"Hold On" by Kansas

Song#:  0337
Date:  09/20/1980
Debut:  90
Peak:  40
Weeks:  11
Genre:  Rock, Arena Rock, Prog Rock



Pop Bits:  After two giant hit albums, "Leftoverture" and "Point of Know Return," Kansas returned with "Monolith," an album that started to see changes for the group. It was a lackluster affair with fans not really latching on to the new songs and by the end of that tour, only about half of the song from the album remained on the set list. All would be eliminated on their next tour. The band was going through changes both musically and personally as founding member Kerry Lievgren became a born-again Christian and this began to be reflected in his music. This first single from the album "Audio-Visions" was written by Livegren in hopes it would help to get his wife to turn to Christianity. The song would be the last Top 40 hit for the group in its original line-up.

ReduxReview:  My reference to Kansas is when I'm serving last night's meal all over again - I commonly refer to the dinner as "leftovertures." Other than that, I wasn't big into Kansas. "Point of No Return" was my favorite song of theirs, but that was about it. This song doesn't change my mind any. Slightly Celtic Kansas. It doesn't sounds very single-worthy to me either.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  While still in Kansas, Livgren recorded a solo album that was released in 1980. "Seeds of Change" was basically a contemporary Christian recording and it featured some of the other members of Kansas along with David Pack (Ambrosia) and Ronnie James Dio. The appearance of Dio was a bit controversial for Livgren's Christian following due to Dio's bands (Black Sabbath and Dio) being considered "satanic" at the time.

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