Kansas-Masque (1975)

Kansas' third album, and their second release in 1975, came just seven months after "Song For America". This was partly due to pressure from Epic Records, who wanted to capitalize on the commercial success of "Song For America". However, this haste hampered the album's sales, resulting in only mediocre results, at least in the months immediately following its release. For this new album, the band went to Louisiana to In The Country Studios, but kept the same production team led by Jeff Glixman. This time, despite composing an album of very high quality, the band didn't achieve the same level of cohesion and balance as its predecessor. The commercially successful and addictive "It Takes A Woman's Love" was chosen as the promotional single, which in no way overshadowed their previous hit "Song For America". On the other hand, several of their classic tracks already appear here, such as the immortal "Icarus-Borne On Wings Of Steel", a powerful rock song with progressive touches, and the catchy "Two Cents Worth". The melodic "All the World" showcases Kansas's more symphonic side, while the dizzying "Child Of Innocence" and "Mysteries and Mayhem" display the rockier side of the Topeka group. The album concludes with the progressive and expansive "The Pinnacle", thus culminating an album considered a transitional step towards Kansas's later confirmation as one of the greatest American bands of the 1970s.