„Point of Know Return“ – Versionsunterschied

Point of Know Return is the fifth studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1977. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2002.

Composition and recording

Singer/songwriter Steve Walsh left the group briefly during the recording of the album. In an interview on the weekly In the Studio with Redbeard radio show, he would admit that, at this point, he had been something of a prima donna and was attracted by the chance of a solo career..

"Dust in the Wind" is known for its sparse acoustic nature. The guitar line for the song was written by Kerry Livgren as a finger exercise for learning fingerpicking. His wife, Vicci, heard what he was doing, remarked that the melody was nice, and encouraged him to write lyrics for it. Livgren was unsure whether his fellow band members would like it, since it was a departure from their signature style. However he did offer it to them, and the song was accepted and then recorded.

The album is critically acclaimed for singles like "Point of Know Return", which was a late addition to the album. "Portrait (He Knew)" was written about Albert Einstein. In 1988, Livgren released an updated version of "Portrait (He Knew)" titled "Portrait II" as part of the album Prime Mover credited to his band AD. He changed the subject of the song from Einstein to Jesus Christ. "Closet Chronicles" is a Howard Hughes allegory.

Reception

Vorlage:Album ratings Rolling Stone gave the album a mixed review, saying that though the transition to shorter songs generally works, the lyrics are "a wan and ridiculous rehash of the bargain-basement exoticism employed by the British art-rock crowd." They commented that though the band lacks a virtuoso soloist, the band's ensemble playing is strong and purposeful.

Point of Know Return would be Kansas' highest charting album in the US, peaking at No. 4 in January 1978, and would sell four million copies in the US and be certified Quadruple Platinum by the RIAA.

Cultural impact

→ Hauptartikel: Dust in the Wind#References in popular culture

During a debate of greatest "Song 1 Side 1" in history among the lead characters in the movie High Fidelity, Jack Black's character criticizes one of John Cusack's character's proposals as "too obvious, like 'Point of Know Return'". The album cover has become an iconic image from the album rock era, appearing on the background of the set of VH1 Classic, on tee shirts worn by characters in movies and on TV, and in other places.

In October 2009, a live version of the title track was released as a downloadable add-on to the Harmonix video game Rock Band. The title track has also been used in a 2009 State Farm commercial, in which a man sings along to it in his parked car.

In the 2008 movie The Rocker, Rainn Wilson's character Robert Fishman is seen wearing a Point of Know Return T-shirt.

"Nobody's Home" is sampled by rapper J Dilla on the song "So Far" on his 2016 posthumous release The Diary. The sample is not the Kansas version of the song.

Track listing

Vorlage:Track listing Vorlage:Track listing Vorlage:Track listing The remix of "Portrait (He Knew)" in the 2002 remastered edition marks the third time the song has been remixed. A remix appeared on the original single. A different remix appeared on the bonus disc of an Europe-only collection from the late 1990s.

Personnel

Kansas

• Steve Walsh – organ, synthesizers, vibraphone, piano, lead vocals (except on "Lightning's Hand"), backing vocals, additional percussion
• Kerry Livgren – synthesizers, piano, clavinet, electric and acoustic guitars, additional percussion
• Robby Steinhardt – violins, viola, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Lightning's Hand", "Sparks of the Tempest" and "Hopelessly Human"
• Rich Williams – electric and acoustic guitars, pedals
• Dave Hope – bass
• Phil Ehart – drums, timpani, chimes, additional percussion

Note: The album's performing credits listed one joke "instrument" for each band member, such as "chain-driven gong", "autogyro", "Rinaldo whistling machine" and "Peabody chromatic inverter".

Production

• Jeff Glixman - producer, engineer, mixing at Village Recorders, Los Angeles, August 1977, remastered edition producer
• Terry Diane Becker - additional engineering
• George Marino - mastering at Sterling Sound, New York, September 1977
• Kansas - arrangements and cover art concept
• Tom Drennon - art director
• Peter Lloyd - cover painting
• Rod Dyer - inner sleeve design
• Bob Maile - calligraphy
• Jeff Magid - remastered edition producer

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1978	Billboard 200 (US)	4
	RPM100 Albums (Canada)	7
	French Albums Chart	16
	Dutch MegaCharts	33

Singles

Year	Title	Chart	Position
1978	"Point of Know Return"	RPM100 Singles (Canada)	13
		Billboard Hot 100 (US)	28
	"Dust in the Wind"	RPM100 Singles (Canada)	3
		Billboard Hot 100 (US)	6
		Billboard Adult Contemporary (US)	6
		French Singles Chart	22
		Dutch MegaCharts	22
		Belgian Ultratop (Flanders)	27
		New Zealand Singles Chart	36
		Australian Singles Chart	52
	"Portrait (He Knew)"	RPM100 Singles (Canada)	62
		Billboard Hot 100 (US)	64

Certifications

Country	Organization	Year	Sales
USA	RIAA	1995	4x Platinum (+ 4,000,000)
Canada	CRIA	1978	Platinum (+ 100,000)