Prog meets AOR
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=100416
Printed Date: April 29 2024 at 08:01
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Prog meets AOR
Posted By: aapatsos
Subject: Prog meets AOR
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 14:00
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I admit I have a "sweet tooth" for proper, sophisticated,
well-constructed AOR (see e.g. Toto) if there was ever such a thing.
More so, I enjoy when prog blends with AOR and creates a nice, catchy mix of powerful melody and intricate passages with changes of rhythm etc. I guess a lot of this would come from late 70's/80's e.g. I particularly enjoy (early) Magnum, Styx. They are both under prog-related here which makes absolute sense. Similarly the early 80's era of Blue Oyster Cult shows some great mixes of prog with AOR. And of course Kansas have, IMO, often done the same. Any more examples please? Prog bands that have blended AOR successfully? Any modern examples? |
Replies:
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 14:12
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Saga does the AOR-Prog thing well. Some albums like Silent Knight emphasize prog more, while Worlds Apart and Heads or Tales are a pretty even mix. The newer albums are more in line with their early works, which is wise. Full Circle, House of Cards, Trust and 10,000 Days are the best of their post-1998 offerings. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 14:13
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P.S. Nice to see another BOC fan on here. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 14:14
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what about Strange Advance ? |
Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 14:16
another here .. sprung for that fantastic all studio albums box set a couple of years ago - listen to it all the time
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verslibre wrote:Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 14:16
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Thanks - Saga, indeed, I like them quite a lot but still have a lot to catch up. Strange Advance are not on PA, I guess a new-wave band? PS. Raff is the ultimate BOC fan around here, just don't get her started... |
Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 14:18
sort of - but slow and dreamy .. Saga always makes me think of them (I prefer Strange Advance) never liked the vocals on Saga but I did like the instrumentation |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 14:23
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Maybe a little Mars Hollow? ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 14:29
| ^ i'm liking this |
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 14:29
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Gino Vannelli made some really nice albums in the 1970s. "Brother to Brother" (the song and the album) was probably his most successful. He was a highly talented white R&B type vocalist who favored complex arrangements and dabbled with progressive suites (e.g. "War Suite" from Gist of the Gemini, and the orchestrated title track from "Pauper in Paradise", each taking up nearly a whole album side). His bread and butter was soulful balladry like the hit "I Just Wanna Stop", but even those have a pretty high level of musicality to them. ------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 14:32
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another Canadian I believe ------------- "I know one thing: that I know nothing" - SpongeBob Socrates |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 14:34
I usually don't go for this kind of stuff, but they, somehow, managed to suck me in with their 2011 release 'The World In Front Of Me'. The whole album is in the vein of the track I posted. Very melodic and sweet yet without ever becoming saccharine. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 14:37
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^Sorry aapatsos, but my tolerance for AOR wears thin do to associations with groups like Starship and songs like We Built This City or Heart with These Dreams. A bit too sweet for taste and probably the only rock genre that I cannot get into. But AOR is the most successful rock category, so it must have done something right. One hundred million Journey fans can't be wrong.
