"Two Cents Worth" by Kansas

Named for the state where the band was formed in the early 70s, Kansas is a strange beast. Starting off as an experimental prog rock band, they had no chart success. But as their songwriting matured and shortened to radio-friendly lengths, they scored some whoppers that led to millions of albums sold.

"Carry On My Wayward Son" secured the band it's first hit in 1976, just missing the top 10 as the song peaked at #11. "Point of Know Return" also performed well, coming in at #28. Then they scored the hit of their career, "Dust In The Wind" - quite possibly the most depressing song to ever hit the top 10 (it peaked at #6 in 1978).

The band never saw the top 10 again and went through a variety of perplexing lineup changes through the 80s. Founding lead singer Steve Walsh left for a while to form the band Streets. He returned in 1986 and made one of the band's most rocking albums, "Power," which yielded "All I Wanted" (#19), and the title track (#84, the band's last chart appearance).

"Two Cents Worth" comes from the band's 1975 record, "Masque." Just before the band hit it big, this funky rock number sounds like something out of Stevie Wonder's catalogue. A great tune whose lyrics are basically Walsh's two cents worth about the craziness in the world. In my mind, this song, plus the Boston-sounding leadoff track, "It Takes A Woman's Love (To Make A Man)," should have put the group on the charts earlier.