Prog, Neo-Prog & obscure picks

[Andy]

Thanks for your kind introduction!!!

I would generally agree that The Moody Blues’ DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED is one of the first major progressive rock albums released. In my own personal opinion, 1967 was THE year that prog first burst onto a totally unsuspecting audience. The first major progressive rock albums of ’67 were DAYS, Pink Floyd’s THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN, Procol Harum’s debut, and The Nice’s THE THOUGHTS OF EMERLIST DAVJACK.

N.B. Progressive rock is generally thought to be an outgrowth of late 1960s psychedelic music, hence in its early days it has a strong affinity with The Beatles’ late period work. The Floyd recorded PIPER in the next studio down from where The Beatles were finishing off SGT. PEPPER. In a way, it can be seen that The Beatles were “passing the torch” as it were, to the new generation of rockers.

I hate to be a total arse, but Bill Bruford did NOT play on IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING: the drummer in the original Crimson was Mike Giles. Bruford was still in Yes by late 1969.

I am in agreement with you on Van Der Graaf Generator. Their music is very dark. I was going to plunge for at least the first two albums and maybe PAWN HEARTS, but the best stuff is probably on the box set. I like “Killer” and “A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers”. By the middle of the second disc of THE BOX, I always lose interest. PS Did you know that “Theme One” was actually written by George Martin (yes, The Beatles’ producer) and was used as the theme for Radio One in Britain in the early 70s? Van Der Graaf released it as a single but everybody thought it was blasphemy!!

Thanks for your input and I hope I haven’t blinded you with science!!!!

See ya,

Andy.