Forum Home Forum Home > Progressive Music Lounges > Prog Polls
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Literature
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedLiterature

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Poll Question: Pick your favorite.
Poll Choice Votes Poll Statistics
8 [20.51%]
17 [43.59%]
11 [28.21%]
3 [7.69%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted

Author
Message
mlkpad14 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 23 2017
Location: U.S.
Status: Offline
Points: 665
Direct Link To This Post Topic: Literature
    Posted: January 09 2018 at 05:24
I thought this would be a cool poll to do.

Peter Hammill - The Fall of the House of Usher
In 1839, Edgar Allan Poe published The Fall of the House of Usher, and to this date it is considered one of his most important works. It is a classic in gothic literature, and it is one heck of a wonderful short story.
Chris Judge Smith wrote the opera, and Peter Hamill (Roderick Usher and the House) sang in it, along with Lene Lovich (Madeline Usher), Andy Bell (Montresor), Sarah Jane Morris (the Chorus), and Herbert Grönemeyer (the Herbalist). It was released November 1991.

The Alan Parsons Project - Tales of Mystery & Imagination

In 1976, the debut studio album by The Alan Parsons Project, Tales of Mystery & Imagination, was another nod towards Edgar Allan Poe, and his awesome discography. The lyrical and musical themes of the album attracted a cult audience.
The Alan Parsons Project included more literary themes in their other release I Robot (1977), which drew on Isaac Asimov's science fiction Robot trilogy. 
Note: In general, they are the kings of the concept album, and always include interesting themes in their work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Alan_Parsons_Project_discography

Rick Wakeman - Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Journey to the Centre of the Earth, by Rick Wakeman, was released in 1974. Its concept was based on the science fiction novel of the same name, by Jules Verne. The album tells the story of Professor Lidenbrok, his nephew, Axel, and their guide Hans, who approach Earth's center using the method Arne Saknussemm originally discovered. In 1999, Wakeman released a sequel called Return to the Centre of the Earth, to positive reception again.

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds is the debut studio album by Jeff Wayne, released September 6, 1978. It retells the story The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells (1897). The album was met with praise, and since, it has generated other versions of the album, as well as video games, DVDs, and live tours.
For more on the structure of the piece, see this wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Wayne%27s_Musical_Version_of_The_War_of_the_Worlds#Reception
https://gamecrazyprofessional.weebly.com/
Back to Top
Matti View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: April 15 2005
Location: Finland
Status: Offline
Points: 2065
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2018 at 05:35
A very very easy choice: Parsons/Woolfson and E.A. Poe.
Back to Top
Manuel View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: March 09 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 12289
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2018 at 05:45
My vote goes to Rich Wakeman, excellent piece of literature from Jules Verne. Alan Parson's Project comes in second.
Back to Top
Mormegil View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 03 2010
Location: NE PA
Status: Offline
Points: 6391
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2018 at 06:50
Alan Parsons. It has Orson Welles :-)
Welcome to the middle of the film.
Back to Top
someone_else View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: May 02 2008
Location: Going Bananas
Status: Offline
Points: 23972
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2018 at 06:53
Haven't heard Hammill. Wakeman and Wayne leave me totally cold. Parsons' debut is excellent.
Back to Top
maryes View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: August 16 2009
Location: rio de janeiro
Status: Offline
Points: 990
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2018 at 07:26
Wakeman "Journey..." and "1984"
Back to Top
Michael P. Dawson View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: April 22 2016
Location: California
Status: Offline
Points: 197
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2018 at 08:07
Hammill by a mile; Wakeman a distant second. Never heard the WotW album in its entirety.
Back to Top
digdug View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: July 13 2005
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 4707
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2018 at 09:03
Since the comprehension of sweet sound is our most indefinite conception, music, when combined with a pleasurable idea, is poetry. Music without the idea is simply music.
Prog On!
Back to Top
kenethlevine View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Prog-Folk Team

Joined: December 06 2006
Location: New England
Status: Offline
Points: 8844
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2018 at 10:10
this poll really needs a "too close to call" choice.  I don't know the Hammill take on Poe, but the other 3 are all great IMO.  I'm going to give the slight nod to Wakeman's Journey.  I just happened to listen to side 1 recently and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Parsons is a great album but the orchestral part could have been left out.  If I Robot was on the list the choice would have been more difficult. Jeff Wayne's is great but side 4 is a mess.
Back to Top
The.Crimson.King View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: March 29 2013
Location: WA
Status: Offline
Points: 4591
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2018 at 10:15
Ricky for the win Wink
Back to Top
rushfan4 View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: May 22 2007
Location: Michigan, U.S.
Status: Offline
Points: 65916
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2018 at 10:16
This is a neat idea for a poll.  I've not heard the Peter Hammill or Jeff Wayne, so really can't vote.  I just thought I would mention Shadow Circus' On A Dark and Stormy Night, which is based on The Wrinkle In Time series.  There are probably a number of other albums based on stories too, but that was the first one to come to mind.
Back to Top
Wanorak View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 09 2006
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 4574
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2018 at 12:29
Alan Parsons.
A GREAT YEAR FOR PROG!!!
Back to Top
mlkpad14 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 23 2017
Location: U.S.
Status: Offline
Points: 665
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2018 at 16:52
Originally posted by rushfan4 rushfan4 wrote:

This is a neat idea for a poll.  I've not heard the Peter Hammill or Jeff Wayne, so really can't vote.  I just thought I would mention Shadow Circus' On A Dark and Stormy Night, which is based on The Wrinkle In Time series.  There are probably a number of other albums based on stories too, but that was the first one to come to mind.

