Dust in the Wind (1978)

Did you know that TWO “Great Songs” were based on verses from chapter 3 of the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes: one from the 1960s (“Turn, Turn, Turn” by the Byrds: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) and today's “Great Song of the '70s,” “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas. (Ecclesiastes 3:20: “All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.”)

Now you do!

Actually, “Dust in the Wind” was also based on a similar verse: Genesis: 3:19 ("...for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.")

One day in 1976, guitarist Kerry Livgren of Kansas was working on a finger-picking exercise to help keep his skills in shape, when his wife fell in love with the music he was making and suggested he write some lyrics and turn it into a real song.

So he did!

He was afraid, however, that the band wouldn't like the song since it was so different from their usual style. No worries! In 1977, when Kansas gathered to rehearse songs for their next album, “Point of No Return,” Kerry waited until rehearsal was over, and then played them a rough recording of “Dust in the Wind.”

Everyone was stunned. After several moments of silence, guitarist Rich Williams said, “That's our next single!”

It wasn't.

Once again, a record company (Kirschner) thought they knew better and released the title track (“Point of No Return”) instead.

The song wasn't bad, but it wasn't “Great,”peaking at just #29 on the Hot 100. THEN Kirschner released “Dust in the Wind,” and—you guessed it—it became a “Great Song of the '70s,” peaking at #6 on both the Hot 100 and the Adult Contemporary Chart. In Canada, it was even bigger: #3 on the Top 40, and #1 on the AC Chart! I'll refrain from saying it was a hit of Biblical proportions.

“Dust in the Wind:”

For reference, here's “Point of Know Return:”

And here are The Byrds, with their “Great Song of 1965:”