"Carry On Wayward Son" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Kansas | ||||
from the album Leftoverture | ||||
B-side | "Questions of My Childhood" | |||
Released | November 19, 1976 [1] | |||
Studio | Studio in the Country | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Kirshner | |||
Songwriter(s) | Kerry Livgren | |||
Producer(s) | Jeff Glixman, Kansas | |||
Kansas singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Carry On Wayward Son" on YouTube |
"Carry On Wayward Son" is a song by American rock band Kansas, released on their 1976 studio album, Leftoverture . Written by guitarist Kerry Livgren, the song became the band's first Top 40 hit, reaching No. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977. [4]
The song has since remained a classic rock radio staple and a signature song for the band. [5]
While Kansas' previous three albums had split songwriting duties between lead vocalist Steve Walsh and band member Kerry Livgren, the latter essentially provided all the material for the band's fourth album release, Leftoverture. According to Livgren, "On the very first day of rehearsals, Steve...said that he had nothing – not a single song. I don't relish that kind of pressure, but with hindsight it really brought out the best in me." [6] Although based in Atlanta, Georgia, Kansas had returned to their Topeka, Kansas, hometown to work up material for what would be the Leftoverture album, the band rehearsing in a vacant store in a strip mall the material Livgren was working up on a Lowrey organ at his parents' home where he was staying. [7] "Carry On Wayward Son" was written after the band had completed rehearsals. Livgren, who perceived the song as being "beamed down" to him in full, [8] in 2004 stated: "It's an autobiographical song. Parallel to my musical career I've always been on a spiritual sojourn, looking for truth and meaning. It was a song of self-encouragement. I was telling myself to keep on looking and I would find what I sought." [6] Livgren was born again on July 25, 1979, and since 1980 recorded primarily as a Christian rock artist. [9]
When it came out, there was nothing like it. [It has] so many musically interesting parts. It wasn't rubber-stamped; it was unique to itself. It's a great sing-along. It had a lot of things going for it. When we recorded it, we knew we had a great song. [10]
...we didn't realize what it would turn into. It's become part of rock-&-roll culture. But then it seemed like a fluke. It was the right song at the right time. [11]
Kansas guitarist Rich Williams on the song's impact and enduring appeal
Drummer Phil Ehart recalled that Livgren mentioned a new song as Kansas was packing up to leave Topeka for Studio in the Country, the Louisiana facility where Leftoverture was recorded from December 1975, with Livgren presenting "Carry On Wayward Son" to his bandmates only after they had reached the studio. According to Livgren "It was the last night we were in Topeka. I came into the studio on the last day and said, ‘I think you better hear this one’. The guys looked at each other and said, ‘We gotta do this’." [12] In 2004, Ehart recalled, "It was the last, last [song] to be submitted for...'Leftoverture'...I can't even remember if we dropped something else to get [it] on there...[When] we recorded it, we didn't really think it would be a hit [as] it was about six minutes long...We were on the road [in December 1976 when] our manager...said: 'Well, you're not gonna believe this, but we actually have a hit song.' We said, 'What?' He said, 'Yeah. "Carry On Wayward Son" is shooting up the charts.' And it barely made it on the album!" [13]
Kansas' other guitarist Rich Williams indicated in 2004 that the success of "Carry On Wayward Son" was not a total surprise to the band: "As far as knowing what a hit was, we didn't have any idea. But we knew there was something special about ['Carry On Wayward Son']. It was very easy to listen to but still very different." [14]
Subsequent to the October 21, 1976, release of the Leftoverture album, the track "Carry On Wayward Son" became an FM radio favorite, [15] [10] causing the November 23 single release of a 3:26 edit of the 5:26 album track (itself trimmed from 7:30 minutes). [16] Many Top 40 stations aired the full album cut rather than the single edit. [17]
Debuting at No. 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated December 25, 1976, [18] "Carry On Wayward Son" reached the Top 40 — at No. 36 — seven weeks later, [19] the single in its first months of release typically garnering attention in what could be termed secondary markets being "added" by major market radio stations such as WABC-AM (NYC) and KHJ-AM (LA) only in March 1977. [20] [21] Ultimately "Carry On Wayward Son" reached a chart peak of No. 11 on the Hot 100 dated April 2, 1977: [22] Internationally the single reached No. 6 in Canada, [23] No. 51 in the UK [24] and No. 58 in Australia [25] All initial releases of the single had a B-side of "Questions of My Childhood".
