S.O.D. "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas

8/10/2015    This song began as a fingerpicking exercise used by the band's guitarist and the songs composer, Kerry Livgren.  His wife, Vicci was excited about the melody and encouraged him to write lyrics for it.  Comparing to most of the bands work, this song is much different with its soft melody and philosophical lyrics with a message of meditation of mortality and the inevitability of death. The lyrics also resemble the lines of different stories and poems and the biblical passage Genesis 3:19.  

     On the track there are two guitarists playing six strings in unison. One using standard tuning and the other Nashville tuning which is accomplished by replacing the wound E, A, D, & G strings with lighter gauge strings so it is played an octave higher and giving the effect of a 12 string guitar. The song's instrumental bridge contains a distinctive melodic line and harmony for the violin and viola.  It was released in 1978, charted at #3 in the U.S. and #1 in Canada with 23 cover versions being composed.  

     Kansas formed in 1973 in Topeka, Kansas and are still active.  Aside from "Dust in the Wind" their biggest hit single is "Carry On Wayward Son" which was the 2nd most played song on classic rock radio in 1995 and the most played song in 1997.  During their career, Kansas has released 14 albums.