Be bop deluxe - a prog rock band to me |
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ukyestony
Forum Newbie Joined: January 25 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 3 |
Topic: Be bop deluxe - a prog rock band to me Posted: January 25 2005 at 17:45 |
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I am surprised, upon first looking at this most excellent site yesterday, that BE BOP DELUXE seem to be omitted. Being a teenager and engineering apprentice in the early seventies, I was an obsessive YES fan but my tastes also ran to Focus, Pink Floyd , Led Zep, Tangerine Dream and Genesis. Also, Greenslade featured quite highly with, Camel and Barclay James Harvest and not least, Steve Hillage, later Asia, Rush ELP and Marillion however, I was also taken aback by the excellence of one Bill Nelson and his superbly creative band, Be Bop deluxe. They (BE BOP DELUXE) have a good back catalogue of at least half a dozen most excellent records that readily fall into the prog rock genre, in my humble opinion. Clever lyrics, visible technical excellence in writing and production (and especially Bills TRULY WONDERFUL GUITAR LICKS) and such wonders as the moderm music suite and sunburst finish in its entirety, readily walk them into the category in my view I for one, will always strongly argue for Be Bops inclusion and would, as a new member, be most eager to argue the point and be interested to know why they are so far - apparently omitted.
unless I missed them in my search ? best regards to you all - here goes |
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ukyestony
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tuxon
Forum Senior Member Joined: September 21 2004 Location: plugged-in Status: Offline Points: 5502 |
Posted: January 25 2005 at 17:58 | |
welcome Tony Don't know of that band, so can't judge it. |
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I'm always almost unlucky _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Id5ZcnjXSZaSMFMC Id5LM2q2jfqz3YxT
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Garion81
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: May 22 2004 Location: So Cal, USA Status: Offline Points: 4338 |
Posted: January 25 2005 at 19:33 | |
I have only heard, complete, one their albums; Modern Music. I think the song Modern Music is very prog but quite honestly I don't remember much else about that CD. I think they were quite good and i am going to have to look into their catalog a little deeper.
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"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
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Peter
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 31 2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 9669 |
Posted: January 25 2005 at 22:13 | |
I'm not overly familiar with their work, but I believe that I mentioned them as candidates for inclusion about a year ago. Why? I recall that they were always referred to as a prog rock band in the music mags I read back in the 70s. I would like to hear them now.... |
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"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
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Rob The Good
Forum Senior Member Joined: December 17 2004 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 476 |
Posted: January 26 2005 at 02:57 | |
Everyone: if you look at the sub-genre definitions on the site, under the ART ROCK category, examples are "Roxy Music & Be Bop Deluxe". I agree...let's add them under the ART ROCK genre!
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And Jesus said unto John, "come forth and receive eternal life..."
Unfortunately, John came fifth and was stuck with a toaster. |
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Valarius
Forum Senior Member Joined: January 08 2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 1480 |
Posted: January 26 2005 at 05:23 | |
I've only ever heard of them. That is all.
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Dick Heath
Special Collaborator Jazz-Rock Specialist Joined: April 19 2004 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 12805 |
Posted: January 26 2005 at 07:12 | |
I have a tiny advantage here, having stage managed one of their early shows when I was a post graduate student. Actually Pete, they were not always referred to as a prog rock band in the beginning, rather they started out as a glam rock band, some what modelled on Bowie's Ziggy Stardust - glittery stage costumes, make-up etc. More musical skilled than Sweet, less pop chart oriented than T Rex, at least as eclectic as Roxy Music, and likely to give David Bowie a run for his money. Their first album Axe Victim, wasn't greeted as a prog album, again the glam rock thing because of stage image and the tunes not quite being structured like other prog tunes of the period, plus the tendency to be relatively short. But the album was certainly greeted with great enthuiasm, especially Bill Nelson's songs and guitarwork. BBD have recently reformed for a one-offs series of concerts. |
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Velvetclown
Forum Senior Member Joined: February 13 2004 Status: Offline Points: 8548 |
Posted: January 26 2005 at 07:18 | |
Be Bop are Prog !!!!!!!!!
