"Power" by Kansas

Song#:  3019
Date:  02/14/1987
Debut:  94
Peak:  84
Weeks:  4
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Kansas scored their first Pop Top 20 hit since 1982 with "All I Wanted," the first single from their album Power. The song also did well at Rock (#10) and AC (#14). To follow it up, this next track was selected for release. It didn't catch on nearly as well peaking at #38 on the Rock chart while not able to get out of the basement at Pop. It would end up being the band's final song to reach the Pop chart. Their next album, 1988's In the Spirit of Things, failed to do much of anything with only "Stand Beside Me" getting to #13 at Rock. The LP would be their last for a major label. The band would continue to record and tour over the years with the lineup constantly changing over time.

ReduxReview:  This song is kind of like two different ones stitched together. The verse has a softer rock feel and nearly sounds like Survivor while the chorus moves into arena rock territory and infringes on John Parr territory. Then there is a little prog rock bridge for no real reason. The individual parts aren't too bad, but I don't think they go together and the song never gels into something that feels consistent and complete. They probably wanted to appeal to their rock audience after the AC-leaning "All I Wanted," but this wasn't the right song for the job.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  A third single, "Can't Cry Anymore," was released from the album, but it failed to chart. The power ballad was a cover of a song originally recorded by the new wave/power pop band The Producers. It appeared on their 1985 third album Run for Your Life. The Atlanta-based band got signed to Portrait Records and released a couple of albums for them in 1981 and 1982. After their debut album had a promising start with the #61 "What She Does to Me," their second album tanked and Portrait dropped them. Three years later, the indie release Run for Your Life was pushed out. It didn't do much business, but the track "Can't Cry Anymore" ended up over in the Kansas camp. A video that featured comedian Richard Belzer was shot for the Kansas version of the song, but it didn't help sell the tune.

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