Source: Graphic by Jarrett Huff / Radio One
Formed in Topeka, Kansas in the early 1970s, Kansas rose to fame as one of America’s premier progressive rock bands, blending classical influences with some heartland rock flavor. Led by guitarist and songwriter Kerry Livgren, frontman and keyboardist Steve Walsh and violinist/vocalist Robby Steinhardt, the band carved out a distinctive sound that fused intricate musicianship, philosophical lyrics and soaring vocals. Early albums like Song for America and Masque built a loyal following, but it was 1976’s Leftoverture that propelled them into rock’s big leagues, led by the timeless anthem Carry On Wayward Son.
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Their commercial peak continued with 1977’s Point of Know Return, which delivered the acoustic hit Dust in the Wind. These albums cemented Kansas as both chart-toppers and FM radio staples, combining prog-rock complexity with arena-ready hooks. At a time when punk and disco were taking hold, Kansas proved that ambitious, high-concept rock could still move units—and fill stadiums.
Through the 1980s and beyond, the band weathered numerous lineup changes and shifting musical trends. Livgren’s writing eventually led to more faith-driven lyrics, while Walsh left and returned multiple times. Despite these changes, Kansas continued touring and recording, keeping their loyal fan base engaged. Later albums like The Absence of Presence showed they could still deliver symphonic rock with bite and intelligence.
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Today, Kansas stands as a testament to the staying power of progressive American rock, while retaining its mythical theme. Led by frontman Ronnie Platt and last original member, guitarist Rich Williams, Kansas keeps the ship moving with the sails at full mast.
With the band’s sweeping instrumentation, virtuosic arrangements and thoughtful songwriting, they’ve influenced generations of musicians—and their classics still resonate with fans old and new. Whether you first heard them blasting from a ’70s muscle car or on a modern streaming playlist, Kansas remains a band that carries on. In honor of the legendary rock band, here’s every song by Kansas ranked from “worst to first:”
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140. Get Rich
139. T.O Witcher
138. Hidden Track
137. Propulsion 1
136. Section 60
135. Musicatto
134. Byzantium
133. Don’t Open Your Eyes
132. Need
131. I Can Fly
130. Incomudro-Hymn to the Atman
129. The Spider
128. Oh Shenandoah
127. Secret Service
126. Not Man Big
125. Inside of Me
124. Grand Fun Alley
123. Desperate Times
122. Taking in the View
121. Home on the Range
120. Apercu
119. Freaks of Nature
118. End of the Age
117. I Counted on Love
116. Rainmaker
115. Tomb 19
114. How My Soul Cries Out for You
113. The Devil Game
112. Don’t Take Your Love Away
111. Animals on the Roof
110. Power
109. Curtain of Iron
108. Three Pretenders
107. Diamonds and Pearls
106. The Song the River Sang
105. Ghosts
104. The Absence of Presence
103. Under the Knife
