Always Never the Same (Kansas album)
# Always Never the Same (Kansas album)

Professional ratings :

| Review scores ||
| - | - |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |

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
