How Popular was Prog in its Heyday?

It is quite interesting that, when some of us said that prog was huge in our respective countries, our posts were more or less ignored - probably because our countries are seen as irrelevant in comparison with the 'big ones'. However, in countries like Italy prog was not only big news in the early Seventies, but even now, in its much-diminished, underground nature, continues to spark off a lively (though struggling) musical scene, with some authentically original acts. 

Raff wrote: It is quite interesting that, when some of us said that prog was huge in our respective countries, our posts were more or less ignored - probably because our countries are seen as irrelevant in comparison with the 'big ones'. However, in countries like Italy prog was not only big news in the early Seventies, but even now, in its much-diminished, underground nature, continues to spark off a lively (though struggling) musical scene, with some authentically original acts.

That's a good point, Raff. Even in the States,when you look at the numbers that Tull, and other proggers put up is a sign that there was & is a sizeable (not majority or dominant) market for prog. Indeed, it's surprising how many obscure but very interesting American bands that PA keeps coming across - Yezda Urfa, Cathedral, and others.
And as for RPI /IRP, this afternoon, on CKUM's Prog-ram, Glenn Bourgeois played some Osannah, Cervello, and Picchio dal Pozzo (?). All stuff that he had got into in the 70s. And this is a guy that grew up in small town Moncton NB. I guess he'd do special orders from Montreal stores.

With the internet, a fan of any genre could practically increase his record / CD collection by 10x.
One of my buddies back home is a big southern rock fan.Now this is not limited to the simplistic boogie stereotype that most believe is southern rock. He was a big fan of the Allmans, Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels, the Outlaws. But he also listened to 2nd & 3rd rank bands like Nantucket, Grinderswith. And to this day, just like proggers, he looks for and finds re-issues of albums that were originally put out in the 70s on a 500 LP limited pressing. Just like many of our cherished Italian treasures.
Of course, here in Canada, we were very lucky in that Montreal seemed to be the flashpoint for prog. It quickly became the first place where progressive rock groups would break in North America. Dennis DeYoung from Styx even says that Montreal was where they first saw how deeply their music was felt by their fans.
It seems that the last song of their set was Suite Madame Blue. AS they were playing the song, they noticed that the entire crowd was singing the words. Louder than the band. And when it comes to the ending crescendo - "America America", he says it sent a chill down the band's spine. And they knew from there on that they were going to hit the big time. That their brand of rock would find its' place.
You could also ask Genesis, Gentle Giant & the Strawbs where they found their earliest North American success.


Edited by debrewguy - May 30 2009 at 18:09

GaryB wrote: No apologies needed, you are absolutely correct when you say that Prog has a fair share of fan's attention. Two things that I have noticed for quite awhile. When it comes to the bands we have discussed, people who liked them thirty five years ago still like them today. Also, judging by TV commercials and movie soundtracks the music of the seventies is still very popular.

I just wrote something about the Bay City Rollers on another thread.
And you know what - some of us liked some of their hit singles back then. Songs like Saturday Night, Money Honey, hmmm .... I can't remember any more. Anyways, a few had their best of LP years ago. No one I know ever bought the CD

KingCrimson250 wrote: Well as we all know, only music that comes out of the US or UK is "real" music. Everything else is World Music

Not to mention that we all know the rest of the world isn't really real.


Edited by Slartibartfast - May 30 2009 at 21:42

ITS! NOT it's! Please, you are killing me!

Edited by Henry Plainview - May 30 2009 at 21:38

Henry Plainview wrote: ITS! NOT it's! Please, you are killing me!

^ people probably confuse the two because an apostrophe often indicates possession but in this case is a conjunction

Slartibartfast wrote: Atavachron wrote: one thing I distinctly remember about Dark Side was that it had an enormous reputation as the ultimate audiophile's album, a true headphoner at a time when interest in sound quality was on the upswing and things like quadrophonics was the rage I remember the quadrophic era. Never had one of those systems myself.  But hey now we have the whole surround sound thing, so it was just a matter of time, eh?

Even groups like BTO put out quad versions of their albums. I always wondered what Not Fragile 4.0 would have sounded like

KingCrimson250 wrote: Slartibartfast wrote: Correct me if I'm wrong, but is there any NeoPunk out there? NeoDisco?  Maybe those music types are so immortal that there's no need for neo versions? I'm sorry, did you just use "immortal" and "disco" in the same line?

I must admit he's right! I was a teenager in disco's heyday, and I hated it then, but tunes like "Funky Town" (Lipps Inc.) and "That's the Way (I Like It)" have definitely stood the test of time, and what's more: I feel like dancin' whenever I hear 'em!

Raff wrote: It is quite interesting that, when some of us said that prog was huge in our respective countries, our posts were more or less ignored - probably because our countries are seen as irrelevant in comparison with the 'big ones'. However, in countries like Italy prog was not only big news in the early Seventies, but even now, in its much-diminished, underground nature, continues to spark off a lively (though struggling) musical scene, with some authentically original acts.

As far as I can tell, Italy must be seen as one of "the big ones" in prog terms! Italy's population is virtually the same size as the U.K.'s. In the early seventies Italy already had a thriving prog scene at a time the U.S.A. (the original source of rock music) still had to get started (Zappa excepted).

fuxi wrote: Raff wrote: It is quite interesting that, when some of us said that prog was huge in our respective countries, our posts were more or less ignored - probably because our countries are seen as irrelevant in comparison with the 'big ones'. However, in countries like Italy prog was not only big news in the early Seventies, but even now, in its much-diminished, underground nature, continues to spark off a lively (though struggling) musical scene, with some authentically original acts.  As far as I can tell, Italy must be seen as one of "the big ones" in prog terms! Italy's population is virtually the same size as the U.K.'s. In the early seventies Italy already had a thriving prog scene at a time the U.S.A. (the original source of rock music) still had to get started (Zappa excepted).

I don't know if the U.S. has ever really gotten started with Prog in a big way, and yet the small number of progressive artists go way back and were crucial-- Beach Boys, Blood,Sweat&Tears, Touch, then into Pent**ter, Happy the Man, Cathedral, Hands, etc.