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Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 14:46
------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 15:04
That Mars Hollow did not sound bad
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 15:45
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Your probably awere of Enchant, they fitt the bill. Steve Lukather solo, full blown blues rock fusion With crazy genre span, With AOR coating. Falling in Between by Toto, probably also the New Toto album is also in that wein, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsnGgzn0BsQ" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsnGgzn0BsQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTmLsm3hwWE" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTmLsm3hwWE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjjBUT6po94" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjjBUT6po94 this song is really good http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjjBUT6po94" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjjBUT6po94 -------------  
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 15:46
Asia  -------------
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 15:53
| Ambrosia |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 16:00
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Not sure if you would like any of these but a few AOR bands that I really like include FM (UK not Canada), Giuffria and House of Lords; The Magnificent; Mecca, Oz Knozz, W.E.T. and Work Of Art. Foreigner did have a guy named Ian MacDonald playing saxophone. ------------- 
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 16:06
-------------
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Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 16:09
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Not sure if any of the above really fit the bill - I will check on Ambrosia, thanks. [[Lukather and the ones Scott mentioned are not prog-related so I would pass for now (Scott if you like those, you might want to check http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXXIHXB0rt0" rel="nofollow - my brother's band  )]]Back on track - I don't think Enchant really touched AOR. Asia never played prog IMO but that may just be me... |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 16:12
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The band W.E.T. consists of members of Work of Art, Eclipse, and Talisman. If you like Jeff Scott Soto, he is the vocalist of W.E.T. and Talisman. The album Bleed and Scream from Eclipse is quite good too. -------------
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 16:18
At any rate, the link for your brother's band didn't work.-------------
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 16:22
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Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 16:27
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 16:42
Here's another one! BOC are one of my all-time favourite bands (as my avatar makes it abundantly clear), and even their worst album is highly listenable. They are also here in Prog Related, and I was the one who added them a long time ago. |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 16:43
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Cool! Thanks. I like what I am hearing from your brother's band. -------------
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 16:44
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Also, check the sole album by Jail entitled You Can Help Me-another brilliant example of prog meets AOR, featuring former Triumvirat members Helmut Koellen and Jurgen Fritz, Jaki Liebezeit from Can, and Roland Schaeffer from Brainstorm, among others. And the band's single, Julie. |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 16:45
-------------
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Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 16:47
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 16:47
Mars Hollow were excellent, and we were there at ROSfest when that video was taken. Unfortunately, they disbanded among a lot of bitterness - which is very sad, as we had become friends with the whole band. I have been unable to listen to their albums after that. Luckily Kerry Chicoine and Jerry Beller bounced back with Heliopolis, whose debut album is highly recommended. |
Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 16:54
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 16:56
 The album tracks are a bit more AOR in quite a few cases. A rarity, indeed! |
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 17:47
------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: Permy
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 17:47
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Here is a half-decent one that no one knows: EMPEROR - SAME (US) Yeah - Canada 70s/80s was world leader at this: Second SYMPHONIC SLAM lp ventures more into AOR-crap, but first rack is killer synth runs TRUE MYTH - second lp "Telegraph" ECLIPSE - DAY & NIGHT ROSE - TASTE OF NEPTUNE is the most progressive NASH THE SLASH ZON CRACK THE SKY - SAME first AVIATOR -SAME '78 (pERRY, lANCASTER, bUNKER) PILOT - SECOND FLIGHT HELICOPTER ESQUIRE-SAME surprizingly good '87 , Chris Squire's first wife is having an excellent voice, Squire & Alan White |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 17:51
When you do, be sure I'm there to watch you! That song is one of my all-time faves - both for the music and the lyrics. |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 18:52
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BOC is one of my favorite early bands but to be honest, I'm not quite sure where they belong. AOR, Hard Rock or Metal? BTW, On Your Feet or On Your Knees is my favorite album by them. And my favorite live album by any band.
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Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 18:54
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Nice thread Athanasios! Count me among those who love the good AOR, even those accused of being a bit cheesy around the edges. I love Styx as well as another one that gets accused of being cheesy, the superb (at times) Triumph. Triumph were so inconsistent, half of their album are pretty weak but the other half is great. BOC certainly isn't cheesy, great band...saw them twice back in the day. I can even enjoy the hard rock and pop stuff with equal pleasure: Benatar, Blondie, the Cars....not ashamed to be caught playing Billy Squier. Ok, maybe a little  If you like Rik check out this clip! The man doesn't shy away from hitting his high notes ------------- |
Posted By: Metalmarsh89
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 18:56
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I've always been confused, is AOR a genre or a format? ------------- Want to play mafia? Visit http://www.mafiathesyndicate.com" rel="nofollow - here . |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 19:32
"Veteran of the Psychic Wars" is timeless. One of my favorite BOC songs, along with "Black Blade," "The Great Sun Jester," "Reaper," etc. And their last studio album Curse of the Hidden Mirror was outstanding, their best in 20 years. It's too bad they won't do another. Or maybe the Old Gods will return...? ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: November 25 2014 at 20:16
 One of my fondest memories of High School in my hometown in Canada was seeing them on the A Taste Of Neptune tour, with a few songs from Judgement Day included! Fantastic concert.Never saw them, but also used to listen to Zon back in the day. |
Posted By: PhideauxFan
Date Posted: November 26 2014 at 01:13
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Mystery (Canada). http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=791" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=791 |
Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: November 26 2014 at 06:58
One of my fondest memories of High School in my hometown in Canada was seeing them on the A Taste Of Neptune tour, with a few songs from Judgement Day included! Fantastic concert.Never saw them, but also used to listen to Zon back in the day. [/QUOTE] me too! (re Taste of Neptune) are we from the same town? I also saw Zon in highschool. I still have that album too. ------------- "I know one thing: that I know nothing" - SpongeBob Socrates |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: November 26 2014 at 07:27
me too! (re Taste of Neptune) are we from the same town? I also saw Zon in highschool. I still have that album too. [/QUOTE]My hometown is Prescott, Ontario. |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: November 26 2014 at 07:28
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^ for some reason, our quotes got mixed up -sorry |
Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: November 26 2014 at 07:42
I messed it up too .. well i'll be damned ... Brockville here ------------- "I know one thing: that I know nothing" - SpongeBob Socrates |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: November 26 2014 at 08:22
However, like most terms and phrases in popular music, it's taken on a slang meaning for bands like Journey, Boston, Styx, the Eagles, etc., who did not fall into the Metal, Country, Rap and Hip Hop camps and had a lot of FM radio presence at one time. Not a very scientific answer, but I hope it helps.