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Axe Victim
Forum Groupie Joined: July 21 2004 Status: Offline Points: 85 |
Posted: January 26 2005 at 07:31 | |
I'm an Axe Victim
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This Whole World Has Gone Slum Gullion
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Velvetclown
Forum Senior Member Joined: February 13 2004 Status: Offline Points: 8548 |
Posted: January 26 2005 at 07:32 | |
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ukyestony
Forum Newbie Joined: January 25 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 3 |
Posted: January 26 2005 at 16:48 | |
Wow what a wonderful response - so prompt to I would add - 'life in the air age - its grim enough to make a robot cry' with the fritz lang video backdrops dark self intro spective lyrics and swirling guitar work - they definitely are prog and live they were simply wonderful ! If you havent properly checked them out, I would reccomend in particular 'Futurama' or 'sunburst finish', although 'moderm music' has the definitive prog rock suite of the same name timelessly imprinted on it. I remember them doing a jam of the track 'shine' which just went on and on with beautiful improvisation at the manchester apollo (probably 1977) my copy of 'live in the air age' has it on a vinyl Ep attached - the cover art work is truly prog and Bill through his burgeoning back catalogue of material is still a genius to this day. if theyve re-formed I simply must see them - I really must, any info would be greatly appreciated
cheers fellow music lovers of quality ! |
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ukyestony
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richardh
Prog Reviewer Joined: February 18 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 27280 |
Posted: January 26 2005 at 17:56 | |
I've got the double CD best of set.The first disc is definetly prog in my eyes.Anyone noticed that 'Between The Worlds' seems to be reprising 'Rondo' (The Nice) for its intro?
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Oracle
Forum Groupie Joined: January 26 2005 Location: Greenland Status: Offline Points: 71 |
Posted: January 26 2005 at 18:12 | |
Be-bop delux are very famos band in my country which is greenland.They are from canada no? I saw them play Qaanaaq (you know it as thule) last septembre. They good but i think they play some country music and some famos tunes from 1950 like elvis presly and buddy holy.Not expect to se them on a place such as this.They were very old-the keyboard man was about 60 or 70 i think. Good that some diffrent sort of music come on this forum.
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I see the future.Tomorrow is cancelled.
Thorgeir Vifilsson |
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Peter
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 31 2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 9669 |
Posted: January 26 2005 at 22:24 | |
Thanks for that, Dick. (I used to read Circus and its sister rock mag Raves in the 70s, BTW.)
I probably read about them later in their career -- did they become "proggier" over time, and can you recommend any discs? BBD weren't Canadian, as Oracle above asks, were they? Wow -- Greenland! Greetings, Oracle! Edited by Peter |
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"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
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richardh
Prog Reviewer Joined: February 18 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 27280 |
Posted: January 27 2005 at 03:01 | |
I think Oracle is taking the Michael.Bill Nelson of BBD is from Yorkshire.
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Dick Heath
Special Collaborator Jazz-Rock Specialist Joined: April 19 2004 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 12805 |
Posted: January 27 2005 at 05:30 | |
The original line-up came from Rotherham in South Yorkshire (the other side of the M1 motorway from Sheffield), and possibly still Bill Nelson's base. However, there were several line-up changes. Recommendations: Axe Victim for the rawness and hunger of a new band on the scene, and hints of Bowie's influence. A favourite because I saw them perform most of this material before they signed to Harvest Records and recorded it. Live In The Air Age: live album recording/released towards the end of their career, covering a lot of the favourites tunes. And what you like here, check back to the studio albums which had those tracks originally.
Bill Nelson then formed Red Noise, subsequently becoming the long-term indie musician shifting from guitar to keys (excellent retrospective of Nelson's post BBD period on a double CD, issued by Fripp's Discipline label). |
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ukyestony
Forum Newbie Joined: January 25 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 3 |
Posted: January 29 2005 at 16:41 | |
wow 'even more than international' Bills words not mine, yep BE Bop Deluxe hail from yorkshire, Bill himself from wakefield, hes'got his own website and appreciation societies, periodicaly I recieve emails from the nelsonian navigator about what he's up to and his personal diary. You can get all their stuff readily on CD, all I can do is heartily reccomend to anybody anywhere in the world (even greenland bless you ) that you catch some of this material and draw your own conclusions - if you like clever music with intricate vocals and powerful 'big guitar licks with a battery of effects' Be bops for you - if you want to hear real guitar and I mean REAL guitar so powerful it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up - try 'crying to the sky' off sunburst finish as powerful and as completely compelling a series of complete guitar solos as I have ever heard - repeat EVER heard simply wonderful and a real treat to hear form time to time and Ive heard a lot enjoy !!! - [email protected]
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ukyestony
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DallasBryan
Forum Senior Member Joined: November 23 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3323 |
Posted: January 29 2005 at 20:07 | |
Be Bop Deluxe, hmm, think I have Sunburst Finish
stuffed away somewhere. I would definitely include them as Art Rock with progressive tendancies. This is a pretty good album as I remember and pretty catchy tunes. Bills guitar work is of note and they have been overlooked in my opionion. You go now ukyestony, think you have a valid debate! |
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