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Joined: May 29 2005
Location: Bucks county PA
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Points: 1474
Topic: Have these bands been forgotten by most prog fans? Posted: March 31 2013 at 14:36
With all the younger music fans getting into prog these days it seems that many of them are forgetting about some of the important but lesser known older bands. Sure they know about Yes, ELP, PF, KC, Genesis and a few others but it seems some of them have gone under the radar. I'm not even sure how familiar most younger fans are with Gentle Giant. With all the new stuff that comes out or gets discussed it's easy to get sidetracked by prog bands from the past ten to fifteen years or so and forget about the older ones.
So I'm wondering if you feel these bands have been neglected. I'll list about twenty or so. Also, if you are under 40 please state that too(if you want) so I know you weren't into these bands 20 plus years ago.
These are just some bands off the top of my head:
Nektar Barclay James Harvest Triumvirat Twelfth Night (from the 80's) Mastermind (90's band) Mannfred Mann's earth band The Nice (one of the founders of prog imo) Procol Harum The Strawbs Banco (del mutuo soccorso) Eloy Starcastle Happy the Man Crack the Sky (more art rockish) Focus Argent Renaissance Gong Supersister Clearlight (French band) Finch Ange Rare Bird Captain Beyond Cathedral (US band that did Stained Glass Stories) Atomic Rooster Colosseum Greenslade Cast (90's band from Mexico) FM Just about any seventies Italian band Just about any seventies French band Heck just about any seventies band from any country other than England.
Please add any band you feel is significant but overlooked from around 1967 or so up to the 90's. The 90's or 80's could be another thread entirely. The point is to not have them be too recent.
I saw Nektar mentioned on another prog site and it got me thinking. If Nektar aren't mentioned much in prog circles(especially these days)then probably most older bands aren't. With all the newer stuff coming out it seems that most prog fans especially younger ones get caught up in the flavor of the week and either forget about or don't bother searching out long lost classics or bands that maybe sang in a foreign language. Lots of good stuff out there pre 2000, pre 1990 and of course pre 1980.
Joined: January 22 2007
Location: Arizona USA
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Points: 409
Posted: March 31 2013 at 15:08
Good list.I agree that many younger fans know little of these bands. At 49, I don't know a few myself! I have introduced a young friend of mine to Manfred Mann, Eloy, and The Move and he loves them all. On the flip side, my girlfriend hates almost all my prog music. Oh, well.
And it's only the giving that makes you...what you are".
Joined: February 28 2007
Location: Earth
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Points: 790
Posted: March 31 2013 at 15:14
I'm a young guy (as in 21 next month), and I like a lot of them, especially Renaissance, Crack the Sky, Happy the Man, and Gong. I've also seen 3 out of those 4
Joined: October 31 2006
Location: Italy
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Points: 13345
Posted: March 31 2013 at 15:16
Nektar I like only the first album Barclay James Harvest Never checked them enough Triumvirat Same As Above Twelfth Night (from the 80's) Same Mastermind (90's band) Who? Mannfred Mann's earth band I still listen to them sometimes. The Nice (one of the founders of prog imo) 5 Bridges suite is one of my fav tracks ever Procol Harum Great. The Strawbs Sometimes but I don't love them too much Banco (del mutuo soccorso) Sometimes but not a fan Eloy A band that I still love Starcastle Nice clone. Not bad. Happy the Man Never heard Crack the Sky (more art rockish) Totally unknown to me Focus Just Hocus Pocus Argent Nexus is not bad but it's the only thing I know of them Renaissance In my top 10 bands Gong Together with Renaissance Supersister Not bad Clearlight (French band) Never heard Finch Love Glory Of The Inner Force Ange I think I miss something Rare Bird Captain Beyond Cathedral (US band that did Stained Glass Stories) Three bands I don't know Atomic Rooster Good but non essential Colosseum Another big band. They have one of the best lives of the history Greenslade Good band but I don't know much Cast (90's band from Mexico) Unknown FM Same Just about any seventies Italian band Just about any seventies French band Heck just about any seventies band from any country other than England.
There's a lot of great stuff out of the traditional countries.
Edited by octopus-4 - March 31 2013 at 15:22
Curiosity killed a cat, Schroedinger only half. My poor home recorded stuff at https://yellingxoanon.bandcamp.com
Joined: May 12 2009
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Posted: March 31 2013 at 15:33
I am familiar to one degree or another with most of these bands and I have not forgotten them. Indeed, I have been (re)discovering many of them over the last few years. But then I am not among the younger crowd here. Are most Prog fans younger? Or Older? At 52, I count myself older.
