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Kansas Almost Missed Recording What Became Their First Big Hit in 1976
An American Songwriter piece recounts how Kansas nearly didn't record "Carry On Wayward Son", the 1976 song that became the band's first Top 5 hit. Written by band member Kerry Livgren, the track was brought to the group only two days before recording sessions for their fourth album, Leftoverture, were due to begin, at a point when they believed the album's track list was already complete. It matters because the song went on to become one of Kansas's signature hits and a staple of classic rock radio, despite almost being left off the record entirely.
Livgren wrote the song after fellow member Steve Walsh, who usually contributed material, suffered from writer's block, prompting Livgren to offer the band "one more song" they might want to hear. The rest of the group liked it enough to include it, and it became Kansas's fifth single but first to reach the Top 5. Livgren has described the lyrics as autobiographical, reflecting his personal spiritual search at the time, with lines such as "surely heaven waits for you" later proving prophetic for him. It would take Kansas three more years to score another hit with "Dust in the Wind", while "Carry On Wayward Son" was later covered by metal band Anthrax in 2016.
In short
- Kansas almost cut "Carry On Wayward Son" from their 1976 album
- Kerry Livgren wrote it last-minute after Steve Walsh's writer's block
- It became the band's first Top 5 hit and lasting classic
Explained simply
Kansas is an American rock band that emerged in the 1970s. In 1976, they very nearly failed to record what would become one of their defining songs: "Carry On Wayward Son" was brought to the band by member Kerry Livgren just two days before they were due to begin recording their fourth album, when everyone thought the track list was already finalised.
The song eventually became Kansas's first single to reach the top five of the charts and has since become one of their most recognisable tracks, played regularly on classic rock radio. The near-miss makes the song's prominence and cultural impact all the more striking—the band came remarkably close to never recording what became a signature piece.
Livgren wrote the song after fellow member Steve Walsh, who usually provided material for the band, was experiencing writer's block. Livgren offered his "one more song" for consideration, and the rest of the group liked it enough to include it in the final album.
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