Vinyl Confessions

Description

Vinyl Confessions is the eighth studio album by the American rock band Kansas, released by Kirshner Records in 1982, distributed by Epic Records, a division of CBS Records. The album was recorded and mixed by Ken Scott at Chateau Recorders in North Hollywood, California; with Scott and the band producing. It includes “Play the Game Tonight”, which hit No. 4 on Billboard Magazine‘s newly deployed Mainstream Rock chart. (It is Kansas’ third highest-charting single, surpassed only by “Carry on Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind”.)

Vinyl Confessions was included among the Best Albums of 1982 by CCM Magazine, voted number three on a list featuring thirteen albums.

Vinyl Confessions was a major turning point for the band. After the conversion of both guitarist/keyboard player Kerry Livgren and bass player Dave Hope to Christianity, and the focus that Livgren placed on his religion in the band’s lyrics, lead singer Steve Walsh did not agree with the new direction of the band and left. After a long audition process, the choice came down to three strong candidates: Warren Ham, Michael Gleason and John Elefante. The band eventually settled on Elefante. (Kerry Livgren would later rejoin with Warren Ham and Michael Gleason in his band project named A.D.).

KANSAS (Kirshner ZS5 03084) Right Away (4:06) (Full Grown Man Music/Mastodon Music — BMI) (J. Elefante, D. Elefante) (Producers: Kansas, K. Scott)

After the great chart recovery with «Play The Game Tonight», Kansas continues in the by-now-familiar cascading keyboards and thundering guitar vein with this encore from “Vinyl Confessions.” It may seem a bit more suited to AOR, but Kansas is hot again, and pop will keep that in mind. [CashBox Magazine – Feature Picks – Pop, August 7, 1982]

Vinyl Confessions (Re-issue)

An album from 1982 made when Kerry Livgren, guitarist, keyboard player and writer with Kansas, had become a Christian and was clearly driving the band in the direction of his new-found faith. Steve Walsh, who had left the group after ‘Audio-Visuals’, was replaced by John Elefante – before he and brother Dino went on to become influential producers/writers for most of Christian rock’s artists (Mastedon, Petra, et al…). John’s voice here is as good then as it was with Mastedon and more recently on his solo album, handling the ballads and rockers equally as effectively. No matter which band member is involved in the writing, the lyrics don’t really descend to the banal rock anthems which became so popular in the mainstream ’80s, a few examples being «Fair Exchange», «Chasing Shadows» and «Play On». One defining line from «Fair Exchange» is “All for the good of the people/ Better that one man should die.” Nothing is too in-your-face, because they were not targeted at an overtly Christian market but still you can get the message. Christians were to write to Kerry to tell him they found the albums – as well as the previous albums – helpful for discussion and conversations within their own churches and with those who were searching – as Kerry Livgren had done for a decade or so until 1979. If your tastes veer towards ’70s/’80s “art rock” then this oldie but goodie should definitely be investigated. [David Cranson, Cross Rhythms, April 1997]

[Thom Granger, CCM, July 1982]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/vinyl-confessions-remastered/516416135)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Play The Game Tonight” – 3:24
A2. “Right Away” – 4:03
A3. “Fair Exchange” – 4:56
A4. “Chasing Shadows” – 3:17
A5. “Diamonds And Pearls” – 4:47

Side Two
B1. “Face It” – 4:15
B2. “Windows” – 3:29
B3. “Borderline” – 3:57
B4. “Play On” – 3:30
B5. “Crossfire” – 6:33

Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by CBS Records. Re-issued on CD by Rock Candy Records in 2011, remastered by Jon Astley (sound shaped from 24 bit digital tools via POW-r technology).