my nomination for best prog rock album evah

[AnotherScott]

In this context prog, where I was, referred only to bands like King Crimson and the Mahavishnu Orchestra where there was a heavy emphasis on improvisation as part of the live performance.

though most prog is highly structured, and not so improvisational

[HammondDave]

All these posts, and not a shred of love for the folks who gave prog its neo-classical influences?

 

[video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZKqH1O4eEc

 

I'll bet David Jacques has played that song 1,000 times.

 

You better believe that! Great song!

[HammondDave]

In this context prog, where I was, referred only to bands like King Crimson and the Mahavishnu Orchestra where there was a heavy emphasis on improvisation as part of the live performance.

though most prog is highly structured, and not so improvisational

 

So true. But that's one of the qualities that made Crimson so unique.

[HammondDave]

When I think 'classic prog', my mind jumps to songs like Watcher of the Skies, or Man- Erg. I don't at all think of anything by The Cars, let alone Monkees. To me, prog is music that makes you listen with focus and intent, pressing parts of the brain beyond the stem into use. To enjoy prog involves active participation on the part of the listener. I don't mean for that to come off as snobby, I've been in bands that played Monkees songs and had a blast doing it! But I have a hard time thinking of that as any kind of prog.

 

Al I can add is from my own personal experience. I don't believe that prog was mainstream back then. In fact, it was only rarely played on alternative radio stations, usually late at night. I remember hanging out with my friends listening to this stuff. But these "underground" stations mostly played bands like Lee Michaels, Rare Earth, and other long cuts that were unsuitable for radio.

 

I learned about prog from the record bin. I distinctly remember digging through the stacks at the local k Mart and finding two copies of a record with a really strange album cover. Something called "Ummagumma" by a weird looking band called "Pink Floyd". It was on sale for $2. My friend and I each bought a copy and separately took them home to listen to with our headphones on. My journey with Floyd began that night.

[Theo Verelst]

http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-H0LFtYAzXpQ/UdSE5s5nlAI/AAAAAAAAnBo/uwRxNHIrTDM/w640-h400-p-k/2258706115_dcccd02250.jpg

[ashevillecabbie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_(The_Monkees_album)

[mate stubb]

We have jumped the shark now.

 

My definition of prog is: I know it when I hear it.

[Shamanczarek]

I first heard Prog Rock on a small Long Beach, CA radio station called KNAC. They segregated it from their regular playlist in a special afternoon program where they played music from bands like Genesis, PFM, and Refugee.

 

Edit: Actually, come to think of it, I heard some Prog earlier than that on KINK in Portland, OR where they played The Strawbs, King Crimson, Colosseum, Rare Bird, Jade Warrior, Jethro Tull, etc. Even the local AM Top 40 station KBZY in Salem, OR would play King Crimson and some adventurous long album cuts late at night. "Lucky Man" by ELP was a mainstream radio hit that got widespread airplay.

[Geoff Grace]

Al I can add is from my own personal experience. I don't believe that prog was mainstream back then. In fact, it was only rarely played on alternative radio stations, usually late at night. I remember hanging out with my friends listening to this stuff. But these "underground" stations mostly played bands like Lee Michaels, Rare Earth, and other long cuts that were unsuitable for radio.

 

I learned about prog from the record bin. I distinctly remember digging through the stacks at the local k Mart and finding two copies of a record with a really strange album cover. Something called "Ummagumma" by a weird looking band called "Pink Floyd". It was on sale for $2. My friend and I each bought a copy and separately took them home to listen to with our headphones on. My journey with Floyd began that night.

I was lucky to have a dedicated progressive rock station to listen to where I grew up (in Phoenix). Actually, they called their format "progressive rock," but the DJs were allowed to play whatever they wanted. The result ranged from Yes to Sly and the Family Stone, to Jerry Jeff Walker, to Weather Report, to Gong, to The Rolling Stones, to Mike Oldfield, and so on.

 

The stationKDKB (and its predecessor, KCAC)turned me on to Gentle Giant, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Genesis, Strawbs, Captain Beefheart, Return to Forever, and other progressive rock and jazz fusion artists. If I recall correctly, KCAC began its free-form/progressive rock format in 1969 and transplanted it to KDKB in 1971, where it remained in place until 1976. At that point, they began narrowing the playlist and switched to AOR, which I believe is still the station's format today. But for a seven year stretch, it was pretty wonderful!

 

Best,

 

Geoff

[Dave Bryce]

I grew up mostly in the Philly area, which had a very big progressive rock scene at the time. There were radio stations (WYSP, WMMR, WIOQ) that played it on a fairly regular basis, and most of the big prog bands came through and played concerts there.

 

I remember moving to Boston in 1979 and being surprised that there was almost no sign of a prog scene at all.

 

dB

[HammondDave]

In Ft. Lauderdale our underground radio station was WSHE. Every night they played the long versions of Lee Michaels' "Tell Me How You Feel" and Rare Earth's "Get Ready". Every now and then they would play some Yes, Spirit, Floyd, Crimson, and Genesis. They used to love playing "Moon Child".

[CEB]

KSHE 95 'Real Rock Radio' in St. Louis played all this stuff.

[CEB]

London, LA, New York ....PFFFFT!

 

Real Rock comes from the Midwest. Chuck Berry, Mitch Ryder, Kansas, REO, Styx, Amboys Dukes, Head East....ect

 

Ken Hensley made St. Louis home for sometime. I played his B3.

[mate stubb]

KSHE 95 'Real Rock Radio' in St. Louis played all this stuff.

 

+1

 

 

[Dave Bryce]

Real Rock

 

(snip)

 

REO, Styx

 

dB

[CEB]

REO was killer BC. ( before Cornin) LOL.

 

Definitely way better before the move to California. They moved out west and started really playing pussy material.

[CEB]

I kind of like a lot of Styx's catalog except for Kilroy. The early stuff get could out there. The first song on the first album was over 13 minutes long and was all over the place.

 

[video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvhcutosw-g

 

[video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8wMn2G0iEA

[ashevillecabbie]

We have jumped the shark now

 

L L

[Dave Weiser]

I grew up mostly in the Philly area, which had a very big progressive rock scene at the time. There were radio stations (WYSP, WMMR, WIOQ) that played it on a fairly regular basis, and most of the big prog bands came through and played concerts there.

 

I remember moving to Boston in 1979 and being surprised that there was almost no sign of a prog scene at all.

 

dB

 

I grew up down in that area as well. WYSP's "Sunday Night Six-pack", which featured 6 albums back to back, turned me on to several prog classics including Close to the Edge.

 

[stillearning]

Northeast Ohio also had a very active progressive rock scene in the late 60's and throughout most of the 70's. It got its fair share of radio play on mainstream FM as well as on many college stations.