Have these bands been forgotten by most prog fans? |
Post Reply | Page <1234 5> |
Author | ||
Dean
Special Collaborator Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout Joined: May 13 2007 Location: Europe Status: Offline Points: 37575 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 18:14 | |
I'm implying nothing, I'm saying these bands are lesser known because they are less well known, they are less well known because a lesser number of people know about them, a lesser number of people know about them now because less people heard them "back in the day".
Van der Graaf Generator where less well known than many bands in the 70s, they sold fewer albums and had a smaller fan base, they were less popular then than many bands and they are less popular now than many bands, but they were more well known than most of the bands in the OP's list and even if there are a couple of bands in the list that may have had a higher level of short term popularity, the level of popularity VdGG enjoyed lasted longer than all of them. And that's just how it works - the longer you are in the public eye then more people will get to know you. To most of the 1970s record-buying public the bands you listed were known for: Mockingbird, Silvia, Northern Lights, Part Of The Union and Blinded By The Light - a few of those could possibly name a second track by a couple of them, I doubt that many could name a third - in other words, they were bigger for a very short period and then forgotten.
|
||
What?
|
||
ghost_of_morphy
Prog Reviewer Joined: March 08 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2755 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 18:56 | |
Nektar: Great band. Maybe the third best on this list. Barclay James Harvest: Never heard. Triumvirat: Another really good band. Twelfth Night (from the 80's): Never heard. Mastermind (90's band): Never heard. Mannfred Mann's earth band: Love 'em. The Nice (one of the founders of prog imo): Can take or leave. Procol Harum: Never cared for them much The Strawbs: Hero & Heroine is very good. Otherwise indifferent. Banco (del mutuo soccorso) Never really got into them. Eloy: Good. Starcastle: Very good group but too darn happy Happy the Man: Never heard. Crack the Sky (more art rockish): Never heard. Focus: Never did much for me. Argent: Don't think of them as prog Renaissance: Second best group on list. Gong: Some days brilliant, some days not. Supersister: Never heard. Clearlight ( Finch: Never heard. Ange: I love French prog, but Ange seems just middle of the pack. Rare Bird: Never heard. Captain Beyond: Best group on the list by far. Cathedral (US band that did Atomic Rooster: Never heard. Colosseum: Very very good. Greenslade: Colosseum was better |
||
|
||
ghost_of_morphy
Prog Reviewer Joined: March 08 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2755 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 19:02 | |
And all of you who never heard Captain beyond need to find their first album ASAP, esp. the second side.
|
||
|
||
AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14256 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 19:23 | |
Nektar - awesome esp their first 3 albums
Barclay James Harvest - i like some of their stuff Triumvirat - great Twelfth Night (from the 80's) - okay Mastermind (90's band) - who? Mannfred Mann's earth band - okay for a few songs The Nice (one of the founders of prog imo) - essential Procol Harum - essential to have a compilation The Strawbs - okay Banco (del mutuo soccorso) - great RPI Eloy - brilliant - I even have a thread dedicated to them here Starcastle - ok Happy the Man = ok Crack the Sky (more art rockish) - who? Focus - essential Argent - hold yr head! Renaissance - awesome Gong - terrific Supersister - who? Clearlight (French band) - ok Finch - ok Ange - good Rare Bird - ok Captain Beyond - good Cathedral (US band that did Stained Glass Stories) - who? Atomic Rooster - essential Colosseum - one good album Greenslade- good Cast (90's band from Mexico) - who? FM - who? Just about any seventies Italian band - great overall Just about any seventies French band - great Heck just about any seventies band from any country other than England. - well they are all great not forgotten just not well known by those outside of the prog community
|
||
|
||
Prog_Traveller
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 29 2005 Location: Bucks county PA Status: Offline Points: 1474 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 19:25 | |
OK. Maybe neglected would be a better term. However, I kind of disagree here anyway. You would think that if someone was a real prog fan they would go searching stuff out and not just jump on whatever just happens to be thrown in front of them. You say how can they forget what they don't know but how do they even know of something in the first place. Prog isn't played on the radio. You have to look for it. But the internet(including many prog sites) is as responsible for just promoting the flavor of the week(only in the form of prog)as the radio is for all the non prog stuff. All I had to do was look at the last ten reviews here. All stuff from the past ten years or so. I have noticed this. It wasn't like that ten years ago. But with the constant barrage of newer stuff the older stuff gets lost in the shuffle. That is my main point here. You either have to know about it(know of it)or go looking for it. Also, many of the responses here are very telling. Many of you aren't saying your age but I can only guess. For those fifty and older who don't know most of these bands shame on you for buying the last five Spock's Beard discs and not owning some of these that you missed the first time around. Yeah, I'm being preachy here. YOu got a problem with that? And for crying out loud stop saying "who?" about Mastermind. It's not like they aren't listed on progarchives. http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=237 Instead of saying "who?" which I find rather insulting (not to mention the name of a rock band who only had a few prog moves here and there ;) )I think I a better response would be "never heard of them" or "not familiar." Edited by Prog_Traveller - March 31 2013 at 19:33 |
||
AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14256 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 19:31 | |
Mastermind? I dont know every band in existence but now I can look em up. So dont get so pent up about someone not knowing an obscure band.
