Most representative band of the 70's - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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cesar polo View Drop Down

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Topic: Most representative band of the 70's
Posted: May 10 2008 at 06:26

This question goes NOT your favourite band but for the most representative of our style in front of other kind of musical trends

fuxi

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 07:28

I'd say Genesis, in particular SELLING ENGLAND, because it has a bit of everything: catchy tunes, romantic grandeur, solos in different colours, mellotrons, twinned twelve-string guitars, playful lyrics, English eccentricity... It's proggier than Pink Floyd and less likely to put people off than Yes. If they don't like THIS, they're never gonna like symphonic prog.

Of course if you're a diehard avant-gardist, you might want to compile a totally different list altogether.

cesar polo View Drop Down

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 07:59

fuxi wrote:

I'd say Genesis, in particular SELLING ENGLAND, because it has a bit of everything: catchy tunes, romantic grandeur, solos in different colours, mellotrons, twinned twelve-string guitars, playful lyrics, English eccentricity... It's proggier than Pink Floyd and less likely to put people off than Yes. If they don't like THIS, they're never gonna like symphonic prog.

Of course if you're a diehard avant-gardist, you might want to compile a totally different list altogether.

Yes, maybe a diehard avant-gardist would prefer another names in the list:

Van der Graaf Generator

Magma

Gong

Hawkwind

Nektar...

but I think those bands couldn't be representative of prog-rock within the musical landscape of the seventies. At least, not for most non-progheads. And maybe for a lot of progheads

Slartibartfast View Drop Down

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 08:52

cesar polo wrote:

This question goes NOT your favourite band but for the most representative of our style in front of other kind of musical trends

It's a trick question, there is too much variety to be such a thing. Tongue

Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...

cesar polo View Drop Down

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 09:13

Slartibartfast wrote:

cesar polo wrote:

This question goes NOT your favourite band but for the most representative of our style in front of other kind of musical trends

It's a trick question, there is too much variety to be such a thing. Tongue

I agree there is a lot of variety within prog-rock. But I think It's not a trick question. It's only a choice matter. But, maybe my question has not been understood as I wanted (surely due to my not-as-good-as-I-would-like english language).

I meant which is the ensign of prog in front of other styles. If you think about hard-rock you'll say "Led Zeppelin" or "Deep Purple". If you're talking about disco sound you'll surely say "BeeGees", "Village People" or something so. Now, who will be the most well-known prog band if we asked non-prog people?.

ten years after View Drop Down

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 09:15

ELP were probably the biggest live band, of any genre, in the mid 1970s. It annoys me how musical histories of the era totally overlook this fact and tend to totally overlook ELP.

At that time they were probably the biggest that any band has been while unashamedly styling itself as prog rock. Pink Floyd, i feel, were always a bit uncomfortable about the prog label. Yes and Genesis, for all their popularity were not quite as big a stadium attraction as ELP at that time.

febus

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 10:29

I would say PINK FLOYD as they were the most successful prog band of the time...by far!

People with no knowledge of prog music or even rock music knew about PF, never heard the other names, so yes PF was representative of prog and rock for the masses.

My grand parents or parents knew about PF,even if they were just druggies playing some starnge stuff, but they knew the name.....Surprised people here choose GENESIS as most representative....they were not well known or not at all by the general public

jetson

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 10:34

I don't know why, but when I hear "70's" , I think of Floyd.

The Quiet One View Drop Down

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 10:34

Pink Floyd with the words of Febus..
Then would come on 2nd place the classic symphonic bands: Yes, Genesis and ELP.

Camel not saying they're not 1st category but they only released IMO 3 really good albums in the 70's. Mirage, Snow Goose and Moonmadness.

Paper Champion View Drop Down

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 11:58

Let it be Genesis. I regard them as pioneers of art-rock and real geniuses.

ProgBagel

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 12:08

Crimson stood out like a sore thumb. They would be it in my opinion.

JROCHA

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 13:25

Genesis and King Crimson

cesar polo View Drop Down

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 13:27

ten years after wrote:

ELP were probably the biggest live band, of any genre, in the mid 1970s. It annoys me how musical histories of the era totally overlook this fact and tend to totally overlook ELP.

I completely agree about the lack of accuracy in most musical histories of the era: ELP were probably the biggest ones at the most intense period of rock history and in some supposedly serious forums it seems as if they're not had been ever existed.

cesar polo View Drop Down

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 13:37

cacho wrote:

Pink Floyd with the words of Febus..
Then would come on 2nd place the classic symphonic bands: Yes, Genesis and ELP.

Camel not saying they're not 1st category but they only released IMO 3 really good albums in the 70's. Mirage, Snow Goose and Moonmadness.

Of course, Camel are not the most representatives. Now they have a lot of followers all over the world although in the seventies were a second line band in terms of succes but, even at that time, I considered them as one of the most progressives and exquisites bands. And I don't agree they only released 3 really good albums. Give another chance to "Camel (the first)", "Raindances", "Breathless", "Nude" or even "Harbour of tears", "Rajaz". In fact, IMO they are one of those few bands with a great regularity all along their discography. None of their albums are really weak

The Quiet One View Drop Down

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 14:06

cesar polo wrote:

cacho wrote:

Pink Floyd with the words of Febus.. Then would come on 2nd place the classic symphonic bands: Yes, Genesis and ELP. Camel not saying they're not 1st category but they only released IMO 3 really good albums in the 70's. Mirage, Snow Goose and Moonmadness.

I do love their debut, but seriously it's not a masterpiece or even a 4 star, I like it but in prog means it's way behind.

For Rajaz and the rest, I do love em, but here we're talking about the 70's, if not I would name Camel one of the most consistent prog bands through the years alongside King Crimson. I love Rajaz one of my fave Camel albums and Nod and a Wink is really good too.

cesar polo View Drop Down

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 15:11

cacho wrote:

cesar polo wrote:

cacho wrote:

Pink Floyd with the words of Febus.. Then would come on 2nd place the classic symphonic bands: Yes, Genesis and ELP. Camel not saying they're not 1st category but they only released IMO 3 really good albums in the 70's. Mirage, Snow Goose and Moonmadness.

...Ah!!, I like very much the "prog landscape" in your signature.

el böthy

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 15:49

When I think of ´70 the first band I think of is Led Zeppelin. But Floyd I guess, for succes, wins here.

"You want me to play what, Robert?"

TGM: Orb

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 16:15

Fixed for ya.

Hm. I think King Crimson are the most representative of what 'progressive' really is. Every album has a significantly morphed style, a hefty amount of improv., unusual instruments as well as some twists on the staple mellotron and guitars [violin, crazy percussion, sax, cornet] (compare Lizard with Islands with Larks' with Starless with Red), musicians changing at every turn, even the band's constant alters his style for each album.

Didn't vote, though, because I didn't really understand the drift of the question.

The Pessimist View Drop Down

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 16:27

Yes, easily.

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Dick Heath View Drop Down

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Posted: May 10 2008 at 16:33

Pink Floyd remained psychedelia to many of us in the UK, well after Darkside until America decided the band was their idea of progressive. So no way to PF even being on the list. King Crimson for me if I've interpreted the word 'representative' ?

Edited by Dick Heath - May 10 2008 at 16:34

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Poll Question: Which one is the most representative band of the seventies prog-rock
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Camel	2	[2.63%]
Yes	16	[21.05%]
Pink Floyd	25	[32.89%]
Genesis	22	[28.95%]
King Crimson	3	[3.95%]
E.L.P.	4	[5.26%]
Jethro Tull	4	[5.26%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted