Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son

"Carry On Wayward Son" is a song recorded by American rock band Kansas for their 1976 album Leftoverture: written by band member Kerry Livgren, the song became the band's first Top 40 single, reaching No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1977. Subsequent to the October 21, 1976, release of the Leftoverture album, the track "Carry On Wayward Son" became an FM radio favorite, causing the November 23 single release of a 3:26 edit of the 5:26 album track (itself trimmed from 7:30 minutes): reportedly a good many Top 40 stations aired the full album cut rather than the single edit. Debuting at No. 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated December 25, 1976, "Carry On Wayward Son" reached the Top 40 - at No. 36 - seven weeks later, the single in its first months of release typically garnering attention in what could be termed secondary markets being "added" by major market radio stations such as WABC-AM (NYC) and KHJ-AM (LA) only in March 1977. Ultimately "Carry On Wayward Son" reached a chart peak of No. 11 on the Hot 100 dated April 2, 1977: Internationally the single reached No. 6 in Canada, No. 51 in the UK and No. 58 in Australia All initial releases of the single had a B-side of "Questions of My Childhood". "Carry on Wayward Son" was later included on all Kansas compilation albums (except for Works in Progress) and was heard on all Kansas live albums. Certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of one million units on December 18, 1990, "Carry On Wayward Son" is now certified quadruple platinum. "Carry On Wayward Son" is 96th on VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.