Forum Home Forum Home > Progressive Music Lounges > Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Starcastle
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Starcastle

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <123>
Author
Message
Fischman View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: July 21 2018
Location: Colorado, USA
Status: Offline
Points: 1600
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fischman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 26 2019 at 17:46
I love listening to Starcastle.  As long as I can set aside thoughts of how derivative they were, I really enjoy the music.  
Back to Top
Barbu View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: October 09 2005
Location: infinity
Status: Offline
Points: 30845
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Barbu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 26 2019 at 18:25
Never heard.
Back to Top
cstack3 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: July 20 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Status: Offline
Points: 6709
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cstack3 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 27 2019 at 01:41
Originally posted by Barbu Barbu wrote:

Never heard.

Check out this tune from their first LP, it is one of my favorites.  I'd seen them play this many times when I was in college!  


I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!!
Back to Top
Barbu View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: October 09 2005
Location: infinity
Status: Offline
Points: 30845
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Barbu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 27 2019 at 07:58
^ Fascinante ressemblance.
Back to Top
pussywillow View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: January 30 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 20
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pussywillow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 21 2019 at 13:22
I've heard Starcastle being dismissed as Yes clones over the years, and can't say I agree. They have a distinctive sound all of their own, imho, and some of the vocal harmonies are exquisite and are nothing like Yes.

I'm a Citadel man myself. Tongue
PussyWillow is the best distillation of the classic Tull formula, juxtaposing Anderson's gruff but expressive vocals and a strong, insistent melody bolstered by well-placed, crunchy guitar chords.

Back to Top
Cristi View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Crossover / Prog Metal Teams

Joined: July 27 2006
Location: wonderland
Status: Offline
Points: 40762
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cristi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 19 2021 at 13:05
what they did in 76-77 (first three albums) is quite good. Big smile
Back to Top
dr wu23 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: August 22 2010
Location: Indiana
Status: Offline
Points: 20449
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dr wu23 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 19 2021 at 13:49
I have the first 2....on old vinyl....would pick up Citadel if I saw it in a shop. 

While maybe not a clone.... they do resemble Yes a good deal but so do other groups from the prog world.
It would be interesting to read an interview with band members as to their influences.


Edited by dr wu23 - September 19 2021 at 13:49
One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin
Back to Top
Steve Wyzard View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: March 30 2017
Location: California
Status: Offline
Points: 1986
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steve Wyzard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 20 2021 at 10:17
Vastly underrated band - I will always love and listen to the first three albums. Gary Strater and Stephen Tassler are one of the greatest rhythm sections of all time!

As far as the Yes comparisons go, it really only applies to the first album. When Roy Thomas Baker produced the next two albums, they started to sound more like Queen, Rush, and Boston, with some Yes influences still present.


Back to Top
presdoug View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 24 2010
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 8046
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote presdoug Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 20 2021 at 11:25
I have really liked the Starcastle debut album for many years; for me, their later records don't quite match the first one. The debut is the most striking one.

RIP, Gary Strater
Back to Top
BrufordFreak View Drop Down
Collaborator
Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: January 25 2008
Location: Wisconsin
Status: Offline
Points: 7951
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrufordFreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 20 2021 at 11:56
Originally posted by Rednight Rednight wrote:

Originally posted by cstack3 cstack3 wrote:


Local fans understood the parallels to Yes, and we embraced that, as they were the "American answer to Yes."  
If that were true, God save America.

I thought Yezda Urfa was the American Yes!

Always loved Starcastle--even got see them live as warmup to Todd Rundgren's Utopia. (The keyboard guy was he most impressive to me.) Nice to see the love being expressed for these talented Illini.

  


Edited by BrufordFreak - September 20 2021 at 11:58
Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/
Back to Top
verslibre View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: July 01 2004
Location: CA
Status: Offline
Points: 14871
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote verslibre Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 20 2021 at 12:58
Originally posted by Steve Wyzard Steve Wyzard wrote:

Vastly underrated band - I will always love and listen to the first three albums. Gary Strater and Stephen Tassler are one of the greatest rhythm sections of all time!

As far as the Yes comparisons go, it really only applies to the first album. When Roy Thomas Baker produced the next two albums, they started to sound more like Queen, Rush, and Boston, with some Yes influences still present.

Fountains of Light is firmly in the mold of Yes-styled symph prog, but it's much better than the debut, which is almost shameless in its mimicry.

In fact, Starcastle turned me off for many years. When I finally heard Fountains of Light, I realized the band was capable of a lot more. 
Back to Top
Awesoreno View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: October 07 2019
Location: Culver City, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 2835
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Awesoreno Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 21 2021 at 01:13
Originally posted by BrufordFreak BrufordFreak wrote:

Originally posted by Rednight Rednight wrote:

Originally posted by cstack3 cstack3 wrote:


Local fans understood the parallels to Yes, and we embraced that, as they were the "American answer to Yes."  
If that were true, God save America.

I thought Yezda Urfa was the American Yes!

Always loved Starcastle--even got see them live as warmup to Todd Rundgren's Utopia. (The keyboard guy was he most impressive to me.) Nice to see the love being expressed for these talented Illini.