EDIT: ah, they are from the 1990s... now I can see as that era rarely appeals to me. hardly any reviews either...., still i can download from itunes this and see what they are like. Cheers! Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - March 31 2013 at 19:38 |
||
|
||
AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14256 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 19:42 | |
Actually this is easier to get hold of so thatll do
listening now and I like the heavy use of synths. I actually think they are very good musicians. there ya go - another discovery!
|
||
|
||
Manuel
Forum Senior Member Joined: March 09 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 12295 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 19:48 | |
I'm 55, and I've heard and appreciate most of these bands.
With the amount of bands and music out there, is almost impossible to hear/know them all. Obviously some are well know, yes, genesis, Kc, Tull, etc, but a lot were/are not that lucky, a principle that applies not only to music, but to all forms of art. |
||
zravkapt
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 12 2010 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 6446 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 19:59 | |
Nektar - Not discussed much
Barclay James Harvest - Ndm Triumvirat - Not discussed hardly at all aside from being called an ELP clone Twelfth Night (from the 80's) - I've heard of them but I don't recall a discussion involving them Mastermind (90's band) - Not sure who they are exactly Mannfred Mann's earth band - Other than "Blinded By The Light" few talk about them anymore The Nice (one of the founders of prog imo) - Hugely influential to what became 'progressive rock' but not discussed Procol Harum - Other than "Whiter Shade" few talk about them The Strawbs - Probably only known these days for once having Wakeman Banco (del mutuo soccorso) - How popular were they outside Italy? One of the more discussed Italian bands today Eloy - Not sure how popular they ever were but I read a lot about them Starcastle - Described as a Yes clone Happy the Man - Described as an American Gentle Giant Crack the Sky (more art rockish) - I'm vaguely familiar with them, don't hear much about them Focus - AFAIK the most well known Dutch prog band Argent - Not discussed much Renaissance - I read a lot about them Gong - Lots of people know who these guys are Supersister - Not discussed much Clearlight (French band) - I've never heard them and never hear about them Finch - ditto Ange - Supposedly the most well known French prog band Rare Bird - Not discussed much Captain Beyond - Ndm Cathedral (US band that did Stained Glass Stories) - Ndm Atomic Rooster - I hear/read quite a bit about them Colosseum - ditto Greenslade - Not discussed much Cast (90's band from Mexico) - Heard of them, haven't heard their music or hear much about them FM - Got airplay in Canada but not sure how well they did elsewhere. Some discussion once in awhile |
||
Magma America Great Make Again
|
||
Dayvenkirq
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 25 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA Status: Offline Points: 10970 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 20:26 | |
Really dig the Renaissance. Can't say anything about other acts on the OP's list.
There are so many bands out there, old and new. I don't think one would want to focus on all of them all the time. Some bands get to be more popular than others. It is what it is. I see no problem in that.
Edited by Dayvenkirq - March 31 2013 at 20:30 |
||
Prog_Traveller
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 29 2005 Location: Bucks county PA Status: Offline Points: 1474 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 20:29 | |
[Ange - Supposedly the most well known French prog band] No, that would be Magma. Ange would probably be number two though. Gong had some French members but also members from other countries so they can't really be considered purely French. In fact I didn't put Magma on the list because they are too well known. Same thing with PFM. I should have put Grobschnitt on the list though. Some bands get through the cracks and there seems to be a secret word of mouth thing going on in PA where some obscure bands get discussed but others even if they are still pretty famous(ie Nektar)not so much. Edited by Prog_Traveller - March 31 2013 at 20:29 |
||
ginodi
Forum Groupie Joined: September 13 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 62 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 20:29 | |
Since getting on this site I have made up for lost time and ordered quite a few CDs (over 40), and lots of them were Italian Prog from the seventies. My six-year old loves Banco. I just ordered one each from Ange and Osanna.