"Carry on Wayward Son" was later included on all Kansas compilation albums (except for Works in Progress ) and was heard on all Kansas live albums. It was certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 units on December 18, 1990, and reached quadruple platinum, or 4 million, on November 26, 2019. [26] "Carry On Wayward Son" is 96th on VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs. [27]
Ultimate Classic Rock critic Eduardo Rivadavia rated "Carry On Wayward Son" as Kansas's greatest song, saying it "combines their progressive and commercial instincts" and "fluidly shifts between studied technique and an infectious melody, culminating in a soaring chorus." [28] Classic Rock critic Dave Ling also ranked it as Kansas' greatest song. [29]
Chart (1976–1978) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Singles (Kent Music Report) [30] | 58 |
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [31] | 5 |
UK Singles (OCC) [32] | 51 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [33] | 11 |
Chart (2022) | Peak position |
---|---|
Hungary (Single Top 40) [34] | 13 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Germany (BVMI) [35] | Gold | 250,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [36] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [26] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Kansas is an American rock band formed in Topeka, Kansas in 1973. They became popular during the decade initially on album-oriented rock charts and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind". The band has produced nine gold albums, three multi-platinum albums, one other platinum studio album (Monolith), one platinum live double album, and a million-selling single, "Dust in the Wind". Kansas appeared on the US Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the 1970s and 1980s and played to sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout North America, Europe and Japan. "Carry On Wayward Son" was the second-most-played track on US classic rock radio in 1995 and No. 1 in 1997.
Masque is the third studio album by American progressive rock band Kansas. The album was released in September 1975, remastered for CD in 2001, and again remastered and reissued on vinyl in 2014. The opening track, "It Takes a Woman's Love ", was remixed for release as a single but was not popular, including additional guest vocals and segments far different from the album version.
Leftoverture is the fourth studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1976. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2001. It was the band's first album to be certified by the RIAA, and remains their highest selling album, having been certified 5 times platinum in the United States.
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Vinyl Confessions is the eighth studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1982. 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.
Steve Walsh is an American singer, musician and songwriter, best known for his work as a longtime member of the progressive rock band Kansas. He retired from the band in 2014. He sings lead on four of Kansas' best-known hits: "Carry On Wayward Son", "Dust in the Wind", "Point of Know Return", and "All I Wanted", the last two of which he co-wrote.
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"Dust in the Wind" is a song recorded by American progressive rock band Kansas and written by band member Kerry Livgren, first released on their 1977 album Point of Know Return.
The Ultimate Kansas is the fourth compilation from the band Kansas. It was originally released in 2002, and focuses solely on their Kirshner period from their debut album Kansas in 1974, up to and including Drastic Measures in 1983. The collection was rereleased in 2008 under the title Essential Kansas 3.0 as part of the Sony/BMG Legacy series of that name, with an additional "bonus disc" with seven additional songs, and featuring "eco-friendly" packaging.
"Play the Game Tonight" is a progressive rock single recorded by Kansas for their 1982 album Vinyl Confessions. It managed to chart at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the 15th single, 10th top 100 hit, sixth top 40 hit, and the third of four Top 20 hits produced by Kansas.
The discography of Kansas, an American rock band, consists of 16 studio albums, seven live albums, nine compilation albums, and 29 singles. Formed by members Kerry Livgren, Robby Steinhardt, Dave Hope, Phil Ehart, Steve Walsh, and Rich Williams, the group signed a recording contract with Kirshner Records in 1974. That same year they released their self-titled debut album.
"Song for America" is the title track from the second album of American progressive rock band Kansas. It was written by guitarist/keyboardist Kerry Livgren during the period of heavy touring for their first album. The song was released on their 1975 album Song for America, and later released as the band's third single, although it did not chart. It is known for its symphonic structure, and its lyrics showing America's state before and after colonization. The song is one of Kansas' most well-known songs from their period of obscurity, appearing on most of their collections, live albums and DVDs.
"Point of Know Return" is a song by the progressive rock band Kansas written by Steve Walsh (lyrics), Robby Steinhardt, and Phil Ehart for their 1977 album Point of Know Return.
"People of the South Wind" is a progressive rock single recorded by Kansas and written by Kerry Livgren for their 1979 album Monolith.
"Portrait (He Knew)" is a song by the American progressive rock band Kansas. It was written by Kerry Livgren and Steve Walsh and was recorded for the band's fifth album, Point of Know Return. The song was also released as a single after the success of "Point of Know Return" and "Dust in the Wind" and charted at #64 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was later released on the live and compilation albums Two for the Show, Live at the Whisky, Device, Voice, Drum, The Kansas Boxed Set, The Ultimate Kansas, Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection, Works in Progress, and Playlist: The Very Best of Kansas. It appears in a number of different mixes and lengths: the original album version, the edited single version, a different single edit that appears as a bonus track on the European-only 1999 compilation Definitive Collection, and a new remix by the original producers Jeff Glixman as a bonus track on the CD remaster of its original parent album. It was also released on the DVDs of Device, Voice, Drum and Works in Progress.
"What's on My Mind" is a song written by Kerry Livgren that was first released by Kansas on their 1976 album Leftoverture. It was also released as the follow-up single from the album to their hit "Carry On Wayward Son".
"The Wall" is a song written by Kerry Livgren and Steve Walsh that was first released on Kansas' 1976 album Leftoverture. It was subsequently released on several of the band's live and compilation albums.