dumbangel
Grommet
Posts: 22
Likes: 12 
Favorite Album: Close To The Edge
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Post by dumbangel on Aug 8, 2022 8:20:50 GMT -5
I don’t think there is a thread about this, if so I’m not aware of it.
Progressive rock is, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
: rock music characterized by relatively complex phrasings and improvisations and intended for a musically sophisticated audience
None of us here are musically sophisticated (except for maybe a few), but we still listen to prog regardless.
I got into prog via 80s Genesis. The first song of theirs I heard was “Land Of Confusion”. The music video autoplayed during a late-night binge on YouTube, and I was enthralled. I Googled the song and found it was from Invisible Touch, their multi-platinum 1986 album. I listened to the album and enjoyed what I heard. From there, it was only a matter of time before I discovered their 70s material with Peter Gabriel. That opened me up to Yes and Pink Floyd, and now I love all of them equally.
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Post by jk on Aug 8, 2022 13:51:41 GMT -5
Good call, sir. I'd say my absolute favourite among prog rock groups is King Crimson, so I'll start with them. I've seen them twice, with drummer Bill Bruford and (of course) guitarist Robert Fripp in both lineups. The second time was in Utrecht in 1982 -- more on than in a future post. The first time was in London with the Larks' Tongues lineup which added bassist/singer John Wetton, violinist/keyboardist David Cross and… percussionist Jamie Muir, who left the band (and the music world) not long after. So my brother and I were very lucky to catch him. They started their show with the album's title track, which you can hear below (Watch on YouTube). Violinist David Cross's smile at Muir's antics (at 5:20) is priceless -- ye gods, they were young in those days! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larks%27_Tongues_in_Aspic |
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Post by jk on Aug 9, 2022 6:03:58 GMT -5
And here's the 1982 Utrecht lineup of Fripp, Bruford, stick bass wizard Tony Levin and guitarist/singer Adrian Belew. You can understand this was quite a trip! "The Sheltering Sky" features an ambulant, smiling Bill Bruford obviously loving the hell out of what he's doing: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discipline_(King_Crimson_album) |
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Post by jk on Aug 10, 2022 2:58:05 GMT -5
Taking dumbangel 's advice, I gave Yes's Going For the One a listen on Spotify and was blown away. The tracks that made the greatest impression first time round were the title track (with fantastic steel guitar from Steve Howe) and this one, "Parallels". Ye gods, what musicianship, what inspiration! And any track that kicks off with a bona fide church organ has a head's start in my book. (Another is Arcade Fire's "Intervention".) Thank you, sir! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going_for_the_One |
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dumbangel
Grommet
Posts: 22
Likes: 12
Favorite Album: Close To The Edge
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Post by dumbangel on Aug 10, 2022 11:18:25 GMT -5
Taking dumbangel 's advice, I gave Yes's Going For the One a listen on Spotify and was blown away. The tracks that made the greatest impression first time round were the title track (with fantastic steel guitar from Steve Howe) and this one, "Parallels". Ye gods, what musicianship, what inspiration! And any track that kicks off with a bona fide church organ has a head's start in my book. (Another is Arcade Fire's "Intervention".) Thank you, sir! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going_for_the_One Nice to see you like it. I think my favorite track is “Awaken”, that last minute or so is *chefs kiss* |
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Post by jk on Aug 12, 2022 3:54:56 GMT -5
I'll be looking at some other, arguably less familiar prog rock bands in due course (and folks please feel free to add examples of your own), but first this: I was lucky enough to catch Genesis early on at a poll winners' concert in '72. I recall Peter Gabriel disappearing for a while and then reappearing wearing a fox's head and a red dress. (I remember they ended with "Return Of The Giant Hogweed".) The other big prog rock band to perform there was Emerson, Lake and Palmer. I have a soft spot for Trilogy but my favourite is still their 1970 self-titled debut album. This is "Tank", with its central solo spot for drummer Carl Palmer, the only surviving member of the trio, followed by my favourite ELP episode, with Keith Emerson piling up the synth parts: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerson_Lake_%26_Palmer_(album) |
