Classic Rock - Prog Rock - Genesis,Jethro Tull,Procol Harum,Marillion,Yes,Barclay James Harvest,Rush,Miscellaneous Performers Album Review

Album Review

Despite the curious absence of seminal prog-rockers Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, Mike Oldfield, Queen, The Who , Soft Machine, King Crimson, Tangerine Dream, Uriah Heep, Pretty Things...this 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 collection spread over 27 tracks, running almost two hours 30 minutes.

The genre gradually evolved from psychedelic rock (or almost alongside) as musicians went beyond the three minute pop ditty, exploring sound and instruments. 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 and rawness of rock music, though it barely lasted 18 months.

Essentially, Prog Rock allowed musicians to expand their repertoire outside the confines of 'singles' orientated music, sometimes taking tracks into the 10 or 15 minute barrier, and in some cases well beyond. The second side of Pink Floyd's Echoes astonishingly took up the entire vinyl with one track - an early indication of the 'concept album'. Prog, an abbreviation of 'progressive' didn't necessarily mean, as is commonly thought, it was full of 'noise'. These bands were expected to show progression 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's Sympathy ( no.27 '1970) and a good range of early album tracks such as The Nice - America, ELP - Lucky Man.

Then there are the '70s classics, Argent's Hold Head Up, Atomic Rooster's Tomorrow Night, and the brilliant Burlesque by rasping Roger Chapman's band Family. The late '80s brought Blue Oyster Cult, Renaissance, and the genre's virtual saviours - Rush, with their opus Spirit Of Radio from 1980 (no.13 '80).

Latterly, IQ has been seen to be flying the prog - rock flag in majestic fashion - their Erosion being a prime example.

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

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

Elly Roberts