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Masque

by Kansas

Released: September 30, 1975

Progressive rock, Hard rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

"Masque" is the third studio album by the American progressive rock band Kansas. Overall, "Masque" remains a significant part of Kansas's early catalog, showcasing their evolving sound and contributing to their growing popularity in the progressive rock scene of the 1970s. Originally released in September 1975, the album has since been remastered for CD in 2001 and reissued on vinyl in 2014.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The opening track, "It Takes a Woman's Love…

The opening track, "It Takes a Woman's Love (To Make a Man)", underwent a remix for its release as a single, featuring additional guest vocals and segments different from the album version.

Despite these efforts, the single did not achieve…

Despite these efforts, the single did not achieve significant popularity.

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Essential Tracks

It Takes a Woman's Love (To Make a Man)

The opening track, "It Takes a Woman's Love (To Make a Man)", underwent a remix for its release as a single, featuring additional guest vocals and segments different from the album version.

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Explore the Album

Kansas - Masque

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Then

Reception

However, its commercial success was overshadowed by the band's subsequent albums. Kansas's first three album releases eventually garnered renewed interest, with "Masque" achieving Gold certification (500,000 units sold) in December 1977. This success was bolstered by the platinum-selling albums "Leftoverture" (1976) and "Point of Know Return" (1977), which followed "Masque" in Kansas's discography.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Masque" is the third studio album by the American progressive rock band Kansas. Originally released in September 1975, the album has since been remastered for CD in 2001 and reissued on vinyl in 2014.

The opening track, "It Takes a Woman's Love (To Make a Man)", underwent a remix for its release as a single, featuring additional guest vocals and segments different from the album version. Despite these efforts, the single did not achieve significant popularity.

"Masque" peaked at number 70 on the Billboard album chart. Initially, approximately 250,000 units were sold within months of its release. However, its commercial success was overshadowed by the band's subsequent albums. Kansas's first three album releases eventually garnered renewed interest, with "Masque" achieving Gold certification (500,000 units sold) in December 1977. This success was bolstered by the platinum-selling albums "Leftoverture" (1976) and "Point of Know Return" (1977), which followed "Masque" in Kansas's discography.

Overall, "Masque" remains a significant part of Kansas's early catalog, showcasing their evolving sound and contributing to their growing popularity in the progressive rock scene of the 1970s.