Vinyl Confessions Songs Ranked
Vinyl Confessions is the eighth studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1982 (see 1982 in music). It includes “Play the Game Tonight”, which broke the Top 20 and is Kansas’s third highest-charting single, surpassed only by “Carry on Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind”. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 1996 on Legacy/Epic and again in 2011. Vinyl Confessions was a major turning point for the band. After the conversion of both guitarist/keyboard player Kerry Livgren and bass player Dave Hope to Christianity, and the focus that Livgren placed on his religion in the band’s lyrics, lead singer Steve Walsh did not agree with the new direction of the band and left to form his own band, Streets. Walsh had also contributed much as a songwriter, so the band was forced to find a new lead singer who not only had a vocal style that fit the band’s music, but also could contribute material for the upcoming album. After a long audition process, the choice came down to three strong candidates: Warren Ham, Michael Gleason and John Elefante. The band eventually settled on Elefante.
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10. Crossfire
“Crossfire is the most overtly Gospel song here, a strong call to faith to close a rarely available and excellent album. “Crossfire”, one cannot but question one’s own existence when listening to these very evocative lyrics, and those melodies..”
9. Diamonds and Pearls
“Diamonds And Pearls following the previous track in hinting at a choice that has to be made. DIAMONDS AND PEARLS is a bit surreal and has excellent melody hooks and my #1 favorite from this album.”
8. Play On
“Play On is a celerbration that the writer’s have begun to know the truth and it’s setting them free. Vocals are amazing with Rodger Taylor of Queen on backing vocals! Songs are melodic with great hooks. Musicians are in top form.”
See more: Kansas Albums Ranked
7. Chasing Shadows
“Chasing Shadows again aludes to being in a band, but that that does not last forever. By the time I got to the very emotional but very philosophical “Chasing shadows”, I found myself lost in a melody that I don’t think Steve could have done any better. This song today still reaches a very deep inner part of me with its haunting, emotive guitar, piano and violin and amazing harmonies.”
6. Borderline
“Borderline relates how the singer sees people needing to make a decision which will have eternal implications. “Borderline” (another of my favorites), challenges the listener to make the decision in their own lives to keep following the ways of the world or to turn it over into the hands of a higher power.”
5. Fair Exchange
“Fair Exchange has some elements of Deep Purple and speaks of people being controlled by someone who takes their lives over completely. The bluesy hard rocker “Fair Exchange” which rocks despite some cringe at the hidden Christianity in lyrics.”
See more: Kansas Songs Ranked
4. Windows
“Windows again indicates that something about this life is well beyond the everyday exsistance. “Windows” is one of the best songs Kansas ever recorded. It has all the components of their earlier work squeezed into 3 and 1/2 minutes.”
3. Right Away
“Right Away is a love song, mostly about lost love. and it’s affects on the man who has been left alone. This is one of my favorite albums of all time. It represents a stylistic change for Kansas as well as the introduction of new lead singer, John Elefante.”
2. Face It
“Face It talks about being blind, but not physically blind and being weak as being strong. John’s Christian influences are definitely appearing here as “Face it” reminds all of us who we exactly are if we choose not to better ourselves”
1. Play the Game Tonight
“Play the game tonight” was an AOR radio favorite and from its opening, you can hear John Elefante, the new lead man, attempting to create a spirit always present in each Kansas outing. Play The Game Tonight speaks of the concerts a successful band put on night after night, it questions if making it in the music business is really as forfilling as they had expected.”