| Vinyl Confessions is the eighth studio album, and ninth album overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1982.
Vinyl Confessions was a major turning point for the band. After the conversion of both guitarist/keyboard player Kerry Livgren and bass player Dave Hope to born again Christianity, and the greater focus that Livgren placed on Christianity in his lyrics, lead singer Steve Walsh became disenchanted with the direction that Kansas was taking and left to form his own band, Streets. Walsh also contributed much as a songwriter, so the band was forced to find a new lead singer who could not only blend well with the band's style of music, but provide new material for the upcoming album. After a long audition process, the choice came down to three strong candidates: Warren Ham, Michael Gleason and John Elefante. The band eventually settled on Elefante, and during the phone conversation in which he was offered the job, Livgren discovered that Elefante, too, was a Christian. (In fact, so were Ham and Gleason, who would also join Kansas on their next two tours, but in supportive roles.) The Christian connections didn't end there--one of the co-writers of the band's lead single, "Play the Game Tonight," Rob Frazier, was just starting his long career as a Contemporary Christian music, or CCM, performer.
All these Christians together had a significant impact on the lyrical direction of the album. "Fair Exchange" described the world under the rule of the Anti-Christ, while "Chasing Shadows" pointed out the frustration in seeking anything outside Biblical truth. "Diamonds and Pearls" emphasized the value of spiritual wealth over financial wealth, while "Face It", "Windows" and "Borderline" all had strong evangelistic appeals to the listener. The album's closer, "Crossfire," made the album's position abundantly clear in its direct reference to Jesus Christ ("the man who rose").
Vinyl Confessions did not go unnoticed by the nascent CCM industry, which was just coming into its own at that time. Numerous Christian magazines trumpeted Kansas' new musical direction, and CCM Magazine even chose Vinyl Confessions as the #1 CCM album of 1982. All this attention created an entirely new audience of listeners for Kansas, but it also created further tensions within the band, which would come to a head during the recording of their next album.
The album was also the last with violinist/vocalist/emcee Robby Steinhardt who would leave the band after the tour in support of Vinyl Confessions and would not return until 1997.
The album was re-released on CD in remastered form in February, 1996 on Legacy/Epic Records. However, the album is currently out of print.
Track listing
"Play the Game Tonight" (Ehart, Danny Flower, Rob Frazier, Livgren, Williams) – 3:26
"Right Away" (Dino Elefante, John Elefante) – 4:06
"Fair Exchange" (Livgren) – 5:01
"Chasing Shadows" (D. Elefante, J. Elefante) – 3:20
"Diamonds and Pearls" (Livgren) – 4:50
"Face It" (D. Elefante, J. Elefante) – 4:17
"Windows" (Livgren) – 3:32
"Borderline" (Livgren) – 4:00
"Play On" (J. Elefante, Livgren) – 3:32
"Crossfire" (Livgren) – 6:35
Personnel
Phil Ehart - drums
John Elefante - keyboards, vocals
Dave Hope - bass
Kerry Livgren - guitar, keyboards
Robby Steinhardt - violin, vocals
Rich Williams - guitar
Additional personnel
Bill Bergman - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
John Berry, Jr. - trumpet
Jim Coile - tenor saxophone
Ben Dahlke - bassoon
Beverly Dahlke-Smith - saxophone
Warren Ham - harmonica
David Pack - vocals, background vocals
Greg Smith - baritone saxophone
Anne Steinhardt - violin, vocals
Roger Taylor, drummer for Britain's Queen background vocals on "Right Away", "Diamonds & Pearls", "Play The Game Tonight"
Lee Thornburg - trumpet, saxophone
Donna Williams - vocals, background vocals
Production
Producers: Kansas, Ken Scott
Engineer: Ken Scott
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
Year Chart Position
1982 Pop Albums 16
Singles - Billboard (North America)
Year Single Chart Position
1982 "Play The Game Tonight" Mainstream Rock 4
1982 "Play The Game Tonight" Pop Singles 17
1982 "Right Away" Mainstream Rock 33
1982 "Right Away" Pop Singles 73
1982 "Chasing Shadows" Mainstream Rock 54
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