Edited by ginodi - March 31 2013 at 20:30 |
||
Prog_Traveller
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 29 2005 Location: Bucks county PA Status: Offline Points: 1474 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 20:33 | |
Ok folks now for the mother ship list. Here is a similar list with many of the same bands from the first list but a bit more comprehensive. This one is strictly seventies(since it was initially intended for a local radio station who does an only seventies prog show once a year). Have at it(I almost feel like I'm unleashing steak to a bunch of hungry sharks. ;) ). Many of these bands are pretty essential for the serious prog collector imo(your mileage may vary).
PFM (Premiata Forneria Marconi) Banco (del mutuo soccorso) Le Orme (these are considered the big three of Italian prog) King Crimson (an obvious choice of course) Gentle Giant (also rather obvious at least for those really into this stuff) Hawkwind (well known space rock band) Kraan (German band who were a bit in the jazz rock vein) Can Amon Duul II Ash Ra Tempel (another German band and should be a virtual shoe in for Chuck's segment) Eloy (The German Floyd) The Strawbs Nektar Alan Parson's Project (maybe something from their first or Irobot) Greenslade (overlooked band but fairly well known in prog circles) England (no points for guessing what country these guys were from) Flash (Yes offshoot band featuring Peter Banks) Fruupp (similar to PG era Genesis but from Ireland) Finch (instrumental symphonic from Netherlands) Supersister Focus (kind of obvious but just don't play hocus pocus since that's too obvious ;)) Kayak (another Dutch band) Wigwam (Finnish band) Magma (weird but great band and one of the most well known French prog bands of all time) Ange (another French band but more in the Genesis/symphonic school of prog) Clearlight Gong Van der Graaf Generator (one of my personal favorites-they could have been huge and were in Europe but never cracked the US much at all) Chicago (I think some of their early stuff qualifies as prog but their later stuff seems to convince some people otherwise) Kansas (ditto above but obviously were influenced by Yes, Genesis etc at least on their first five or so) Happy the Man (one of the best US bands 70's prog bands) Crack the Sky (also from the US and had some scattered success) Fireballet (rather obscure US prog band that did a version of night on bald mountain) Camel (a very important band in seventies prog-those who like mid seventies Genesis need to check them out) Caravan (more of what is referred to as Canterbury-you guys opened the show last year with them which was very cool) National Health (more jazzy but also in the Canterbury school) Hatfield and the North (ditto above) You already mentioned Renaissance and Soft Machine so I'll just add my approval (not that it matters much) Kraftwerk (also kind of obvious but what the heck) Tangerine Dream (ditto above-I'm sure Chuck will have them in his playlist) Rush (Much of their mid to late seventies stuff was just as much prog as it was hard rock or metal) FM (another Canadian prog band but far less known than Rush) Harmonium (another Canadian band but I think they sang in French so they might not be appropriate)Far East Family Band (Kitaro's first band and often considered the Japanese Pink Floyd-might be hard to find though) Ambrosia (Their early stuff before they went pop) Journey (maybe some of the very early stuff before Steve Perry just to show people what this band were capable of) Frank Zappa (Yes he does belong here since much of his stuff was very progressive especially in the late sixties and seventies) Edited by Prog_Traveller - March 31 2013 at 20:34 |
||
Dellinger
Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: June 18 2009 Location: Mexico Status: Offline Points: 12581 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 20:42 | |
There are many bands on that list that I didn't really know about, some others that I have heard about well enough but haven't listened to yet (though I expect to do so at some time in the future), and a few others which I do know and like a lot, such as Focus, Renaissance, and Banco.
|
||
presdoug
Forum Senior Member Joined: January 24 2010 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 8046 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 21:12 | |
I'm 50, and 90 percent of the rock music i listen to and care about, prog or otherwise, is from the seventies-i have scores of lesser known bands from then that i truly admire. Wouldn't want it any other way.