  

Yezda Urfa is in no way the American Yes, in my opinion. The similarities are minimal. The bassist certainly has a Squire-like tone for the bass and style in playing, but otherwise, what else is there? The singer... also sings high...? The singer actually really sounds like Trevor Horn, if anything. Almost EXACTLY like Trevor Horn. 

In every other way, to me, they sound like a band already obsessed with Zappa who all did cocaine and discovered Gentle Giant together. Gentle Giant on coke. That sounds more like it to me.
Back to Top
PhideauxFan View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: August 14 2007
Location: France
Status: Offline
Points: 4574
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PhideauxFan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 21 2021 at 07:05
Like Prog Archives says sometimes: "only for fans (of Yes)" or "completionists". Two words come to my mind: imitator and clone.
Back to Top
Cristi View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Crossover / Prog Metal Teams

Joined: July 27 2006
Location: wonderland
Status: Offline
Points: 40762
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cristi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 21 2021 at 07:41
Originally posted by PhideauxFan PhideauxFan wrote:

Like Prog Archives says sometimes: "only for fans (of Yes)" or "completionists". Two words come to my mind: imitator and clone.

or a third one - pastiche Big smileLOL
Back to Top
dr wu23 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: August 22 2010
Location: Indiana
Status: Offline
Points: 20449
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dr wu23 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 21 2021 at 11:39
Originally posted by Awesoreno Awesoreno wrote:

Originally posted by BrufordFreak BrufordFreak wrote:

Originally posted by Rednight Rednight wrote:

Originally posted by cstack3 cstack3 wrote:


Local fans understood the parallels to Yes, and we embraced that, as they were the "American answer to Yes."  
If that were true, God save America.

I thought Yezda Urfa was the American Yes!

Always loved Starcastle--even got see them live as warmup to Todd Rundgren's Utopia. (The keyboard guy was he most impressive to me.) Nice to see the love being expressed for these talented Illini.

  

Yezda Urfa is in no way the American Yes, in my opinion. The similarities are minimal. The bassist certainly has a Squire-like tone for the bass and style in playing, but otherwise, what else is there? The singer... also sings high...? The singer actually really sounds like Trevor Horn, if anything. Almost EXACTLY like Trevor Horn. 

In every other way, to me, they sound like a band already obsessed with Zappa who all did cocaine and discovered Gentle Giant together. Gentle Giant on coke. That sounds more like it to me.

I agree...more of a cross between GG and Zappa and other prog influences. They were from Chicago and northwest Indiana which is where I live. Sadly I never heard of them in the mid 70's even though I lived in that area...they played in various places in Chicago and nothwest Indiana.
Good interview    https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2019/07/yezda-urfa-interview.html
One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin
Back to Top
SteveG View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: April 11 2014
Location: Kyiv In Spirit
Status: Offline
Points: 20244
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 21 2021 at 12:43
Great band! And what's wrong with Yes clones?
This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State.
Back to Top
TCat View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: February 07 2010
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 11612
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TCat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 21 2021 at 13:17
"Citadel" was actually the first Starcastle that I owned.  I like it enough to go back to their debut and "Fountains of Light" albums.  I liked them even before Yes became one of my favorite bands, but I must credit them to get me to listen to Yes a lot closer back in the day, mainly because back then I even heard people say they were Yes clones.  I have kept my appreciation of them even now.

Back to Top
cstack3 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: July 20 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Status: Offline
Points: 6709
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cstack3 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 21 2021 at 14:55
Starcastle had some important differences from Yes.  They featured two incredibly talented lead guitarists, their keyboard player was predominantly a Hammond organ player, and they incorporated instruments in live shows like saxophone.  You can't judge this band only by their limited discography.  

Lead vocalist Terry Lutrell left REO Speedwagon to join Starcastle....I wonder if he regretted that move, seeing that REO went on to be a monster act on AOR and classic rock radio? 

For one ProgDay performance, Annie Halsam sang with the band, I heard it was sublime.  

To summarize, they were inspired by Yes, but not a "Yes clone" etc.  They easily could have played Yes songs live, but to my knowledge, they never did.  Their "da-dadada-da-da DA!" vocalization style was unique to Starcastle, Yes never did anything like that.  Flash did however. 
I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!!
Back to Top
Rottenprogger View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 13 2021
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 221
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rottenprogger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 21 2021 at 16:08
Originally posted by SteveG SteveG wrote:

Great band! And what's wrong with Yes clones?

I haven't listened to Starcastle in awhile but what I did hear was pretty damn good Yes-inspired prog so I have no problem with clones executing this kind of complex music in an entertaining manner. 

It's worked like gangbusters for Steve Howe! LOL


Back to Top
PetePuma View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: December 29 2020
Location: massachusetts
Status: Offline
Points: 2
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PetePuma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2022 at 13:14
I enjoy the first 3 albums quite a bit. The first is my favorite.
Cult Deprogrammer: "I was able to get Paul McCartney out of Wings"
Homer: "You idiot! He was the most talented one"
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <123>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.119 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.