Two for the Show (Kansas album)

Two for the Show
Cover photo inspired by Norman Rockwell's painting "The Charwomen"
Live album by
ReleasedOctober 1978
Recorded1977, 1978 with Record Plant Mobile Recording Unit
VenueThe Palladium, New York City,
Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkson, Michigan,
Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland
GenreProgressive rock, hard rock
Length80:12 (original album)
148:22 (2008 expanded and remastered edition)
LabelKirshner/CBS, Epic
ProducerKansas
Kansas chronology
Point of Know Return
(1977)
Two for the Show
(1978)
Monolith
(1979)
Singles from Two for the Show
  1. "Lonely Wind"
    Released: January 1979[1]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]

Two for the Show is the first live album by American progressive rock band Kansas, released in 1978. The album was recorded over the course of the band's three previous tours in 1977 and 1978. It was certified Gold and then Platinum shortly after its release.[4] In 2008, a remastered and expanded edition was released to commemorate the album's 30th anniversary.

One single, "Lonely Wind," was released from the album. The single version was edited to under 3 minutes, and included a small amount of the piano solo that precedes it on the album. It received a reasonable amount of airplay and rose to No. 60 on the pop charts.[5] Record World called it "a characteristic Kansas ballad with a lush high harmony hook."[6]

In addition, Kirshner Records issued a promotional album of edited selections from the release, entitled Kansas Mini Concert on the spine and label, and Two for the Show Special Limited Edition on the cover. It features "Lonely Wind," "Dust in the Wind," "Song for America," and "The Wall." The same songs appear on both sides, and the first side is unbanded, meaning there is no indication on the vinyl of where each song begins. This promo album was issued with both a black and a white cover.

  1. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 449. ISBN 9780862415419.
  2. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. Two for the Show at AllMusic
  3. ^ Cross, Charles R. (2004). "Kansas". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 446. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  4. ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum Database: Search for Kansas". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  5. ^ "Kansas Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  6. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. January 13, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved February 12, 2023.