Kansas went from being a progressive/hard rock band at the top of their game to a band in turmoil, losing their lead singer and main focal point live, Steve Walsh, after main songwriter Kerry Livgren became a Born Again Christian and wanted Kansas to be a vessel for him to spread his message.

Walsh was not the only one who refused to let Kansas become a Christian Rock band, as every member, other than the recently converted bass player Dave Hope, rejected Livgren’s vision for Kansas. The band stayed together a few more years before breaking up, resulting in two albums with Walsh’s replacement, Christian vocalist John Elephante.

Kansas was a mess when they went in to make this album. They were auditioning singers and had not yet chosen Steve Walsh’s replacement, John Elephante. Music being written without a singer was a daunting task. Kansas went outside the band for a song, something they had not done before and were not comfortable with. “Stay with Me Tonight” was an obvious hit song but it needed to be Kansas-ized in order to be considered. A reworking of the lyrics changed the name to “Play the Game Tonight” and with a little elbow grease the song took on the Kansas sound, resulting in a hit for the band.

The rest of the album is a hit and miss affair. “Windows” is a Livgren classic and “Right Away” is a solid contribution from Elephante. “Cross Fire” is the last song on the album but fits the mold of what a great Kansas song is better than anything else. There is a lot of filler, which is to be expected from a band in a hurry to make an album and at the same time in a personal and personnel shambles.

It is far from being Leftoverture or Point of Know Return but it is a solid outing considering the sea of emotions surrounding the writing and recording of the album. “Windows,” “Play the Game Tonight” and “Cross Fire” make this one worth putting in your collection.

If I had gone on memory only, I would have given this album a D, or even an F. I had not listened to this album since it was first released in 1983. It contained the hit “Fight Fire with Fire” but the rest of the music I had rejected long ago as this was not a typical Kansas album.

As it turns out, the album was aptly titled as the band split up after this one was released. However, 27 years later, with a fresh set of ears, there are some good musical moments on Drastic Measures.

There is very little that could be thought of as prog on this sucker, yet there is a lot of solid melodic rock. “Everybody’s My Friend” is a great song with absolutely cheesy and goofy lyrics. If the band had been firing on all cylinders there is no way this lyrical goo would have made the final cut. Elsewhere, “Mainstream,” “Don’t Take Your Love Away” and “Incident on a Bridge” all are fine examples of melodic rock.

Of course, “Fight Fire with Fire” is a great tune that the band still plays live today, with Steve Walsh now singing Elephante’s parts. The video to that one featuring a giant mosquito, and guitarist Rich Williams as the Devil wearing a funny looking red hat, kind of sum up what was going on with Kansas at this period of time. Drastic Measures, two and a half decades down the line, contains more listenable music on it than one may remember, making it worth picking up.