europe)
Victor (Japan)
ProducerPhil Ehart, Rich Williams, Trammell Starks
Kansas chronology
Freaks of Nature
(1995)
Always Never the Same
(1998)
King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Kansas
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[2]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Originally from the albumLength
1."Eleanor Rigby" (The Beatles cover)John Lennon, Paul McCartney 3:22
2."Dust in the Wind"Kerry LivgrenPoint of Know Return (1977)4:01
3."Preamble" (orchestral)Larry Baird 3:25
4."Song for America"LivgrenSong for America (1975)9:15
5."In Your Eyes" (new song)Steve Walsh 4:30
6."Miracles Out of Nowhere"LivgrenLeftoverture (1976)6:27
7."Hold On"LivgrenAudio-Visions (1980)4:18
8."The Sky Is Falling" (new song)Walsh 7:50
9."Cheyenne Anthem"Livgren Leftoverture7:29
10."Prelude & Introduction" (medley)Phil Ehart, Billy Greer, Robby Steinhardt, Walsh, Rich Williams, Baird 4:53
11."The Wall"Livgren, Walsh Leftoverture5:29
12."Need to Know" (new song)Walsh 4:02
13."Nobody’s Home"Livgren, WalshPoint of Know Return6:04

Personnel

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Kansas
Additional musicians
Production
  • Trammell Starks – producer, digital editing
  • Russ Fowler, James Majors, Jim "Z" Zumpano – engineers
  • Peter Cobbin – orchestra recordings engineer
  • Jeff Glixmanmixing at Tree Sound Studios, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Greg Calbimastering at Masterdisk, New York
  • Brian Jobson, James Majors – digital editing
  • Michael Allen – copyist
  • Pennie Moore, Conni Treantafeles – art direction and design
  • Marti Griffin – photography

References

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  1. ^ Jehnzen, Daevid. "Kansas - Always Never the Same review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  2. ^ Cross, Charles R. (2004). "Kansas". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 446. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.