Elly Roberts reviews
Gut Records
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, its 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.
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 Floyds Echoes astonishingly took up the entire vinyl withone track an early indication of the concept album.
Prog, an abbreviation of progressive didnt 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 Traffics Hole in My Shoe(no.2, 67), Jethro Tulls Sweet Dream (no.7 69) Rare BirdsSympathy (no.27 1970) and a good range of early album tracks suchas The Nice – America, ELP Lucky Man.
Then there are the 70s classics, Argents Hold Your Head Up,Atomic Roosters Tomorrow Night, and the brilliant Burlesqueby rasping Roger Chapmans band Family. The late 80s brought BlueOyster Cult, Renaissance, and the genres 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 Gabriels last band involvement) isan awesome track, but The Knife from Trespass is considered a better example.
However, Greenslades Bedside Manners Are Extra is considered onethe finest, along with Yes Yours Is No Disgrace. Arguably themost beautiful song of the lot is Procol Harums Salty Dog, 1969.
Weblinks:Classic Rock Presents.com /Gut Records.com
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 Manns 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. ( Dont 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
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.