Best PA Track 1980 - Heat 2

Pretty weak field.  I voted for Tibbetts because I doubt anyone else will and none of the others do anything for me.   Babylon Sister almost got my vote, but Gaucho is my least favorite Steely Dan album.

Babylon Sister, Shake it! That is the best song here, but I was tempted by Machine Messiah/Into The Lens. Tangram was good too. Despite my avatar I am not a steely dan mega fan, I like that album cover. I probably like Yes more than Steely Dan, but Bablyon Sister and the album Gaucho are really amazing.

Yes - Machine Messiah

Logan wrote: For my tastes, 1980 may have the most nominations of music that I really care about so far in this series.  I couldn't imagine many who are not into RIO/Avant and related music not finding a fair bit to love here.

Really interesting post - thanks for your response! :-) Yes, I'm not familiar at all with the RIO/Avant genre. Tried a few times, but failed to find a way in. I've definitely used this list as a springboard to try several new tunes; this site has been invaluable for me. I think it's cool that 1980 was a strong year for that genre, and can help introduce others like myself to these works :-)

I did end up voting, for the Tangerine Dream piece. I went back and listened to it and do quite like it.


Edited by jude111 - March 24 2012 at 18:16

jude111 wrote: EDIT: Since I missed out on the nomination process, and my favorite prog (or prog-related) tracks "Time" by the Alan Parson's Project and Rush's "The Spirit of Radio" aren't on the list, and those that I'm familiar with I'm not that enamored with, I'm abstaining. To put it another way: IMHO, Oldfield released much greater songs in other years, as did Rush, Genesis, Steve Hackett, Eloy, Yes, The Enid, and Tangerine Dream; no one put their best stuff forward in 1980, IN MY OPINION. Except those aforementioned Rush and Parson's Project tunes, which *are* among their greatest respective tunes. Sorry, didn't mean to offend anyone. :-)

I'm glad you edited your post becuase, like Hercules comments, it seemed very dismissive of everyone's choices (I know he is often derogatory towards "avant-oriented" music, and I thought it inappropriate because I doubted you knew all of the choices (would be silly to comment on how good a list is if one doesn't know all of the choices very well and is not well versed in all of the styles of music on display).

Moving off the ones you listed but are my favourites on the polls, and I know you're not referring to these ones, but I'm just using your post as  springboard to comment a bit on what i like here: Rahmann certainly put its best stuff out on 1980 with that sole album, and I think those tracks are great.  Present: well, my favourite Present album is the later Le Poison Qui rends Fou, but I consider that album excellent, and that track and album ranks amongst Present's very best stuff.  Although Me and Paravati is not off my favourite Slapp Happy album, I still find it a highly enjoyable track.  I don't know Sky at all, so I can't comment on that, but will be sure to check it out (Always love to discover music thanks to such polls).  Thrall is my favourite of all the Samla Mammas Manna/ Zamla Mammaz Manna/ Von Zamla tracks, and Familjesprickor is my fave of those projects albums (love Maltid and others too). 

From the first heat: I've called Generation Sans Futur by Art Zoyd my favourite album in PA.  I consider the PdP and Eskaton picks (two of my nominations) two of the best tracks by those bands even though I prefer the débuts by both bands on the whole.  The Art Bears track is one of my all-time favourites, and I think it's off a great album (I almost nominated it myself).  I love the Julverne choice, and it is off my favourite album by the band (mind you, sadly it's the only album I have by the band).  Need to get the 1979 album.  I also like the Peter Gabriel album considerably, and I really like Intruder (a fave of mine of the PG that I know).

For my tastes, 1980 may have the most nominations of music that I really care about so far in this series.  I couldn't imagine many who are not into RIO/Avant and related music not finding a fair bit to love here.

Steve Hackett's Hammer In The Sand, because I love the gorgeous chord changes.

Better list than the abominable heat 1, but not great.

Tangram Pt1 is one of the most beautifull synth peices I've ever heard. Always visualise it as representing a life lived in full.

jude111 wrote: Horrible year for prog. Since "Time" by the Alan Parson's Project and Rush's "The Spirit of Radio" aren't on the list, and nothing else in my opinion is worthy of being called "the best prog tune of 80," I'm abstaining. The list for this year is embarrassing.

Ok by me, think we can live without your vote

Natural Science is an obvious winner, but I'll go with Rahmann's Leila, amazing Algerian-French Zeuhl tinged Fusion