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 03:47
| Anyone mentioned Yes - Heaven And Hell ?? Maybe more like Prog meets MOR..... |
Posted By: Meltdowner
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 04:07
^ Yeah, 80's onward Yes have good music that match the description 
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 05:39
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Civillian by Gentle Giant maybe to early but its quite meaty and full of Nice Things like riffs and stuff -------------
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Posted By: january4mn
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 06:48
I agree Psychic Wars is a great song. The lead voice reminds me of Peter Nicholls in a way, or is it the other way around? BOC is a band that I need to check out more--I always seem to like every song I hear from them. |
Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 06:50
Can't hear it without wanting to watch Heavy Metal again ------------- "I know one thing: that I know nothing" - SpongeBob Socrates |
Posted By: january4mn
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 07:03
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And oddly enough, I've never seen Heavy Metal. But, I did hear it from the soundtrack album playing in my friend's car. Radio of course always plays "Don't Fear the Reaper", that seems to be the only song they ever play from them--typical of radio these days. Still a great song though. As I say, I need to hear more or buy some BOC, I'm overdue. |
Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 07:33
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Joan Crawford Has Risen From The Dead, Black Blade, Burnin' For You, but those are just radio play tunes, the albums are great end to end ------------- "I know one thing: that I know nothing" - SpongeBob Socrates |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 07:42
definitely a wise and good investment of time and treasure. The best of albums are some of the best rock albums you'll ever listen to, with very very strong progressive/prog leanings with dark wit and obvious intelligence if you attach importance or tend to quantify such things, even the 'worst' of their albums have gems on them that absolutely rule.  One the handful of best rock bands this country has ever produced.------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 07:48
the emphasis on Sci-fi/Horror keeps it interesting too ------------- "I know one thing: that I know nothing" - SpongeBob Socrates |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 08:03
very much so! I know Raff would have jumped in but I have her chained to the kitchen slaving away on Thanksgiving dinner That is something I know she relates to strongly.Both of us are huge fans of the group for very different reasons which again speaks volumes of the quality of the group. She is far more the intellectual of us, she has the classic education and that beautiful mind of hers is always turning. BOC is a very literate very intellectual group with some really neat and interesting themes in their songs/albums. However me, I suppose I am the typical Leo, it is all about immediate gratification. I don't want to think, I do that enough at work, I listen to music for the emotional impact. I want to be grabbed and made to feel. I love shear power and often beauty of the music. I do see BOC as one of the best groups for appealing to both sides. Music that touches the head, and the heart. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Sagichim
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 08:10
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I also dig a fair share of AORish bands My favourite of these bands is Crack The Sky, they could be classified as art rock, very clever stuff with a lot of groove and brilliant playing, the vocals are also very good , catchy, accessible and fun. Highly recommended! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWUS7CxH4YY" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWUS7CxH4YY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC3QX9bzdjk" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC3QX9bzdjk Ambrosia were also mentioned and I must agree check out their debut album http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfLUNZG_sqE" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfLUNZG_sqE
City Boy - Check out Dinner At The Ritz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPiJM33EnlY" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPiJM33EnlY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiSnsQaP9yk" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiSnsQaP9yk Mansun - Their 1998 album called Six is a killer mix between britrock and prog, think of a more progy version of Muse. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjSlIzlemz4" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjSlIzlemz4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5tq1fXTxhQ" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5tq1fXTxhQ |
Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 08:14
Love these guys! Young Men Gone West is a great album too but Ritz was my first exposure ------------- "I know one thing: that I know nothing" - SpongeBob Socrates |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 08:39
