Various: Classic Rock – Prog Rock

Elly Roberts reviews

Various: Classic Rock – Prog RockDistributed by
Gut Records

• Cat.no: GACD02
• Format: 2-disc CD
• Released: June 2006
• Rating: 8/10

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Despite the curious absence of seminal prog-rockersLed Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, Mike Oldfield, Queen, The Who, SoftMachine, King Crimson, Tangerine Dream, Uriah Heep, Pretty Thingsthis is still a pretty hot blast from the past.

Though some of the tracks are not considered the best examples of prog-rock,and the bands’ best work, it’s still an enjoyable retrospective collectionspread over 27 tracks, running almost two hours 30 minutes.

The genre gradually evolved from psychedelic rock (or almost alongside) asmusicians went beyond the three minute pop ditty, exploring sound andinstruments. It was eclectic, ambitious and often grandiose, though by many,it was considered bombastic, introvert and ultimately self-indulgent.Punk Rock was the backlash that attempted to restore the simplicity andrawness of rock music, though it barely lasted 18 months.

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Essentially, Prog Rock allowed musicians to expand their repertoire outsidethe confines of ‘singles’ orientated music, sometimes taking tracks into the10 or 15 minute barrier, and in some cases well beyond. The second sideof Pink Floyd’s Echoes astonishingly took up the entire vinyl withone track – an early indication of the ‘concept album’.

Prog, an abbreviation of ‘progressive’ didn’t necessarily mean, as iscommonly thought, it was full of ‘noise’. These bands were expected to showprogression from track to track, but more importantly, from album to album,best executed by the greatest band in the world, Led Zeppelin.

What we get are some early singles hits – Traffic’s Hole in My Shoe(no.2, ‘67), Jethro Tull’s Sweet Dream (no.7 ’69) Rare Bird’sSympathy (no.27 ‘1970) and a good range of early album tracks suchas The Nice – America, ELP – Lucky Man.

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Then there are the ‘70s classics, Argent’s Hold Your Head Up,Atomic Rooster’s Tomorrow Night, and the brilliant Burlesqueby rasping Roger Chapman’s band Family. The late ‘80s brought BlueOyster Cult, Renaissance, and the genre’s virtual saviours – Rush, withtheir opus Spirit Of Radio from 1980 (no.13 ’80).

Latterly, IQ has been seen to be flying the prog – rock flag is majesticfashion – their Erosion being a prime example.

Genesis’ Carpet Crawlers (CD1, track 1) from the double album TheLamb Lies Down On Broadway (Peter Gabriel’s last band involvement) isan awesome track, but The Knife from Trespass is considered a better example.

However, Greenslade’s Bedside Manners Are Extra is considered onethe finest, along with Yes’ Yours Is No Disgrace. Arguably themost beautiful song of the lot is Procol Harum’s Salty Dog, 1969.

Weblinks:Classic Rock Presents.com /Gut Records.com

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The full list of tracks included are :

DISC 1:

1. Carpet Crawlers – Genesis
2. Sweet Dream – Jethro Tull
3. Killer – Van Der Graaf Generator
4. Sylvia – Focus
5. Backstreet Luv – Firth Of Fifth
6. Solar Fire – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
7. Bedside Manners Are Extra – Greenslade
8. A Salty Dog – Procol Harum
9. Sympathy – Rare Bird
10. Northern Lights – Renaissance
11. Burlesque – Family
12. Those About To Die – Colosseum
13. Forgotten Sons – Marillion

DISC 2:

1. Yours Is No Disgrace – Yes
2. Lucky Man – ELP
3. America – The Nice
4. Child Of The Universe – Barclay James Harvest
5. The Spirit Of Radio – Rush
6. ( Don’t Fear ) The Reaper
7. Hole In My Shoe – Traffic
8. Fresh Garbage – Spirit
9. Hold Your Head Up – Argent
10. Tomorrow Night – Atomic Rooster
11. Erosion – IQ
12. Love Song – Twelfth Night
13. For Richard – Caravan

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