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Post by jk on Aug 13, 2022 8:47:23 GMT -5
Here are two not-so-familiar bands that could conceivably be described as prog rock. It's such a vague concept really -- where does psychedelia end and prog rock begin? I can't remember hearing Renaissance at the time. Perhaps it was because they were British and I was too US-focused in those days. This is "Ashes Are Burning", the epic title track of their fourth, 1973 album: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashes_Are_BurningThe organ-heavy Van der Graaf Generator I do recall hearing at the time. This is such an intriguing album title! This track, "The Emperor In His Room: The Emperor/ The Room", has some wonderful harmonies and a guest appearance by Robert Fripp: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H_to_He_Who_Am_the_Only_One |
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Post by jk on Aug 23, 2022 8:20:51 GMT -5
What's that song... "Alone Again, Naturally"?  Never mind -- let's press on with Genesis. Selling England by the Pound (1973) is the only Genesis album I'll ever need. I'm linking it here in its entirety -- it's that good: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selling_England_by_the_Pound |
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Post by Mark on Aug 23, 2022 10:48:25 GMT -5
What's that song... "Alone Again, Naturally"? Never mind -- let's press on with Genesis. Selling England by the Pound (1973) is the only Genesis album I'll ever need. I'm linking it here in its entirety -- it's that good: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selling_England_by_the_PoundHaha I’m with you in spirit so far JK! When I get a chance I’ll contribute, loving the thread so far ☺️🙏 |
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Post by jk on Aug 28, 2022 5:44:11 GMT -5
What's that song... "Alone Again, Naturally"? Never mind -- let's press on with Genesis. Haha I’m with you in spirit so far JK! When I get a chance I’ll contribute, loving the thread so far ☺️🙏 Feel free to disagree ( Mark , anyone...) but for me this next track is King Crimson's finest hour. The epic "Starless" closes side two of their 1974 album Red and indeed a chapter in the band's history (their next album would be in 1981): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_(King_Crimson_album) |
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Post by carllove on Aug 28, 2022 8:17:59 GMT -5
Haha I’m with you in spirit so far JK! When I get a chance I’ll contribute, loving the thread so far ☺️🙏 Feel free to disagree ( Mark , anyone...) but for me this next track is King Crimson's finest hour. The epic "Starless" closes side two of their 1974 album Red and indeed a chapter in the band's history (their next album would be in 1981): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_(King_Crimson_album)“Starless” is a great song, but not my favorite track on Red. “Fallen Angel ” is. |
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Post by jk on Aug 28, 2022 8:31:11 GMT -5
Feel free to disagree ( Mark , anyone...) but for me this next track is King Crimson's finest hour. The epic "Starless" closes side two of their 1974 album Red and indeed a chapter in the band's history (their next album would be in 1981): “Starless” is a great song, but not my favorite track on Red. “Fallen Angel ” is. Ah yes. Well I'd say it's a stunning album all round. "Red" is a fabulous instrumental to play on the piano. And the manic improvisings on "Providence" make a wonderful foil to all the other tightly organized tracks.
Red may well be my favourite KC album, meaning the most satisfying all the way through.  |
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Post by carllove on Aug 28, 2022 9:12:05 GMT -5
“Starless” is a great song, but not my favorite track on Red. “Fallen Angel ” is. Ah yes. Well I'd say it's a stunning album all round. "Red" is a fabulous instrumental to play on the piano. And the manic improvisings on "Providence" make a wonderful foil to all the other tightly organized tracks.
