Description
Drastic Measures is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Kansas, released by Kirshner Records in 1983, distributed by Epic Records, a division of CBS Records. The album was produced, recorded, and mixed by Neil Kernon with the band co-producing. Backing vocals provided by David Pack of Ambrosia fame, Kyle Henderson of The Producers fame, and Terry Brock.
Last year Kansas’ ‘Vinyl Confessions‘ received broad-based acceptance in the Christian marketplace, even to the point of being named by CCM’s critics as one of 1982’s best. This was due to the wide acknowledgment of Kerry Livgren‘s Christian faith and his apparent liberty within the band for creative expression. ‘Drastic Measures’, Kansas’ ninth studio release, will be a disappointment to an expectant Christian audience. It will have a similar effect on the band’s secular following.
Kansas arose as a band of distinction from their first self-titled release in 1974. Groundbreaking albums like ‘Song for America’ and ‘Masque’ attracted fans as much for their mystical, thought-provoking lyrics as for their innovative use of classical elements in a rock format. ‘Leftoverture’ and ‘Point of Know Return’, with their classic hits «Carry On» and «Dust in the Wind», brought Kansas commercial success and mass appeal for the first time. On later albums, ‘Monolith’ and ‘Audio-Visions’, the band seemed caught between making music that would satisfy their dedicated following while remaining palatable for radio and, thus, sales. It is this same dilemma which is played out across the vinyl of ‘Drastic Measures’. Unfortunately, art seems to have slidden into the backseat behind an attempt at major commercial success.
‘Audio-Visions’, which contains four songs expressing Livgren’s early faith, marked serious changes for the band. Steve Walsh, the band’s original vocalist/keyboardist, seemed to be writing songs in direct reaction to Livgren’s Christian stance.
The rift resulted in Walsh leaving Kansas, breaking up the original six members after ten years together. ‘Vinyl Confessions’ saw the addition of John Elefante, a reported believer who replaced Walsh adequately, and Kansas used horns for the first time. On the resultant tour they added hornman Warren Hamm, also a believer. For some who were keeping score it was Christians 4 (Livgren, bassist Dave Hope, Elefante, and Hamm); Pagans 3.
‘Drastic Measures’, an apt title, reveals the band still in transition. Kansas seems to be losing their most distinctive features. The change is evident in their choice of material and the notable absence of Robby Steinhardt, who gave Kansas their unique violin sound while balancing and tempering the lead vocalists with his emotive voice. It has always seemed inappropriate to lump Kansas into categories with Styx and Journey, when their artistic variance, creativity, and style indicated greater affinity with the art-rock of Genesis, ELP, and even Rush. Here, on ‘Drastic Measures’, Kansas seems content to join the ranks of the faceless corporate rockers, with only an occasional glimmer of struggle.
Two-thirds of this album belongs compositionally to John Elefante. His material is energetic and polished, with a given suitability for commercial success. The missing piece is that it lacks the distinct and original Kansas sound; this could be any of a thousand formula rock bands that seems to come out of the woodwork everyday to take a shot at a hit record. Occasionally the arrangements break open a little and we are reminded that the other four guys in this band made up one of the most progressive groups of the mid-’70s. It just doesn’t happen often enough.
«Figth Fire With Fire» and «Everybody’s My Friend» open side one with a certain made-for-AOR radio alacrity. The second is a rather embitered discussion of a side effect of Elefante’s new found fame. The first and «Don’t Take Your Love Away», his strongest song, could refer to spiritual things, though the application is vague, if actual. «Andi» is a perplexing AM single about a prepubescent girl’s dream of becoming a lady. «Get Rich» is the most Kansas-like tune decrying greed-rooted politics, while «Going Through the Motions» is self-descriptively unmemorable.
It is, of course, the three songs from Kerry Livgren that makes ‘Drastic Measures’ a Kansas album rather than a John Elefante extravaganza. The apocalyptic «End of the Age» and the testimonial «Incident on a Bridge» make spiritual statements in a particularly pleasant fashion at the end of side two. Both of these songs would do well on rock-oriented or evangelistic Christian radio, although the first one is not particularly hopeful. «Mainstream» expresses Livgren’s frustration with the drastic measures some bands and labels will go to for financial success. It is an ironic argument for creative freedom that can’t help but stand out in this context.
‘Drastic Measures’ would appear to thwart the hope of many Christians that Kansas would become the first Christian supergroup in the secular market. Also, Livgren’s low input and the rather clear commercial motive of much of the material would tend to alienate Kansas’ long-time cult fans. However, radio play, hits, and sales go hand in hand, and Kansas has taken drastic measures. I predict they’ll survive another year. [Quincy Smith-Newcomb, CCM, November 1983]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/drastic-measures-remastered/516414886)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Fight Fire With Fire” – 3:40
A2. “Everybody’s My Friend” – 4:09
A3. “Mainstream” – 6:36
A4. “Andi” – 4:15
Side Two
B1. “Going Through The Motions” – 5:43
B2. “Get Rich” – 3:43
B3. “Don’t Take Your Love Away” – 3:44
B4. “End Of The Age” – 4:33
B5. “Incident On A Bridge” – 5:37
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Kirshner Records. Later re-issued on CD. Remastered and released on CD by Rock Candy in 2011.
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