Kansas, a Topeka-formed progressive rock band, scored their first US Top 40 hit with "Carry On Wayward Son" in 1976, a breakthrough that arrived just as their record label was losing patience and effectively saved their career. Despite a distinctive sound built around Robby Steinhardt's violin and Steve Walsh's powerful vocals, plus a gruelling touring schedule, the band's first three albums had sold only modestly and produced no chart hits, prompting label boss Don Kirshner to warn them that hits needed to start coming soon.

The pressure weighed heavily during the making of 1976's Leftoverture, made worse when usual co-writer Steve Walsh suffered writer's block, leaving guitarist Kerry Livgren to write most of the record. Livgren later added "Carry On Wayward Son" almost as an afterthought once the rest of the album was largely finished; the autobiographical song, inspired by his personal search for meaning, featured a striking a cappella opening and was released as Leftoverture's lead single. It climbed to No. 11 on the pop charts, transforming Kansas from a hard-touring opening act into one of arena rock's leading names of the late 1970s.