Point of Know Return

The recording sessions for Point of Know Return commenced in June 1977 at Studio in the Country, the Bogalusa, Louisiana facility where Kansas' previous two albums were recorded: due to the band encountering equipment failure at Studio in the Country, Kansas shifted recording sites, the majority of the recording of Point of Know Return being done at Woodland Sound Studios in Nashville over the month of July.Spokane Spokesman-Journal 6 September 2019 "Returning to the 'Point': Kansas' Richard Williams reflects on recording multiplatinum albums" by Azaria Podblesky pp.E2,E9

Singer/songwriter Steve Walsh left the group briefly during the recording of this album.{{cite AV media notes |title=Point of Know Return |others=Kansas |year= 2002|first= David|last=Wild |author-link= David Wild|page=3 |type=CD Booklet |publisher=Legacy Recordings |id= EK 85387 |location=New York City}} 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.In the Studio with Redbeard edition #849, week of September 27, 2004 and again on the 30th Anniversary Episode for Point of Know Return in 2007

"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.{{cite web|url=http://www.potsw.org/InTheStudio-POKR.html |title=In the Studio with Point of Know Return, featuring Kansas|date=September 7, 1992|publisher=In The Studio|access-date=December 8, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041228111915/http://www.potsw.org/InTheStudio-POKR.html |archive-date = December 28, 2004}} 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 the singles "Point of Know Return," which was a late addition to the album, and "Portrait (He Knew)," which 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. Another song, "Closet Chronicles", is a Howard Hughes allegory.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 =AllMusic

| rev1Score ={{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/point-of-know-return-mw0000190576 |title=Kansas - Point of Know Return review |last=Taylor |first=Robert |work=AllMusic |publisher=All Media Network |access-date=January 6, 2018 }}

|rev2 = MusicHound Rock

|rev2Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last=Graff |first1=Gary |author-link=Gary Graff |url=https://archive.org/details/musichoundrockes0000unse |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide|location=Canton, Michigan |publisher=Visible Ink Press |year=1996 |isbn=978-0787610371 |page=377|accessdate=October 27, 2021 |url-access=registration}}

| rev3 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev3score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite book|last=Cross|first=Charles R.|author-link=Charles R. Cross|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=Simon & Schuster|edition=4th|year=2004|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|chapter=Kansas|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/446 446]}}

}}

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 Kansas lacks a virtuoso soloist, the band's ensemble playing is strong and purposeful.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/kansas/albums/album/259687/review/6210463/point_of_know_return |title=Album Reviews: Kansas - Point of Know Return |last=Swenson |first=John |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=January 12, 1978 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106003537/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/kansas/albums/album/259687/review/6210463/point_of_know_return |archive-date=November 6, 2007 |access-date=January 13, 2018 }} Robert Taylor of AllMusic wrote that Kansas' "interplay and superior musicianship make this both an essential classic rock and progressive rock recording", despite its "dated sound" and the band's struggle "to maintain a healthy balance of progression combined with pop."

Point of Know Return would be Kansas' highest-charting album in the US, peaking at No. 4 in January 1978,{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/kansas/chart-history/tlp/ |title=Kansas Chart History: Billboard 200 |work=Billboard.com |publisher=Billboard |access-date=December 29, 2017 }} and would sell four million copies in the US and be certified Quadruple Platinum by the RIAA.{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=kansas#search_section |title=RIAA Gold & Platinum Database: Search for Kansas |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=December 26, 2017 }}

{{Multiple issues|section=yes|

{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2023}}

{{In popular culture|section|date=February 2023}}

}}

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'".

"Nobody's Home" was sampled by rapper J Dilla on the song "So Far" on his 2016 posthumous release The Diary. However, the sample is from a cover version rather than the Kansas recording.

{{Track listing

|

| headline = Side one

| title1 = Point of Know Return

| writer1 = Walsh, Phil Ehart, Robby Steinhardt

| length1 = 3:13

| title2 = Paradox

| writer2 = Kerry Livgren, Walsh

| length2 = 3:50

| title3 = The Spider

| note3 = instrumental

| writer3 = Walsh

| length3 = 2:05

| title4 = Portrait (He Knew)

| writer4 = Livgren, Walsh

| length4 = 4:38

| title5 = Closet Chronicles

| writer5 = Walsh, Livgren

| length5 = 6:31

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

| title6 = Lightning's Hand

| writer6 = Walsh, Livgren

| length6 = 4:24

| title7 = Dust in the Wind

| writer7 = Livgren

| length7 = 3:28

| title8 = Sparks of the Tempest

| writer8 = Livgren, Walsh

| length8 = 4:18

| title9 = Nobody's Home

| writer9 = Livgren, Walsh

| length9 = 4:40

| title10 = Hopelessly Human

| writer10 = Livgren

| length10 = 7:17

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Bonus tracks on 2002 CD reissue

| title11 = Sparks of the Tempest

| note11 = Recorded live at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Maryland

| length11 = 5:17

| title12 = Portrait (He Knew)

| note12 = Remix

| length12 = 4:50

}}

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 a Europe-only collection from the late 1990s.

;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 "Closet Chronicles", "Lightning's Hand", "Sparks of the Tempest", and "Hopelessly Human"
• Rich Williams – electric and acoustic guitars
• Dave Hope – bass
• Phil Ehart – drums, timpani, chimes, additional percussion

In addition to the actual credits, the album's liner notes credit each band member with a fictional instrument, 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

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1977–1978) ! scope="col"| Peak position
scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report){{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}} | align="center"| 52
{{album chart|Canada|7|artist=Kansas|album= Point of Know Return|chartid=5495a|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 4, 2021}}
{{album chart|Netherlands|33|artist=Kansas|album= Point of Know Return|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 4, 2021}}
scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP){{Cite web|url=http://www.infodisc.fr/Album_K.php |website =Infodisc.fr |language=fr |access-date=9 June 2012 |title=Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – K |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022124902/http://infodisc.fr/Album_K.php |archive-date=22 October 2014 }} Select Kansas from the menu, then press OK. | align="center"| 16
{{album chart|Billboard200|4|artist=Kansas|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 4, 2021}}

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1977) ! scope="col"| Position
{{album chart|Canada|59|artist=Kansas|album= Point of Know Return|chartid=5558|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 10, 2024|refname=CA_YE77}}
scope="col"| Chart (1978) ! scope="col"| Position
{{album chart|Canada|10|artist=Kansas|album= Point of Know Return|chartid=0069|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 10, 2024|refname=CA_YE78}}
scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite web|url=https://bestsellingalbums.org/year-end/Billboard_Top_Albums_1978|title=Top US Billboard 200 Albums - Year-end 1978|website=BestSellingAlbums.org|access-date=December 10, 2024}} | align="center"| 9

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Kansas|title=Point of Know Return|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1977|certyear=1978}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Kansas|title=Point of Know Return|award=Platinum|number=4|type=album|relyear=1977|certyear=1995}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

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Category:Kansas (band) albums

Category:1977 albums

Category:Albums produced by Jeff Glixman

Category:Epic Records albums

Category:Legacy Recordings albums

Category:Albums recorded at Studio in the Country