The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty"
Joined: October 31 2006
Location: Italy
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Points: 13345
Posted: March 31 2013 at 15:44
Progosopher wrote:
I am familiar to one degree or another with most of these bands and I have not forgotten them. Indeed, I have been (re)discovering many of them over the last few years. But then I am not among the younger crowd here. Are most Prog fans younger? Or Older? At 52, I count myself older.
I'm 51. At least younger than you
Curiosity killed a cat, Schroedinger only half. My poor home recorded stuff at https://yellingxoanon.bandcamp.com
Joined: April 08 2006
Location: Netherlands
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Posted: March 31 2013 at 15:54
I'm 34. As I'm Dutch myself, I know all about Focus and Supersister. Renaissance and Eloy are also big favourites of mine. The others bands I don't know too well, but I'm checking out some of them. Procol Harum is quite good, but I'm not impressed by Barclay James Harvest.
Future prosperity lies in the way you heal the world with love (Introitus - The hand that feeds you)
Joined: March 12 2005
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Posted: March 31 2013 at 16:09
Nektar - never stuck with me Barclay James Harvest - meh Triumvirat - decent (though I'm mostly unfamiliar) Twelfth Night (from the 80's) - thumbs up Mastermind (90's band) - Idk them Mannfred Mann's earth band - lol The Nice (one of the founders of prog imo) - never listen to, but do know of Procol Harum - meh The Strawbs - good Banco (del mutuo soccorso) - top notch Eloy - good to very good Starcastle - average to my ears (but I was never the biggest yes fan around) Happy the Man - top notch Crack the Sky (more art rockish) - don't know Focus - good to very good Argent - don't know Renaissance - enjoyable (though a bit out of my taste range at times) Gong - love Supersister - pretty good (if uneven to my ears) Clearlight (French band) - good to very good Finch - don't know Ange - good (though mostly unfamiliar) Rare Bird - don't know Captain Beyond - ditto Cathedral (US band that did Stained Glass Stories) - SGS is excellent Atomic Rooster - good Colosseum - good to very good Greenslade - don't know Cast (90's band from Mexico) - ditto FM - fitto
I feel like I had a point in doing this.
Guess I didn't.
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.
Joined: December 22 2010
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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Posted: March 31 2013 at 16:16
Nektar Never heard of em Barclay James Harvest Like a couple of their songs but generally not a fan Triumvirat Never heard Twelfth Night Never heard Mastermind Never heard Mannfred Mann's earth band Love them The Nice Like a couple of their songs but generally not a fan Procol Harum Like a couple of their songs but generally not a fan The Strawbs Love them Banco (del mutuo soccorso) Like them Eloy Never heard Starcastle Never heard Happy the Man Love them Crack the Sky Never heard Focus Love them Argent Never heard Renaissance Love Them Gong Love them Supersister Love them Clearlight Never heard Finch Never heard Ange Never heard Rare Bird Never heard Captain Beyond Never heard Cathedral Never heard Atomic Rooster Not a fan Colosseum Never heard Greenslade Never heard Cast Never Heard FM Never heard Just about any seventies Italian band (PFM) Just about any seventies French band (Harmonium, Morse Code, Magma) Heck just about any seventies band from any country other than England. (Bo Hansson, Eden, Kebnekajse, Earth And Fire, Anglagard)
I also think Egg, Hatfield & The North, Family, Caravan, Camel (too well known?), National Health, Illusion, Supertramp (too well known?), & Van der Graaf Generator (too well known?). (I'm less than 40)
Joined: June 14 2007
Location: Near York UK
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Points: 7024
Posted: March 31 2013 at 16:54
Forgotten?
Not by me!!
In there, you've got a good chunk of my record collection.
