Kansas – Always Never the Same (1998): A Definitive Album Guide
Always Never the Same, released in 1998, is the thirteenth studio album by American progressive rock band Kansas. Known for blending classic Kansas progressive rock elements with symphonic and orchestral arrangements, this album is a concept-driven work that revisits the band’s musical roots while exploring reflective and emotional themes.
Album Overview
Produced by Phil Ehart and Steve Rawls, Always Never the Same features Kansas’ lineup during the late 1990s:
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Steve Walsh – lead vocals, keyboards
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Rich Williams – guitar
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Billy Greer – bass, vocals
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David Ragsdale – violin, vocals
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Phil Ehart – drums
The album incorporates orchestral arrangements and symphonic textures, creating a cinematic and expansive sound. Many of the songs are melodic, progressive, and introspective, with lyrics that explore time, memory, and personal reflection. The title track serves as the thematic centerpiece, expressing nostalgia and the tension between continuity and change.
Tracklist
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Prelude
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Always Never the Same
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Rainmaker
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True Blue
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Need to Know
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Comin’ Back to Me
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River of Days
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I Can Fly
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Cold Grey Morning
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Deadly Intentions
Album Credits
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Band Members:
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Steve Walsh – lead vocals, keyboards
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Rich Williams – guitar
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Billy Greer – bass, vocals
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David Ragsdale – violin, vocals
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Phil Ehart – drums
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Production:
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Produced by: Phil Ehart & Steve Rawls
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Engineered by: Steve Rawls
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Recorded at: Axis Studios, Atlanta, Georgia
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Artwork:
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The cover features a surreal landscape with a timeless, almost dreamlike atmosphere, visually reinforcing the album’s themes of reflection and continuity.
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Commercial Performance & Grossing Info
Always Never the Same achieved moderate commercial success:
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Did not chart on the US Billboard 200
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Sales estimated at ~50,000–100,000 copies worldwide
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The album primarily targeted Kansas’ dedicated fanbase rather than mainstream radio markets
Though it lacked major radio hits, the album was praised for its musical craftsmanship, emotional depth, and orchestral arrangements, appealing to longtime Kansas fans and progressive rock enthusiasts.
Critical Reception
Critics appreciated the album’s return to progressive roots, noting that Kansas successfully balanced orchestral textures with rock instrumentation. Some reviewers commented that the album’s reflective nature made it more of a mature, fan-focused work than a mainstream commercial effort.
Retrospective reviews highlight Always Never the Same as a sophisticated late-era Kansas release, emphasizing emotional storytelling and musical richness.
Fun Facts
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The album heavily incorporates David Ragsdale’s violin alongside symphonic orchestration, reminiscent of Kansas’ classic 1970s sound.
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“Always Never the Same” is a concept piece that ties together themes of reflection, time, and memory.
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Several tracks, including “Rainmaker” and “River of Days,” were performed in live concerts during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
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Kansas collaborated with orchestral arrangers for the lush, cinematic textures featured throughout the album.
Trivia
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The album emphasizes progressive rock storytelling over concise, radio-friendly hits.
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“Need to Know” and “I Can Fly” were re-recorded or revisited from earlier Kansas sessions, updated with orchestral arrangements.
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This was one of the first Kansas albums in the 1990s to combine their classic lineup with full orchestral production.
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The album title reflects the balance between continuity (“Always”) and change (“Never the Same”), a recurring theme in Kansas’ lyrics.
Did You Know?
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Did you know Always Never the Same was Kansas’ first album in several years to feature extensive orchestral arrangements?
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Did you know David Ragsdale’s violin work gives the album a sound reminiscent of Kansas’ 1970s progressive era?
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Did you know this album was designed primarily for Kansas’ dedicated fanbase rather than commercial radio success?
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Did you know several tracks on this album revisit older material from the band’s past, but with a modern symphonic twist?
