Huge thank you to Jex Russell and Tim Durling for spending Friday afternoon with us chatting about Kansas!  Tim’s third book, Let It Be Your Guide: The Kansas Album Review, is out now Like his previous two books, you can get this one now on your local Amazon.

Kansas are progressive rock legends, but did they ever get the respect they deserved?  They are still making music today, and good music too.  This book, and this interview, reflect a love of Kansas that perhaps isn’t seen enough in media (mainstream and social) these days.  Tim hopes to change that.  His appreciation for the music is sincere.  As for Jex and I, we could only sit back and learn.

We had one surprise lined up for Tim, a Grab A Stack of Rock first.  In a surprise appearance, TVC bandmate and book cover artist Matt Phillips explains what went into the artwork, and other important details about publishing a book like this.  Indeed, there are photos of articles from Tim’s personal collection inside, all laid out beautifully with great care.  Thank you Matt for sending in this great video.  If you want to know about some of the Easter eggs on the book art, watch this video.

Congratulations Tim on this third book, and please support him by picking up a copy on Amazon.  Jex and I will be back from the cottage soon for another Grab A Stack of Rock.  Thanks everybody for your viewer questions and comments!

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SHOW NOTES

“A FAN’S EAR-VIEW OF WHAT MAKES KANSAS’ MUSIC SO SPECIAL” – Jeff Wagner

Tim, what took you so long to write a third book?  Y&T was 7 months ago.

Tell us your point of entry into Kansas.  (I do not remember ever seeing Kansas on MuchMusic)

One might argue that you were born to write this book, given your channel “Tim’s Vinyl Confessions”.

During a debate of greatest “Song 1 Side 1” in history among the lead characters in the movie High Fidelity, Jack Black’s character criticizes one of John Cusack’s character’s proposals as “too obvious, like ‘Point of Know Return'”.

Let’s assume you’re talking to Kansas megafans watching this show, who have every album already. Why should they buy this book?

The band is known for clever wordplay in titles, such as “Point of Know Return” and “Leftoverture”. Did you sneak any clever wordplay into this book that you can tell us about?