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!

---

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?

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 64: Let It Be Your Guide: The Kansas Album Review with Tim Durling

Masquerading as a man without a reason, Tim Durling is a wayward son no more!  Now with his third book on the shelves, it’s time to talk to Tim about his latest tome:  Let It Be Your Guide: The Kansas Album Review.  Like his previous two books, you can get this one now on your local Amazon.

Cohost Jex Russell and I will be chatting with Tim this afternoon about all the usual stuff:  the genesis of the idea, recruiting the coterie of “Wheatheads” (including Jex and I, among other members of the community) and the brilliant cover artwork by Matt Phillips.  We also have a very special surprise for Tim, plus lots of physical product to show.  This time, I’ve got an 8-track!

Today’s show will be a free-flowing chat, and it will be live, so you too will be able to ask Tim your Kansas questions!  Let Tim be your guide.

---

From Amazon:

THE MUSIC IS ALL FOR YOU.

LET IT BE YOUR GUIDE: The Kansas Album Review is an in-depth look at America’s premier progressive rock band, and celebrates 50 YEARS OF KANSAS!

Led by the songwriting and multi-instrumental genius of Kerry Livgren, the pristine pipes of Steve Walsh, and the cutting violin of Robby Steinhardt, Kansas emerged from their Topeka home base with their 1974 debut album, to take on the world… and win! Initially met with confusion from music buyers, Kansas eventually captured the hearts of listeners far and wide. Kansas has proven that a band writing—and playing—music their way can succeed, and flourish:

• 7 Billboard Top 40 singles
• 7 Billboard Hot 100 hits
• 5 Gold albums
• A 4X Platinum album
• A 4,000,000-selling album
• A 3,000,000-selling greatest hits
• A Platinum live album

After 50 years, Kansas continues to produce vital, new music, and brings their songs to audiences night after night.

Let It Be Your Guide gathers together a coterie of “Wheatheads” to wax thoughtfully on the deepcatalogue this band possesses. Each of the band’s 15 studio albums are explored thoroughly, with space also given to their many live albums, and compilations.

BOOK FEATURES:

• An interview with Kansas cover artist Denise De la Cerda, who painted the artwork for The Prelude Implicit (2016), The Absence of Presence (2020) and the Kansas’ 50th Anniversary Poster!
• Foreword by Jeff Wagner, who was the Product Manager at InsideOut music when they signed Kansas in 2014!
• Insightful contributions from no less than 30 Kansas Super Fans!
• Over 250 pages and many B&W photos from Tim Durling’s personal collection, including 8-tracks, records, cassettes, CDs, tickets and more!

---

Join us for the talk, and support Tim by buying the book at the Amazon link above!

Friday July 5 at 4:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 5:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

 

 

---

BONUS:  Tim’s Guide to the Kansas Compilations!