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 songs written by lead singer and 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