BJH - have 7 albums and they're very good to OK but their Live album is stunning
MMEB - have 6 albums and they're all good to very good
The Nice - have 2 albums, both good
Procul Harum - 3 albums, all good
Strawbs (NOT The Strawbs!) I think I have every album they ever recorded and some albums are complete masterpieces (From the Witchwood, Grave New World, Hero & Heroine)
Eloy - have 4 albums, all of which are very good
Focus - have 5 albums, Moving Waves beng the pick
Renaissance - have 7 albums (and 2 Illusion albums made by the original line up) all of which are excellent
Rare Bird - have 4 albums, As Your Mind Flies By being the best
Atomic Rooster - have 3 albums, Death Walks Behind You being the best
Colosseum - have 3 albums, all of which are very good
Greenslade - have 4 albums; love the music, don't like the vocals
Other criminally ignored bands: The Enid (have 7 albums: In the Region of the Summer Stars and Aerie Faerie Nonsense are brilliant), Uriah Heep (7 albums; Salisbury is their best), Gryphon (have everything; Midnight Mushrumps is the best whole side track ever and Red Queen their best album), 10cc (have 5 albums; the original "Art Rock" band - Sheet Music is brilliant), Be Bop Deluxe (have 5 albums; another superb "Art Rock" outfit). I don't think Caravan are as revered as they should be, either.
I'm sure there are others but I can't be bothered to trawl through 1500 albums to find them.
Joined: June 04 2012
Location: Virginia
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Points: 1413
Posted: March 31 2013 at 16:54
I am well above forty .. from your list, I listen regularly to one and only band, namely Renaissance:
Nektar: heard them, not impressed Barclay James Harvest: have them, very rarely listen to
Triumvirat: heard them, not impressed
Twelfth Night (from the 80's): heard them, not impressed Mastermind (90's band): no idea Mannfred Mann's earth band: had some great moments long ago; not interesting any more The Nice (one of the founders of prog imo): had some great moments long ago; not interesting any more
Procol Harum: have them, find rather boring to listen to The Strawbs: had some good moments decades ago; not interesting any more Banco (del mutuo soccorso): not bad at all, but couldn't tell them from other RPI bands of the same time period Eloy: OK-ish for those who like band like Eloy Starcastle: don't remember Happy the Man: no idea Crack the Sky (more art rockish): no idea Focus: had some good moments decades ago; not interesting any more Argent: no idea Renaissance: a decent band with quite a few good albums - have them and listen to them Gong: heard them - not impressed Supersister: no idea Clearlight (French band): no idea Finch: no idea Ange: no idea Rare Bird: heard of them Captain Beyond: no idea Cathedral (US band that did Stained Glass Stories): heard of them Atomic Rooster:had some good moments decades ago; not interesting any more
Colosseum: heard of them Greenslade: no idea Cast (90's band from Mexico): no idea FM: no idea
Joined: March 04 2013
Location: Windsor, UK
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Points: 99
Posted: March 31 2013 at 17:21
Argonaught.
In what way are several of the bands "not interesting anymore" to you?
Is it because you find the music dated, or are you following the newer prog bands and, having moved with the times, find going back in time is just not for you?
Personally speaking I am still discovering new and old bands and find them equally rewarding but then I wasn't really listening to prog (beyond the obvious ones) back then so a lot of it, despite being 30/40 years old is still new to me.
Joined: June 14 2007
Location: Near York UK
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Points: 7024
Posted: March 31 2013 at 17:52
QUOTE=Dean]People cannot forget what they never knew. There is a reason why obscure bands are obscure and lesser known bands are lesser known.[/QUOTE]
Are you implying that these bands are lesser known and less good?
Because Barclay James Harvest, Focus, Renaissance, Strawbs and Mannfred Mann's Earth Band were all bigger than (say) Van de Graaf Generator and probably even King Crimson in terms of fans and record sales in the 70s. Uriah Heep also were massively bigger than either. They were not obscure then for sure.
Joined: February 17 2013
Location: Canada
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Posted: March 31 2013 at 17:53
I am nineteen and have admittedly only heard roughly a quarter of the bands on your list. I find it is commonly only the most popular and highest regarded bands that remain in the spotlight decades later, especially with a genre like progressive rock that does not have the same number of fans as many other types of music. Besides, with so much incredible music to discover, it makes sense that new fans are most familiar with the names that made the biggest impact on the scene!
Joined: October 12 2011
Location: Melb, Australia
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Points: 7951
Posted: March 31 2013 at 18:09
I can't help but think ALL of the bands mentioned in that original post have a small devoted little following, and the Archives is perfect for bringing all the fans of those acts together!
Prog fans will continue to love, cherish and support these acts, and I'd hope all those artists feel humbled and a sense of pride being involved, no matter how long ago, in something that is still appreciated now, and slowly but surely adding a new fan here and there as they go!
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