Point of Know Return is the fifth studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1977. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2002. It was certified 4× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in May 1995.
Composition and recording
The recording sessions for Point of Know Return commenced in June 1977 at Studio in the Country, the Bogalusa, Louisiana facility where Kansas' previous two albums were recorded: due to the band encountering equipment failure at Studio in the Country, Kansas shifted recording sites, the majority of the recording of Point of Know Return being done at Woodland Sound Studios in Nashville over the month of July.
Singer/songwriter Steve Walsh left the group briefly during the recording of this album. In an interview on the weekly In the Studio with Redbeard radio show, he would admit that, at this point, he had been something of a prima donna and was attracted by the chance of a solo career.
"Dust in the Wind" is known for its sparse acoustic nature. The guitar line for the song was written by Kerry Livgren as a finger exercise for learning fingerpicking. His wife, Vicci, heard what he was doing, remarked that the melody was nice, and encouraged him to write lyrics for it. Livgren was unsure whether his fellow band members would like it since it was a departure from their signature style. However, he did offer it to them, and the song was accepted and then recorded.
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Rolling Stone gave the album a mixed review, saying that though the transition to shorter songs generally works, the lyrics are "a wan and ridiculous rehash of the bargain-basement exoticism employed by the British art-rock crowd." They commented that though Kansas lacks a virtuoso soloist, the band's ensemble playing is strong and purposeful. Robert Taylor of AllMusic wrote that Kansas' "interplay and superior musicianship make this both an essential classic rock and progressive rock recording", despite its "dated sound" and the band's struggle "to maintain a healthy balance of progression combined with pop." and would sell four million copies in the US and be certified Quadruple Platinum by the RIAA.
Track listing
The remix of "Portrait (He Knew)" in the 2002 remastered edition marks the third time the song has been remixed. A remix appeared on the original single. A different remix appeared on the bonus disc of a Europe-only collection from the late 1990s.
Personnel
;Kansas
- Steve Walsh – organ, synthesizers, vibraphone, piano, lead vocals (except on "Lightning's Hand"), backing vocals, additional percussion
- Kerry Livgren – synthesizers, piano, clavinet, electric and acoustic guitars, additional percussion
- Robby Steinhardt – violins, viola, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Closet Chronicles", "Lightning's Hand", "Sparks of the Tempest", and "Hopelessly Human"
- Rich Williams – electric and acoustic guitars
- Dave Hope – bass
- Phil Ehart – drums, timpani, chimes, additional percussion
In addition to the actual credits, the album's liner notes credit each band member with a fictional instrument, such as "chain-driven gong", "autogyro", "Rinaldo whistling machine", and "Peabody chromatic inverter".
;Production
- Jeff Glixman – producer, engineer, mixing at Village Recorders, Los Angeles, August 1977, remastered edition producer
- Terry Diane Becker – additional engineering
- George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York, September 1977
- Kansas – arrangements and cover art concept
- Tom Drennon – art director
- Peter Lloyd – cover painting
- Rod Dyer – inner sleeve design
- Bob Maile – calligraphy
- Jeff Magid – remastered edition producer
Charts
Weekly charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1977–1978)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
| align="center"| 52
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP)
| align="center"| 16
|-
|}
Year-end charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1977)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1978)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
|-
!scope="row"| US Billboard 200
| align="center"| 9
|}