For the love of rock
Vol III, Issue 23 – Dust in thewind (01 Dec 2018)
www.intheloveofrock.com
Name of song– Dust in the wind
Band – Kansas
Writer– Kerry Livgren
Album- Point of Know Return
Release year– 1977
Peak chart position
# 1 – Canadian RPM Top Adult Contemporary
# 3 – Canadian RPM Top 100
# 3 – US Cashbox Top 100
# 6 – US Billboard Hot 100
# 6 – US Billboard Adult Contemporary
# 19 – Dutch Singles Chart
# 22 – French Singles Chart
# 29 – Belgian VRT Top 30
# 36 – New Zealand Top Singles Chart
# 52 – Australian Kent Music Report
Dust in the wind
Reviewers- Bikash Shrestha/Nirab Kayastha
“Kansas” is one of the most well known AOR/progressive rock band, which gained much popularity during late seventies. Formed in Topeka in 1970, they originally comprised of Kerry Livgren (Guitars), Dave Hope (Bass) and Phil Ehart (Drums). Later, addition of Robbie Steinhardt (Violin), then Steve Walsh (Vocals) and Richard Williams (Guitars) completed the line up. With nine gold albums, three multi platinum albums, one platinum album, they have conquered the rock scene of the late seventies and eighties. However, in due course of time, they had numerous changes but they are still going strong with many newer artists. Dwindling between AOR/Pop rock and progressive rock, they had numerous noteworthy songs which are still regularly played on the classic rock stations.
“Point of Know Return” is their fifth album, produced in 1977 and undoubtedly, one of the most popular and critically acclaimed one. It had followed earlier massively successful album “Leftoverture” which contained the super hit single “Carry on wayward son”. However, “Point of Know Return” contained the even bigger hit single –“Dust in the wind” and ultimately proved to be more successful.
“Dust in the wind” is Kansas’s most popular single and perhaps the best one. A song with a deep meaning, and finger picking guitar which is so finger licking good, and amazing violin solo inbetween, it truly epitomizes what a truly beautiful rock song should sound like. The song was last minute addition to their fifth album. The story goes that while Kerry Livgren was practicing finger picking with the signature guitar melody of the song, his wife heard it and encouraged him to write a song out of it. He was reluctant, but when the other members heard it, nobody had any doubt. Of course, this song deviated from a typical Kansas sound, but definitely, it was totally worth it!
The song begins with Kerry’s amazing finger picking guitar sound. This signature guitar sound is truly bliss to the ears- smooth, fast, melodious and exquisitely beautiful. Steve Walsh’s husky vocals is a perfect match to the smooth guitar. The song about the immortality of materialistic things, and the inevitable fact of death, it has some biblical references and is of profound philosophical meaning of life. Classically trained Robby Steinhardt’s beautiful violin solo is another highlight of the song. It comes in smoothly, swipes everything so gracefully and disappears so gently. Without any drums and guitar solo, the song ends smoothly with the slowly fading signature guitar finger plucking.
“Kansas” may have dwindled between AOR and progressive rock, but with “Dust in the wind”, they cleared all the doubts that regardless of the roots, you can create the best music which shall never be faded by any dust in the wind!
Happy listening!!
Resources– Wikipedia.org, Allmusic.com, genius.com
Dust in the wind
I close my eyes, only for a moment
And the moment’s gone
All my dreams pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind
Same old song, just a drop of water
In an endless sea
All we do crumbles to the ground
Though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
Oh, ho, ho
Now, don’t hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away, and all your money won’t another minute buy
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
(All we are is dust in the wind)
Dust in the wind
(Everything is dust in the wind)
Everything is dust in the wind
The wind
Lyrics link- https://genius.com/Kansas-dust-in-the-wind-lyrics
Video link – https://youtu.be/4g_5LrfUOIQ