Red may well be my favourite KC album, meaning the most satisfying all the way through. is a great album in that you can listen to it all the way through without skipping tracks. Still - In The Court of The Crimson King is my favorite. It’s a beautiful work of art. The first time I heard it, I loved it. Red took a few listens. It’s a loud album. It was very different from what came before it. Back when no one was listening to vinyl, I let my Ex Husband sell off my records. I had everything from the debut album to Three of a Perfect Pair on vinyl. Then you couldn’t find any King Crimson on I Tunes or Apple Music. I ended up purchasing a horrible version of “In the Court of the Crimson King” by the 21st Century Schizoid Band. I so regretted letting go of all of those albums. Now, of course, I can listen to all of them, plus the newer ones on Apple Music. |
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Post by jk on Aug 28, 2022 12:09:44 GMT -5
Ah yes. Well I'd say it's a stunning album all round. "Red" is a fabulous instrumental to play on the piano. And the manic improvisings on "Providence" make a wonderful foil to all the other tightly organized tracks.
Red may well be my favourite KC album, meaning the most satisfying all the way through. is a great album in that you can listen to it all the way through without skipping tracks. Still - In The Court of The Crimson King is my favorite. It’s a beautiful work of art. The first time I heard it, I loved it. Red took a few listens. It’s a loud album. It was very different from what came before it. Back when no one was listening to vinyl, I let my Ex Husband sell off my records. I had everything from the debut album to Three of a Perfect Pair on vinyl. Then you couldn’t find any King Crimson on I Tunes or Apple Music. I ended up purchasing a horrible version of “In the Court of the Crimson King” by the 21st Century Schizoid Band. I so regretted letting go of all of those albums. Now, of course, I can listen to all of them, plus the newer ones on Apple Music. As I see it, all their studio albums are different -- at least up to Red. So they all have something to recommend them. ITCOTCK is incredible -- trouble is, they all are, in their way. Some say Poseidon is ITCOTCK all over again two but that's crap. Like you, I bought (or was given) all their studio albums as LPs up to TOAPP ( SABB is the one exception). Unlike you (and so sorry to hear that), I still have them. A recentish KC acquisition of mine was Thrak (1995), which is excellent if a little unsettling! From it, this is "Dinosaur". Belew's guitar synth at 3:36 sounds to me like a voice from an immensely distant past: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrak |
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Post by carllove on Aug 29, 2022 19:05:26 GMT -5
Red is a great album in that you can listen to it all the way through without skipping tracks. Still - In The Court of The Crimson King is my favorite. It’s a beautiful work of art. The first time I heard it, I loved it. Red took a few listens. It’s a loud album. It was very different from what came before it. Back when no one was listening to vinyl, I let my Ex Husband sell off my records. I had everything from the debut album to Three of a Perfect Pair on vinyl. Then you couldn’t find any King Crimson on I Tunes or Apple Music. I ended up purchasing a horrible version of “In the Court of the Crimson King” by the 21st Century Schizoid Band. I so regretted letting go of all of those albums. Now, of course, I can listen to all of them, plus the newer ones on Apple Music. As I see it, all their studio albums are different -- at least up to Red. So they all have something to recommend them. ITCOTCK is incredible -- trouble is, they all are, in their way. Some say Poseidon is ITCOTCK all over again two but that's crap. Like you, I bought (or was given) all their studio albums as LPs up to TOAPP ( SABB is the one exception). Unlike you (and so sorry to hear that), I still have them. A recentish KC acquisition of mine was Thrak (1995), which is excellent if a little unsettling! From it, this is "Dinosaur". Belew's guitar synth at 3:36 sounds to me like a voice from an immensely distant past: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThrakYou are so blessed to have all of those King Crimson LP’s. I had an early 80’s Technics linear tracking turntable that I gave up as well. Who knew that vinyl would have a renaissance and that vintage turntables would even be a thing? I had most of the Beatles and solo Lennon and McCartney stuff, as well as an awesome Yardbirds Boxset, Moody Blues, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, Pat Metheny and the Hollies. Dumb I was. I loved those albums. |
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Post by carllove on Aug 30, 2022 4:57:13 GMT -5
My favorite prog rock song of all time - Yes “Close to the Edge”. I love watching this performed live. Nineteen minutes of awesomeness. Music meant for headphones.