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I believe BOC transcend the AOR tag, though a lot of their music is catchy and listener-friendly. Their best songs, however, are the hidden gems, those you will hardly ever hear played on the radio - such as "Seven Screamin' Dizbusters" (my favourite besides "Psychic Wars"), "Divine Wind", "Vengeance: The Pact", "Madness to the Method", and many others. It is a real pity (and an indictment of the sorry state of the modern music industry) that such a great band has been without a recording deal for almost 15 years. |
Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 08:47
should I assume you also picked up ....  ------------- "I know one thing: that I know nothing" - SpongeBob Socrates |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 08:51
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I love BOC's albums Tyranny and Mutation, and Spectres the most. Haven't listened to them in ages, I should rectify that! |
Posted By: AEProgman
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 11:58
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Secret Treaties and Agents of Fortune are my favorites of BOC. Got into Saga in 80s of AOR fame. ------------- 
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Posted By: Metalmarsh89
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 13:39
I guess that will have to do, since that's probably the best, or close to the best, definition I'll get.  But I guess at this point, it's just a tag.I mean bands like the Who and David Bowie ought to fall into this category, but I don't think they do, probably because they do have their own classification that works. Coheed and Cambria as well should fit in here, but I'm sure they're not. Another question. Does AOR = Stadium Rock? Or is that the mold of AC/DC and KISS? ------------- Want to play mafia? Visit http://www.mafiathesyndicate.com" rel="nofollow - here . |
Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 13:40
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all this time I thought it meant that it wasn't very likely that you'd get a single released off of the album (non commercial rock) ------------- "I know one thing: that I know nothing" - SpongeBob Socrates |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 14:29
Definitely, and this without a doubt is one of my favorite BOC songs. Not sure if it ever got airplay but if not, it should've! ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 15:03
Sagi my friend, a great list of recommendations! I like Crack the Sky and enjoying the rest now  |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 15:07
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never remember ever hearing this on the radio but among their best! ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 15:14
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^ Great tune! On a different note... |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 15:23
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Hmmm....surprised that no one has mentioned Steve Howe & Steve Hackett's "GTR"! They had quite a bit of FM airplay back then. Saga, definitely. I'd say that Asia was the defining AOR prog act of that era. It was fun while it lasted!
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Posted By: fudgenuts64
Date Posted: November 27 2014 at 17:41
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I've got quite the bias for a lot of the AOR stuff... seems like prog/art rock for idiots. Can anyone prove me wrong? I've always been interested in Saga (they were AOR?) but have never even considered listening to The Grand Illusion, or Boston's self titled... yuck! As for Asia, I liked the self titled for a few months before later detesting it. EDIT: The other day at the store, I heard some great Hammond organ and wondered what they were playing. The radio DJ said "Styx - (I forget name of the song) - from Pieces of Eight". Should I give it a shot?
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Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: November 28 2014 at 06:29
Try Crystal Ball first ------------- "I know one thing: that I know nothing" - SpongeBob Socrates |
Posted By: january4mn
Date Posted: November 28 2014 at 07:37
Thanks for all the advice on Blue Oyster Cult everyone, I'll browse through some albums soon! |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: November 28 2014 at 11:02
There's a really fine line between AOR-Prog and plain ol' AOR like Boston (meh) and Asia (palatable in small doses). Boston is a one-note rock band whose success is largely configured on the excellent production soundmix their founder/guitarist/engineer Tom Scholz perfected. In other words, it "still sounds good loud." However, it only takes on listen to the full album to hear repeated guitar riffs and to notice that everything seems to be written in the same key. I don't like anything Styx has done after 1980, for the most part, but their best moments are such that Boston could never touch on an instrumental scale. "The Grand Illusion" might be a song that is only marginally interesting to a progger, but to me it's much more engaging than anything Starcastle did on their first album, and Dennis DeYoung's keyboard talent is evident. They started out as a quasi-prog band but found more money in writing accessible fare, which is partly what tore the band apart. Dennis wanted to continue a hit single/concept album balancing act, and Tommy Shaw and James Young wanted to flat-out rock. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |