IN COLLABORATION WITH THE GODS

In 1975 the great innovators and leaders in the world of progressive rock were starting to drift towards other things and the genre was headed for a downturn in general. Still, stubborn fans of the genre refused to give up and began looking for some new faces to keep their interest alive. This was also compounded in the states by the fact that yank bands were finally getting a handle on this particularly British brand of creative rock music and stateside progressive rock fans were finally becoming receptive to the idea of supporting some local talent. This was the setting that Detroit bred keyboardist Michael Quatro stepped into with his uniquely American brand of quasi-classical influenced prog-rock music mixed with Detroit glitter rock presentation.

This album, In Collaboration with the Gods, marked a peak in Quatro's very short lived reign as a possible leader in American progressive rock. There are a lot of obvious comparisons here because, despite his obvious talents, Michael is not a particularly original artist. Most of this album consists of multi-keyboard oriented instrumentals whose leanings towards somewhat cheezey pseudo-classical affectations recall some of the more lightweight mid-70s output of Rick Wakeman, Camel and Focus. Meanwhile, Michael's occasional vocals on the 'rockin' numbers recall the sound of American blue collar semi-prog rockers like Journey and Styxx, and his mix of glitter and pseudo classical tendencies can sound like early Queen at times as well.

It was fun hearing this album again, but I think its major importance is mostly musicological in terms of the development of progressive rock in the US. Still, I think fans of mid to late 70s Rick Wakeman and Camel might find some things to like here, Quatro has a Mellotron and he knows how to use it. Its also fun to hear 70s American guitar ace Rick Derringer playing prog- rock as a guest on a couple of numbers. By the way, to those who are curious, Michael is the brother of proto-punk and Happy Days star Suzi Quatro.