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Post by jk on Aug 31, 2022 6:42:54 GMT -5
My favorite prog rock song of all time - Yes “Close to the Edge”. I love watching this performed live. Nineteen minutes of awesomeness. Music meant for headphones. This is indeed an awesome listen. I'm sure I've said this before, but back in '72, before CTTE was released, I was lent an acetate of this album by a lovely man who wrote out sheet music of pop stuff -- he must have had fun with this one! I was expected to listen to it at my place of work and return it that day. Instead, I took it home and lent it to my flatmates and then went out to the pub. They heard it and said it was fantastic! I didn't -- I'd held onto it for too long already.  |
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Post by jk on Aug 31, 2022 14:54:24 GMT -5
As for Dutch prog rock, it doesn't get much better for me that this guitar-fuelled instrumental by Focus (description lifted from the "Non-BW Instrumentals" thread). Actually, it was so short that they repeated part of the tape! It still sounds great. I saw them play this in the Marquee Club in 1972 -- chills-down-the-spinesville: The YouTube blurb reads thus: This song is from the 1971 album MOVING WAVES the 2nd album from the Dutch group. It is the sixth part of a 23 minute song called "Eruption" that spans the whole second side of that album. It is an adaptation of Jacopo Peri's opera "Euridice". This small section of the song was written by Tommy Barlage a sax player for a fellow Dutch band named Solution. Thijs Van Leer - Keyboards, Flute [not on this track], Vocals Jan Akkerman - Guitars Pierre Van Der Linden - Drums Cyril Havermans - Bass, Vocals en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_(band) |
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dumbangel
Grommet
Posts: 22
Likes: 12
Favorite Album: Close To The Edge
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Post by dumbangel on Sept 13, 2022 15:07:43 GMT -5
Today is the 50th anniversary of my favorite album, Close To The Edge. Everyone give it a round of applause!
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Post by jk on Sept 25, 2022 7:17:35 GMT -5
Now and again you get two successive tracks on an album that contrast in a most wonderful way (bit of a clumsy sentence but you get my drift). "When I'm Sixty-Four" and "Lovely Rita" is one such pairing. "Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring" and "Can't Wait Too Long" on the SS/ WH twofer is another. And this is a third. Steve Howe's stunning acoustic outing * makes way (here hopefully without the intervention of ads) for the glittering wide-screen majesty of "Starship Trooper": en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Yes_Album* I always remember it being called "The Clap", which was a little odd as the clap is a slang term for gonorrhoea! Turns out it should have been "Clap" (no the) all along... |
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Post by SMiLE-Holland on Nov 11, 2022 11:26:38 GMT -5
Well, let's play a few songs in honour of Chris Koerts, co-founder and guitarist of the Dutch prog (and later rock/pop) groep Earth& Fire, who passed away yesterday.
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Post by jk on Nov 11, 2022 16:59:35 GMT -5
Well, let's play a few songs in honour of Chris Koerts, co-founder and guitarist of the Dutch prog (and later rock/pop) groep Earth& Fire, who passed away yesterday.