Thanks, and I will make sure to check it out!
Personally, my favorite is the opera by Hammill.
https://gamecrazyprofessional.weebly.com/
Back to Top
Magnum Vaeltaja View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: July 01 2015
Location: Out East
Status: Offline
Points: 6777
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2018 at 21:27
Originally posted by someone_else someone_else wrote:

Haven't heard Hammill. Wakeman and Wayne leave me totally cold. Parsons' debut is excellent.

I'm in the exact same boat. Didn't vote since I haven't heard the Peter Hammill album and could very well like it, but if I were to vote I'd go for Alan Parsons Project.
when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents
Back to Top
Man With Hat View Drop Down
Collaborator
Collaborator
Avatar
Jazz-Rock/Fusion/Canterbury Team

Joined: March 12 2005
Location: Neurotica
Status: Offline
Points: 166178
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 30 2018 at 16:41
Hammill 
Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive
Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
Back to Top
Squonk19 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: April 03 2015
Location: Darlington, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 4686
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 30 2018 at 16:56
Originally posted by kenethlevine kenethlevine wrote:

this poll really needs a "too close to call" choice.  I don't know the Hammill take on Poe, but the other 3 are all great IMO.  I'm going to give the slight nod to Wakeman's Journey.  I just happened to listen to side 1 recently and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Parsons is a great album but the orchestral part could have been left out.  If I Robot was on the list the choice would have been more difficult. Jeff Wayne's is great but side 4 is a mess.


Agreed - Tales is very good, but the Project went onto even greater things. Rick's album remains a true prog classic - especially Side 1. Haven't heard War of the Worlds for quite a while - some great songs, but a bit of soft rock filler too. The Caped Crusader for me!
“Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.”
Back to Top
verslibre View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: July 01 2004
Location: CA
Status: Offline
Points: 14871
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 30 2018 at 17:01
I love those Wakeman and Wayne albums, but as a Poe fan, I can't vote without first revisiting the one by Hammill.

I concur we need an "All of the above" option!
Back to Top
mlkpad14 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 23 2017
Location: U.S.
Status: Offline
Points: 665
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 30 2018 at 19:02
Originally posted by verslibre verslibre wrote:

I love those Wakeman and Wayne albums, but as a Poe fan, I can't vote without first revisiting the one by Hammill.

I concur we need an "All of the above" option!

That is what I would vote for!
https://gamecrazyprofessional.weebly.com/
Back to Top
Dellinger View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: June 18 2009
Location: Mexico
Status: Offline
Points: 12581
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 30 2018 at 21:49
Originally posted by Squonk19 Squonk19 wrote:

Originally posted by kenethlevine kenethlevine wrote:

this poll really needs a "too close to call" choice.  I don't know the Hammill take on Poe, but the other 3 are all great IMO.  I'm going to give the slight nod to Wakeman's Journey.  I just happened to listen to side 1 recently and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Parsons is a great album but the orchestral part could have been left out.  If I Robot was on the list the choice would have been more difficult. Jeff Wayne's is great but side 4 is a mess.


Agreed - Tales is very good, but the Project went onto even greater things. Rick's album remains a true prog classic - especially Side 1. Haven't heard War of the Worlds for quite a while - some great songs, but a bit of soft rock filler too. The Caped Crusader for me!


For me Tales is the best Parsons album (though I agree that the orchestral section, I guess you mean form The House of Usher song, really doesn't work very well), closely followed by I Robot. However, I don't really know how well I Robot would work for this poll, as I understand it, it doesn't really have much to do with Asimov's book (at least I don't find much relation apart from the name and it's theme is robots... I think there's some other book with the same name, I don't know if the album might be related to that one instead).
Back to Top
BaldJean View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: May 28 2005
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 10377
Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 31 2018 at 01:03
Peter Hammill for me. the 1999 version, not the 1990 one. the two versions are very different; the 1999 version is for example completely without drums, and there are many other changes in arrangement too. here an excerpt, the beginning of the second act:



and here one of my favorite passages, the duet between Madeleine Usher and Montresor



the line-up of the album is this:

Roderick Usher - Peter Hammill
Montresor - Andy Bell
the Chorus (in the sense of the Elizabethan theater) - Sarah-Jane Morris
Madeleine Usher - Lene Lovich
the Herbalist - Herbert Grönemeyer
the Voices of the House - Peter Hammill (in a chorus with himself)

Peter Hammill plays keyboards and guitars (and in the 1990 version drums and percussion too); Stuart Gordon adds some violin in the 1999 version



Edited by BaldJean - January 31 2018 at 01:34


A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.137 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.