102. Rhythm of Spirit
101. Incident on the Bridge
1. 100. ‘Circus of Illusion’ – ‘The Absence of Presence’ (2020)
2. 99. ‘Camouflage’ – ‘The Prelude Implicit’ (2016)
3. 98. ‘Bells of Saint James’ – ‘In the Spirit of Things’ (1988)
4. 97. ‘Can’t Cry Anymore’ – ‘Power’ (1986)
5. 96. ‘House on Fire’ – ‘In the Spirit of Things’ (1988)
6. 95. ‘Distant Vision’ – ‘Somewhere to Elsewhere’ (2000)
7. 94. ‘Play On’ – ‘Vinyl Confessions’ (1982)
8. 93. ‘Never’ – ‘The Absence of Presence’ (2020)
9. 92. ‘Anything for You’ – ‘Audio-Visions’ (1980)
10. 91. ‘Jets Overhead’ – ‘The Absence of Presence’ (2020)
11. 90. ‘We’re Not Alone Anymore’ – ‘Power’ (1986)
12. 89. ‘Belexes’ – ‘Kansas’ (1974)
13. 88. ‘Lamplight Symphony’ – Song for America’ (1975)
14. 87. ‘It’s You’ – ‘Masque’ (1975)
15. 86. ‘The Preacher’ – ‘In the Spirit of Things’ (1988)
16. 85. ‘Right Away’ – ‘Vinyl Confessions’ (1982)
17. 84. ‘Stand Beside Me’ – ‘In the Spirit of Things’ (1988)
18. 83. ‘Borderline’ – ‘Vinyl Confessions’ (1982)
19. 82. ‘Windows’ – ‘Vinyl Confessions’ (1982)
20. 81. ‘All the World’ – ‘Masque’ (1975)
21. 80. ‘Angels Have Fallen’ – ‘Monolith’ (1979)
22. 79. ‘Back Door’ – ‘Audio-Visions’ (1980)
23. 78. ‘Black Fathom 4’ – ‘Freaks of Nature’ (1995)
24. 77. ‘One Man, One Heart’ – ‘In the Spirit of Things’ (1988)
25. 76. ‘One Big Sky’ – ‘In the Spirit of Things’ (1988)
26. 75. ‘Mainstream’ – ‘Drastic Measures’ (1983)
27. 74. ‘Silhouettes in Disguise’ – ‘Power’ (1986)
28. 73. ‘Crowded Isolation’ – ‘The Prelude Implicit’ (2016)
29. 72. ‘Mysteries and Mayhem’ – ‘Masque’ (1975)
30. 71. ‘People of the South Wind’ – ‘Monolith’ (1979)
31. 70. ‘Memories Down the Line’ – ‘The Absense of Presence’ (2020)
32. 69. ‘Look at the Time’ – ‘Somewhere to Elsewhere’ (2000)
33. 68. ‘Bringing it Back’ – ‘Kansas’ (1974)
34. 67. ‘Two Cents Worth’ – ‘Masque’ (1975)
35. 66. ‘Lonely Street’ – ‘Song for America’ (1975)
36. 65. ‘The Voyage of Eight Eighteen’ – ‘The Prelude Implicit’ (2016)
37. 64. ‘Refugee’ – ‘The Prelude Implicit’ (2016)
38. 63. ‘With This Heart’ – ‘The Prelude Implicit’ (2016)
39. 62. ‘The Unsung Heroes’ – ‘The Prelude Implicit’ (2016)
40. 61. ‘Myriad’ – ‘Somewhere to Elsewhere’ (2000)
41. 60. ‘Fair Exchange’ – ‘Vinyl Confessions’ (1982)
42. 59. ‘Got to Rock On’ – ‘Audio-Visions’ (1980)
43. 58. ‘The Coming of Dawn (Thanotopsis)’ – ‘Somewhere to Elsewhere’ (2000)
44. 57. ‘Away from You’ – ‘Monolith’ (1979)
45. 56. ‘Visibility Zero’ – ‘The Prelude Implicit’ (2016)
46. 55. ‘Once in a Lifetime’ – ‘In the Spirit of Things’ (1988)
47. 54. ‘Hope Once Again’ – ‘Freaks of Nature’ (1995)
48. 53. ‘The Pilgrimage’ – ‘Kansas’ (1974)
49. 52. ‘Down the Road’ – ‘Song for America’
50. 51. ‘No Room for a Stranger’ – ‘Audio-Visions’ (1980)
51. 50. ‘Lonely Wind’ – ‘Kansas’ (1974)
52. 49. ‘Cheyenne Anthem’ – ‘Leftoverture’ (1976)
53. 48. ‘Cold Gray Morning’ – ‘Freaks of Nature’ (1995)
54. 47. ‘Crossfire’ – ‘Vinyl Confessions’ (1982)
55. 46. ‘Face It’ – ‘Vinyl Confessions’ (1982)
56. 45. ‘Loner’ – ‘Audio-Visions’ (1980)
57. 44. ‘Throwing Mountains’ – ‘The Absence of Presence’ (2020)