It's not a band I was interested back in the '70s (maybe the name was a trifle too close to Earth, Wind and Fire for my liking). That said, the first and last of those tracks sound very familiar -- and on reflection, pretty darn good. Rust in vrede, Chris. |
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Post by Mark on Dec 8, 2022 13:57:04 GMT -5
Over the last year or so I've really gotten into Italian (and non UK/US in general) Prog Rock. RPI / Rock Progressivo Italiano has been such a joy to discover and delve into. A friend and fellow prog fan started work at an Italian company and people there said 'if you like prog check this out...' and buried him in recommendations! Since he turned me onto the scene I've been hooked. I'm usually a melody and general sound / vibe of a song guy rather than being focused on lyrics so not understanding the lyrics' meaning wasn't really a barrier for me enjoying the music. Plus it being prog there are typically a fair few long instrumental passages to songs. Also I had a comedic realisation that, it being prog, I didn't understand the lyrics to a lot of my favourite English language prog songs anyway! I'm looking at you Jon Anderson  I don't know if you guys have listened to much of the RPI stuff but I'll finally (!) join the thread with some, starting with one of the most famous RPI bands. From the Prog banner year of 1972 come the first two albums by Premiata Forneria Marconi / PFM. Storia di un Minuto Per Un Amico Those first two albums are pretty much great all the way through and they have some really nice tracks on later albums too like Dolcissima Maria from their third album L'isola di niente; They do have some English language stuff on an album from when Greg Lake, Peter Sinfield et al made an effort to get the band exposure in the US/UK. But I never really listen to it and it's the same as if Gabriel or Anderson sang for the Italian market, music is the same or similar but you can tell the vocals are strained due to being sung in a second language. Or like giving someone the German version of In My Room to get them into The Beach Boys. Original language versions are better basically in the most part. The above albums are on on Spotify / Apple Music btw, don't know how oppressive the adverts are in the YouTube videos which I why i went for the playlist links rather than full album on one video. |
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Post by jk on Dec 9, 2022 5:01:27 GMT -5
Over the last year or so I've really gotten into Italian (and non UK/US in general) Prog Rock. RPI / Rock Progressivo Italiano has been such a joy to discover and delve into. A friend and fellow prog fan started work at an Italian company and people there said 'if you like prog check this out...' and buried him in recommendations! Since he turned me onto the scene I've been hooked. I'm usually a melody and general sound / vibe of a song guy rather than being focused on lyrics so not understanding the lyrics' meaning wasn't really a barrier for me enjoying the music. Plus it being prog there are typically a fair few long instrumental passages to songs. I don't know if you guys have listened to much of the RPI stuff but I'll finally (!) join the thread with some, starting with one of the most famous RPI bands. From the Prog banner year of 1972 come the first two albums by Premiata Forneria Marconi / PFM. Storia di un Minuto Per Un Amico Those first two albums are pretty much great all the way through and they have some really nice tracks on later albums too like Dolcissima Maria from their third album L'isola di niente; Hi Mark. Well I checked out PFM and discovered their first 45 was the first Italian hit (in 1971) to feature a synthesizer: Great track. If you were to recommend just one album by PFM (life being short and all that) which one would it be? The one Italian prog band I'm familiar with is Circus 2000, here in the "Obscure Albums" thread: endlessharmony.boards.net/post/23810/threadPS: PFM's wiki mentions that they opened for The Beach Boys during their (PFM's) 1974 US tour but I'm blowed if I can find the gig(s) in question anywhere online. I couldn't see anything at AGD's website, which I'd say is pretty significant... |
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Post by Mark on Dec 9, 2022 8:27:36 GMT -5
If I were to pick one it would be the second album Per Un Amico. If after that you'd like more then the first one, Storia di un Minuto. I really enjoy Per Un Amico so yeah that one  Outside of RPI and just into Prog in general the first two PFM albums stand among the best 70s prog has to offer. Well worth a listen. That is interesting about the Beach Boys gig isn't it!? I mostly found articles just repeating the same info as the wiki when I searched. The only slight variation was this interview; www.hit-channel.com/interviewfranz-di-cioccio-premiata-forneria-marconi/79130"Q) What do you remember the most of the American tours with Little Feat, Santana, The Beach Boys, Allman Brothers Band and many more? A) I remember everything. We played with very different kind of bands like Santana and The Beach Boys." So that's a band member confirming it but in answer to a question that sounds like it was pulled from the wiki maybe? It's from 2015. From that interview cool to see they played Whistle Test and Midnight Special. But yeah, I wonder if it was at a mini festival or something? If it was just PFM opening for the Beach Boys that would have been an amazing gig! |
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