Streets

During 1981, amid internal shifts and falling commercial prospects, Steve Walsh exited Kansas, the group he had led vocally since its first recordings in 1974. Intent on pursuing different sounds, he recruited bassist Billy Greer, drummer Tim Gehrt, and guitarist Mike Slamer, formerly of the British cult band City Boy, to form Streets. The Atlanta-based quartet immediately began shaping original songs. Their initial concert took place in January 1983 at Charlie Daniels' Volunteer Jam, after which Atlantic signed them. Later that year the label issued their first album, 1st. Steering clear of Kansas's progressive approach, Walsh and Streets favored straightforward rock & roll, a direction that, aided by Walsh's established name, secured strong rock-radio support for the opening single "If Love Should Go," a Top Ten hit. The track failed to translate into meaningful album sales, however, and after the 1985 release of their second effort, Crimes in Mind, Atlantic ended the relationship. Walsh and Greer rejoined a reconstituted Kansas the following year, alongside drummer Phil Ehart and guitarists Richard Williams and Steve Morse.