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RaphaelT 
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Joined: August 17 2005
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 Topic: Edward Macan's Rockin' The Classics
Posted: May 17 2006 at 04:24 |
Have you read this book?? It is a general work covering roots of style, which later was called 'progressive rock' and its development in late 60s/early 70s, providing overall view of main classic prog bands (especially KC, Genesis, Moody Blues, Yes, Gentle Giant and Van Der Graaf Generator), which IMHO is very good for prog rookies.
However it is a group of essays of main features of prog, such as sociological background of prog musicians and prog fans, musicological analysis of prog "masterpieces" (author recognizes as such "Tarkus", "Close To The Edge", "Firth of Fifth" and whole "Wish You Were Here"), instead of giving detailed information about particular groups.
So, what's your opinion about that book? Do you consider it useful as an introduction to prog knowledge for newbies and source of looking for new bands (I learned about Gentle Giant, Caravan, Van Der Graaf Generator, Banco, Le Orme, Canterbury School from it, which prompted me into some purchases) and what do you think of author's opinions??
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yet you still have time!
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Greg W
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Location: Chicago
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Posted: May 17 2006 at 04:44 |
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It may have been helpful before the internet. Now that you have this site, what's the point?
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RaphaelT
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Joined: August 17 2005
Location: Poland
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Points: 1453
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Posted: May 17 2006 at 04:56 |
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for general overwiev, and to systematize your knowledge
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yet you still have time!
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erik neuteboom
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Joined: July 27 2005
Location: Netherlands
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Posted: May 17 2006 at 07:21 |
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Although I am not religious I have to say that this book is my bible! I have read it many times, it is such wonderful and varied book, from a sociology (the influence of the White-Anglo Saxons) and the visuals (mainly Keith Emerson and Peter gabriel) to the analyse of four progrock compositions (Firth Of Fifth, Close To The Edge, Tarkus and Wish You Were Here). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
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Sean Trane
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Prog Folk
Joined: April 29 2004
Location: Heart of Europe
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Points: 20787
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Posted: May 17 2006 at 08:07 |
Greg,
Although there are many sites that develop prog,>> none goes as far in depht as a book does. Plenty of interesting chapters , although a few points I disagree with >> can't win them all 
Overall Macan's book is helpful; and to be completed with more readings, most notably Martin's Look Into the Future
Furthermore, nobody is ever going to read on the web such a long book , or else he would download it and print it to azctually read it. A book simply cannot be repleaced
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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Raff
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Joined: July 29 2005
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Points: 24440
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Posted: May 17 2006 at 08:48 |
 Sean Trane wrote:
Greg,
Although there are many sites that develop prog,>> none goes as far in depht as a book does. Plenty of interesting chapters , although a few points I disagree with >> can't win them all
Overall Macan's book is helpful; and to be completed with more readings, most notably Martin's Look Into the Future
Furthermore, nobody is ever going to read on the web such a long book , or else he would download it and print it to azctually read it. A book simply cannot be repleaced |
There's nothing more to add, actually... I find reading long texts on the web quite stressful for my eyes, and IMHO nothing will ever replace a good book. That said, it's a pity that "Rocking the Classics" was published over 10 years ago . It would be great if the author decided to revise and update the original edition to include more recent developments of prog.
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chopper
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Joined: July 13 2005
Location: Essex, UK
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Points: 20074
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Posted: May 17 2006 at 09:53 |
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I have the book and it's an interesting read if you're already familiar with the music, but I wouldn't recommend it as an introduction. It's a bit too intellectual in places (it reads like a thesis) and there's too much musical theory which a lot of people won't understand.
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Sean Trane
Special Collaborator
Prog Folk
Joined: April 29 2004
Location: Heart of Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 20787
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Posted: May 17 2006 at 10:21 |
chopper wrote:
I have the book and it's an interesting read if you're already familiar with the music, but I wouldn't recommend it as an introduction. It's a bit too intellectual in places (it reads like a thesis) and there's too much musical theory which a lot of people won't understand. |
It WAS a thesis
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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RaphaelT
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 17 2005
Location: Poland
Status: Offline
Points: 1453
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Posted: May 19 2006 at 12:02 |
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Chopper, you are right that prog is about listening to music, and not learning a theory (although the idea of progressive university is very tempting for me, perhaps we could run such course online, how would you like it??), however prog fans in general are people who have wider interests than every one else, generally they are cleverer than ordinary pop fans and are eager to know of literary and social background of their favourite musical genre... Prog fans just learn books, watch movies and understand them!!
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yet you still have time!
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MattiR
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 02 2006
Location: Poland
Status: Offline
Points: 1200
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Posted: May 19 2006 at 12:15 |
What about krautrock in that book? I think that Macan has omitted mentioned kind of progressive music. However " Rockin' The Classics" is very useful for all fans of progressive music.
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RaphaelT
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 17 2005
Location: Poland
Status: Offline
Points: 1453
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Posted: May 19 2006 at 12:36 |
You are right about krautrock, it generally is a flaw of that book.
Germany had some kind of parallel development of prog, especially in the field of electronics.
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yet you still have time!
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MattiR
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 02 2006
Location: Poland
Status: Offline
Points: 1200
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Posted: May 19 2006 at 12:44 |
RaphaelT wrote:
You are right about krautrock, it generally is a flaw of that book.
Germany had some kind of parallel development of prog, especially in the field of electronics. |
There are opinions that bands from Germany were more creative, inventive than bands from UK.
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Dick Heath
Special Collaborator
Jazz-Rock Specialist
Joined: April 19 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 12818
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Posted: May 19 2006 at 12:47 |
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chopper
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Joined: July 13 2005
Location: Essex, UK
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Posted: May 19 2006 at 16:49 |
Sean Trane wrote:
chopper wrote:
I have the book and it's an interesting read if you're already familiar with the music, but I wouldn't recommend it as an introduction. It's a bit too intellectual in places (it reads like a thesis) and there's too much musical theory which a lot of people won't understand. |
It WAS a thesis |
That'll be why then!
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Fitzcarraldo
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Honorary Collaborator
Joined: April 30 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1835
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Posted: May 20 2006 at 05:27 |
His Web site has a "newsflash": he's finally going to publish his 785-page  biography of ELP.
Here are the details:
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Edward Macan's Rockin' The Classics