58. 43. ‘Going Through the Motions’ – ‘Drastic Measures’ (1983)
59. 42. ‘Lightning’s Hand’ – ‘Point of Know Return’ (1977)
60. 41. ‘Disappearing Skin Tight Blues’ – ‘Somewhere Elsewhere’ (2000)
61. 40. ‘Stay out of Trouble’ – ‘Monolith’ (1979)
62. 39. ‘Nobody’s Home’ – ‘Point of Know Return’ (1977)
63. 38. ‘Journey from Mariabonn’ – ‘Kansas’ (1974)
64. 37. ‘Opus Insert’ – ‘Leftoverture’ (1976)
65. 36. ‘When the World Was Young’ – ‘Somewhere Elsewhere’ (2000)
66. 35. ‘Reason to Be’ – Monolith (1979)
67. 34. ‘Can I Tell You’ – ‘Kansas’ (1974)
68. 33. ‘Peaceful and Warm’ – ‘Freaks of Nature’ (1995)
69. 32. ‘Andi’ – ‘Drastic Measures’ (1983)
70. 31. ‘Chasing Shadows’ – ‘Vinyl Confessions’ (1982)
71. 30. ‘Relentless’ – ‘Audio-Visions’ (1980)
72. 29. ‘Questions of My Childhood’ – ‘Leftoverture’ (1976)
73. 28. ‘Closet Chronicles’ – ‘Point of Know Return’ (1977)
74. 27. ‘ A Glimpse of Hope’ – ‘Monolith’ (1979)
75. 26. ‘Summer’ – ‘The Prelude Implicit’ (2016)
76. 25. ‘Everybody’s My Friend’ – ‘Drastic Measures’ (1983)
77. 24. ‘The Wall’ – ‘Leftoverture’ (1976)
78. 23. ‘All I Wanted’ – ‘Power’ (1986)
79. 22. ‘Death of Mother Nature Suite’ – ‘Kansas’ (1974)
80. 21. ‘On the Other Side’ – ‘Monolith’ (1979)
81. 20. ‘Icarus II’ – ‘Somewhere Elsewhere’ (2000)
82. 19. ‘No One Together’ – ‘Audio-Visions’ (1980)
83. 18. ‘The Pinnacle’ – ‘Masque’ (1975)
84. 17. ‘Sparks of the Tempest’ – ‘Point of Know Return’ (1977)
85. 16. ‘Child of Innocence’ – ‘Masque’ (1975)
86. 15. ‘Paradox’ – ‘Point of Know Return’ (1977)
87. 14. ‘Portrait (He Knew)’ – ‘Point of Know Return’ (1977)
88. 13. ‘Magnum Opus: Father Padilla Meets the Perfect Gnat / Howling at the Moon / Man Overboard / Industry on Parade / Release the Beavers / Gnat Attack’ – ‘Leftoverture’ (1976)
89. 12. ‘It Takes a Woman’s Love (To Make a Man)’ – ‘Masque’ (1975)
90. 11. ‘Hopelessly Human’ – ‘Point of Know Return’ (1977)
91. 10. ‘Miracles Out of Nowhere’ – ‘Leftoverture’ (1976)
92. 9. ‘What’s on My Mind’ – ‘Leftoverture’ (1976)
93. 8. ‘Song for America’ – ‘Song for America’ (1975)
94. 7. Icarus – Borne on Wings of Steel – ‘Masque’ (1975)
95. 6. ‘Hold On’ – ‘Audio-Visions’ (1980)
96. 5. ‘Fight Fire with Fire’ – ‘Drastic Measures’ (1983)
A departure from the band’s iconic prog-rock sound, Fight Fire with Fire is still a great anthem that pairs perfectly with a late-night cruise through the city.
97. 4. ‘Play the Game Tonight’ – ‘Vinyl Confessions’ (1982)
98. 3. ‘Point of Know Return’ – ‘Point of Know Return’ (1977)
99. 2. ‘Dust in the Wind’ – ‘Point of Know Return’ (1977)
Truly one of the greatest acoustic songs ever, Dust in the Wind, along with the entirety of Point of Know Return, cemented Kansas as mainstays in the rock genre.
100. 1. ‘Carry On Wayward Son’ – ‘Leftoverture’ (1976)
While Dust in the Wind can be argued for the top spot on this list, Carry On Wayward Son is a hard song to top. It catapulted Kansas into the mainstream, and gave rock music one of the greatest songs of all time. The song has endured decades of change in the music industry, yet it remains as iconic as ever. It is the best song Kansas has.
