Always Never the Same (Kansas album)

Always Never the Same is the thirteenth studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1998. This album consists of mostly covers of the band’s previous work, re-recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra. New songs include "In Your Eyes", "The Sky Is Falling", "Need to Know" and the instrumental "Preamble". "Prelude & Introduction" is a medley of the Kansas songs "Carry On Wayward Son", "Point of Know Return", "Opus Insert", and "Lamplight Symphony". The album also includes a cover of The Beatles’ "Eleanor Rigby". "Carry On Wayward Son" was also recorded during this time, in case strong sales would bring forth a second symphonic album, but was never released. This is the final Kansas album to include songs written by lead singer and keyboardist Steve Walsh.

Always Never the Same
Studio album by Kansas
Released	May 19, 1998
Recorded	September 1997 – February 1998
Studio	Southern Tracks, Electric Landlady and Tree Sound Studios, Atlanta, Georgia, Abbey Road Studios, London, UK (Orchestra recordings)
Genre	Symphonic rock
Length	71:05
Label	River North (US) Edsel (Europe) Victor (Japan)
Producer	Phil Ehart, Rich Williams, Trammell Starks
Kansas chronology
Freaks of Nature (1995) Always Never the Same (1998) King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Kansas (1998)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[2]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Originally from the album	Length
1.	"Eleanor Rigby" (The Beatles cover)	John Lennon, Paul McCartney		3:22
2.	"Dust in the Wind"	Kerry Livgren	Point of Know Return (1977)	4:01
3.	"Preamble" (orchestral)	Larry Baird		3:25
4.	"Song for America"	Livgren	Song for America (1975)	9:15
5.	"In Your Eyes" (new song)	Steve Walsh		4:30
6.	"Miracles Out of Nowhere"	Livgren	Leftoverture (1976)	6:27
7.	"Hold On"	Livgren	Audio-Visions (1980)	4:18
8.	"The Sky Is Falling" (new song)	Walsh		7:50
9.	"Cheyenne Anthem"	Livgren	Leftoverture	7:29
10.	"Prelude & Introduction" (medley)	Phil Ehart, Billy Greer, Robby Steinhardt, Walsh, Rich Williams, Baird		4:53
11.	"The Wall"	Livgren, Walsh	Leftoverture	5:29
12.	"Need to Know" (new song)	Walsh		4:02
13.	"Nobody’s Home"	Livgren, Walsh	Point of Know Return	6:04

Personnel

Kansas

• Steve Walsh – keyboards, lead vocals
• Robby Steinhardt – violin, lead and backing vocals
• Rich Williams – guitars, producer
• Billy Greer – bass, vocals
• Phil Ehart – drums, producer

Additional musicians

• The London Symphony Orchestra, arranged and conducted by Larry Baird

Production

• Trammell Starks – producer, digital editing
• Russ Fowler, James Majors, Jim "Z" Zumpano – engineers
• Peter Cobbin – orchestra recordings engineer
• Jeff Glixman – mixing at Tree Sound Studios, Atlanta, Georgia
• Greg Calbi – mastering at Masterdisk, New York
• Brian Jobson, James Majors – digital editing
• Michael Allen – copyist
• Pennie Moore, Conni Treantafeles – art direction and design
• Marti Griffin – photography