Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son (2023 Remaster)

“Carry On Wayward Son“ is a song by American rock band Kansas, released from the band’s fourth studio album Leftoverture (1976). Written by guitarist Kerry Livgren, the song became the band’s first Top 40 single, reaching No. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977. While Kansas’ previous three albums had split songwriting duties between lead vocalist Steve Walsh and band member Kerry Livgren, the latter essentially provided all the material for the band’s fourth album release, Leftoverture. According to Livgren, “On the very first day of rehearsals, that he had nothing – not a single song. I don’t relish that kind of pressure, but with hindsight it really brought out the best in me.“ Although based in Atlanta, Kansas had returned to their Topeka, Kansas, hometown to work up material for what would be the Leftoverture album, the band rehearsing in a vacant store in a strip mall the material Livgren was working up on a Lowrey organ at his parents’ home where he was staying. “Carry On Wayward Son“ was written after the band had completed rehearsals. Livgren, who perceived the song as being “beamed down“ to him in full, in 2004 stated: “It’s an autobiographical song. Parallel to my musical career I’ve always been on a spiritual sojourn, looking for truth and meaning. It was a song of self-encouragement. I was telling myself to keep on looking and I would find what I sought.“ Livgren was born again on July 25, 1979, and since 1980 recorded primarily as a Christian rock artist.[ When it came out, there was nothing like it. [It has] so many musically interesting parts. It wasn’t rubber-stamped; it was unique to itself. It’s a great sing-along. It had a lot of things going for it. When we recorded it, we knew we had a great song. ...we didn’t realize what it would turn into. It’s become part of rock-&-roll culture. But then it seemed like a fluke. It was the right song at the right time. Kansas guitarist Rich Williams on the song’s impact and enduring appeal Drummer Phil Ehart recalled that Livgren mentioned a new song as Kansas was packing up to leave Topeka for Studio in the Country, the Louisiana facility where Leftoverture was recorded from December 1975, with Livgren presenting “Carry On Wayward Son“ to his bandmates only after they had reached the studio. According to Livgren “It was the last night we were in Topeka. I came into the studio on the last day and said, ‘I think you better hear this one’. The guys looked at each other and said, ‘We gotta do this’.“ In 2004, Ehart recalled, “It was the last, last [song] to be submitted for...’Leftoverture’...I can’t even remember if we dropped something else to get [it] on there...[When] we recorded it, we didn’t really think it would be a hit [as] it was about six minutes were on the road [in December 1976 when] our : ’Well, you’re not gonna believe this, but we actually have a hit song.’ We said, ’What?’ He said, ’Yeah. “Carry On Wayward Son“ is shooting up the charts.’ And it barely made it on the album!“ Kansas’ other guitarist Rich Williams indicated in 2004 that the success of “Carry On Wayward Son“ was not a total surprise to the band: “As far as knowing what a hit was, we didn’t have any idea. But we knew there was something special about [’Carry On Wayward Son’]. It was very easy to listen to but still very different.“ New remaster using the Time-Life series.