Triumvirat are my favorite band btw. Edited by presdoug - March 31 2013 at 21:46 |
||
Master of Time
Forum Senior Member Joined: January 30 2012 Location: UT, USA Status: Offline Points: 374 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 23:01 | |
I'm 17 Barclay James Harvest Like em Triumvirat Not a big fan Twelfth Night (from the 80's) Not a big fan Mastermind (90's band) Never heard of Mannfred Mann's earth band Like em The Nice (one of the founders of prog imo) Like em Procol Harum Like em, and seen them live The Strawbs Love em Banco (del mutuo soccorso) Like em Eloy Love em Starcastle Like em Happy the Man Like em Crack the Sky (more art rockish) Heard of, never listened to Focus Love em Argent Heard of, never listened to Renaissance One of my favorites Gong One of my favorites Supersister Heard of, never listened to Clearlight (French band) Heard of, never listened to Finch Heard of, never listened to Ange One of my favorites Rare Bird Never heard of Captain Beyond Not a big fan Cathedral (US band that did Stained Glass Stories) Love em Atomic Rooster Not a big fan Colosseum Heard of, never listened to Greenslade They're okay Cast (90's band from Mexico) Never heard of FM Never heard of |
||
infocat
Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: June 10 2011 Location: Colorado, USA Status: Offline Points: 4671 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 23:08 | |
Looks like Mastermind has some of their albums on bandcamp as well. I have, and like, the following:
http://mastermind.bandcamp.com/album/mastermind-volume-two-brainstorm http://mastermind.bandcamp.com/album/mastermind-iii-tragic-symphony Warning, while the music is generally quite good, the vocals are generally quite not. So I personally most recommend this one: All instrumental! And much more in the jazz fusion mode than the other two I know. However I wasn't able to find a free streaming version of that one. Apparently later albums have some nice female vocals. I've not heard them. |
||
--
Frank Swarbrick Belief is not Truth. |
||
Prog_Traveller
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 29 2005 Location: Bucks county PA Status: Offline Points: 1474 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 23:45 | |
I've seen Mastermind twice. They were at the very first Nearfest back in 1999. They were a key band in the nineties prog scene but then sort of went off most people's radar. I saw them at a bar near me in 2004 or so. A really nice bunch of guys too.
|
||
cstack3
Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: July 20 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Status: Offline Points: 6710 |
Posted: March 31 2013 at 23:47 | |
I'll be 58 in a few months....I've seen many of these bands, my favorite in the pile is probably Captain Beyond (I saw them backing up Alice Cooper, 28 July 1972!). I worked on their attempted comeback in 2001, but it was not to be. RIP Rhino and Lee Dorman.
However, nearly all of these bands have been discussed regularly on PA, either for specific albums or for the talent of individual artists in the bands. Starcastle? I was friends with 'em. Happy the Man? Check 'em out. I've always liked them. NebelN'est is another band that could be added to the list....French lads, really talented! Edited by cstack3 - March 31 2013 at 23:53 |
||
King Manuel
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 16 2010 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 952 |
Posted: April 01 2013 at 01:41 | |
Nektar - Great Band - love them!
Barclay James Harvest - Made some nice songs! Triumvirat - Cool Band, at least their eralier releases! Twelfth Night (from the 80's) - I like! Mastermind (90's band) - ?? Mannfred Mann's earth band - Yeah, very good, although not all albums! The Nice (one of the founders of prog imo) - havenīt actually ever hear a song by them. Procol Harum - Some good tunes, but I am not too familiar with them. The Strawbs - ?? Banco (del mutuo soccorso) - Not a big fanof them but I enjoy some of their stuff! Eloy - Love them!! Starcastle - ?? Happy the Man - I only know and own Crafty Hands, which I kind of like! Crack the Sky (more art rockish) - ?? Focus - Cool! Argent - ?? Renaissance - OK Gong - know some stuff but canīt really say much Supersister - ?? Clearlight (French band) - ?? Finch - ?? Ange - Horrible, canīt stand them! Rare Bird - ?? Captain Beyond - ?? Cathedral (US band that did Stained Glass Stories) - Not too bad! 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: NEUSCHWANSTEIN!!!!! Their album Battlement is a masterpiece!!!!! One of my all time Top 5 albums.
|
||
Don't Bore Us, Get To The Chorus
|
||
Post Reply | Page <1234 5> |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |