UK

If you were alive in 1978, you saw the slow decay of British progressive rock into oblivion. If you needed something to hold on to you had this exquisite album buy UK. I enjoy the work that Bruford did with Holdsworth more so then the 70s stuff with Fripp.

This album showed the way that prog groups could maintain a commercial appeal but still cater to the hard line. In the Dead of Night is a mainstream pop tune in seven with poppy prog sections a la Boston. Most of the tracks have an ambient pop sound with subtle jazz tinged solos. Alaska is worth the price of admission. A local band in NY, Rat Race Choir, played this, so I often got the chance to hear how wild and exciting it could be performed live; RRC later toured as John Entwhistle's band.

Holdsworth left the band. I heard rumors that it was because he could not work within the rigid pop structure of the tunes. I used to have a tape of the band recorded live from radio at the Bottom Line in NY. Holdsworth would just be wailing as the band shifted into the next section of the song. He would suddenly stop in mid-wail and join in.

Bruford left; Bozzio brought a new excitement to the band when they recorded and toured in 79 but the times they were a changin,' other offers loomed and this band was also destined for oblivion. Any fan or Crimson, Gong or ELP would probably enjoy this album.