Early Recordings from Kansas 1971-1973 is a collection of recordings made by the second edition of Kansas

Kansas (band)

Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...

 (Proto-Kaw

Proto-Kaw

Proto-Kaw is an American progressive rock band. Featuring Kansas guitarist Kerry Livgren, the group is a reformation of a band formed in the early seventies which served as the direct precursor to Kansas.-History:...

) released in 2002 on Cuneiform Records

Cuneiform Records

Cuneiform Records is an independent record label based in Silver Spring, Maryland.The label releases a mixture of musical styles, including progressive jazz, modern fusion music, progressive rock, the Canterbury Scene and electronic music...

. The songs contain numerous nods to the then-burgeoning scene of experimental progressive rock

Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...

, often echoing the early work of luminaries King Crimson

King Crimson

King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...

. The tracks "Belexes" and "Incomudro" were later recorded for the Kansas albums Kansas and Song for America

Song for America

Song for America is the second album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1975. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2004....

, respectively.

Track listing

All tracks by Kerry Livgren

Kerry Livgren

Kerry Allen Livgren is an American musician and songwriter, best known as one of the founding members and primary songwriters for the 1970s progressive rock band, Kansas.-Biography:...

1. "Hegemonium" – 7:49
2. "Reunion in the Mountains of Sarne" – 7:47
3. "Nactolos 21" – 11:38
4. "Belexes" – 5:11
5. "Totus Nemesis" – 13:54
6. "Greek Structure Sunbeam" – 5:42
7. "Incomudro" – 11:28
8. "Cyclopy" (live) – 5:46
9. "Skont" (live) – 9:39

Musicians

• Lynn Meredith
  Lynn Meredith
  Lynn Meredith was a founding member of Kansas .Born in Manhattan, Kansas, Meredith's roots are in rhythm and blues, later branching out into progressive rock in his late teens. Meredith formed Saratoga with Kerry Livgren, Don Montre and Dan Wright after high school, and Saratoga became the...
  
   – vocals
  Singing
  Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
  
  
• John Bolton – electric saxophone
  Saxophone
  The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
  
  , flute
  Flute
  The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
  
  
• Don Montre – piano
  Piano
  The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
  
  , flute, alto saxophone
  Alto saxophone
  The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
  
  
• Kerry Livgren
  Kerry Livgren
  Kerry Allen Livgren is an American musician and songwriter, best known as one of the founding members and primary songwriters for the 1970s progressive rock band, Kansas.-Biography:...
  
   – guitars
• Dan Wright
  Dan Wright (musician)
  Dan Wright is the keyboard player for the band Proto-Kaw. A strong soloist, Dan’s creative style and use of odd effects became another trademark with the Kansas II sound. As a founding member of Kansas, versions I and II Dan had a prior history of playing with Kerry Livgren and Don Montre in bands...
  
   – hammond organ
  Hammond organ
  The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
  
  
• Rod Mikinski – bass
  Bass (instrument)
  Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
  
  
• Zeke Low – drums
• Brad Schulz – drums