Always Never the Same (Kansas album)

Always Never the Same is the thirteenth studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1998. This album consists of mostly covers of the band’s previous work, re-recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra. New songs include "In Your Eyes", "The Sky Is Falling", "Need to Know" and the instrumental "Preamble". "Prelude & Introduction" is a medley of the Kansas songs "Carry On Wayward Son", "Point of Know Return", "Opus Insert", and "Lamplight Symphony". The album also includes a cover of The Beatles’ "Eleanor Rigby". "Carry On Wayward Son" was also recorded during this time, in case strong sales would bring forth a second symphonic album, but was never released. This is the final Kansas album to include new songs from lead singer/keyboardist Steve Walsh.

Personnel

 * Kansas
 * Steve Walsh – keyboards, lead vocals
 * Robby Steinhardt – violin, lead and backing vocals
 * Rich Williams – guitars, producer
 * Billy Greer – bass, vocals
 * Phil Ehart – drums, producer


 * Additional musicians
 * The London Symphony Orchestra, arranged and conducted by Larry Baird


 * Production
 * Trammell Starks - producer, digital editing
 * Russ Fowler, James Majors, Jim "Z" Zumpano - engineers
 * Peter Cobbin - orchestra recordings engineer
 * Jeff Glixman - mixing at Tree Sound Studios, Atlanta, Georgia
 * Greg Calbi - mastering at Masterdisk, New York
 * Brian Jobson, James Majors - digital editing
 * Michael Allen - copyist
 * Pennie Moore, Conni Treantafeles - art direction and design
 * Marti Griffin - photography